USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

I'd be interest in recommendations/comments on suitable USB audio devices
for two purposes.

1) High resolution stereo audio sampling ADC. Ideally up to 192k/24bit.

2) Microscope. Mainly for things like examining a LP replay stylus.

I want these to work without problems (or an install struggle) with Linux
distros. But in the case of the stereo audio ADC I have an additional aim.

Recent work with RISC OS has now allowed machines running this to play out
audio using USB DACs (e.g. the Cambridge Audio ones). It also now works for
some audio USB ADCs. So I'd like to see sometime if I can get this working
as well for a well-specced high rez ADC using RISC OS.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
2) Microscope. Mainly for things like examining a LP replay stylus.

Have one bought from Lidl - pretty cheap but I'd say fine for that.
Assuming you have software for a USB camera (webcam, etc) it would work
with that, although it does come with its own software. Probably much the
same as a cheapo off Ebay or Maplin, etc.

--
*Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

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

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

On 14/12/2013 13:59, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
2) Microscope. Mainly for things like examining a LP replay stylus.

Have one bought from Lidl - pretty cheap but I'd say fine for that.
Assuming you have software for a USB camera (webcam, etc) it would work
with that, although it does come with its own software. Probably much the
same as a cheapo off Ebay or Maplin, etc.

Having tried, I'd say that a USB Microscope from Maplin, Lidl etc.
would be useless for checking the condition of a stylus.

--
Eiron.

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

In uk.comp.os.linux Eiron wrote:
Having tried, I'd say that a USB Microscope from Maplin, Lidl etc.
would be useless for checking the condition of a stylus.

I'd suspect that a conventional microscope and a decent camera (eg Raspberry
Pi cam or a still camera) down the eyepiece will do a better job. USB
microscopes are basically webcams, and 'full HD' is still only 2 megapixel.
It looks like most are less than that even ('2M interpolated' sounds woeful).

Beware what the optics do though: a microscope designed for viewing slides
will have only a short depth of field, which isn't so good for a 3D object.
'Inspection microscope' I think is what you're after.

Theo

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

Here's a link to a BBC TV item showing how to convert a webcam to a simple
microscope.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22600308

The interesting thing is that the ordinary webcam lens reversed is used for
the optics.

HTH


"Theo Markettos" wrote in message
...
In uk.comp.os.linux Eiron wrote:
Having tried, I'd say that a USB Microscope from Maplin, Lidl etc.
would be useless for checking the condition of a stylus.

I'd suspect that a conventional microscope and a decent camera (eg
Raspberry
Pi cam or a still camera) down the eyepiece will do a better job. USB
microscopes are basically webcams, and 'full HD' is still only 2
megapixel.
It looks like most are less than that even ('2M interpolated' sounds
woeful).

Beware what the optics do though: a microscope designed for viewing slides
will have only a short depth of field, which isn't so good for a 3D
object.
'Inspection microscope' I think is what you're after.

Theo

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

On 15/12/2013 11:59, TonyL wrote:
Here's a link to a BBC TV item showing how to convert a webcam to a simple
microscope.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22600308

The interesting thing is that the ordinary webcam lens reversed is used for
the optics.

Interesting to anyone who didn't know that reversing rings have been
available for SLRs for this very purpose for the last half century.

--
Eiron.

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

Not quite what the OP is after, I know, but I used to use a 20x hand
magnifying lens to check stylus condition. It was adequate for that,
but no more.

On Sat, 14 Dec 2013 14:16:05 +0000, Eiron
wrote:

Having tried, I'd say that a USB Microscope from Maplin, Lidl etc.
would be useless for checking the condition of a stylus.
--
================================================== =======
Please always reply to ng as the email in this post's
header does not exist. Or use a contact address at:
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/JavaJive.html
http://www.macfh.co.uk/Macfarlane/Macfarlane.html

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

In article ,
Java Jive wrote:
Not quite what the OP is after, I know, but I used to use a 20x hand
magnifying lens to check stylus condition. It was adequate for that,
but no more.

On Sat, 14 Dec 2013 14:16:05 +0000, Eiron
wrote:

Having tried, I'd say that a USB Microscope from Maplin, Lidl etc.
would be useless for checking the condition of a stylus.

The Lidl USB microscope I've got does x20, x40, x350. I'll have a go at
using it for stylus inspection.

--
*I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory*

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

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

On Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:12:30 +0000, Eiron wrote:

On 15/12/2013 11:59, TonyL wrote:
Here's a link to a BBC TV item showing how to convert a webcam to a
simple microscope.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22600308

The interesting thing is that the ordinary webcam lens reversed is used
for the optics.

Interesting to anyone who didn't know that reversing rings have been
available for SLRs for this very purpose for the last half century.

Even earlier many plate cameras were able to reverse the lens mounting
plates for a similar result.



--
Neil
Reverse ‘a’ and ‘r’
Remove ‘l’ to get address.

USB input devices - audio and microscope
 

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article , Java Jive
wrote:
Not quite what the OP is after, I know, but I used to use a 20x hand
magnifying lens to check stylus condition. It was adequate for that,
but no more.

On Sat, 14 Dec 2013 14:16:05 +0000, Eiron
wrote:

Having tried, I'd say that a USB Microscope from Maplin, Lidl etc.
would be useless for checking the condition of a stylus.

The Lidl USB microscope I've got does x20, x40, x350. I'll have a go at
using it for stylus inspection.

Anyone say if this works with Linux? (Or RISC OS?)

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html