Topic: TEAM Marantz PMD 660 (Part II)

[rockthing]

I got that clicking with a PNY card (recommended) Friday night. Gain was set low, but it seems that once I increased the gain, it stopped . Maybe coincidence.

I've used the card a lot and it only lasted about a minute when I first began recording. I was able to cut it out in post.

Hmm? I never considered the card.

The ticking comes and goes in my recording and I hear it even without the headphones at times.

Our gain settings were opposite. I had it set wide open. So that rules out that :-)

I picked up the Lexar card today, but haven't tried it out yet.
I'm hoping the Marantz recommended card is the cure.

[tfs8271]

^ Are you sure it's not cell phone interference?

[rockthing]

^ Are you sure it's not cell phone interference?

No, I'm not at all sure.
Someone did mention cell phones in the thread, but
if there was a definitive test that showed that,
I missed it.
How near would a cellphone have to be, I wonder...
or is proximity not a factor?
They're ubiquitous here. No one is without one.

Let's see what I can find about this, thank you for the new line of reasoning.

<edit>

Whaddayaknow, a whole topic on the subject. Thanks again.

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,63217.0.html

<edit2>

I know my phone was off, but I can't speak for anyone else in the venue.

[intpseeker]

I just checked the original recording and the spikes that represent the clicks are at 15, 20, 27, 30, and 38 seconds.  Could that have to do with a cell phone? Seems irregular, but maybe I'm only thinking about the ring. 

[rockthing]

I just checked the original recording and the spikes that represent the clicks are at 15, 20, 27, 30, and 38 seconds.  Could that have to do with a cell phone? Seems irregular, but maybe I'm only thinking about the ring. 

I don't know, but here's yet another thread on cell-phone noise, I've only read up to the first page so far.

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,93027.0.html

and another

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,65932.0.html

[Corbin]

I picked up the Lexar card today, but haven't tried it out yet.
I'm hoping the Marantz recommended card is the cure.

It probably is.

[rockthing]

I picked up the Lexar card today, but haven't tried it out yet.
I'm hoping the Marantz recommended card is the cure.

It probably is.

[NOLAfishwater]

I just want to confirm whether or not the weird 'clicking' noise mentioned waaaay back in the first thread was definitely cured by using a card reader instead of the USB out.

No one's mentioned that recently,
but I can hear it pretty clearly in my most recent recording
made with conservative levels for a highly dynamic performance.
(stock PMD-660)

So much good advice here, just want to be sure about this so I can buy
either a new CF card or just a card reader or both.

Thanks.
:-)

I had been having ticking issues with a Transcend 120X 2GB and a SanDisk Ultra II 4GB. It was really weird b/c I it was a light ticking and only in the right channel. So, I dug up my crappy 256K Lexar card that came with the unit and replaced the SanDisk Ultra II. Low and behold, the strange ticking in my right channel disappeared. Since I have my 660 for sale, I am debating whether or not to shell out cash for a new Lexar Platinum II 4GB. Does anyone have any experience with these cards?
I saw one on New Egg for $68.

[Corbin]

I just switched to Lexar and the problems with my 660 have been solved.  Not sure if it was the card or the battery contacts that I shaved but everything is working smooth again. 

I've had no problems with my Lexar card..not sure if it's 80 or 60 times though.  I don't think that would make a difference anyway.

[rockthing]

  I bought that Lexar 60x 4G card after getting the ticking in the right channel with my Sandisk Extreme.
The 2G cards are 80x and I'd read faster was NOT better, so I payed extra for the slower bigger card.

The next show I taped was considerably louder than anything I'd done previously, but
in a quiet section, when no one was playing, low and behold... ticktickticktickticktickticktickticktick
in the right channel.... 

At one point during rehearsal I used my cell phone as a flashlight to see where the input dial was positioned.

I need to re-listen to the between band sections of the actual show when I had my phone off,
but probably all 50 or 60 others in the audience had theirs on...

I also did an experiment by running from the AC during sound check and switching to batteries for the show.

In fact, I'll give that a close listen tonight. 

[rockthing]

My first trial of the Lexar 60x4G card produces that right channel tickticktickticktickticktick,

when listening carefully through headphones
when
my cell phone was off
using both AC and batteries

granted, even with headphones, I have to listen pretty hard, but when the source gets quiet,
the ticking is definitely there.

Again, I can't control the cell phone use of 60 other people in the room,
and therefore can't blame it entirely on the card.

I could try another test in my apartment, but there's so much electrical interference in here,
I doubt it would be scientific. I will try it anyway.
I won't be able to vouch for my downstairs neighbor's cell phone.

Perhaps someone needs to take their machine out into the woods miles from anyone
use a Lexar card and do some quiet field recordings.
I wonder if I'll be able to use the machine in that sort of application...  

I think I'll be looking into rigging up one of those metal cage external shielding devices,
despite the added bulk. (and wearing my aluminum foil at too!  )
Or just carry some pots and pans to the show

I remembered just a moment ago that my friend used to use a TV remote control next to his guitar pickups to produce a similar ticking sound that he fed through effects and loop pedals.... 

[tfs8271]

^ When I had cell phone interference it was right next to my 660, in the bag next to it. I dought it is cell phone now. You might want to send it in to be looked at by Marantz or who you bought it from if it was moded.

[NOLAfishwater]

My first trial of the Lexar 60x4G card produces that right channel tickticktickticktickticktick,

when listening carefully through headphones
when
my cell phone was off
using both AC and batteries

granted, even with headphones, I have to listen pretty hard, but when the source gets quiet,
the ticking is definitely there.

Again, I can't control the cell phone use of 60 other people in the room,
and therefore can't blame it entirely on the card.

I could try another test in my apartment, but there's so much electrical interference in here,
I doubt it would be scientific. I will try it anyway.
I won't be able to vouch for my downstairs neighbor's cell phone.

Perhaps someone needs to take their machine out into the woods miles from anyone
use a Lexar card and do some quiet field recordings.
I wonder if I'll be able to use the machine in that sort of application...  

I think I'll be looking into rigging up one of those metal cage external shielding devices,
despite the added bulk. (and wearing my aluminum foil at too!  )
Or just carry some pots and pans to the show

I remembered just a moment ago that my friend used to use a TV remote control next to his guitar pickups to produce a similar ticking sound that he fed through effects and loop pedals.... 

So you got that ticking with the Lexar card? What other cards is everyone else running with no problems?

[Javier Cinakowski]

I have not noticed any clicking noises.  I used Lexar Pro 4GB and SanDisc Ultra 4GB

Hope this gets figured out...

[NOLAfishwater]

Just got off the phone with Marantz tech support and they verified the ticking issue. He said that the Lexar 4GB Platinum II 80x speed card should work with no problems. In addition, he said that he has seen issues with most other cards. He recommended the following CF cards: Lexar, Viking, Hitachi, IBM, and PNY. Of all of them, he preferred the Lexar and that I should not have any problems with them. If you are having problems even after using the Lexar card, you should call them directly at: 866-405-2154. I also asked him about running an 8GB card and he said it was no problem. The only thing is that you must start a new track after 4GB and that it may not recognize the full capacity of the card when you insert it. So in other words, it might just show 4GB avaialable, and once you use that up, it will recognize another 4GB. I would probably just get two 4GB cards instead.