Re: [ARSCLIST] One-bit files

["Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 11:01 AM 2008-08-27, Craig Breaden wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> One of our donors, a collector of traditional songs, has just
> purchased a Korg MR-1000 1-bit recorder to do his field recording.
...
> I created  44.1/16-
> and 24-bit versions using Audiogate, trying to get an idea of what a
> user copy would sound like, and noticed some digital artifacts thrown
> in around what had been, on the original file, a very soft pop in the
> background.  This was not encouraging, although I realize I could
> render at a higher resolution using Audiogate then create the user
> copy using WaveLab.  He's on the fence, wondering if he should go back
> to his Tascam, and from some of the discussion last year on the list
> regarding 1-bit, I'm not certain he shouldn't.  Any thoughts?

Hello, Craig,

This is indeed an interesting question.

The first question I have for you, is can't he capture in 96/24 on 
the Korg instead of1 bit DSD?

I would like you to evaluate all of the following transfer modes of 
the audio surrounding this click and report back to us, if you can:

MR-1000DSD------------analog-----------studio 96/24 converter
MR-1000DSD file-------audiogate----------------96/24 file
MR-1000DSD-----------SPDIF/AES--------------96/24 file
(I don't know if this is possible since the original was DSD and I
don't know if the Korg can do the conversion inside before
outputting SPDIF/AES)

I'm trying to isolate the problem to the Audiogate software with 
these tests. We have waaay too many variables.

Of course, then downsampling all three in Wavelab to 44.1/16 would 
need to be tried.

I would be willing to downsample all three in Sampitude to 44.1/16 if 
you wish as one colleague says he can hear a difference between 
Wavelab and Samplitude, but I have not with the limited use I've put 
Wavelab to (he's used it a lot more). This is an echo of our thread 
last week <sigh>!

More tests can present themselves, like comparing the Korg in DSD 
mode vs. 96/24 mode, then comparing the Korg to the Tascam and 
perhaps a rented Sound Devices 702/722. I selected the SD722 for 
field recording with a pair of DPA 4006 TL mics--actually I got the 
SD after I got the mics as I wanted something that would truly do 
justice to the mics.

Cheers,

Richard

Richard L. Hess                   email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.