Topic: Optical > H140 Question

[cgrooves]

iRiver H140 + Rockbox (recent build):

I was planning on getting an optical patch tonight (I've been running line-in only) and set the source to digital.  Hooked up my optical cable to the back of my DVD player to see if I could record the audio.  Ended up recording digi noise on the H140.  The levels were pegged out (and clipping a lot), but it was a digital signal coming from the DVD player (with no way to attenuate signal strength).  Is the problem perhaps that the DVD player is not sending a S/PDIF signal?  I don't have a pre with optical out available to test right now.  I guess I'll bring along my rca (x2) > mini in case I have to use an analog patch. 

[dgodwin]

I tested the digital in on my 120 with a fostex d5, and everything went smoothly.  Not sure what was going on.  In the older versions, you had to turn on the digital outs for the digital in to work.  Is this still the case, and did you do that?  Other than that, I'm not sure what else might've caused the problems. 

[cgrooves]

I'm using daily build 07.07.06.  I can see a red light in the optical out port when feeding it the signal, so it appears that optical out is working.  Thanks.

[whatboutbob]

In the older versions, you had to turn on the digital outs for the digital in to work.  Is this still the case, and did you do that?

That's not the case with newer builds.  Digi-out is auto-enabled whenever you select digi-recording.  You do still have to ensure you're sending the iriver a digi signal before you go into the digi-recording screen tho, otherwise the iriver may not be able to lock-on to the signal.

[cgrooves]

I've ensured that the signal was being passed before entering the recordiing screen.  I'm hoping that the optical signal being transmitted by my DVD player is just the wrong format.  Has anyone else tried feeding their H1xx an optical signal from a DVD player?  If you got the time, I would appreciate hearing the result of the recording.

[dgodwin]

I just tested from my dvd player to my iRiver (daliy build 060605)

JVC XV-N44 -> iRiver HP 120

I used both a cd and an actual dvd to test.

CD - came out fine
dvd - all sorts of clicks and noise. 

Hope this helps

[cgrooves]

I just tested from my dvd player to my iRiver (daliy build 060605)

JVC XV-N44 -> iRiver HP 120

I used both a cd and an actual dvd to test.

CD - came out fine
dvd - all sorts of clicks and noise. 

Hope this helps

You sir, are the man! +T
I don't know why I didn't think of trying a CD.  I got the same results as you did, and am now convinced that I can successfully get an optical patch recording tonight via digital in on the h140.  The DVD digital audio optical signal must be in a format that isn't compatible.

[dgodwin]

Glad I could help.  I was kinda dissapointed that recording from a dvd didn't work.  I had popped in a simpson's dvd:  Marge vs. the Monorail 

[petur]

I wouldn't be surprised if the DVD audio signal was encrypted. Bloody DRM 

[dunebug81]

I dont think its drm...doesnt the iriver record in 16/44.1 where a dvd is 16/48?  I would say that the difference between the two is causing the magled audio.

[rsimms3]

Is 5.1 a different optical signal from 2 channel PCM?  That would be my first thought that the DVD was set to Dolby or something where the CD would just output PCM.

[dunebug81]

Is 5.1 a different optical signal from 2 channel PCM?  That would be my first thought that the DVD was set to Dolby or something where the CD would just output PCM.

Depends on if the disc was playing a 5.1 track.  Even still I think its still a 48k and not 44.1.

[treespine]

I thought the H120 was able to record 48 digitally?

[dunebug81]

I thought the H120 was able to record 48 digitally?

It might..but does it auto detect what what sample rate/frequency its coming in at?  Perhaps you need to adjust the setting on the iriver so it will take a 48k signal.  There was an iriver on woot.com the other day and I thought about getting it but I know id still use my MD so it would have been money wasted.

[treespine]

There was an iriver on woot.com the other day and I thought about getting it but I know id still use my MD so it would have been money wasted.
 

I saw that iRiver on woot, but it wasnt the h120, it didnt have the recording inputs.  You can get iRiver H120's new on ebay for $150 +shipping.  Not a bad deal for a plug-n-play 20 gig hard drive that can play music and record digital/mic/line