Topic: Re: minidisc skipping/wobbling

[snapple ryes]

alright. just to get this out of the way, i have a Sharp 722 MD deck with CSC mics.

the problem i've been having is that about  25% of the time that i record onto a minidisc with my deck and play it back, it ends up skipping and having a wierd wobbling noise, with the music completely dropping out during the skips. now, the obvious answer would be that i might be bumping into the deck while taping. but that cant be it, since there have been times that i recorded and purposely turned the deck upside down, shook it a bit, and tried to make some skips so i could find out for sure if that was the problem. well, behold, after i did this and played it back, it came out smooth and with no major skips as it does the other 75% of the time.
also, when i get the skips, i get them constantly, which come every couple seconds throughout the whole time im recording. i either get tons of skips, or nearly none at all, which i find very confusing.

i also thought it was the brand of MD i was using(sony 80min neige). i then tried recording onto an older 74min memorex MD and it came out great for the most part. but just earlier i tried with the memorex once again, and this time the recording came out with the same type of skips.

so, im pretty lost on whats causing this. i bought the MD deck used a few weeks ago, and the 2nd band i ended up taping(urge overkill) got ruined because of this. could it be that the deck is just  old and shitty, or what? any ideas?

[ChrisV]

Are you re-recording over minidiscs or using completely fresh ones?   I have heard of people having problems with dropouts and skips when you re-record over minidiscs.   I would think Sony ones are better than Memorex...I used the Sonys when I used to use my Sharp Minidisc player with no problems at all.

Could be a loose cord/jack into the player where it isn't getting plugged into completely.

Ok, out of ideas(for now)...sure others will chime in too with other possible causes.

[Sean Gallemore]

that's just MD

it was almost guartenteed that once per show I'd get drop out.

It's why I upgraded to DAT!

[firmdragon]

could be a wide variety of problems.

anywhere from problems w/ the laser, problems with mic cords, to different types of bump-age to the md.

[taperkat]

could be a dirty lens, i have 2 722's and one likes to drop out every MD for 1 second at 36:42....

otherwise it's the band that carries the laser inside of it, and it won't get better unless it sits completely still and flat.

[snapple ryes]

thanks a lot for the replies so far guys....


ChrisV, you might be right about the re-using MD's. that seems to be a somewhat logical explanation of what could be happening. i just dont understand how on one recording session, i get constant skips. and the next one, it records nice and smooth. it's as if im taking a chance and playing roulette every time i hit record, and have no way of telling if it's skipping while i record.


taperkat, if it is in fact a dirty lens, then is there any way i could go about fixing/cleaning that? or would i have to take it to some sort of special electronics shop?
also, how can i tell if it is a dirty lens in the first place? do dirty lens's record just fine for one session, and then skip constantly throughout another?

[muj]

it's the laser pick up.

[zhianosatch]

i have a friend who has terrible results with the sony neige brand. and memorexes always gave me and every person i knew problems...

[Rich.]

It sounds like there is something wrong with your mindisc player, like muj said, its probably your laser. Also if youre getting bashed around whilst taping, the anti-skip/g shock can only take so much before it conks out completly!

[snapple ryes]

alright. well if it is the MD's themselves, then i'll find out this wednesday after i try to tape another show. i just bought some brand new fuji MD's . so hopefully everything will turn out fine. i really hope it's not the lazer on my deck.

[snapple ryes]

alright. i taped death cab and it turned out with no skips at all while using the brand new fuji MD's. i hope things continue this way.

[ChrisV]

Which Death Cab show did you tape?  I just taped them Wednesday myself.

[Crimson]

alright. i taped death cab and it turned out with no skips at all while using the brand new fuji MD's. i hope things continue this way.

I've had problems with Fuji's more than other brands.  I just grab a 5-pack of those Sony Gold ones every time Im in Best Buy.

...for the time being.

[Scuba Jeremy]

Sony Gold ... I could never justify that much money for an MD. I mean, if it works for you, right on.

I only use my aging and well traveled Sharp MDSR-60 for taping, and it's never given me any problems unless I was expecting them (stealth, getting bumped....)

My Sony MZN505 is used for portable MP3 consumption, and that too will take anything I feed it, no problems.

I mostly use Memorex crystals (cheap!) and Sony color 80 min. discs. Last year, my girlfriend bought me some really nice looking Axia Japanese imports. They have aquatic scenes on the cases, and the discs are really well built. But those five discs are probably the most expensive discs I have, and I don't use them for regular taping. I have Art Bell's last "Coast To Coast AM" radio show on one of them, and the others are used for showing off my MP3 collection to people that ride in my car.

[taperkat]

Eep... forgot this thread.

To clean the lens you can just get a lens cleaner thing at Best Buy .. it's basically the same idea that commercial CD lens cleaners are.

In my 722's, they do NOT ACCEPT 80 MINUTE DISCS whatsoever! I am a firm believer in 74 min TDK, Sony Colors, and believe it or not Maxell Golds. I picked up 4 packs from Sam Goody for $1 a piece (.25/md? hell yeh) a while back.

I've used Memorex, HiSpace, etc... any 80 minute locks up in my machine. Memorex seem to have some read errors now and then. HiSpace aren't bad. I forget what other MDs I have.. most of mine are Max/TDK/Sony Coloreds.

Tons of skips would also lead me to believe yours doesn't like 80 minutes - I've got a show that that's all it is is skips, and it's on an 80. Ran my other deck at the same time (trying to matrix) on 74s and went perfectly.

[snapple ryes]

Which Death Cab show did you tape?  I just taped them Wednesday myself.

same show you did, at the crystal. im assuming you were the guy with that giant mic stand? i was going to go up to you after the show and ask if you wanted to swap recordings, but my stupid friends rushed me out. although i did get to talk with somebody who videotaped most of the show. hopefully i'll be able to score a copy from him. i have my doubts though, since for some reason trades with videotapers i meet usually never go through.

my recording turned so-so. the drums and bass sound good, but the vocals and the guitar distort most of the time. it's a very loud recording, and even though i was standing on one of the benches on the left side of the venue, the disc turned out with pretty heavy crowd noise b/w songs. probably because i had the mics plugged into the mic-in slot, and not optical/line out. i actually ought to make a different thread asking about that.

are you planning to share your recording, or would you care to do a trade? id offer mine, but as of now i have no way to transfer MD>CDR.

and to everyone else, i taped another show just yesterday(the swords project), with the fuji MD's, and this one also turned out with no skips. i think i'll stick with these until i have any problems. i guess some individual decks are screwy with certain brands. i still have the reciept for these though(just in case).

[ChrisV]

Yep, that is me the tall person with the big stand ;p

Sure, I am always glad to trade recordings...I love to collect other people's sources for any shows I attend.   I plan on sharing it as a Bittorrent on STG since there is no archive.org I don't think for DCFC.   I think the recordings of all 3 bands came out nice....probably the best recording I've done with my new mics so far.   The vocals always seem a little muddy at Crystal Ballroom but they actually came out better on my recording than it seemed like at the actual show so I was pleasantly surprised there.

When I finish up on tracking it and share it I'll let you know.  If you know Bittorrent that should work out good or if not I can just send you a copy of the show.    Definately let me know if anything comes about with the video...I'd be really interested in that.   If they want to make a DVD out of it feel free to use my audio if they want to sync with the video.    I could also probably find someone who could do that too if they don't know how or don't want to.   Did they tape the Thermals or BK too?


As for your minidisc transfer yes you do want to do it with a deck that can transfer it digitally.   Kevin(blu666z) did all my minidisc transfers for me when I had a MD.   He is from Seattle area and does very nice work and I think still has a standing offer to do transfers in a thread on this board