In article , Serge Auckland
wrote:

"Alasdair" wrote in message
...


CD recorders are intended to provide an quick and easy recording
facility, where editing isn't required. They are not very popular due
to their limitations. The best advice I can give is always to use the
best tool for the job, and in this case it is a computer, sound card
and editing software, as Don suggested.

Of course, you can do as I do. This is to use a CD recorder, and if the
results need any 'editing' then just use the CD you've recorded to load the
sound data onto your computer, edit, and write the results back onto CD. I
find this quick and easy to do. Thus having the flexibility of both
approaches. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In article , Arny
Krueger
wrote:


A stand-alone CD recorder does not hold a candle to a PC for this
purpose.


I find a CD recorder very useful, and use it in a way which I'd find
inconvenient to use a computer.


In fact, I do on-site recording with the CD recorder, load the tracks
onto a PC for editing, edit and optimize them on a PC, and then burn
new CDs for distribution. Does that not say it all about the power and
ease-of-use comparison between a PC and a stand-alone CD recorder or
not? ;-)

Not really. It makes the same point as I made in aother posting. That
it makes sense to regard the CD recorder as an alterative to the
*sound card* rather than the entire computer. I find it useful to be
able to leave the Cd recorder making a recording whilst I go and
do something in another room with the computer. I can then listen
to the unfinalised disc on the hifi system, without needing the
computer, and if I wish, transfer the results to the computer.

I have both forks and spoons, but use judgement as to which tool
to employ for which task... :-)

Thus it does not seem to me that one is inherently better than the
other. Depends on how you prefer to work, and your individual
circumstances and requirements.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
A stand-alone CD recorder does not hold a candle to a PC for this
purpose.

I find a CD recorder very useful, and use it in a way which I'd find
inconvenient to use a computer.

Well, yes Jim. But that is an Acorn with very limited audio handling
capabilities. With a PC, for example, for a few pounds you can get a
FreeView card which allows timed recordings of radio progs. And a vast
choice of progs for audio editing and CD preparation.

I still like my Acorn for some tasks but realise its limitations.

--
*If I worked as much as others, I would do as little as they *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:02:55 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
A stand-alone CD recorder does not hold a candle to a PC for this
purpose.

I find a CD recorder very useful, and use it in a way which I'd find
inconvenient to use a computer.

Well, yes Jim. But that is an Acorn with very limited audio handling
capabilities. With a PC, for example, for a few pounds you can get a
FreeView card which allows timed recordings of radio progs. And a vast
choice of progs for audio editing and CD preparation.

I still like my Acorn for some tasks but realise its limitations.

I think this is all going to depend on the geography of your house. My
turntable is just one of the things that is plugged into my mixer, the
output of which goes to the PC. So there would never be a question of
using a CD recorder even if I had one.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message

In article
, Arny
Krueger wrote:


A stand-alone CD recorder does not hold a candle to a PC
for this purpose.


I find a CD recorder very useful, and use it in a way
which I'd find inconvenient to use a computer.

As do I, which I explain in detail below:

In fact, I do on-site recording with the CD recorder,
load the tracks onto a PC for editing, edit and optimize
them on a PC, and then burn new CDs for distribution.
Does that not say it all about the power and ease-of-use
comparison between a PC and a stand-alone CD recorder or
not? ;-)

Not really. It makes the same point as I made in aother
posting. That it makes sense to regard the CD recorder as
an alterative to the *sound card* rather than the entire
computer.

As such The CD recorder is still problematical compared to other modern
alternatives. I would consider devices like the M-Audio Fastrack to be an
example of a large field of more modern and useful alternatives to a CD
recorder.

Portable digital recorders can be competitively or over-competitivly priced
as compared to CD recorders, especially *professional* CD recorders. They
are smaller, and far easier to tote around. It is easier to get audio files
out of a portable digital recorder and onto a computer. Many of them handle
more audio formats and have potentially useful built-in features like
professional grade mic preamps with phantom power.

I find it useful to be able to leave the Cd
recorder making a recording whilst I go and
do something in another room with the computer.

Multitasking works well enough on many modern PCs to allow 2-channel 44KHz
recording to go on concurrently with many other uses of the same computer.

I can then listen
to the unfinalised disc on the hifi system, without
needing the computer, and if I wish, transfer the results
to the computer.

I've been known to use CD-RWs and in the case of video recording, DVD-RWs
for that purpose.

I have both forks and spoons, but use judgement as to
which tool
to employ for which task... :-)

I have forks and spoons of many vintages. I tend to like the newer ones
better for reasons given.

Thus it does not seem to me that one is inherently better
than the other. Depends on how you prefer to work, and
your individual circumstances and requirements.

I see stand-alone CD recorders as primnarily historical artifacts. If I had
to buy a recorder two years later then I did, that CD recorder would have
never been.

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf
wrote:
A stand-alone CD recorder does not hold a candle to a PC for this
purpose.

I find a CD recorder very useful, and use it in a way which I'd find
inconvenient to use a computer.

Well, yes Jim. But that is an Acorn with very limited audio handling
capabilities. With a PC, for example, for a few pounds you can get a
FreeView card which allows timed recordings of radio progs. And a vast
choice of progs for audio editing and CD preparation.

Erm... you are perhaps unaware that I also have a windows laptop.
Admittedly I don't use it very often. (Mainly for tasks like searching the
JAES CDROMs as the dimwits the AES employed for this failed to write the
search data in an open format, forcing users to employ OS-specific compiled
code.)

I could, indeed, use this with a suitable sound input, and I am sure it
could be made to make decent recordings.

My point therefore is that I *prefer* to work in another way, for the
simple reason that it suits me to do so.

I confess I also enjoy writing the relevant software as it helps me to
understand the results. :-)

I still like my Acorn for some tasks but realise its limitations.

Actually, with a suitable card/driver the Iyonix would make decent
recordings. I'd be interested in this for technical/curiosity reasons, but
I probably would not then use it connected to the main hifi systems I have.
The 'limitations' in that seem to be the lack of firmware for being able to
use, say, one of the USB types of sound peripheral.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In article , Arny
Krueger
wrote:
"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message



Not really. It makes the same point as I made in aother posting. That
it makes sense to regard the CD recorder as an alterative to the
*sound card* rather than the entire computer.

As such The CD recorder is still problematical compared to other modern
alternatives. I would consider devices like the M-Audio Fastrack to be
an example of a large field of more modern and useful alternatives to a
CD recorder.

Portable digital recorders can be competitively or over-competitivly
priced as compared to CD recorders, especially *professional* CD
recorders. They are smaller, and far easier to tote around. It is
easier to get audio files out of a portable digital recorder and onto a
computer. Many of them handle more audio formats and have potentially
useful built-in features like professional grade mic preamps with
phantom power.

I agree. I have also been tempted by such devices in preference to using a
general computer. However the CD recorder works well for me, and I don't
need to make recordings from microphones or a mixer, etc. I can just make a
digital connection from the tuner to the recorder and press the record
button. :-)

If I had not bought the CD recorder some years ago I might now well choose
one of the small devices based on solid-state memory cards - provided it
delivered suitable performance. Indeed, if the CD recorder dies and is
unfixable, I may do so.

I find it useful to be able to leave the Cd recorder making a
recording whilst I go and do something in another room with the
computer.

Multitasking works well enough on many modern PCs to allow 2-channel
44KHz recording to go on concurrently with many other uses of the same
computer.

I am sure that is so. However it still does not really suit how I work. I
set the recorder going in one room with the main hifi, and then work in
another at the computer or do other things. My point therefore is that this
suits me, and so it may suit others if they are aware of the choice.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf
wrote:
A stand-alone CD recorder does not hold a candle to a PC for this
purpose.

I find a CD recorder very useful, and use it in a way which I'd find
inconvenient to use a computer.

Well, yes Jim. But that is an Acorn with very limited audio handling
capabilities. With a PC, for example, for a few pounds you can get a
FreeView card which allows timed recordings of radio progs. And a vast
choice of progs for audio editing and CD preparation.

Erm... you are perhaps unaware that I also have a windows laptop.
Admittedly I don't use it very often. (Mainly for tasks like searching
the JAES CDROMs as the dimwits the AES employed for this failed to write
the search data in an open format, forcing users to employ OS-specific
compiled code.)

I could, indeed, use this with a suitable sound input, and I am sure it
could be made to make decent recordings.

My point therefore is that I *prefer* to work in another way, for the
simple reason that it suits me to do so.

Right - but that's not quite what you said. You suggested a computer would
be inconvenient - but then so would a stand alone CD recorder if it wasn't
at hand. So not really comparing like for like.

BTW, I now use my Topfield PVR for radio recordings - so much more
convenient than any other means I have. Simply highlight the prog wanted
on the EPG and press 'ok' - same as recording a TV prog.

I confess I also enjoy writing the relevant software as it helps me to
understand the results. :-)

I still like my Acorn for some tasks but realise its limitations.

Actually, with a suitable card/driver the Iyonix would make decent
recordings. I'd be interested in this for technical/curiosity reasons,
but I probably would not then use it connected to the main hifi systems
I have. The 'limitations' in that seem to be the lack of firmware for
being able to use, say, one of the USB types of sound peripheral.

Yes - the lack of suitable hardware to interface with audio is likely to
be the problem - given just how important this is. But the Irlam on my RPC
using external DACs works pretty well. The lack of decent audio processing
progs makes it all rather pointless though - one of the main reasons for
building my PC recently was to use Audition and Pro Tools.

--
*7up is good for you, signed snow white*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf
wrote:


I find a CD recorder very useful, and use it in a way which I'd
find inconvenient to use a computer.

Well, yes Jim. But that is an Acorn with very limited audio handling
capabilities. With a PC, for example, for a few pounds you can get a
FreeView card which allows timed recordings of radio progs. And a
vast choice of progs for audio editing and CD preparation.

Erm... you are perhaps unaware that I also have a windows laptop.
Admittedly I don't use it very often. (Mainly for tasks like searching
the JAES CDROMs as the dimwits the AES employed for this failed to
write the search data in an open format, forcing users to employ
OS-specific compiled code.)

I could, indeed, use this with a suitable sound input, and I am sure
it could be made to make decent recordings.

My point therefore is that I *prefer* to work in another way, for the
simple reason that it suits me to do so.

Right - but that's not quite what you said. You suggested a computer
would be inconvenient

Nor is that "quite what I said". See above. :-)

I said "...in a way *I'd* find inconvenient..." and I have now expanded on
the reasons. I did not say that this means no-one else would find it
inconvenient. But they may do, depending on their circumstances and
preferences. Up to each person to decide.

[snip]

Actually, with a suitable card/driver the Iyonix would make decent
recordings. I'd be interested in this for technical/curiosity reasons,
but I probably would not then use it connected to the main hifi
systems I have. The 'limitations' in that seem to be the lack of
firmware for being able to use, say, one of the USB types of sound
peripheral.

Yes - the lack of suitable hardware to interface with audio is likely to
be the problem - given just how important this is. But the Irlam on my
RPC using external DACs works pretty well.

It is a shame that no-one has produced suitable 'driver'/interface software
for any of the decent-performance USB sound kit and thus made it useable
with an Iyonix - or perhaps more relevant, with something like an A9. I
presume the problem here is that the makers of the peripherals refuse to
provide any information to help this process, so making it difficult.

The lack of decent audio processing progs makes it all rather pointless
though - one of the main reasons for building my PC recently was to use
Audition and Pro Tools.

That depends on what you want the processing to do for you. I find that the
!Track set of applications I've been writing for my own use - and writing
about in 'Archive' - allow me to do what I want. The flexibility comes from
writing what I need. :-) But my requirements are fairly simple.

e.g. Just produced one (!TrackTHD) for THD analysis, and used this to check
the performance of my aged ShureV15. This will be appearing in the next few
issues of the magazine.

Have you been reading about them in 'Archive', Dave?... ;-

FWIW Some of them are now available from AudioMisc.

[Caution to non RO-users: The programes I am referring to only work on the
RO operating system - and you probably wouldn't need them anyway if you use
Windows or MacOS.]

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html