I have a couple of pcm video tapes from the mid 80s, Before these
tapes shed their oxide, I would like to move their audio content onto
CD, but am wondering what is the best way with consumer gear?

My pcm processor is a Technics SV-100, a 14bit product. It has a
coax digital output, so I was wondering if there were any advantage to
re-clocking to 16 bit for direct CD recorder, or just sending the
analog connector straight to my Macintosh's (Sawtooth G4) onboard
audio?

Thanks

G.T.W. wrote:
I have a couple of pcm video tapes from the mid 80s, Before these
tapes shed their oxide, I would like to move their audio content onto
CD, but am wondering what is the best way with consumer gear?

My pcm processor is a Technics SV-100, a 14bit product. It has a
coax digital output, so I was wondering if there were any advantage to
re-clocking to 16 bit for direct CD recorder, or just sending the
analog connector straight to my Macintosh's (Sawtooth G4) onboard
audio?

Reclocking buys you nothing. You got 14 bit data, it stays 14 bit.
If it really has an S-PDIF output it will be a 16 bit output with the
lowest two bits set to zero. Plug it into a device with an S-PDIF input
(either a CD recorder or DAT machine or a gadget plugged into the G4)
and see.

The converters in those PCM boxes are pretty awful by modern standards,
so you will gain a lot going digital.
-scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Andre Majorel" wrote in message

In article znr1058622990k@trad, Mike Rivers wrote:

In article
writes:

My pcm processor is a Technics SV-100, a 14bit product. It has a
coax digital output, so I was wondering if there were any advantage
to re-clocking to 16 bit for direct CD recorder

First off, you don't "reclock" from 14-bit to 16-bit, you just add a
couple of zeros at the end of the work. However, you will have to
reclock from 44.056 kHz to 44.1 kHz, unless you're in the UK or
someplace where they use a PAL video format. This is usually no big
deal and most digital interfaces will lock to that sample rate.
However, playback will be at 44.1 kHz so there will be a small change
in pitch.

0.017 semitone to be precise, as if you had a 440.44 Hz tuning
fork.

Or about 0.1 percent. Unlikely to be noticed even under optimal conditions.

"Mike Rivers" wrote in message
news:znr1058622990k@trad...

In article writes:

I have a couple of pcm video tapes from the mid 80s, Before these
tapes shed their oxide, I would like to move their audio content onto
CD, but am wondering what is the best way with consumer gear?

Analog out to analog in.

Only if you have to.

First off, you don't "reclock" from 14-bit to 16-bit, you just add a
couple of zeros at the end of the work. However, you will have to
reclock from 44.056 kHz to 44.1 kHz, unless you're in the UK or
someplace where they use a PAL video format. This is usually no big
deal and most digital interfaces will lock to that sample rate.
However, playback will be at 44.1 kHz so there will be a small change
in pitch. It probably won't bother you, but it bothers some.

Convert the sample rate in software.

Another thing is that that digital format always used "emphasis" (a
high frequency boost, sort of like record equalization). While there
is a flag that tells the player to make the appropriate compensation,
your digital gear (or software) may not recognize it.

EQ in software.

Trevor.

In article writes:

Analog out to analog in.

Only if you have to.

Most of the time, you have to. It also often sounds better that way.
Put aside your prejudices and try it before you make an obvious jab.

Of course there are digital solutions, but not everyone has the tools,
and more important, not everyone has the ears. And most important, he
probably just wants to get the job done and stop worrying about when
his videocassettes will stop playing.

I know - Hire Trevor to do the job.



--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )

"Mike Rivers" wrote in message
news:znr1058873290k@trad...

In article
writes:

Analog out to analog in.

Only if you have to.

Most of the time, you have to. It also often sounds better that way.
Put aside your prejudices and try it before you make an obvious jab.

Why, nothing can be improved by going through the extra conversion
processes. EQ, compression, NR, etc. can be done in software. Even add
disortion if you really want, but with more control.

Of course there are digital solutions, but not everyone has the tools,
and more important, not everyone has the ears. And most important, he
probably just wants to get the job done and stop worrying about when
his videocassettes will stop playing.

That's a choice he can make for himself.

I know - Hire Trevor to do the job.

Fine by me :-)

Trevor.