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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: Nick's Picks on October 13, 2014, 11:26:06 AM

Title: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 13, 2014, 11:26:06 AM
so, whats out there other than the Tascam DR100mkII or the Sony D50 ?
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: noahbickart on October 13, 2014, 11:51:54 AM
The Tascam only has a Coax in.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 13, 2014, 11:59:25 AM
Sweetwater's "guide to hand-helds" says the Roland R5 has "software select-able" digital input.
anyone have experience w/this being true?  first I've heard of it.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: H₂O on October 13, 2014, 12:04:48 PM
Sony PCM-D100

Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: pohaku on October 13, 2014, 04:38:48 PM
Not much choice out there.  At least D50s are still quite available used.  Considerably less expensive than the D100 if you don't care about DSD and don't mind memory sticks.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: fmaderjr on October 15, 2014, 05:38:13 AM
Sweetwater's "guide to hand-helds" says the Roland R5 has "software select-able" digital input.
anyone have experience w/this being true?  first I've heard of it.

That can't be right. Not only has nobody mentioned it, but the manual does not mention a digital input in the specifications section.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: John Willett on October 23, 2014, 11:28:10 AM
so, whats out there other than the Tascam DR100mkII or the Sony D50 ?

Well - the DR100-II does NOT have an optical input and the D50 is discontinued.

The only current recorder I know of with an optical input is the Sony PCM-D100.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Fried Chicken Boy on October 23, 2014, 02:49:35 PM
Sweetwater's "guide to hand-helds" says the Roland R5 has "software select-able" digital input.
anyone have experience w/this being true?  first I've heard of it.

That can't be right. Not only has nobody mentioned it, but the manual does not mention a digital input in the specifications section.

I'm with fmaderjr on this: I've owned an R-05 for nearly three years and have yet to come across anything remotely resembling a digital input on it.  I'm calling "bunk" on Sweetwater. 

I think John Willett is correct in his assessment above.  If you wish to expand your search outside of solely optical input...
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: flipp on October 23, 2014, 03:31:20 PM
you could always dig a JB3 out of wherever you store your old gear   ;D
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Scooter123 on October 27, 2014, 04:10:56 PM
Doesn't the M Audio Microtrack have a SPDIF in?
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: H₂O on October 27, 2014, 04:34:02 PM
Doesn't the M Audio Microtrack have a SPDIF in?

Yes but it's COAX not Optical

There's also a rockboxed iRiver
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Gutbucket on October 27, 2014, 05:43:22 PM
I've owned an R-05 for nearly three years and have yet to come across anything remotely resembling a digital input on it.  I'm calling "bunk" on Sweetwater.

I fully expect that is correct.  But just want to note that the optical input on the Sony PCM-D100 is an 1/8" line-in jack (might double as the analog line-in, I can't recall) so it doesn't look actually any different than an analog input, except for the digital-input label next to it.

The optical-out on the original R-09 worked the same, doubling as the 1/8" stereo analog-out jack, and had no label at all.

What did the old IRivers use, a 1/8" or the more common square optical SPDIF port?  I never used one of those.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: gormenghast on October 27, 2014, 07:04:04 PM
D50 optical input is similar to the D100 but the D100 looks more robust.

Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Fried Chicken Boy on October 28, 2014, 10:17:23 AM
But just want to note that the optical input on the Sony PCM-D100 is an 1/8" line-in jack (might double as the analog line-in, I can't recall) so it doesn't look actually any different than an analog input, except for the digital-input label next to it.

The optical-out on the original R-09 worked the same, doubling as the 1/8" stereo analog-out jack, and had no label at all.

Having owned an original R-09, I can say that you are correct, GB.  However, the headphone output on it does actually say OPTICAL in raised letters and there's documentation of it in the owner's manual. 

Nothing in the R-05 manual, on the casing, or in my usage suggests the same for that recorder.  Unless I completely overlooked it, which wouldn't be the first time it's happened, the headphone jack appears to be just a headphone jack. :)
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Gutbucket on October 28, 2014, 11:01:58 AM
I guess I just never noticed it.

All these recorders should have SPDIF optical in/out on their 1/8" jacks.  Charge $20 more for the recorder to cover the $3 in parts.  The functionality is already there on the chips.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: larrysellers on October 28, 2014, 11:15:31 AM
The Edirol R1 was the same way.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: H₂O on October 28, 2014, 11:56:54 AM
http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/images/products/gallery/r_09_side_right_gal.jpg (http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/images/products/gallery/r_09_side_right_gal.jpg)

http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/images/products/gallery/r_01_top_gal.jpg


The R-09/1 do Say Optical on the Headphone jack - Is it an input or output?
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Gutbucket on October 28, 2014, 12:00:37 PM
Out only, same as the R-1.

I used to use it regularly for playback.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: John Willett on October 29, 2014, 08:58:41 AM
Charge $20 more for the recorder to cover the $3 in parts.  The functionality is already there on the chips.

I think that there is also a licence fee the manufacturers have to pay if they use a digital in/out - which may explain why so few recorders have a digital in/out.
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: Life In Rewind on October 29, 2014, 09:02:25 AM
Charge $20 more for the recorder to cover the $3 in parts.  The functionality is already there on the chips.

I think that there is also a licence fee the manufacturers have to pay if they use a digital in/out - which may explain why so few recorders have a digital in/out.

SonyPhillipsDIF
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: John Willett on October 30, 2014, 10:20:37 AM
Charge $20 more for the recorder to cover the $3 in parts.  The functionality is already there on the chips.

I think that there is also a licence fee the manufacturers have to pay if they use a digital in/out - which may explain why so few recorders have a digital in/out.

SonyPhillipsDIF

Actually - SonyPhillipsDigitalInterFace  ;D
Title: Re: handheld decks with Optical inputs ???
Post by: willndmb on October 30, 2014, 10:34:06 AM
So the m10 should have sped if in then  :P