MR-8 how many songs?

[goliveira]

Hi,

I wonder if an ower of a MR-8 could answer a question I have about it.

I do not plan to use it as fully functional recording device, since I
already have a computer to do that.

Yet, when I am practicing/playing for leisure I'd like a very quick way
to record new licks and ideas. To do that with the computer is a bit of
a drag, since I need to boot the machine, create a new project, bla,
bla, bla. Plus I can't move it when I am on the road.

The only requirement I really need for this toy is:

1. Unlimited (only by memory) song directory. Since so many licks and ideas come up all the time, I just want to quick write: song1, interval lick4, samba45, etc. When I read the manuals, I wasn't sure if you have a limit like 32 songs max. If it's a huge limit like 1024 or 2048 works for me too. Do you know anything about that?

tchau,
Gustavo.

[dave in toledo]

its the size of the cf card, and the mode used that determins the number of songs you will get on it. in normal mode, about 1) 3min song with 4 or so tracks, in extended mode maybe 6 or 7 songs, but for just recording ideads, i put in in extended mode, and just record through the internal mike with an acustic much easier then analog.

the mr8 is really most usefull recording the tracks on normal mode, then transfering to pc for mixing, no latency problems and pc noise issues to deal with

[goliveira]

thx dave. I didn't get your answer until today. Yet, yesterday I went to the store and bought it anyway.

Indeed I can have thousands of little songs if the card holds it. I confirmed when I connected to the USB and notice it's just a regular windows folder structure.

I am still hacking the unit, but so far it's pretty cool.

tchau,
Gustavo.

P.S. my next step is try to buy a cf card on ebay cheap. Interesting I have not be able to find the kind fostex supports on ebay. I can only buy new which is too expensive.

Have you guy had any luck with this?

[dave in toledo]

there is an extensive list on this forum of cards that have been confirmed here by users...quick search will find it....

[goliveira]

thx, I searched again and found a bunch.

Still the 512s are running for more then $100 used. That's too much. I am going to wait few months until it's more affordable.

I want to keep the whole gear cheap, otherwise it'd have been better buy a more expensive recorder.

tchau,
Gustavo.

[cellardweller]

Damned flash cards.

I am forever trying to jam one more track on them, and having to delete a track from another song before I can...

I have had very limited success bouncing tracks back to the MR8 from the PC. Is there a method of naming the files I should be aware of? Does Windoze rename them or something that makes them unrecognizable to the mr8? Am I somehow hosing this?

[dave in toledo]

you HAVE to use the fostex wav manager to put the tracks back on the card, they will come off ok without it, but the software does something to the file so the mr 8 can use it, it really has worked great for me and saved me from having to buy a bigger card at all.

[dave in toledo]

the file has to be mono 144 and 16 bit

name the file tr01.wav

tr(what ever track you want it to show up on) tr04 ....

[cellardweller]

Originally posted by dave in toledo
you HAVE to use the fostex wav manager to put the tracks back on the card, they will come off ok without it, but the software does something to the file so the mr 8 can use it, it really has worked great for me and saved me from having to buy a bigger card at all.

Seems all the small wierd things my MR8 has done are coming to mind today. Has yours ever taken forever to show up on your PC? I put it in USB mode the other day, and nothing. I waited probably 2 minutes before the ol' red light started strobing and Windoze acknowledged its' presence.

Anyway, I always use the wav manager. No reason not to. I never retitle the tracks... I think my MR8 must be mad at me. It's always doing quirky little strange things like I've listed...
I'll put the track(s) back on the card via wav manager, they show up on the PC, but the MR8 does not seem to see them. Is there some specific way of titling the folder? Do they have to go back to the same song from which they came? I'll have to fiddle with it tonight, if my wife lets me....

I hope channel B decides to work tonight..*edit* inputB that is

Maybe that's what's going on. Does N-track re-title them? I've seen some tracks titled MR00012, etc... Unsure of the exact number of repeating '0's, but you get the idea. I think my basement is haunted, maybe possessed.

[dave in toledo]

in order for wave manager to read the file to take from the pc and put back on the cf card, the file has to be named(tr01), or 02, 03, the numeral decides whick track it will show up on....

otherwise wavmanager doesnt see the file in order to transfer it

[cellardweller]

That should be easy enough to remember. So why do I know I will forget? I didn't get a chance to record anything last night, but damnit, I'm gonna tonight!


How about the delay in windoze recognizing, and the apparent delay in the MR8 sending data? What is the correct sequence for plugging in the USB? USB plugged into MR8, then to PC, then activate USB mode on MR8? This is how I've tried it, it seems to always take probably 2 minutes to react. I am always just about to unplug and turn it off when the MR8 starts sending...

[pjh6467]

Read the Adobe Read Me with your wav manager program for instructions. And when importing tracks from MR8,create new folders for your songs keeping tracks in order without renaming. Should only have to rename tracks when exporting back to pc.
1. Create new folder
2. Put MR8 in USB mode
3. Open wav manager
4. Find and open your new folder
5. Pick your tracks and import
6. Move tracks from folder to mixing software

This way original MR8 tracks are intact in folder for mix or export or if something gets lost or deleted. My two cents. Good luck Pj

[dave in toledo]

yes that is how wav manager works going from the mr 8 to the pc, but we were determining how to prepare files so the wav manager can convert the pc files back to the mr8

i beleive the usb sequence is plug in unit, turn on, switch to usb, ive had to restart on occasion to get the drive to show up, now i use a card reader,,,,,

using 98 se, so usb is not supported