PDAudio: S/PDIF Input for Pocket PCs

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.core-sound.com/HighResRecorderNews.html' target='_blank'>http://www.core-sound.com/HighResRecorderNews.html</a><br /><br /></div>Audiophiles, check this out: you'll soon have a option for high-quality recording with your Pocket PC.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/pdaudio-20030304.jpg" /><br /><br />"The centerpiece of the system is PDAudio-CF, a Compact Flash S/PDIF interface with optical and coaxial inputs. PDAudio-CF can be mounted in PDA hosts that run Windows CE/Pocket PC 2002 or Linux (such as HP/Compaq's iPAQ), or used with laptop and desktop computers running Linux, Windows 2000 or Windows XP. The PDA-based PDAudio will operate on rechargeable batteries for more than enough time to record a concert, and be able to quickly transfer audio data to a computer (PC or Mac) via removable solid-state memory cards (currently available in sizes up to 3 GB), removable PC Card (currently up to 5 GB) and CF Card (currently 1 GB and up to 4 GB come Fall '03) hard disk drives, high capacity 2.5" hard drives (40 GB or more) using the PC Card interface, and via wired and wireless local area networks."<br /><br />It seems Core Sound is developing this as a portable DAT-quality solution -- it could very possibly be a step up from using tapes. They're also going to be introducing a microphone preamp/A-to-D converter to allow you to use high-quality analog mikes with this solution.

[claud9999]

it's about time someone developed a device like this...PPC's are perfect digital recorders, esp. now that many have SD card slots as well as the CF slot.

Two questions: do you think a XScale processor would be capable of realtime MP3 encoding (stereo, 128kbps?)

This is input only, right? I'd like to drive a Griffin TotalRemote from a card like this (Cassiopeia/Axim doesn't work with TotalRemote.)

[R K]

You guys at PocketPCThoughts are on a roll today.
I think Pocket PC should be capable of encoding 128Kbps MP3s realtime, but it might take some skill to get it done.
I think the author of NoteM is working on this.

[Mike Wagstaff]

Sounds good to me. But as a Mike, what did you expect me to say? :wink:

[Kaber]

What did he say about batteries?

[ipaq38vette]

Does this mean, with added cables, I can record from my guitar amp directly to my ipaq? If so, that's awesome.

Now there needs to be a program like Cakewalk so I can actually create music on my pocket pc

[jizmo]

My brother recorded a live tune performed by a jazzband and I listened to it several times without knowing where it was from. The dynamics of the sound was so good that I had hard time believing him when he told it was recorded with his iPAQ 3630. I mean, I've heard a lot worse recordings with a minidisk and real microphone.

/jizmo

[Janak Parekh]

Does this mean, with added cables, I can record from my guitar amp directly to my ipaq? If so, that's awesome.
Well, as the link implies, with their upcoming A-to-D adapter you could indeed plug it directly into the amp. I think that's the whole point: professional recording on your PDA.

jizmo, while I agree with you that the iPaq's mic is pretty decent, it doesn't cut it for high-quality stereo recording.

Now there needs to be a program like Cakewalk so I can actually create music on my pocket pc
I'm pretty sure I saw a MIDI sequencer some time ago; have you done a search?

--janak

[Kaber]

PDA Musician (http://pages.prodigy.net/gwen.and.wolfgang/music.html)

[ipaq38vette]

Thanks for the links

Im not sure if I like the MidNote's interface, but I will try the demo. What I would really like to do with my guitar is plug it in directly to my pocket pc an amplify the sound through my ipaq. I know they make desktop programs that allow for onboard amplification and recording. What is nice about Cakewalk home studio is that you can mix midi and audio together into one file.

[humphrey22]

Happy Recording! It's pretty awesome....

http://www.planetgriff.com/

[Kaber]

Happy Recording! It's pretty awesome....

http://www.planetgriff.com/

Oh man that looks killer! 8O :D

[vincentsiaw]

wow, now i can almost copy whatever audio cd i like, just plug in a jack to the line in, no protection system will stop me from copying from a cd :twisted:

[SeanMcLeod]

I wonder why no mention of digital audio output? Only input. I'd really like to use something like this to enable me to take portable music around on my iPaq and then plug it into a decent amp that has a SPDIF input play DJ from my iPaq.

Would result in much better quality compared to using the iPaq's built-in D-A and it's analog line out to an analog input of an external amp.

[nuss]

Seems like some folks don't really understand what this application is all about. For a long time now, there have been people who go to (especially Grateful Dead) concerts with portable DAT machines, and mics to record the concerts. The Dead even had a special section of the audience where these people could set up their gear, which could be pretty complicated sometimes. These people were/are into quality. Anyway, DAT has fallen out of favour, because the recording spec is out of date (16bit/44.1kHz), and tape has limitations. Looking for something to replace the outdated method, these guys came up with using an iPaq as a recorder. Portable, extremely high quality recording. To encode mp3s on the fly kind of misses the point, since mp3 sounds like doo-doo. It's the "quantity" format. I bet this would be hard on battery life, but so what? You go and record the concert, bring the device home and transfer to your PC, and charge up. I doubt anyone who uses this system will be looking to use the Pocket PC to play Doom or whatever on the way home.....

As far as playback, since it's not really the point of the system, I imagine for reasons of cost and stability they've left it out. Do you guys realize how much memory and CPU power it takes to record 1 minute of audio at 24bit/96kHz? This seems like a system designed to do one thing really well. They don't have to throw in everything but the kitchen sink, I'm amazed that a PDA can even do this. Add a bunch of extra features, and you'll find yourself cursing as you hit the reset button in the middle of the concert.....

Brent