I need to record 8 radiostations broadcast programs for 3 weeks, compressed
in a hard disk .
What is the best way to do that?

Janne Autio

3 weeks is a long time.
Even with compression you'll need to change out the hard drives a few
times.
What kind of quality do you need ?

rd

Janne wrote:
I need to record 8 radiostations broadcast programs for 3 weeks, compressed
in a hard disk .
What is the best way to do that?

By purchasing (or maybe even renting) a commercial logging system. Those
gadgets have several radio receivers in a box with a hard disk recorder.
Some have intelligence so that they can cut out the musical selections so
you can just hear the announcer and commercials. Program directors use
them all the time for checking out the other stations in their area.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

3 weeks is a long time.
Even with compression you'll need to change out the hard drives a few
times.
What kind of quality do you need ?

rd

Quality doesn't really matter. 128kbit/s MPEG is enough, so 3 weeks means
something
like less than 300Gb.

Janne

For CD quality in stereo that would be 10 250 gig hds. compressed that would
reduce to 5 drives. As mp3 that could probably be done on 1 drive.

Bob

"Janne" wrote in message
...
I need to record 8 radiostations broadcast programs for 3 weeks,
compressed
in a hard disk .
What is the best way to do that?

Janne Autio

have a look at FLAC . . . Free Lossless Audio Compression. Reduces
audio flies to about a quarter of their size, and no loss (unlike mp3),
and much better compression ratio than Zip. It should be easy to find
on the net. If not email me . . . chris_at_chris-melchior.com and I'll
give you a link.

Janne wrote:

Quality doesn't really matter. 128kbit/s MPEG is enough, so 3 weeks
means
something
like less than 300Gb.

Janne

Obviously you'll need 8 radios.
Any of the numerous 8 channel A-D converters
would get you 8 MONO audio ins, double that if
you need stereo on all channels.
Your choice of firewire or lightpipe ...
If you have enough slots 4 stereo cards would work.
Logging softwa

http://www.nch.com.au/vrs/

http://www.vitez.it/products/logger.html

http://www.audioscientific.com/Data%...rs%20Links.htm

http://www.etmpacific.com.au/Multich...ataLoggers.asp

If you use enough compression or a low sample/bit rate
you should be able to fit. The 'best' solution would
involve removable a harddrive and someone available to
swap it out.

rd

wrote:

have a look at FLAC . . . Free Lossless Audio Compression. Reduces
audio flies to about a quarter of their size

I haven't used flac much, but http://flac.sourceforge.net/
shows some benchmarks they did, and the average compression
ratio was something like 0.52, which means it reduces files
to a little over half their original size. Do you actually
get 4-to-1 performance in some cases?

- Logan

I haven't used flac much, but http://flac.sourceforge.net/
shows some benchmarks they did, and the average compression
ratio was something like 0.52, which means it reduces files
to a little over half their original size. Do you actually
get 4-to-1 performance in some cases?


Actually, I haven't used it yet . . . that was what someone else said
to me. But you're probably more accurate! Still . . . that's a lot
better than using WinZip.

Chris
http://www.chris-melchior.com/strings.htm (real strings for realistic
prices)

Thanks a lot for everybody. I check those logging softwares RD Jones
mentioned:

http://www.nch.com.au/vrs/

http://www.vitez.it/products/logger.html

http://www.audioscientific.com/Data%...rs%20Links.htm

http://www.etmpacific.com.au/Multich...ataLoggers.asp