New recording idea, a bit crazy

[b0br]

Very well!
I need such feature so much for composing music for percussions and saxophones (it's one of major reasons why i get h340 on monday). I'm glad you suggested this - i had the same idea in head for 3 weeks

Is there any difference in technical things discussed between h100 and h300 series? Would it work on both in the same way (i mean when somebody writes the code fo h100, would it - after some changes - work on h300?

[pabouk]

H300 series is very similar to H100. I think it would work there with minimal modifications.

[Paul Slocum]

Really cool idea.  Based on my experience with audio recording on older computers, I'd guess that several simulataneous tracks/samples could be played back at once.

Considering the limited display of the iRiver (and most DAPs) a tracker-style interface would probably make more sense.  Although originally designed for synth chips, they can work for audio.  A non-graphic interface takes a little getting used to, but it's intuitive once you get the hang of it.  And it's much easier to code.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Module_file

-paul

[fizze]

H100 and H300 are exactly the same as far as cpu horsepower and such is concerned.
the only difference is that  the H300s have 32MB of RAM, while the H100s have 16MB, iirc.

Yes, this would make a VERY worthwile addition, especially when I think of potential optical digital inputs on the H100s....

[pabouk]

H100s have 16 or 32 MB RAM: H110 and H115 - 16MB;  H120 and H140 - 32 MB

[bigtrouble77]

Sorry, I only skimmed through the previous posts so I may be suggesting the same thing, but this is the only way I can see multitrack recording working....

- Creates a session file organizing all the recorded tracks with meta data for each track to set things like volume level, pan, etc. (simple xml file?)

- At recording time only a session mixdown is played back- I can't imagine that rockbox can do a realtime mixdown.

- Two mixdown process types, Session and Final.  Session process is purely for recording and Final is for listening to the final result. (you may only want to record to drums and bass, or you may want to record with all tracks played back so there needs to be the ability to set the tracks to record along with)

If rockbox can play and record simultaneouly this could be an amazing tool. 

[lenny]

Well, I saw this in the mailing lists...

David Pedersen wrote:
> If there is any such tone, it is close to useless. It can't be heard,
> unless you mean that low frequent buzz that is in the left channel, when
> you start a recording. But that is so low, that almost whatever you do
> record, the input sound would far outrange this buzz. What we really
> ned, is a BEEP, that would be in the range of 500-1000hz, and I guess,
> approximately 0.3-0.5 second duration. And maybe even adjustable in volume.

Yes, we know it hardly audible, but it's the best we can do. The
hardware won't let us play audio and record at the same time.

Linus

He was addressing a different question, but it does seem pertinent. Please say this doesn't mean what I think it does! Is this true? Are you reading this by any chance Linus?

[fizze]

is he talking about the iRiver H100/300s ?

I also havent taken a look at the specs, but the fact that I actually can enable monitoring in the iRiver firmware gives a hint. maybe its only true for a single buffer, but tbh I doubt it. gonna take a look at that.

[lenny]

honestly I don't know fizzie, the model name wasn't mentioned
Thanks for checking on it though!

and while you do that... dare I ask again?

One more thing, humor me please. If I were to say that I wanted to learn how to program just so I could write this thing I'm dreaming up, what would I need to learn and how long would it take me to do learn so I could write this assuming I've got a good head on my shoulders? (the most complex I ever got language wise was php)

I've figured out that I should probably learn C, but does that mean I just go to the store and get a "learn to program in C" book? Would this be overkill? Would it be insufficent? Should I just give up the question already?

[fizze]

well, you'd have to mess with hardware internas. C is fun, yeah. but its quite different from PHP

take a look at classical "hello world" stuff online, no need to buy a book (yet).
theres plenty of online tutorials which are very good.


edit:
I just read the datasheet on the UDA1380, and there is no word of it not being full duplex capable.

the unit is capable of "mixing" input with a digital output without an external DSP though. but this is mostly restricted to amplification.

in other news, the "detection" that was mentioned is restricted to clipping on the headphone out, as well as "short circuiting" the unit.

[BenJenkins]

I have to say that this is a great idea. 4 tracks should be plenty. I'd even be happy with just two tracks. (Now, if I could only find a 140 for sale.)

[bennis]

great ideas guys! please work them out! I could surely use a 4 track recorder in my pocket
Example: Record a tune in the studio, mix it down to a stereo guide track on your iriver, then go to a nice place with a great sounding grand piano / percussion / horns section / hammond -- plugin a GOOD stereo mic --> give the musician a headphone and record the the intrument in sync with the guidetrack!

After recording go home, upload the new stereo track to your multitrack software ( nuendo, cubase, sonar, protools etc) --> mixdown and be happy!

Would be sooo cool, quick and concenient

[LinusN]

My statement above applied to the Archos hardware alone.

[lenny]

whew! that's a relief Linus. I've been waiting since december 20th for that answer (j/k )

come summer if someone hasn't taken this idea and run with it, I think I'll invest some time and learn C. Maybe. but it would be cool if somebody that knew how did it!

edit: thanks bennis for reviving this thread, maybe something good will come of it

[pupil]

sweet lord, PLEASE make this happen, this would be the greatest thing ever, as being able to record extra instruments outside out the studio (ie grand piano as someone stated earler) with this would be amazing!

I'm sure you've all seen this puppy:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrack2496-main.html

technically (software wise at least, maybe not quite up to the quality hardware wise) a 4track iRiver would be better than the M-Audio 2 track recorder!

please make this happen, you would make me sooooo happy!