Merry Christmas!

[RobertB]

     Here's to a beautiful Christmas, whether computer-related or not!

          Cheers!
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

     Just finished playing around with a toy I bought for myself.  It's a Zoom H2 digital audio recorder.  I bought to replace the flaky Sony portable DAT recorder I've had since the 1990's.  My idea is to use it at events, conferences, meetings, and of course, Commodore/Amiga functions as a primary or supplementary recording device.

     My history of audio-recording goes back a long way.  In the 1960's my father gave me a portable reel-to-reel recorder.  Then by 1969 or 1970 I graduated to a General Electric portable cassette recorder (highly rated by Consumer Reports!).  That served me until the above Sony DAT recorder.  Last year I got a tiny RCA digital audio recorder from Wal-Mart that saved to .WAV files, but it was mono and saved at 64 Kbps, making for a very dull-sounding recording... good for voice but bad for music.

          The Zoom H2 sounds much better,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[Paul]

Thanks for the wishes Robert, and that looks like a cool gadget! As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing like a good audio capture of an event or moment. It's why I opted for the Kodak Zi8 over the PlaySport (it has an external mic input vs. being waterproof). While not nearly as nice as your audio recorder, this is what I use these days for dedicated audio on the fly:

[Paul]

Hey, I was just struck with an idea. What about a retro-link podcast?

[RobertB]

     Hmm, that might be an idea, but who will run it?

          Waiting at the Sacramento Airport for
          a flight to Portland, Oregon,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

     But what Commodorish item did you get, you may ask.  I bought a little Dallas Smartwatch chip adapter for my FD-2000 so that I could have a real-time clock in the unit.  Too bad that the surplus company is all sold out of them now.

          Happy New Year!
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[RobertB]

It's a Zoom H2 digital audio recorder.  I bought to replace the flaky Sony portable DAT recorder I've had since the 1990's.  My idea is to use it at events, conferences, meetings, and of course, Commodore/Amiga functions as a primary or supplementary recording device.

    The Zoom had its first test at a concert.  I used a 4 gig SDHC card and lithium batteries (for assurance that it wouldn't run out of power).  I set it to WAV recording, 48 KHz, 24-bit, rear stereo microphones (which have a 120 degree spread), medium gain, limiter 2 (concert mode).  It worked excellently!  I was too scared to use WAV recording at 96 KHz, 24-bit, because the instruction manual said that a heavy processing load might cause the sound to cut out.  I can't have that!  To test this maximum setting, I will have to use it on something less important than a concert.

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[Paul]

Clearly, a new retro-link.com podcast is in order. I will deliver instructions over the next few days via e-mail, Robert.