Topic: Budget SPDIF/optical recorders?

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What (as of Nov 2010) are the three cheapest (new/used) recorders which will do bit-perfect 24bit SPDIF or optical? I'm thinking the list is:

• MT2
• PCM-D50
• PMD-661

Can anyone think of something cheaper? 

[rastasean]

Those are pretty much the three I see tossed around every time someone is looking for spdif or optical. Of course, if you want 16bit, there's always the iriver h1xx and h3xx series and for that matter the jb3.

I know the various companies can make spdif/optical and analog recorders but for some reason they choose to ignore it since I guess they think the demand only exists for professionals and not the taper.

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Those are pretty much the three I see tossed around every time someone is looking for spdif or optical. Of course, if you want 16bit, there's always the iriver h1xx and h3xx series and for that matter the jb3.

and some of the older marantz recorders as well. Lots of stuff in the 16bit realm (especially now, since it's almost all depreciated). I hadn't kept up once I left my UA-5. Thanks.

[goodcooker]

the iriver h3xx series

I'm pretty sure the h320/40 only has analog in

You can pick up a stock Marantz 670 (16/48) or 671 (24/96) pretty cheap nowadays on ebay. Court reporters, people who take depositions and the like sell them off fairly regularly and they are rock solid recorders...but bulky.

[sunjan]

bit-perfect 24bit SPDIF or optical?

Sorry for nit-picking but there's some terminology confusion here. S/PDIF is the signal format, optical (or coax BTW) are interfaces/modes to transfer that signal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

I know you mentioned MTII, but MTI (aka MT 24/96) could also be mentioned as a separate entry, right. Although it's marred with issues.

So the updated list goes (ascending street price)...

24bit:
MT2496 ( very unreliable)
MTII (unrealible)
generic laptop + VXpocket or EMU 1616
Macbook or Powerbook G4 Alu
D50 (although incompatible with older gear because of flag issue)
PDAudio CF card + assorted PDAs
671
661
DR-680 (flag issues too, AFAIK)
Other pricy/bulky recorders like R-44, HD-P2, SD 7xx series...

16bit:
JB3
H1x0
670

[johnw]

I'd put the Tascam HDP2 in there as well if you are going to include the 671. But I wouldn't call either a budget recorder..

[burris]

oops I think I posted my response in the wrong thread (though it is applicable to that thread too) but it basically can be summed up as "don't by an MT, you'll be sorry."

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=140686.msg1819105#msg1819105

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I'd put the Tascam HDP2 in there as well if you are going to include the 671. But I wouldn't call either a budget recorder..

yeah it's not really budget-based, although the p2 does have word-clock functionality. I didn't realize how useful that is until I got the 722.

oops I think I posted my response in the wrong thread (though it is applicable to that thread too) but it basically can be summed up as "don't by an MT, you'll be sorry."

The MT1 had issues, and the MT2 has it's share for sure as well. Jessie Hurlburt posted a guide on how to get flawless recordings with an MT2, but it requires very precise operation. Not a real robust operation at any rate.

[sunjan]

I took a second look at PDAudio, and the maker of the Live2496 software verified that three PDA models are good for 24bit 96kHz taping (and a few more good for 24/48).
http://live2496.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=136
The bottleneck is still the cost/availability of the PDAudio CF card, which makes this kind of rig "not great" value for money.

I also realized that all Macbooks as well as Powerbook G4 Aluminium came with optical inputs:
http://guides.macrumors.com/MacBook
The older models (released around 2005) can be had for $230 and upwards on Ebay, which makes them a good deal and qualifies them on the list above, although hardly for stealth.

You could also go 24bit coax in by popping a VXpocket or EMU 1616 Cardbus into most old laptops. Take a look at used Fujitsu tablets (to keep down the size) with Cardbus slots, they run Windows proper and can be had for less than $100.
The going rate for the soundcards are $130 and upwards on ebay, so total budget might even be cheaper than the Macbook, but of course more fiddly (breakout cables, drivers).

I've updated the list above...