Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: MSTaper on August 10, 2008, 06:38:08 PM
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Hey guys, in celebration of my one-year taping anniversary, I got all slutty and purchased some Avantone CK1 mics (from a TS.com taper) and a new Fostex FR2-LE from an eBay retailer. ;D I was looking for a pre for the mics to run to my R-09, but couldn't find anything I felt comfortable with so I found a good deal on the FR2-LE and said what the heck and went ahead and upgraded to an all-in-one box to run the mics. A recorder upgrade would have been the next step anyway.
It was more than I initially wanted to spend but I figured I'll have a nice open rig and a nice open/stealth rig (CA-11>STC-9000>R-09P) as well. I actually have about as much in the new rig as the started rig. Not to mention I have some items I can sell on eBay (non-taper related) to hopefully cover it.
Anyhoo, I was wondering what batteries (AAs) seem to get the best time (4-6 hours max for most shows I go to) and what CF cards are the most compatible?
What I liked the most about the FT2-LE IS the battery options and the fact I don't need a preamp (with all the messy extra batteries).
I'm excited about his new rig and should be trying it out Aug. 19th and taking it to the Black Crows show in Birmingham Nov. 15.
Thanks in advance and all the help from TS.com members!
MSTaper
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Look on new egg for CF cards. Look on ebay for the RC battery
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Thanks setboy. I just purchased a new 1gb RAM chip for my PC from New Egg. Really good deals.
I was just wondering what brand of CF card FR2-LE users found to work the best. I know with the R-09 there were issues with some "off brand" cards and didn't want to run into any problems. I figure a Type II Sandisk will work. The 4gb I've had in my R-09 for the past year has worked flawlessly.
Thanks, MSTaper
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Thanks setboy. I just purchased a new 1gb RAM chip for my PC from New Egg. Really good deals.
I was just wondering what brand of CF card FR2-LE users found to work the best. I know with the R-09 there were issues with some "off brand" cards and didn't want to run into any problems. I figure a Type II Sandisk will work. The 4gb I've had in my R-09 for the past year has worked flawlessly.
Thanks, MSTaper
I run the A-data cards. I have two of the 16 GBs. I have never had anything go worng with them.
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Are you FR2-LE tapers using 4gb or 8gb cards and if so, how much time are you getting at the various bit rates? The shows I tape locally normally run 3-4 hours (total) with sets lasting from 1/2 hour to two hours. Thanks. MSTaper
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I run an 8 gig A-data card and I think I get 4 hours+ recording 24/48
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i run kingston and sandisk 4gb cards w/o fail. i can get 4 hours on each at 24/44.1
get the "tamiya style" 7.2v rc batteries, you can usually find a package w/ charger on ebay for ~60 bucks.
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Thanks guys, I've used a Sandisk 4gb Ultra II SD in my R-09 and never had a problem, so I'll probably get a Sandisk 4gb CF for the FR-2LE.
Has anyone used the Hitachi microdrive? There's an outfit that has them for $19 on eBay new, 4gb type.
I'd like 2 4gb cards just to be on the safe side. I haven't seen any good inexpensive 8gb cards.
I've been checking out the Tamiya style 7.2v batts on eBay. Many deals, but haven't seen many chargers. Will probably run on some good alkalines until I can a couple of these.
Thanks for the help. MSTaper :headphones:
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4gb Hitachi microdrive works in both my FR2 and FR2LE. The one thing you would need to keep an eye on is your battery meter since the microdrive uses more juice than a CF card since it has moving parts (which are also prone to failure).
While it is not as neat a solution as using a 7.2v RC batt since they aren't internal, both the FR2 and LE run on 9.6v RC batts as well as the infamous wallyworld DVD battery provided you use the proper connectors. I had both already and didn't see a the need to get 7.2v batts.
I've successfully used the following in both units with the only problems being due to operator error.
4gb microdrive
4gb Sandisk Ultra II CF cards
4 & 8 gb PQI 100 CF cards
8gb A-Data "Speedy" CF card (thanks Raphael)
Last time I looked at newegg, they had the 8gb A-data cards for ~$30/35.
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I would stick with SanDisk for the cards (don't get less than 8GB) and forget the AA batteries and get a Tamiya rechargeable and a fast charger.
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i use the 16gb adata with no probs too
also got batts from ebay
most of the battery dealers are the same people with different names anyway
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Are you FR2-LE tapers using 4gb or 8gb cards and if so, how much time are you getting at the various bit rates? The shows I tape locally normally run 3-4 hours (total) with sets lasting from 1/2 hour to two hours. Thanks. MSTaper
These are generic rates/estimates. As a rule of thumb, I knock off an 1/8th in case 1gb = 1000 and not 1024 or other formatting anomalies.
- WAV (24-bit/96 kHz): 27 mins/GB
- WAV (24-bit/88.2 kHz): 30 mins/GB
- WAV (24-bit/48 kHz): 54 mins/GB
- WAV (24-bit/44.1 kHz): 59 mins/GB
- WAV (16-bit/96 kHz): 40 mins/GB
- WAV (16-bit/88.2 kHz): 44 mins/GB
- WAV (16-bit/48 kHz): 81 mins/GB
- WAV (16-bit/44.1 kHz): 88 mins/GB
I can't remember where I picked up that information, it might have been from an Edirol r-09 site, but PCM is PCM and shouldn't vary if much. I meant to post this yesterday and forgot.
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look here http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,199.0.html for how much time you can get
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Thanks guys. Sounds good. Most of the shows I tape don't last four hours, but you never know. A good 8 gb card would be good, but most are still expensive (for me). New Egg does have the 8gb A-Data "Speedy" for about $25, which is a great price. Sounds like it's already been used by tapers so I'll probably go with this one. Again, thanks for all the help. MSTaper.
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If you need really long working times from AAs, the Energizer Lithium batteries can not be beat, they come in both AA and AAA sizes. They give about 2.5 times longer recording times than any alkaline or AA size rechargeble. 40% lighter too, and 10 year shelf life. The only down side is the high price. I have used them in wireless systems and in Zoom H4 they give a continuous recording time of almost 8 hours versus 3 with alkalines (with phantom on).
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I'm thinking I used those in my R-09 once before, but you're right, they are pricey! Thanks, MSTaper 8)
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I'm thinking I used those in my R-09 once before, but you're right, they are pricey! Thanks, MSTaper 8)
Nice rig setup, MStaper. I have the exact same setup and I really enjoy useing it. I use Sandisk Ultra 4gb cards with no issues whatsoever. I have had issues with powering this rig however. I started with AA alk duracells and found this rig to just chew em up, 2-3 hours recording time. Then put in some Energizer lith rechageables and these worked really well, 5-6 hours. I then got a Tamiya 7.2v/3800 batt, charged it for 24 hours and watched in horror as my deck went from a full charge to shut down in about 10 minutes at a Slightly Stoopid/ Pepper show, greatly dissapointing my 15 yo son as I had no backup power that nite. I believe that 7.2v tam batt is defective. The tam batt is the way to go though for sure. My advice is have a backup power system ready if needed. I now keep my 110v power supply with me as well as both the Tamiya batt and the aa cartridge. Had I had the 110v power supply I could have gotten power fron the board for the Pepper show. I think the Avant mics draw more power than others although I have no solid proof of this. Just seems other folks are getting longer record times than I'm seeing. Hope this helps, hapy recording!
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Thanks man, I went through a couple sets of Duracell alkalines and learned that the hard way (died during show, missed a couple minutes). I have some 3000 mAh Ni-Mh AA rechargables that I'm using now. I need to set up the rig at home and let it run to see what I can get. I'm guessing I can get 3-4 hours, but I swapped them the other night between bands just to be on the safe side. ;) I love the rig so far.
MSTaper
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Thanks man, I went through a couple sets of Duracell alkalines and learned that the hard way (died during show, missed a couple minutes). I have some 3000 mAh Ni-Mh AA rechargables that I'm using now. I need to set up the rig at home and let it run to see what I can get. I'm guessing I can get 3-4 hours, but I swapped them the other night between bands just to be on the safe side. ;) I love the rig so far.
MSTaper
MSTaper,
Can you link me to the batteries you're using? I'm interested in getting rechargeable batteries but I want to know what has worked best for you and your rig.
Thanks
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rastasean, I'm pretty sure it was this place.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7729 (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7729)
I'll check again when I get home. They came from Hong Kong, but actually arrived fairly quickly, a week to 10 days, and I had to sign for them. Postage wasn't bad as I recall. I'll look for the receipt at home.
I have not run the recorder with phantom power at home to see how long they go, but I will.
Hope this helps. MSTaper
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from new egg
I have 3
8GB Transcend CF 133x
they were like under $40 EACH
the are recommended by Fostex
check out the team board threads
ther is some mention of batteries there
I run
some4200MAh NiMh 7.2v batteries
I've got 3 of them
but... you really need to charge and FULLY discharge them over 4x
so they don't get memory
1 I have will only power the deck with phantom for like 2 minutes
bad me
the charger is a float charger, but it does not discharge the batts completely before recharging them , which seem like if you could find one with a discharge function
that would be a +
more soon
glad you're on the "team"
peace
-- Ian
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Fostex recommends 120x Transcends, not 133x on their site. I had bad experience with my 133x Transcend 8gb. I switched to A-Data speedy 8gb and I have never experienced the small click I had with the Transcend. Maybe it was a one time only bad card who knows.
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Fostex recommends 120x Transcends, not 133x on their site. I had bad experience with my 133x Transcend 8gb. I switched to A-Data speedy 8gb and I have never experienced the small click I had with the Transcend. Maybe it was a one time only bad card who knows.
oh
but I figure that the faster to write 133x would be better than the slower to write 120x
but
what the heck do I know
?
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Thanks guys. . A good 8 gb card would be good, but most are still expensive (for me).
;D
The 8GB card I bought for my FR-2 in late 2006 was £200 - the same card today is less than £40 - very cheap.
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Fostex recommends 120x Transcends, not 133x on their site. I had bad experience with my 133x Transcend 8gb. I switched to A-Data speedy 8gb and I have never experienced the small click I had with the Transcend. Maybe it was a one time only bad card who knows.
oh
but I figure that the faster to write 133x would be better than the slower to write 120x
but
what the heck do I know
?
no not always
i can't remember why
but i know the microtrack was one of the decks that didn't like fast cards
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I'm getting about four hours out of the 3000 mAh Maxxus rechargable AAs but I have some 7.2v Tamiya type batteries and a charger on the way! I'm using a 4gb Sandisk Ultra II (running the same in SD format in the R-09). I think I'll get one of the A-Data 8gb Speedy cards from New Egg so I can record some 24/88. MSTaper
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I bought a 8g Adata card of new egg for $28. I bought this form radio shack http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103207&cp=&sr=1&kw=rc+battery&origkw=rc+battery&pg=1&parentPage=search and this http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2147160&cp=&sr=1&kw=rc+battery&origkw=rc+battery&pg=1&parentPage=search
Ran lat night at OAR and the opener and the battery never showed that I had drained anything from it.
Todd
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I bought a 8g Adata card of new egg for $28. I bought this form radio shack http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103207&cp=&sr=1&kw=rc+battery&origkw=rc+battery&pg=1&parentPage=search and this http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2147160&cp=&sr=1&kw=rc+battery&origkw=rc+battery&pg=1&parentPage=search
Ran lat night at OAR and the opener and the battery never showed that I had drained anything from it.
Todd
typical fr2le
but when it does go down it goes down fast
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Ran lat night at OAR and the opener and the battery never showed that I had drained anything from it.
typical fr2le
but when it does go down it goes down fast
I've run 3.5 / 4 hrs this weekend and I didn't see any battery decrease for the first 3 hrs, then it drops like a rock. Between 3.25 and 4, it went down almost 60%. (2500mah AA nimh)
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Somewhere back on ts someone posted a response they got from A-Data stating what their (A-Data's) classifications corresponded to speedwise. My searching for that post has not yielded the post I seek. Does anyone recall where that post is or what the speeds were? I vaguely recall an A-Data Speedy as actually being in the 40-60x range. Can anyone help with the A-Data speeds in **x terms?
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i have a 16gb speedy and its 40x
works fine