Topic: KORG MR-1 pt.II

[igene]

Well,
I generally like to overbuild, start from the top and work my way down.
That's why I chose the HOODMAN. The X-fer speed matches.
That and they use 100% reliable SSD chips.
(obviously not for their knowledgeable customer relations)

As I see the issue, we are getting write errors due to insufficient transfer rates.
So if the magic # is 100Mb/s, then I would think that selecting a 100Mb/s (or faster)
CF card solves (or resolves) that issue.
Now once we have established that there is no errors recording @ 1bit,
      (and repeat the process a few times to be sure)
then we know the problem was the write capability of the card.

There may be some other, yet unknown problem that could be unmasked during the trials.
or that could be it, and I move onto the internal battery.

But I think that that is where I want to start.

Unless you know of another 100Mb/s read/write SLC CF card.
nothing is purchased yet.

[tedyun]

I'm still skeptical that it is the transfer rates. The Ritek SLC I used is 300x, which has a 45 Mbps speed. My Lexar MLC is also 300x and it failed. So I am still championing the SLC vs MLC, and I am reluctant to buy a 600x.

I haven't had any problems with the Ritek SLC CF card, but it is not field tested yet.

I am open to the possibility that a high-speed MLC card can compensate for the chip incompatibility but it seems like a lot to invest at this point.

So if you try the Hoodman, I would be very surprised if it didn't work. And if it does work, we still haven't resolved the chip vs. speed.

Well,
I generally like to overbuild, start from the top and work my way down.
That's why I chose the HOODMAN. The X-fer speed matches.
That and they use 100% reliable SSD chips.
(obviously not for their knowledgeable customer relations)

As I see the issue, we are getting write errors due to insufficient transfer rates.
So if the magic # is 100Mb/s, then I would think that selecting a 100Mb/s (or faster)
CF card solves (or resolves) that issue.
Now once we have established that there is no errors recording @ 1bit,
      (and repeat the process a few times to be sure)
then we know the problem was the write capability of the card.

There may be some other, yet unknown problem that could be unmasked during the trials.
or that could be it, and I move onto the internal battery.

But I think that that is where I want to start.

Unless you know of another 100Mb/s read/write SLC CF card.
nothing is purchased yet.

[igene]

tedyun -"And if it does work, we still haven't resolved the chip vs. speed."

Do you mean the slowest (cheapest) write speed CF card it will write to ?

If that's the case,  I'd rather know for sure it will be more than fast enough and write error free.
I'm always looking to save, but if the solution cost more...at least I know it's worry free.

What seems to be happening is each mod test is with a slightly better card than the last.
But each one has fallen short because the speeds were not there or format didn't match.
Well, the technology has caught up to the needs of the mod.
It's just a matter of time till more cards at, or greater than, the 100Mb mark show up,
and at reduced cost. But till that's available, that is what I've found.

I'm open to suggestions too.
Does anyone else know of another 100Mb/s write (SLC) CF card ?
cheaper ? faster ?  better ? Steve Austin ?

I can't even afford to buy a cheaper card right now anyway (the deck hasn't even arrived yet)
But when I buy one, it's going to be a well thought out (& overbuilt) long term solution.
Right now, so far, it's the Hoodman RAW 16GB CF

tedyun - Is that what you meant ? or something else ?

the HOODMAN is 675X / SLC
16GB - ~$269. 
32GB - ~$460. (ouch!)

[H₂O]

I think SLC is faster at random reads/writes then MLC.  I think if you get a fast enough MLC it could make up for this.


The rating is always SEQUENTIAL Reads/Writes.  I think the MR-1 was coded/designed in a way that makes writes somewhat random in behavior (such as it is writing to the Project file while it is writing to the Audio file and the buffer is not large enough to cope with the latency of re addressing the Flash memory between the two files)


If the data was streamed to disk in a sequential fashion at the speeds required there should be any issues with corrupt files, etc.

[H₂O]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208498


This one may be an option 90MBps Read/Write for 16GB+ cards

[tedyun]

If @24/88.2, it writes at 0.5556 Mbps (1 GB/30 min) and @DSD, it writes at 0.7575 Mbps (1 Gb/22 min), then a 90 Mbps should work, since 0.7575 is less than a 50% increase over 0.5556 (which would be 0.8333).

I'll try to use my 300x MLC CF card tonight. If it is a speed issue, and it is scalable, then it should not be able to handle 24/88.2, but work at 24/48. If that happens, then I will go ahead and order the 600x.

Or if anyone wants to volunteer to test the 600x card, my wallet will thank you!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208498


This one may be an option 90MBps Read/Write for 16GB+ cards

[igene]

since my last post, FEDEX delivered my MR-1
It's plugged into the wall, charging.
It arrived w/ 0% batt. power.
Looks nice - almost like new.






I'm not ready to start any mod testing yet.
I ordered the ZIF to CF adapter today.
now I wait...

I'm going to ponder the CF card question.
and wait for the test (whom ever) with the 90Mb/s card.
Eagerly awaiting those results.

The CF card is US ship/delivery. A few days at most.
I can wait a min. for the card.
at least 'till the adapter is nearly here anyway.

I'll open the MR-1 soon and take a look inside, and take some battery measurements.
Also to physically see what I'm dealing with.

[tedyun]

 

She's a beaut!

Before you open it and poke around, my biggest advice is to take a piece of scotch tape and tape the Mic/Line and PIP switches to the front part of the case. These switches are not secured to the case and will fall out if you don't tape them. If they do fall out, it's not a problem to align them again, but it certainly saves you time if you tape them.

Also, the ZIF connectors are different between the HDD and the M/B. With the HDD, the latch rotates upwards to release the cable, and with the connector on the M/B, the "handles" on the side of the connector slide horizontally.

If you want, I can post some pics.

 

since my last post, FEDEX delivered my MR-1
It's plugged into the wall, charging.
It arrived w/ 0% batt. power.
Looks nice - almost like new.

I'm not ready to start any mod testing yet.
I ordered the ZIF to CF adapter today.
now I wait...

I'm going to ponder the CF card question.
and wait for the test (whom ever) with the 90Mb/s card.
Eagerly awaiting those results.

The CF card is US ship/delivery. A few days at most.
I can wait a min. for the card.
at least 'till the adapter is nearly here anyway.

I'll open the MR-1 soon and take a look inside, and take some battery measurements.
Also to physically see what I'm dealing with.

[igene]

Thanks 

take your time, but yeah - post the pix !

[RTD]

hmmm...I will try to get another airline adapter as my one doesn´t fit. sometimes its good to have a stereo in for some mikes.

[tedyun]

Recording 1 h 30 min at 24/88.2 was successful using a 300x MLC CF card. Three files were generated, 2x 1 GB, and 1x 700 MB or so. All opened fine in Audiogate, and the PRJ file opened fine too.

I can try a slower card to see if 24/88.2 still works. I have a 133x CF.

If @24/88.2, it writes at 0.5556 Mbps (1 GB/30 min) and @DSD, it writes at 0.7575 Mbps (1 Gb/22 min), then a 90 Mbps should work, since 0.7575 is less than a 50% increase over 0.5556 (which would be 0.8333).

I'll try to use my 300x MLC CF card tonight. If it is a speed issue, and it is scalable, then it should not be able to handle 24/88.2, but work at 24/48. If that happens, then I will go ahead and order the 600x.

Or if anyone wants to volunteer to test the 600x card, my wallet will thank you!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208498


This one may be an option 90MBps Read/Write for 16GB+ cards

[igene]

I found something VERY interesting >

http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=300&LangNo=0&Func1No=1&Func2No=

check out the speed (it's SLC too)

[tedyun]

Nice! Transcend usually has very good prices.

But remember:

SLC = can write DSD, can't prolong battery time
MLC = can't write DSD, can prolong battery time

So there is no advantage of replacing your HDD with a SLC CF card, except for a small increase in battery life.

I found something VERY interesting >

http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=300&LangNo=0&Func1No=1&Func2No=

check out the speed (it's SLC too)

[igene]

I'm going to work on battery life too

I charged the battery 6 hours. turned it on (batt level full) and scrolled around the menu for
a couple min's. When I checked battery levels, it was down 1 bar.
Does that mean the battery isn't holding a charge ?
or does it need a longer charge ?

good news on another front >
I dug thru my bag 'O connectors and found an airline jack - and it fits !!!
(I forgot I had it)



...and why do I get the feeling that it's in backwards...?

[tedyun]

If you're going from an empty battery, it takes a while to charge. I usually leave it overnight.

With the adapter, mine has the input facing the other direction, but it is easy enough to check which way yours should point.

I'm going to work on battery life too

I charged the battery 6 hours. turned it on (batt level full) and scrolled around the menu for
a couple min's. When I checked battery levels, it was down 1 bar.
Does that mean the battery isn't holding a charge ?
or does it need a longer charge ?

good news on another front >
I dug thru my bag 'O connectors and found an airline jack - and it fits !!!
(I forgot I had it)


...and why do I get the feeling that it's in backwards...?