HDD Noise problem using RB on iRiver H120

[divamum]

Hi -

I preface this by saying that if this has been previously discussed and I've simply missed finding it, please just point to me to the relevant thread....

My saga to date:  I was running my iRiver using an older build of RB (from last March) - upgraded to a more recent RB build (November 14th) so that I can run digi-in. For the most part that's working great via optical-in with my outboard preamp (thank you RB developers!!)

However, I also run my CMC8s straight into the iRiver's ext mic (ie no external preamp) fairly regularly.  To date, this has been awesome using RB. However, since I've installed the new build, I am getting TERRIBLE hard drive noise. I thought yesterday's experience with the Boeing revving up in my ears was user error, but I've just sat here making some tests and even with the mics a foot away it's picking up tons of hdd noise as the machine buffers and writes to disk.  When I stealth with it, sometimes they ARE that close, hence why I'm trying to figure it out.   I have to assume it's the firmware since it's never been this kind of problem before (sure, it would pick up hdd noise if hte mics were right next to the unit, but nothing at all like th is) and when I run it at similar gain level using the iRiver firmware, it's nothing like as loud.  Any ideas?

Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

[LinusN]

Sounds to me like you're still recording with the internal mic.

[whatboutbob]

This noise you're talking about - is it just during testing - is it in a silent or close to silent environment?

Those modded at's are pretty sensitive - a foot isn't that much - particularly if you're pointing @ the 'source' (read: rockbox).  I've certainly been able to pick up...errr..."radiant" hdd noise during rb testing - thru no fault of rockbox.

[divamum]

LinusN -  you may in fact be entirely right and I feel like a complete and total IDIOT.     I have just gone to look at it and see I selected "mic" (as in "mic-in" for external mic).... but now am wondering if that is "mic" as in "internal mic".

Can somebody clarify for me?

If this in fact the case, it DOES indeed qualify as "user-error".    After I switched to RB back in March I never touched those settings again (since I always use external mic and there was no optical at that point) but am now having a nagging distant memory of that being  "line-in" on the previous build - even though it was acting as "mic in" and providing gain - I  completely forgot about that until just now.  Yikes!

However, a humble request for you wonderful developers (to whom I am PROFOUNDLY grateful for RB - it is fantastic!):   in future builds would it be possible to  id the "mic" choice as "internal mic" to avoid confusion for those of us who use several different recorders  and sometimes forget which one uses which moniker?!

Of course, if "mic" is indeed mic-in, then the original problem remains - very very high HDD noise......

[Llorean]

The "line-in" refers to anything plugged into the line-in port on the top of the unit. The "Mic" refers to the only mic permanently attached to the unit: the internal one.

[divamum]

In which case, embarassed user-error.  Oh brother do I feel an idiot... I'm supposed to know better than that!

 

[Febs]

It's an easy error to make.  I agree that these selections ought to be clarified.

[jhMikeS]

So I don't have to worry about the Boeing?

I might mention that the voice file I have says "Integrated Mic" and it should probably be labelled as such - "Internal Mic" since that seems to be about the most common name for it.

[petur]

Lang file changed...