[feature request] LCD-Remote Reduce Ticking *DURING RECORDING* (was a quesiton)

[Davide-NYC]

I am using an iRiver iHP-140 and the H3xx joystick remote. (thanks to Mmmm)

I just made two 10 second test recordings from the line-in jack with the Volume at 0db and the gain crancked up to +48db. Nothing at all was plugged into the line in.
My two recording sound (and look) pretty much identical. Audible ticking. Yuck.

I then repeated the test without the remote plugged in.
Tick reduction on and tick reduction off.
Of course both of these are fine. Nothing but the noisefloor.

So my question is, what exactly does the tick reduction function do if anything?
I can't hear or see any meaningful difference in a recorded WAV.

[lenny]

It's my understanding that the tick reduction was made for playback, not recording. I know from experience it significantly (not entirely) reduces the "tickage" for playback, but I have never heard anybody even mention it in regards to recording before.

[Mmmm]

Yep, reduce ticking option is only for playback...you might like to look at this thread about the recording ticking http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=4573.0 Not that it will help though!

[Davide-NYC]

[THREAD TITLE CHANGED TO FEATURE REQUEST INSTEAD OF QUERY]

Having confirmed that the LCD-Remote Reduce Ticking function only affects playback I would like to humbly request that a developer (or developers) attempt to implement the same function during recording.

Is this even possible? I know that I couldn't ask for anything more with my RockRiver H1xx, but if it can be had lets try to have it! 

No ticking during line-in would make this the best DAP/DAR even better.

Crushing!

[EDIT] I have created a feature request on the tacker: http://www.rockbox.org/tracker/task/5732

[lenny]

sounds great, but if it didn't remove all ticking, than I would continue to not use the remote for important recordings. I know that for playback, ticking is stll there even with the "no ticking." I don't know if it's because all the no ticking potential hasn't been utilized or because it's just something that we'll have to deal with.

Other than the lack of stealthiness, not using the remote works just fine. however if possible this is a great idea!

[Mmmm]

I reckon the only way to totally eliminate the ticking is to switch off the lcd display. I suppose this must be possible....but then you wouldnt be able to have it switch on again or you'd ruin your recording....maybe a button to switch it on/off. You would then lose the advantage of the clip light though...hmmmm

[Davide-NYC]

*IF* the only way to solve this is to turn off the remote's LCD then it's not worth pursuing.

(better to just not use the remote while recording anything softer than a live rock band)

But if there is some way to solve this (partially or completely) without shutting off the remote LCD then it would be a great feature.

I do not think it would be necessary to change anything in the interface... the reduce ticking feature would simply affect input as well as output.

Just my thoughts....

[Llorean]

I wonder if you could have an option "Remote LCD does not update while recording".
Then you'd get clicks in the pre-record, but once you activate recording the only data sent to the remote could be flashing the cliplight. I would imagine that you could reduce the clicks down to minimal or possibly even none with that. You might get them when the light flashes, and maybe when it turns back off, but ideally you'll get to the point where clipping isn't happening.

At least, possibly.

[Mmmm]

Well, here's an interesting build.... while in the recording screen press the vol+ button on the remote and the remote stops updating, press it again and it starts. As Llorean said the backlight still causes a blip as does the hard drive! (only for h100 remote im afraid davide. )

disableremote.zip

I'm not really sure if this is useful... 
It's fun for a few seconds though!

[Llorean]

Is the hard drive blip always there, or only when the remote was plugged in?

Did you remove updating the recording screen, or all remote LCD updates? (When the HD accesses, the Remote LCD gets a flicker of the virtual HD LED, something that doesn't go to the main LCD).

[Mmmm]

Is the hard drive blip always there, or only when the remote was plugged in?

I hadn't noticed it before but it is always there! Although listening to a recording at max volume made with a gain of 40 (very high) I can just hear it so it is quite minor. The buffers fills about every 3 minutes and you get about 10 seconds of constant interference while it is writing to the hard drive. Not good (but better than the original firmare as the buffer in the original fills after 30 secs!!!!)

Did you remove updating the recording screen, or all remote LCD updates? (When the HD accesses, the Remote LCD gets a flicker of the virtual HD LED, something that doesn't go to the main LCD).

I have removed updating of the recording screen and the status bar in the recording screen (when you hit the button) which is everything. While in the recording screen with remote off, you get identical interference to when the remote is unplugged but you can still use the remote buttons.

[Mmmm]

I've updated it so you can use it on the h300 remotes (use the -10 button to turn off the display) Also a nice splash screen to remind you what's going on...

Is this a useful feature or a load of old rubbish? disableremote.zip

[Llorean]

Next question: Are you recording from a Mic, or some other analog source (like simply running a line from something else's output to your iRiver)?

I'm just curious if this interference is going to affect everyone, or just certain cases?

Edit: And I think it's probably a useful feature, since minimizing interference on recordings is a good thing.

[Mmmm]

Next question: Are you recording from a Mic, or some other analog source (like simply running a line from something else's output to your iRiver)?

I'm just curious if this interference is going to affect everyone, or just certain cases?

I'm recording from line without anything plugged in (to get zero input) so it should affect everyone. (but I bet noone will ever hear it!)

Edit: And I think it's probably a useful feature, since minimizing interference on recordings is a good thing.

hmmm I suppose it's ok as a temporary measure but it is not really ideal.. better than nothing though I suppose.

[Davide-NYC]

This ticking business is just an inherent hardware flaw.   
Shutting off the remote LCD is a cludge.

Maybe a single line in the Rockbox iRiver manual mentioning the ticking could be the sad end of this.
-- Critical recording (line-in) should be done without an LCD remote plugged into the main unit as this can introduce 'artifacts' into the audio. --

I have decided that I can live with the ticking. It's rare that I absolutely have to use the remote and I never use that much gain anyway, so the ticking should be inaudible.
It'll bother me sure. I will imagine that I can hear the ticking (even when I can't) and I'll probably eventually lose my mind. But it won't kill me. 
Promise to visit me in the asylum!