Recording via optical-in

[vinylivo]

It's perfectly possible to capture digital transport streams from digital sources like DAB/satellite etc in their transmitted format, i.e. mp2.  Thus attaining a perfect copy of the audio sent.

By the way the mad decoder used in rockbox plays MPEG1 or 2 layer 1 or 2 (e.g. mp2) without problems. So you could even rip the audio stream from a video DVD or a VCD and play it on the iriver. AC3 a.k.a a52 or dolby digital plays too. :-)

[mborus]

By the way the mad decoder used in rockbox plays MPEG1 or 2 layer 1 or 2 (e.g. mp2) without problems. So you could even rip the audio stream from a video DVD or a VCD and play it on the iriver. AC3 a.k.a a52 or dolby digital plays too. :-)

True. On the other hand if the DVD is copy protected than ripping the audio is illegal
in my country (Germany). Recording the audio off the digital out is still legal...

Same goes for copying copy protected CDs. Unless the CD player sends a no-copy signal via digital out (which almost never happens) this is the best legal method to copy a protected CD.

[jaybeee]

It's perfectly possible to capture digital transport streams from digital sources like DAB/satellite etc in their transmitted format, i.e. mp2.  Thus attaining a perfect copy of the audio sent.

By the way the mad decoder used in rockbox plays MPEG1 or 2 layer 1 or 2 (e.g. mp2) without problems. So you could even rip the audio stream from a video DVD or a VCD and play it on the iriver. AC3 a.k.a a52 or dolby digital plays too. :-)

Yep I know all that.  I play mp2s that have been capped from radio broadcasts.

I'm just wondering if that functionality is possible with the H1xx series.  Anyone?

[jaybeee]

^^ is this a stupid question or is it that no-one knows?

[hellokytty]

I'm using my iriver H 120 to record digital radio from my skysat satellite receiver via optical in. I works fine as long as I choose "Dolby Digital" as output. The player doesn't seem to record AC3 - I can just hear cracking.
My DVD Player seems to be copy protected - I get cracking too even if sound output is set to "dolby digital".

So it works - with some limitations.

[jaybeee]

I'm using my iriver H 120 to record digital radio from my skysat satellite receiver via optical in. I works fine as long as I choose "Dolby Digital" as output. The player doesn't seem to record AC3 - I can just hear cracking.
My DVD Player seems to be copy protected - I get cracking too even if sound output is set to "dolby digital".

So it works - with some limitations.

So what format is the audio saved in on the iRiver?

[Mmmm]

At the moment with rockbox you can only record via line in (analogue) so you will lose some quality. Also only wav files are supported 44100khz 16bit so if your source is any higher you will obviously lose more quality!

This will not always be the case though. Optical in will definitely be supported and I think up to 24 bit capture is technically possible (...or was it 20bit...can't remember!) in certain situations. Not sure about 48000khz though!

EDIT: Just found this using the newly up and running forum search:

Apologies for my ignorance (and possibly dumbarse question), but is it technically possible to record 24 bit/96 kHz to the iriver (and therfore within rockbox's realm)?

No, 20bits/44.1kHz is the best the hardware can do.

[hellokytty]

Hi, sorry - when I said that I recorded via optival in I didn't mention that in the moment I'm using the original firmware. So of course the files can be saved as WAV or mp3. I prefer WAV.

Great to hear that recording via optical in will be added in rockbox !!!

[Davide-NYC]

When Optical Recording becomes a reality I may just have to purchase an extra H140 as backup!!!
 

[radiated]

Hello all, and thanks a lot to you that have made the rockbox.org firmware. The fix of the recording glitch was a milestone, and I would really really really want you to implement spdif recording. If done proplerly (24 bit recording is perhaps possible?) the iRiver could be the perfect location proffessional stereo recorder if paired up with a decent A-D-converter.
The unit would also bee  very useful for digital backup when recording on location/in studio, and should become any musicians or recording engineers best friend.

Best regards from Trondheim, Norway

[allthatlies]

i very much agree with everything in this thread. i currently run Schoeps MK4 > nbox+ (custom made pre & a/d) > h120 in the field and would love to be able to have the iriver accept the digital signal as opposed to going digital > analog > digital within the iriver.

[hellokytty]

Hi,

did you notice that the rockbox manual for H 120 devices reads:

3.9.2

"Source: Choose the source of the recording. This can be SPDIF (digital), microphone or line in. For recording from the radio see page 20" ?

I hope they mentioned it to let us know that optical recording will be implemented soon.

[mborus]

did you notice that the rockbox manual for H 120 devices reads:
3.9.2
"Source: Choose the source of the recording. This can be SPDIF (digital), microphone or line in. For recording from the radio see page 20" ?
I hope they mentioned it to let us know that optical recording will be implemented soon.

The manual covers Archos and Iriver.

If you look at the ToDo list (http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/ReleaseTodo) digital inputs for the Iriver H1x0 series are not on this list for the current feature freeze or the next Rockbox release in November 2006.

I have some hopes that it is hidden in the term "everything that worked in Rockbox 2.5", but it can also mean that digital recording for Irivers will not be implemented in 2006. With the focus shifting away from the H1x0 series towards the other targets without digital inputs (Ipod, H3x0 series) it's possible that there's just not enough interest in digital in recording after all.

We'll just have to wait and see...

[manno]

I just wanted to chime in on this also. I bought the h120 just for the future possibility of optical-in recording and really hope it comes to life. I too, am a high quality recording freak and this would be the perfect solution!

[westkc3]

...encountered another reason to desire optical recording last night...I am in the middle of converting from MiniDisc to a H120.  This requires moving over 260 discs converted to wave in real time.  In attempting to burn a cd from some previously digitally recorded mini discs, SCMS kicked in.  So now I just go from the optical out on my JE-520 to the H120 which I currently have booteded to the original firmware to allow optical in recording. 

The recording screen is nowhere near finished...Have a look


HERE for a load of, as yet, uncommitted upgrades...

I don't know about the optical in though...I'm sure it will eventually get done although I personally cant think of any point in it...
Surely if you already have a digital source, you are better off re-encoding it using a computer instead of doing it real-time through the optical in? Or maybe there is something else you could use it for that I haven't thought of...?? :-)