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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: waltmon on October 02, 2017, 01:07:59 PM

Title: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: waltmon on October 02, 2017, 01:07:59 PM
What are your fave bit box type decks with digital input? Considering grabbing a mini-me as they sound killer with Neumanns.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: rocksuitcase on October 02, 2017, 02:08:42 PM
Walt
the digi input restricts you from Sony M10 and the like. I have a Marantz PMD661 with digi input. It is a bit pricey for a basic bit bucket though.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: gewwang on October 02, 2017, 02:19:39 PM
The Tascam DR100mkIII has a digi-input. I've used it many times to go digital out of my Oade-Mod V3 with great results.

(https://newcdn.transom.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Dr100mk3-Mics.jpg)
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: dogmusic on October 02, 2017, 02:44:35 PM
You might find a used Sony D-50 fairly cheap.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: rocksuitcase on October 02, 2017, 02:53:13 PM
The Tascam DR100mkIII has a digi-input. I've used it many times to go digital out of my Oade-Mod V3 with great results.

(https://newcdn.transom.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Dr100mk3-Mics.jpg)
gewwang- Seems like guys that use these decks REALLY like them for the price point and features etc?
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: perks on October 02, 2017, 02:59:08 PM
Am I wrong to think the problem hooking a Mini-Me to a Tascam DR100's digi in is going to be the SPDIF out on the mini-me?
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: gewwang on October 02, 2017, 03:08:58 PM
The Tascam DR100mkIII has a digi-input. I've used it many times to go digital out of my Oade-Mod V3 with great results.

(https://newcdn.transom.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Dr100mk3-Mics.jpg)
gewwang- Seems like guys that use these decks REALLY like them for the price point and features etc?

Does everything I need it to when I need less than 4 channels. good preamp, 48v power, XLR ins, digital in, hold button, compact but solid build, lithium power that fails over to 2 rechargable AAs if needed, etc.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: gewwang on October 02, 2017, 03:12:23 PM
Am I wrong to think the problem hooking a Mini-Me to a Tascam DR100's digi in is going to be the SPDIF out on the mini-me?

The unit comes with this cable for the spdif in

(http://tascam.com/content/images/universal/misc/dr-100mkii_digital.jpg)
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: noahbickart on October 02, 2017, 06:49:15 PM
Am I wrong to think the problem hooking a Mini-Me to a Tascam DR100's digi in is going to be the SPDIF out on the mini-me?

The unit comes with this cable for the spdif in

(http://tascam.com/content/images/universal/misc/dr-100mkii_digital.jpg)
Yeah, but the coax spdif out of the mini me isn’t reliable. You need to use the aes/ebu for a stable signal. I think you’d need a format converter for a stable connection to the tascam.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: yug du nord on October 02, 2017, 07:21:01 PM
IMO.. 
If size isn't an issue, HDP2.
Otherwise, 661.  But the 661 "only" goes up to 24/96.
I've been using a 661 as a bit bucket for years and absolutely dig it.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: jcable77 on October 02, 2017, 08:06:34 PM
Am I wrong to think the problem hooking a Mini-Me to a Tascam DR100's digi in is going to be the SPDIF out on the mini-me?

The unit comes with this cable for the spdif in

(http://tascam.com/content/images/universal/misc/dr-100mkii_digital.jpg)
Yeah, but the coax spdif out of the mini me isn’t reliable. You need to use the aes/ebu for a stable signal. I think you’d need a format converter for a stable connection to the tascam.
Nope. I use an AES/ebu cable Ted made that goes out of the Mini-me right to the spdif input of the dr100mk3 and it works great. And the battery life is great. It has a built in lithium ion that last about 5 or 6 hours then I keep two rechargable aa's in it for back-up. Never actually got past the lithium. This is a sample from Friday.
https://archive.org/details/CD2017-09-29.CD2017-09-29#
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: noahbickart on October 02, 2017, 11:24:31 PM
I stand corrected. Thanks.

Am I wrong to think the problem hooking a Mini-Me to a Tascam DR100's digi in is going to be the SPDIF out on the mini-me?

The unit comes with this cable for the spdif in

(http://tascam.com/content/images/universal/misc/dr-100mkii_digital.jpg)
Yeah, but the coax spdif out of the mini me isn’t reliable. You need to use the aes/ebu for a stable signal. I think you’d need a format converter for a stable connection to the tascam.
Nope. I use an AES/ebu cable Ted made that goes out of the Mini-me right to the spdif input of the dr100mk3 and it works great. And the battery life is great. It has a built in lithium ion that last about 5 or 6 hours then I keep two rechargable aa's in it for back-up. Never actually got past the lithium. This is a sample from Friday.
https://archive.org/details/CD2017-09-29.CD2017-09-29#
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: waltmon on October 03, 2017, 12:07:02 AM
So the dr100mk3 has a full size rca spldf digital input?
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: jcable77 on October 03, 2017, 01:02:01 AM
Am I wrong to think the problem hooking a Mini-Me to a Tascam DR100's digi in is going to be the SPDIF out on the mini-me?

The unit comes with this cable for the spdif in

(http://tascam.com/content/images/universal/misc/dr-100mkii_digital.jpg)
no, I apologize if I was vague on my explanation above. It comes with this adapter. I have an AES/ebu cable out of the Mini-me that goes to a spdif rca which plugs into this adapter. The adapter comes with the recorder. It's a female RCA spdif to 75 ohm 3.5" mini digital adapter to the recorder. Eventually I'd like to see if Ted can make me an AES>mini spdif and skip the adapter part.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: dallman on October 03, 2017, 10:44:22 AM
Am I wrong to think the problem hooking a Mini-Me to a Tascam DR100's digi in is going to be the SPDIF out on the mini-me?

The unit comes with this cable for the spdif in

(http://tascam.com/content/images/universal/misc/dr-100mkii_digital.jpg)
no, I apologize if I was vague on my explanation above. It comes with this adapter. I have an AES/ebu cable out of the Mini-me that goes to a spdif rca which plugs into this adapter. The adapter comes with the recorder. It's a female RCA spdif to 75 ohm 3.5" mini digital adapter to the recorder. Eventually I'd like to see if Ted can make me an AES>mini spdif and skip the adapter part.

For those familiar with the adapter on the DR100MKII, it is different on the MKIII. The picture in the quote above is the MKII, not the MKIII. On the MKIII, the SPDIF input is on the top of the unit not the side. I prefer the side, but it isn't a huge deal. The adapter does look pretty much the same as on the MKII, but it is different  it is a simple 1/8 mono to RCA female. I use a version from Radio Shack that cost 1.50 so I picked up a few.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: darby on October 03, 2017, 03:27:46 PM
I recently got a new mkiii and it had this adapter
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: dallman on October 03, 2017, 03:41:18 PM
I recently got a new mkiii and it had this adapter
Actually, what you have looks like that adapter in that picture, but it is different. The adapter on the MKII shown above is 2.5mm trrs to RCA female, and the adapter on the MKIII is 3.5mm (1/8) mono to RCA female. The MKII has 3 black bands on the 2.5mm post and the MKIII has 1 black band on its 3.5mm post. They are not interchangeable. The picture I showed in my post is not what comes with the deck, it is to show you have options, because on the MKIII there are lots of easily substituted replacements, which was not the case on the MKII.

The picture shown has the cable on the side so it is an MKII. The MKIII has the digital jack on the top. The cables look the same, but up close you can see they are different and not interchangeable.
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: darby on October 03, 2017, 04:13:29 PM
I recently got a new mkiii and it had this adapter
Actually, what you have looks like that adapter in that picture, but it is different. The adapter on the MKII shown above is 2.5mm trrs to RCA female, and the adapter on the MKIII is 3.5mm (1/8) mono to RCA female. The MKII has 3 black bands on the 2.5mm post and the MKIII has 1 black band on its 3.5mm post. They are not interchangeable. The picture I showed in my post is not what comes with the deck, it is to show you have options, because on the MKIII there are lots of easily substituted replacements, which was not the case on the MKII.

The picture shown has the cable on the side so it is an MKII. The MKIII has the digital jack on the top. The cables look the same, but up close you can see they are different and not interchangeable.

Since nobody mentioned sizes before... thanks, obviously they can't be interchanged
I would still prefer to use the breakout cable provided than the adapter from rat shack,
but I no longer own a SPDIF Out preamp, so I may never need the Digital In on the mkiii unless I need to retransfer a DAT
I really like the size of this unit and plan on using it in low profile situations without a preamp since the S/N ratio is up to 109dB
Title: Re: Favorite bit box deck?
Post by: dallman on October 03, 2017, 04:46:47 PM
I recently got a new mkiii and it had this adapter
Actually, what you have looks like that adapter in that picture, but it is different. The adapter on the MKII shown above is 2.5mm trrs to RCA female, and the adapter on the MKIII is 3.5mm (1/8) mono to RCA female. The MKII has 3 black bands on the 2.5mm post and the MKIII has 1 black band on its 3.5mm post. They are not interchangeable. The picture I showed in my post is not what comes with the deck, it is to show you have options, because on the MKIII there are lots of easily substituted replacements, which was not the case on the MKII.

The picture shown has the cable on the side so it is an MKII. The MKIII has the digital jack on the top. The cables look the same, but up close you can see they are different and not interchangeable.

Since nobody mentioned sizes before... thanks, obviously they can't be interchanged
I would still prefer to use the breakout cable provided than the adapter from rat shack,
but I no longer own a SPDIF Out preamp, so I may never need the Digital In on the mkiii unless I need to retransfer a DAT
I really like the size of this unit and plan on using it in low profile situations without a preamp since the S/N ratio is up to 109dB
It is a great deck with excellent specs, I agree. And since most owners will not have owned the MKII first, and since the picture was from the MKII I wanted to try to be clear although it may be a small point for most. I like the rat shack adapter because it doesn't stick out quite as far and I worry about it being bent, however the cable it came with is very good. I have found a right angle one and that could be good if the deck were laying face up in a bag.