Im getting the "unknown data" error running mytek stereo 192 (optical out) > sony d50. Did sony ever release a new firmware or anything? I know Grace did a undated firmware chip for the V3's so they would be compatible with the D50's but after talking with mytek today it doesn't sound like I'll be getting one from them. They more less said the problem is with the sony...
Brent:
Sorry you're getting the error.
I just went through the very same issue trying to get compatibility between a D50 and mini-me and I lost the battle, so I had no choice except to sell the D50 for the same reason you've encountered. Sorry, but the story Mytek is giving you is really only a half truth. The issue is that Sony's finalized SPDIF standard doesn't allow backward compatibility with some of the equipment, like the Mytek, mini-me, and UA-5 that used the earlier SPDIF standard. Grace obviously is a customer oriented company and goes above and beyond with EX+ service, so they addressed the issue by issuing a new chip that allows conformance with the finalized standard for forward compatibility. Mytek is choosing not to implement a upgrade/recall on their units for compatibility with the finalized standard, but they're telling you that the issue is on Sony, when really the issue could be just as much on them as Sony since they aren't going to update to the final SPDIF standard (or some story like that...Todd knows the real story.) It's unfortunate for Sony and Sony D50 buyers that they chose to use the more restrictive standard, since it effectively means that the D50 won't play well with many digital devices that were designed and sold prior to the release of the D50, but in another way it makes sense that they'd use it since they're the developers of the standard (they're the 'S' in SPDIF).
Anyway, I tried a couple of work arounds that were unsuccessful (I bought a HOSA digital signal converter) that were unsuccessful, so I ended up selling the D50 and buying a Tascam DR100mkII (newly released machine...see my review in the recorders section...$330 from B&H). The Tascam uses the former SPDIF standard, so it synchs fine with the mini-me. So far I'm very happy with the Tascam, although if the Sony had worked with my mini-me I'm sure I'd have been happy with that too. This new Tascam unit bridges the price gap between the D50 and the Microcrapper as far as providing digital input in a handheld. I recommend it.
One item of note is that the Tascam digital input is an SPDIF input, so the Tascam doesn't recognize AES/EBU on the digital input.
Topic: PCM-D50 problems (Read 22613 times)