Topic: Marantz 671 sounds decent when recording, but BAD when played back on computer?

[MattinSTL]

I recently got a stock 671 and it sounds okay when recording... even through the mic in... not good enough for what you guys do but it's decent for my use. (dialog for video)

Anyway... when I record and play back files on the unit everything sounds decent, but when I put those files into the computer they have a stupid level of hiss/distortion... it's not hardly even there when I monitor the recording while making it... any ideas?

I'm trying to do 24/96 and I have an Audigy2 24/96 card (crappy I know, but still it normally sounds decent).

So what's going on?

I mean it sounds way worse then my camcorder audio...

[Brian Skalinder]

How are you transferring from 671 > PC?  And how are you playing them back from your PC (s/w, hardware, listening device e.g. speakers or headphones)?

[MattinSTL]

I got the files in by putting the CF card in the card reader on my printer (it works just like a normal card reader)... the usb connection directly from the 671 to the computer isn't working... WinXP says "unknown hardware" and won't install any kind of driver for it.

I get the files in fine through the card reader and windows just sees the individual files as individual wave files. Then I've just been playing them back with windows media 9. I have Sound Forge 6 and Acid Pro 4 but neither app will recognize the 24/96 files yet.

I have an Audigy2 card with the front mounted breakout interface... so on the front of my computer I have usb, firewire, SPDIF, mini-xlr, optical in and out... etc. etc. I'm using Sony 7506 headphones (the standard monitor headphones in hollywood)... and my speaker monitors are Cambridge... but trust me... none of the hardware is the problem. I've been able to do super clean audio for a while now...

There is an issue of the 24/96 or perhaps the marantz or something... I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually, but I hoped one of the other guys who bought a 671 might be able to help.

The files that I put in are 24/96 mono, but I'll try a 16/48 stereo later just to see if that matters... I just don't see why it would. There is probably some small detail I'm overlooking... but I haven't found it yet.

[fozzy]

There is a firmware update for the 671 for the normal audio apps to recgnise the 24/96 files.  I can't find the link but it requires it being sent in to them.  I know fanosix was doing realtimg spidif transfers till this issue was resolved.

[live2496]

Try playing them with Foobar2000. Then let us know the result.

Gordon 

[MattinSTL]

Thanks... I downloaded fubar2000 and the sound is the same... it's like grounding static or something? It's quiet, but it's there... there is definitely something wrong somewhere. The thing that's so odd about it is when I play the file back on the unit it sounds great... but when I send it to the computer something bad happens in the process.

When I get it sorted I'll let you know what the problem was... if somebody else already knows what's happening dont' keep it to yourself man!

[WiFiJeff]

There is a firmware update for the 671 for the normal audio apps to recgnise the 24/96 files.  I can't find the link but it requires it being sent in to them.  I know fanosix was doing realtimg spidif transfers till this issue was resolved.

Yeah, the Marantz machines seem to be the only newer CF card stuff that won't do firmware upgrades from simple downloads.  The upside is that the turnaround time was very fast, they got it back to me in a few days.

Jeff

[F.O.Bean]

bought new right now they should be fixed tho, ya think?

[WiFiJeff]

bought new right now they should be fixed tho, ya think?

I guess it depends on how long the dealer has had them on the shelf. I would ask.

Jeff

[MattinSTL]

Thanks fozzy and Wifi... case is solved. It's the firmware... 16/48 sounds ten times cleaner then the 24/96... which has me really excited 'cause you can hear the fat character (in 24/96) that this thing gives my otherwise wimpy voice, and without the crunchy static behind it the 24/96 will absolutely rock!

In 16/48 this thing still sounds really good... but it's easy to hear the difference in fullness when you switch to 24/96... I guess I'll just have to wait a few days to hear that anywhere but in the unit.

Thanks again everybody!

[Chuck]

Thanks fozzy and Wifi... case is solved. It's the firmware... 16/48 sounds ten times cleaner then the 24/96... which has me really excited 'cause you can hear the fat character (in 24/96) that this thing gives my otherwise wimpy voice, and without the crunchy static behind it the 24/96 will absolutely rock!

In 16/48 this thing still sounds really good... but it's easy to hear the difference in fullness when you switch to 24/96... I guess I'll just have to wait a few days to hear that anywhere but in the unit.

Thanks again everybody!

Keep us informed as to how Marantz handles this.

[MattinSTL]

bought new right now they should be fixed tho, ya think?

For the record... the easiest way to tell if a 671 has the updated firmware is to go into the recording quality settings... when you switch through the 24/96 you'll see a "24e" option. That is the 24 bit depth that windows apps will recognize... so if you click through them and it just gives you a choice of 16 or 24, but no "e" then you need the update.