Topic: Two PMD-660 Questions

[stevetoney]

Sorry if these have already been asked somewhere, but I've got two questions about the 660 that I will be getting in the mail in the next couple of days.

1)  Nicks Picks' review suggests that off-brand CF media didn't work in the unit he demo'ed.  Anybody else experience this?

2)  Will 8 GB CF cards work in the 660?

Thanks

[shukenja]

hello tonedeaf

im not too much of an expert, but..

1) depends what you mean by off-brand. youre pretty sure to use standard sandisk , kingston etc cards, ive never seen anyone complaining on these as you know probably, and i wouldnt go for any of-brand even just because i havent heard of them to be honest. i think its better to spend 40 kudos more beeing sure its working than saving on your nerves, which never end up good way.

2) i dont recall where ive seen that, but i think someone had an issue with 8gig card.  i think 4 is the biggest safe way to go. i remember it was working with 8gig but then the guy had some serious problems, in terms of pmd stoping recording / transfer issues. now, most or reviews ive read are based on max. 2 gig cards which are working fine. 4gig and more were not in field yet, or were too expensive, so unless you stumb upon very very fresh review, i think its best just to go with, say, 2 4gb cards as safe solution. but as i say, dont cite me on this one, im just unsure where i saw that...

i hope that helps...


OOPS, EDIT:
heres what ive found;


Re: Marantz PMD 660
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2006, 02:00:48 PM »   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Word from Doug is...

No Go on the 8GB for the 660.

He also says the larger cards use more power and introduce more noise.

Don't ask me how/why but I've learned to beleive him.  I may be ordering 4 2GB Cards for my box.


discussion: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,33210.0.html
i think you better go and mail Doug with those questions. If someone knows, hese the man to ask.

[paullySC]

I'm using Sandisk Ultra II 2gig cards ( I have 2 2gig cards). Haven't had a problem with them. I tried PNY and it didn't work. If you search the other PMD660 threads in this forum you'll get some good ideas on what cards people have been using.


I don't know if an 8 gig card will work. You can get 3 hours 13 minutes on a 2 gig card. Personally I'd rather have a couple smaller cards instead of one big card. This way if I have a problem with a card I still have others to use.

Hope that helps. Is your 660 modded?

[tfs8271]

Never a problem from Kingston. I have a 1, 2 & 4 GB card. Six and half hours with a 4 GB......you shouldn't need a 8 GB card. Save the money you will spend on an 8 Gb (that won't work anyways) and buy a 4 GB and a quick portable harddrive that has a CF slot/reader. Most photo shops have them...I haven't tried one to see if they work, but Creative Labs Zen W has a CF reader and will play wav files.

[NOLAfishwater]

I bought an Sandisk Ultra III 4 GB for $86 and have been really happy with mine. It will hold 6:23 of uncompressed 44.1 wave files. Pretty solid. As far as I know a 4GB is all it will handle.

Lookis like they are on sale $86 - $30 rebate = $56 for the best CF card out there. Here is the link

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/356017-REG/Sandisk_SDCFX3409690_4GB_Extreme_III_CompactFlash.html

[stevetoney]

Thanks alot for the answers everyone.  OK, so 4GB it is!  I have to agree with the comment about more small cards being better than one big one.  My thoughts about the big one were kinda skewed by thinking about getting a whole days worth of stuff on one card at a festival, but that's not important.

Also, I have a loptop that I'll take with me and download nightly or maybe I should say morning-ly since late night sets are probably the last thing (other than plugging in for some recharging) I usually do at a festival and then use the morning to kinda regroup, repack, etc.

Thanks for the tips, everyone.  +T's to you all!

[stevetoney]

Is your 660 modded?

I don't even have it yet.  I think it went in the mail today.  I traded an R-09 and some other stuff for the 660 and some odds and ends. 

But this one's not modded at all.  I'm pretty happy with my SD-MP2 pre-amp, but I am giving thought to having Chris do a Busman mod to the 660.  I'm pretty happy with the BMP+2 mod he did on my UA-5 and I guess his mod to the 660 is quite alike.

Any of you have modded boxes?

BTW, I guess my most desirable mod would be a W+ACM Oade mod, but this isn't an Oade box and since I like the MP2, I decided that I didn't want to put an extra $350 into upgrading the 660 just to eliminate the extra box, by running the MP2 with the 660, for stealthiness.  However, I might consider $170, which is I think what Chris charges for his 660 mod.

BTW, yes I know that Oade won't work on a box that isn't bought from him...I was just using that as an example of why I decided not to spend the extra scratch for an Oade mod box.

[paullySC]

Is your 660 modded?

I don't even have it yet.  I think it went in the mail today.  I traded an R-09 and some other stuff for the 660 and some odds and ends. 

But this one's not modded at all.  I'm pretty happy with my SD-MP2 pre-amp, but I am giving thought to having Chris do a Busman mod to the 660.  I'm pretty happy with the BMP+2 mod he did on my UA-5 and I guess his mod to the 660 is quite alike.

Any of you have modded boxes?

BTW, I guess my most desirable mod would be a W+ACM Oade mod, but this isn't an Oade box and since I like the MP2, I decided that I didn't want to put an extra $350 into upgrading the 660 just to eliminate the extra box, by running the MP2 with the 660, for stealthiness.  However, I might consider $170, which is I think what Chris charges for his 660 mod.

BTW, yes I know that Oade won't work on a box that isn't bought from him...I was just using that as an example of why I decided not to spend the extra scratch for an Oade mod box.

That's cool, I was just curious.

[danlynch]

Thus far I have only used the Kingston 2GB card, with zero problems.
I don't expect to be using any other cards at this point.  2GB gives me over 3 hours at 16/44,
which is plenty for the music I record.

[shukenja]

i didnt went for modded one as im doing field recordings, so i rather like to invest in good set of mics and preamp (maybe).

anyway. glad you sorted that out