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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: flintstone on March 28, 2008, 12:01:14 AM

Title: seamless recording
Post by: flintstone on March 28, 2008, 12:01:14 AM
Here's a list I put together showing which recorders can automatically start a new file when the current recording reaches 2GB.  Some recorders don't start a new file, but they will record up to 4GB.  A couple of recorders can be set to start a new file at 4GB. And a few simply stop when they reach 2GB.

Please take a look and make corrections and additions to the list.  Thanks.

Flintstone




--------------------------------------------
recorders that can automatically start
a new file when 2GB is reached
--------------------------------------------

Edirol R-09

Edirol R-4

Edirol R-4 Pro

Edirol R-44

M-Audio Microtrack 2496 and Microtrack II

Marantz PMD671 (start new file after specified time)

Sony PCM-D50 and PCM-D1

Sound Devices 702, 722, 744t

Tascam HD-P2

Sonosax MiniR82

--------------------------------------------
recorders that can create
files larger than 2GB
--------------------------------------------

Marantz PMD620

Marantz PMD660

Fostex FR-2LE (4 GB)

Fostex FR-2 (4 GB)

Sound Devices 702, 722, 744t (4 GB)

Core Sound PDAudio Live2496 (4 GB)

Nagra ARES-PII+, ARES-BB+ (4 GB?)

Sonosax MiniR82


--------------------------------------------
recorders that simply stop when
a file size of 2GB is reached
--------------------------------------------

Zoom H2, H4

Edirol R-1

Tascam DR-1

Olympus LS-10

Sony Hi-MD (1GB limit for Hi-MD disc)

Nagra ARES-M (1GB built-in memory only)

Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: 69mako on March 28, 2008, 12:23:22 AM
I believe that the 1st gen MT2496 is not seemless....

Mako
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: jonohull on March 28, 2008, 05:06:38 AM
Rockboxed iRivers also start a new seamless file at 2gb.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: petur on March 28, 2008, 05:14:36 AM
Rockboxed iRivers also start a new seamless file at 2gb.

yup :)
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: aaronji on March 28, 2008, 05:24:27 AM
The Marantz PMD620 does record 4GB files, like you said, but it also has the feature you list for the 671 (start new file after specified time).  Increments are 1, 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes and 1, 2, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours.  The 2 hour is close to 2GB for 24 bit files (2:08 for 44.1 kHz and 1:52 at 48 kHz).
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: cybergaloot on March 28, 2008, 07:19:22 AM
The H2 does not stop at 2GB, it starts a new file.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: Ozpeter on March 28, 2008, 07:54:40 AM
... after about 20 seconds.  So "seamless" it ain't, but indeed it doesn't just stop.

If you want seamless and long running times, think high bit rate mp3.  Some kind of recording of the whole thing is better than a great recording with one or more holes in it, IMHO.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: Belexes on March 28, 2008, 08:08:19 AM
If you want seamless and long running times, think high bit rate mp3.  Some kind of recording of the whole thing is better than a great recording with one or more holes in it, IMHO.

I'd deal with gaps then ever have to resort to MP3, IMHO. To each their own.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: petur on March 28, 2008, 08:56:14 AM
If you want seamless and long running times, think high bit rate mp3.  Some kind of recording of the whole thing is better than a great recording with one or more holes in it, IMHO.
I'm sure my h340 with 80GB disk and rockbox can record a few days in WAV until that disk is full (without missing a single sample) ;)
(battery might be an issue - bring your ac adapter or external battery pack)
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: cybergaloot on March 28, 2008, 09:37:14 AM
... after about 20 seconds.  So "seamless" it ain't, but indeed it doesn't just stop.

If you want seamless and long running times, think high bit rate mp3.  Some kind of recording of the whole thing is better than a great recording with one or more holes in it, IMHO.

Yes, you do get a "tape flip" type gap. But it belongs in the same area of Flintstone's chart as the R-09. That was all I was saying.

So, a related question. I also run a DAW setup. I have a 100GB HDD in my laptop so space isn't an issue (except for some of those marathon P-Funk shows ;-) ). I currently use Audacity as the recording software. Does it have a file size limit beyond the physical restraints of the HDD + the space Windows needs? So far I haven't recorded anything with it that reaches 2GB so I don't know what happens when I reach that spot. For file handling reasons I would rather not go above 2GB but for some acts like John Lisi,  who doesn't take a break all night, it would be nice to go over that limit.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: darby on March 28, 2008, 10:10:00 AM
you can do over 2 gigs with Audacity
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: cybergaloot on March 28, 2008, 10:34:04 AM
you can do over 2 gigs with Audacity

Thanks! +T
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: evilchris on March 28, 2008, 10:55:21 AM
--------------------------------------------
recorders that simply stop when
a file size of 2GB is reached
--------------------------------------------

Zoom H2, H4


 :o :o :o :o :o

I had seriously considered the H2 or H4 instead of my R-09, but I'm glad I didn't go with either of those.  That's a deal-breaker for me.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: flintstone on March 28, 2008, 11:01:26 AM
Thanks everyone for their input. 

Can anyone confirm that the Microtrack 2496
automatically starts a new file after 2GB,
but that it is not a seamless operation?

Flintstone

Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: willndmb on March 28, 2008, 11:37:45 AM
I believe that the 1st gen MT2496 is not seemless....

Mako
TRUE
it has about a 6 sec gap between the 1st and 2nd file
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: dallman on March 28, 2008, 04:15:37 PM
I believe that the 1st gen MT2496 is not seemless....

Mako
TRUE
it has about a 6 sec gap between the 1st and 2nd file
...and about 2 seconds shorter if you press record 2x, but still not seamless. It seems though that some of that extra saved time may be related to the size of the file at the time record is pressed 2x. A smaller file saves a bit faster.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: Ozpeter on March 29, 2008, 09:47:25 AM
Going back briefly to gapless DAW recording - Reaper does file splitting at user-configurable points, and you can record direct to wavpack format too, so that doubles the amount of audio for any given filesize anyway.  And it's very easy to use live.  And you can evaluate it for a month with full functionality.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: cybergaloot on March 29, 2008, 01:22:17 PM
Going back briefly to gapless DAW recording - Reaper does file splitting at user-configurable points, and you can record direct to wavpack format too, so that doubles the amount of audio for any given filesize anyway.  And it's very easy to use live.  And you can evaluate it for a month with full functionality.

Is this the product you are talking about?
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: Ozpeter on March 29, 2008, 07:21:39 PM
Yup.  3Mb download, installs in seconds, can run from a USB key even.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: cybergaloot on March 30, 2008, 03:27:39 AM
Thanks! I got it downloaded and it looks interesting. It seems like it can run in unrestricted demo mode forever, or if I like it and can do the right thing and pay the guy $50 for a license. Cool!
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: Humbug on March 30, 2008, 04:50:27 AM
No mention of the Nomad JB3..this can be set up easily to start new recordings at the three hour mark, and it's seamless.

In the past I have recorded 24 hours of radio when a festival is being broadcast, to edit it down later.
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: dactylus on March 30, 2008, 08:00:01 AM
Thanks everyone for their input. 

Can anyone confirm that the Microtrack 2496
automatically starts a new file after 2GB,
but that it is not a seamless operation!!

Flintstone



Correct - the Microtrack 2496 automatically starts a new file after 2GB,
but it is not a seamless operation!!

Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: Emile on March 30, 2008, 09:59:40 AM
I recorded a show with my H2, using mic in

It was over 2 gig (so it auto made a new file), and there was no audio lost.. go figure
Title: Re: seamless recording
Post by: cybergaloot on March 30, 2008, 12:55:37 PM
I recorded a show with my H2, using mic in

It was over 2 gig (so it auto made a new file), and there was no audio lost.. go figure

Were you using the pre-record function? I think that's what they call it. Basically it stores a bit of the sound in a buffer before dumping it off to the SDHC card. I seem to remember it was only about 2 seconds worth of sound which I didn't think was enough. But if that is enough to keep things seamless then I need to turn it on for some shows.