Topic: Analog vs. Digital Line-In??

[tgakidis]

What is the difference?  I thinking about the new Tascam dr-1.  Does this have digital line in?  If you record with the mic line in is that digital?

[boojum]

Unless you have one of the new Neumann digital mics it is all analog(ue) in.

[SmokinJoe]

When we speak about a "digital input" that is typically coming from an external preamp and A/D (analog to digital converter), such as a UA-5, and then there is a digital signal into the recorder.  At this point the recorder is just a "bit bucket", and doesn't really effect the quality of the recording.   JB3's, iRiver H120's, and the Sony D-50 have that digital signal come in over a fiberoptic cable.  Other recorders use a digital coax cable, frequently with an RCA jack.

Then there is "Mic in" versus "Line In", where generally speaking Mic In is more sensitive.

I'm pretty sure the Tascam doesn't have digital in at all.  Strictly analog.  I read some info recently on the Tascam DR-1, and it appears you can adjust the levels if you are using Mic In, but if you are using Line-in you CANNOT adjust the levels!  As far as I'm concerned this is a huge miss.  So if you want to use Mic In, OK, but if you want to run Line in, you better be able to adjust the levels in your preamp.  This might be OK, but what about patching from SBD, or your buddies output, or running a hot mic at a loud show?

[tgakidis]

Sound professionals bundles the new tasacm with a line input level control cable.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=sp-aten-1

Does this solve the problem of controlling the line in levels?

I have a mini pre-amp i used with my mini disc recorder, would this solve that problem?

What is running a hot mic?

[SmokinJoe]

Your mini-preamp should do it, and that cable would probably do it... but it seems like a workaround to a problem which shouldn't exist.  Personally, I was initially intrigued with the DR-1, but decided to stick with my Edirol R-09.

FYI... When I say "hot mic", I just mean some mics put out more signal than others (a "hot" signal with a higher voltage).  This is the classic mic > battbox > line-in scenario, compared to mic-in.

Am I correct in thinking you are the guy with the Senns who tapes his T-bar to the post at the Stone Church?  If so, then I would be glad to let you use my R-09 some night and see what you think of that.

[tgakidis]

Yup, Thats me.  I am also the other taper at the grace potter show last week.  You ran your rig from the balcony.  Now I know who you are.  We talked at the Charlie hunter show a few weeks ago.

[SmokinJoe]

Yep, that's me too.

If you like your mics and pre, and plan on running that for a while, there is no particular advantage to having a recorder which will record digi-in.  The JB3 and H120 will record digi-in, but if you plan to record analog-in the R-09 (and probably the Tascam) will have a little better analog input section, so don't compromise the analog input quality to get a digi-input feature that you won't be using.

If you want to play with the R-09 I expect to hit the Church on 3/8 for Nate Wilson.