Topic: Digi-hits from DAT player?

[Uncle Jimmy]

Guys,

  Pulled some tapes from the Greyboy allstars in Denver. The tapes sound good, but during the beginning of the second set i had adjusted my mics slightly. I got some digi-noise for a little bit over the first part.
    I didn't know it was happening, but my levels were hot. I fine-tuned the situation, but it turns out there was noise on the source. I was using a borrowed an M1, as opposed to the borrowed DA-P1 that I usually use.
 

  Could this be due to something with the recorder? Or is the digi noise usually sourced somewhere else?

Thanks kids,
Jim

[C.Clark]

i'd check the hours on the deck, take a lookat the heads to see if there dirty, its most likely the heads in the deck or the digi cable from the a/d > dat that was the problem

[jlykos]

It could be a few things.  It could be the preamp clipping, a finicky digital cable, or dirty heads on the deck.  It could also be noise from the PA system, a nearby Smokeeter, or audience noise that sounds like a clip.  All of these things contain elements that may sound like digi-noise.  If your levels were running hot the entire night, my money is on the preamp clipping.

[Uncle Jimmy]

OK, good stuff. Lets assume for the moment that I am correctly calling this digital noise. Lets also go for the preamp clip suggestion. Anyone using a lunatec V2? (Waits for laughter to subside.)

Now, does anyone pull clean tapes while seeing the red on a V2? Any other tips on that front? The sound is pretty good, but I'm killin myself with that little bit of noise. Maybe  I just need to be more conservative with my levels?

Doesn't sound too macho.

-Jim

[jlykos]

First of all, that avitar is wierd and creepy.  That's for starters.

It depends how hot you are running the V2.  If it is blinking red at the high points, you should be fine.  If the red lights are sustained, however, then you may be running it too hot.  In a previous thread, someone remarked that when the red lights flash, you still have like 10db of headroom available, which is a lot.

Also, next time you set up in that location, check if there is a Smokeeter around.  In a couple of the local taping establishments in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, there are Smokeeters directly above where one sets up to tape and they sound like shit.