Author Topic: Archos Gmini: This could be what I've been looking for... (Read 10475 times)

timP · « **on:** January 11, 2004, 06:02:17 PM »

I bought the Archos Gmini at Circuit City the other day, and now I've got a trip to Comp USA to take back my IRIVER. First, the Archos was $239>IRIVER &375..(the 125 I'll get back goes in the UA-5 fund).... It has a nicer button lay out, a keyboard option to name the file without a comp, and you can delete from the unit. The plug in attachment fits Snug, not chance of it falling out; the recording software is still free at ARCHOS.com, and I easyly insatlled it and the newest OS.... It has a viasable left and right meter readings, prob. crappy, but... and the 3 times I've let it just go, I stopped it at 3hrs, 4hrs 20min and 2 hrs, I charged it between each run, but 4hrs + ain't bad. So maybe unlimited file size is true. Plus you can pause a recording and resart it... I t charged in approx 3 hrs, and I have a PDA power back-up that would work great... I recorded a band parctice with my AT953> Denecke AD-20>SPDIF ARCHOS and it sound fine...transfered a few 3hr shows from my comp to it and back in less then 3 min each....
All in all real nice...playing around with the other features and will see what other cool functions it has...

Kelso · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:56:47 AM »

can you record in .wav? is the Digital input coaxial or optical?

timP · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2004, 10:56:57 AM »

you can record in WAV, and I plugged it in and pressed recorded....I now have a 10hr wav audio file on it, so unlinted file size is true...don't know if I manipulate it or not on my comp, may be to big...........

scb · « **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:08:39 AM »

next up: the bit perfect test

how big is this unit? does it have a remote? might be a good stealth unit instead of the d100/m1

timP · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:17:35 AM »

it isn't as big as a DAT, but bigger then my IRIVER/IPOD...feels heavier then them as weell, not too heavy, just sturdy. You can purchase a remote, but I hope to learn to buttons well enough....just intstalled the flash reading software, you can supposedly view yr pix on the screen...I am also really likeing to keyboard fuction. Much easier to keep track of all the test-runs I'm doing if I don't have to say "test1, test2 etc.." into the mic.....

greenone · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:24:07 AM »

Input is S/PDIF via 1/8" connector. It's pretty small. 4.5 x 3 x 1; compare to an iPod at 4 x 2.5 x 0.6. Almost the exact same dimensions as an M1, actually.

It has a remote, sort of - it looks like it's just for FM recording and probably has to go in the "line in" that you'd use for regular recording. Best part is that it's Mac-compatible.

twatts (pants are so over-rated...) · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:28:41 AM »

Oh, I may have to retire the Nomad 3 after only 4 months!!! Let us know on the bit accuracy!!!

Terry

nickgregory · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:30:23 AM »

I have to agree with scott that this unit could be tempting for stealthing...so who is volunteering for the bit accuracy tests :-)

timP · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:35:07 AM »

if anyone comes across any ARCHOS forums out there in the net, could you please post 'em, PM me?
bit-accuracy tests? I'm still catching on around here....little info...is this a test to see if the unit encodes the bits it records properly?

scb · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:35:24 AM »

>>It has a remote, sort of - it looks like it's just for FM recording and probably has to go in the "line in" that you'd use for regular recording. Best part is that it's Mac-compatible. <<

as long as it's not a proprietary filesystem, there is no real requirement for mac compatibility now. 10.3 added support for reading ntfs, so we can read any pc hard drive now. things like the nomad JB don't work with macs because didn't use one of the "standard" filesystems

what's the metering like on this thing?

timP · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:39:07 AM »

yup, my iriver showed up on a friends mac...
The Archos has left and right meters that run the length (top-bottom) of screen when recording...........

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #11 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:39:42 AM »

Scott it looks like FAT. You plug it in via USB2 and Windows and Mac both "see it" automagically as an additional hard drive.. so me guesses it's FAT32...

Take a look at the PDF on their site for some limited screen shots..

seethreepo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:52:27 AM »

I have a pretty basic dat setup with just mics , battery box and deck

I run line in on the dat , would this config work with the archos ? ie mics - battery box - line in ?>
if so I'm sold !

Sean Gallemore · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:56:10 AM »

just remember you will be utilizing the gemini's adc, which may or may not be better than the one in your DAT recorder. I know where my money is, though.

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2004, 12:57:34 PM »

hmmmm

Rick · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2004, 03:00:03 PM »

Sounds good so far....

jctibbitts · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2004, 03:05:39 PM »

am i retarded or does this only record mp3? does it have optical ins?

FORMATS - Supports MP3 playback (30 to 320 kbps) - WMA playback, high and mid bitrate - WAV (PCM) playback. MP3 recording (selectable 32 to 192kbps CBR - real-time encoding from audio source). Copy JPEG images all types of files through CompactFlash interface into Gmini.

from : http://www.innovative-gear.com/argm120mp3pl.html

Rick · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2004, 03:06:49 PM »

Input is S/PDIF via 1/8" connector and you can record WAV with a firmware update.

timP · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2004, 03:12:10 PM »

and even though it isn't listed on the box, it comes with the SPDIF adapter...made the guy open it and check first

cpclark · « **Reply #19 on:** January 12, 2004, 03:30:53 PM »

this thing sounds really tempting, wish i had the loot, its running around 300 right

Rick · « **Reply #20 on:** January 12, 2004, 03:39:20 PM »

$218.00 shipped... pricewatch.com

I might have to grab one of these too.... Anyone know were to get a RCA > 1/8 mini digital cable?

JasonSobel · « **Reply #21 on:** January 12, 2004, 05:39:41 PM »

Quote

Anyone know were to get a RCA > 1/8 mini digital cable?

I ordered one last Friday to test it for bit-accuracy and all that. I am under the impression that it comes with an rca -> 1/8" for use with the S/PDIF in. I'll let you know if I'm wrong on that one and it doesn't come with one.

greenone · « **Reply #22 on:** January 12, 2004, 05:51:38 PM »

It does come with one according to the manual, but I'm wondering if your typical Radio Shack cable RCA>mini is 75-ohm or not...

JasonSobel · « **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:08:29 PM »

I'd guess that the RCA -> 1/8" cables at radio shack are analog cables, and are not 75-ohm. but that's just a guess. if I'm happy with the unit, I'm planning on making a right-angle RCA to mini 75-ohm cable. it doesn't take too much soldering skills to put a cable together

Sharky · « **Reply #24 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:27:41 PM »

do you need a preamp for it? or can you get away without one?

greenone · « **Reply #25 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:31:22 PM »

True, they're analog cables, but from others' experiences elsewhere on this board, RCAs will work in the short run even if they're not 75-ohm...and video cables, which *are* 75-ohm, work just fine - I use a $6 Radio Shack cable on my home decks rather than a $20 "premium quality" digi-cable.

Either way though, this sucker looks promising...and easier to 'forget' in your pocket and 'accidentally' bring into a venue than a DAT. No, seriously, it's an mp3 player. And these are ear buds. Really!

Rick · « **Reply #26 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:35:06 PM »

Quote from: greenone on January 12, 2004, 06:31:22 PM

Either way though, this sucker looks promising...and easier to 'forget' in your pocket and 'accidentally' bring into a venue than a DAT. No, seriously, it's an mp3 player. And these are ear buds. Really!

I've seen it with my own two eyes!.

Security to a girl in front me at a show: "What's that?"
Girl: "MP3 Player"
Security: "Ok"

I wonder how long before they ban mp3 players from shows....

timP · « **Reply #27 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:39:39 PM »

it comes with the basic red/white/yellow RCA plugs> mini...
I have a Denecke AD-20 with optical and SPDIF outs, and have been using it's optical outs in my IRIVER...
It seems to have a mini SPDIF out on it...does anyone know where I can get one? (RadioShack?)

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #28 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:42:20 PM »

Quote from: Rick on January 12, 2004, 06:35:06 PM

I wonder how long before they ban mp3 players from shows....

Probably not long. Some venues/acts are banning cell phones now because of the cameras in them. I'm not worried about it - I don't attend many big-ticket arena concerts where this kind of thing may happen. And even so, it's small enough to sneak in, anyway.

Rick · « **Reply #29 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:42:40 PM »

Quote from: spreadahead on January 12, 2004, 06:39:39 PM

it comes with the basic red/white/yellow RCA plugs> mini...

Is the yellow for video? wow.

timP · « **Reply #30 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:51:05 PM »

from the download manual, under the 'Changing the Record Settings'
".....If you use the SPDIF recording method, you plug the included cable to the SPDIF jack on the multi-connect plug, and then, on the other side, connect the yellow RCA connector to the SPDIF out on your stereo system"
could you plug this onto an out on a pre/AD?

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #31 on:** January 12, 2004, 07:08:41 PM »

Quote from: spreadahead on January 12, 2004, 06:51:05 PM

could you plug this onto an out on a pre/AD?

ADC, yup - sounds like it.

Rick · « **Reply #32 on:** January 12, 2004, 07:13:31 PM »

Quote from: Brian Skalinder on January 12, 2004, 07:08:41 PM

Quote from: spreadahead on January 12, 2004, 06:51:05 PM
could you plug this onto an out on a pre/AD?

ADC, yup - sounds like it.

So White and Red are Left/Right Analog and the Yellow is the Stereo Digital Cable ?? That's interesting that they all terminate to one 1/8 cable....

Does this seem like a problem to anyone. Any quality loss?

I guess it would better just to get one RCA > 1/8 digital cable.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #33 on:** January 12, 2004, 09:45:15 PM »

when I ran the Zefiro, I used a radio shack "mono" mini > female coax right angle adapter. worked like a charm.
so, yes, no special cable needed really. just be sure to get a mono plug and not a stereo mini.

John R · « **Reply #34 on:** January 13, 2004, 08:37:54 AM »

just when i bought a jb3...

Kelso · « **Reply #35 on:** January 13, 2004, 08:47:35 AM »

is the digi in copy protection an issue to copy files?
So nobody tested it and give us a review?

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #36 on:** January 14, 2004, 09:37:30 AM »

Quote from: John R on January 13, 2004, 08:37:54 AM

just when i bought a jb3...

well, i may buy it in the next month or so

Author Topic: Archos Gmini: This could be what I've been looking for... (Read 10475 times)

cpclark