D824

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NoKi

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Hi everybody!
I'm really happy to have found this forum. I recently bought a D824 that has the software version 2.02 (it names itself D824 MKII althouth its definitely the MK I hardware). Unfortunately, if I format the drive (60 GB) with the multiple undo option, only about 24 GB are left for recording. This happens even when the undos are deleted or not used at all. In single undo format everything's fine. Has anybody else noticed this problem?

BTW, where can I download a service manual for the D824/D1624? I found a link here in the forum, but it was dead.

Thanks,
Nils
 
JR#97 said:
I think there is a 30 gig limit with fdms3.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.
A kind of size limit was also my first guess, but it records my full HD flawlessly when formatted without multiple undo. Maybe it's really a software bug ...

Nils
 
Unfortunately, you have the wrong firmware: I'm surprised that the unit works at all with the MkII firmware on the MkI hardware. The latest/final revision of D824/D1624 firmware is 1.08, available here: http://www.fostex.com/Support/downloads.html. I don't know what country you are in, but the MkII machines have never been imported to the US: Fostex USA doesn't want anything to do with them, and will only import the D2424. You must have gotten that firmware from the international site.

The MkII machines have different hardware entirely, and it blows my mind that this firmware will even boot! In any case, with 1.08 you can use up to 80Gb disks: I routinely use 60s in my D1624 with no multiple undo issues. I'd recommend downgrading ASAP to avoid any further issues, or the risk of the unit packing up when you ask it to do something it really can't...

Sorry for the bad news, but I hope it helps.
 
Hi skippy,

no, the machine was originally shipped (here in Germany) with this firmware and all new MKII features really work (rec with 88.2 kHz, SPDIF at double sample rate, increased number of ghost tracks...). Maybe it's a kind of mixture between MKI and MKII. At least it has the old housing and hard disk bay.
I was quite happy when I noticed this (the D824 MKII is still a lot more expensive). The only drawback was that I had to completely change the cooling (Fostex really knows _nothing_ about aero and vibroacoustics... maybe this has been changed at the MKII.

Nils
 
Ahh. Thanks for letting me know you're in Germany: who knows what the German distributor has done! If it came with that firmware, and "sort-of" works, then that's all news to me. I have no idea how to proceed from there: you are officially in uncharted territory.

I'm still astonished that the unit works at all. That sounds like a mistake on the German distributor's part, loading up the wrong firmware when doing the depot customization of the unit. I believe that Fostex ships a generic version of the unit to all countries, and then each national distributor loads up the correct language firmware, sets up the power supply and puts in the right line cord, and adds any options the unit was ordered with. I'd get in touch directly with them and ask them what the heck they were doing: I think that this ought to be a warranty claim issue.

There's one MkII feature that I *really* want: the MkII units do not mute the outputs for half a second or so at punch-out, unlike the MkI units. That punch-out mute is a pain, because you have to wind back to really hear the punch out- you can't "hear it on the fly" as you could with an analog machine. Does your hybrid have that feature? If so, I might have to investigate loading up this firmware one one of my machines, just for kicks!

The cooling/acoustic issues of these machines are pretty well known. I posted my modifications both here and on the old Fostex discussion boards, and a few people have got some good out of them. The new Fostex discussion board is really pretty useless (since few people have discovered it, as the old Fostex site is still there- but nonfunctional), but that might be another source of information: http://www.hostboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=3847

Oh, and check your private mail messages- I have something to discuss with you offline.
 
Hiya Skippy,

It's been a long time since between "D" series threads here..........I thought the place had been taken over by the "desktop brigade":D .

I'm just trying to grasp this "punch out" issue you mentioned. Do you mean to say that if you are doing a p/in - p/out on the fly that your recorder actually mutes for 1/2 second from the moment you punch back in? If so, is it just the specific track or all tracks that mute?

I have had no such problems with my D160, so it seems strange that Fostex would "add" such a feature on later models.

ChrisO :cool:
 
It's a data management issue on the D824/D1624: it mutes your track temporarily at the punch out point, where punch-out is defined as "the point at which you drop out of record and end the overdub". It's a pain for keeping the flow going (if you wanted to punch several segments in succession, in-out-in-out), and you really can't tell how the punch out sounded (how the overdubbed material dovetails into the existing track) without stopping and rewinding. As an old analog guy who is used to the near-instant change from record monitor to simulsync at punch-out, this annoys me. The good news is that I'm not doing much rock anymore, so I don't punch in very often at all...

Here's what the manual says, and I quote (broken english and all): "Caution After Punch-Out: At 'Take' of punch out, the punch-in recording track will not immediately enter the repro monitor mode about two seconds after mute playback. This is a functional feature of the recorder and not a malfunction."

While that paragraph may sound as it if is semantically null, what it means is that when you punch out of an overdub, the track goes to mute for 2 seconds (I didn't remember it being that long!) instead of instantly switching back to repro monitor. They put it in a little box to draw your attention to it, so that when you're trying to figure out why the damned thing muted, maybe you'll see it.

This Is A Crock: redefine a bug as a feature. The machine does enough other things really well that I'm willing to put up with it, though...
 
ROFLMFAO...................one thing is for sure, they didn't improve their linguistic translatorary skills at the same time as "improving" their recorders. I actually have rewritten a number of pages from the manual and keep those pages handy when I'm editing, etc.

If I recall correctly, on the D160 I can only perform one p/in-out function on the fly. I then have to stop the machine before doing another one............this situation has only cropped up once or twice, so I'm a little vague on that area of things and it really isn't a huge issue.

Otherwise, like you, I think they do their job damned well.

:cool:
 
Skippy,
I don't see any warranty issues in this 'wrong' firmware (which is an english language version, I'm not aware of any other languages available). For me the advantages are much more worthful. And how do I know that this minor issue I mentioned above doesn't happen in V 1.08? It's a nice feature to transfer 44.1 recordings in double speed to the DAW...
I never used punch in/out as I only do recordings of classical music. I'm very busy at the moment, but if I can find some time I will try to test the punch out mute time.

Nils
 
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Well, I learned something new today: the Fostex US web site is more than a little behind the times. From the Fostex Japan/International web site "confirmed media list" page,
http://www.fostex.co.jp/int/hdlist/d824_mk2.html , comes this little tidbit:

*1 : In order to use D540X-4D, the D824 & D824MKII software must be updated to V2.02 or later.
*2 : In order to correctly format a HDD with more than 30GB capacity, the D824 & D824MKII software must be updated to V1.06 or later. In order to use HD with more than 60GB capacity, the D824 & D824MKII software must be updated to V2.02 or later.

So there *is* a 2.02 that is supposed to work for both MkI and MkII machines. Coulda knocked me over with a feather! Serves me right for believing the Fostex USA web site...

I believe that you still have a warranty issue, then: according to this, you absolutely _should_ be able to use disks up to 60Gb or more without a problem. If the machine isn't working right, there's a problem of some sort- I'd say that it was time to bug Fostex.

Now I'm _extremely_ curious about this 2.02 firmware! If it is actually *supposed* to work on the MkI machines (and their web site says that it should!), and wasn't just installed by mistake, I need to check it out. If that punch-out mute issue is handled by this, I'll be one happy camper. Suprised, of course- but happy just the same!

You learn something new every day...
 
Of course, *none* of the sites (Japan International or USA) have that version of the D-series firmware available for download- so the mystery deepens.

The US support people don't know anything about it: for them, time stopped at 1.08, and they refuse to even acknowledge that the MkII machines exist.

Hey, ChrisO: How about the Aus distributor: can they get the 2.02 firmware, and could I cajole you into sending it to me in one form or another? Enquiring minds want to know, and I know that you have found them helpful from time to time... Thanks!
 
You're right Skippy. That's exactly what I found out. I can ask the German distributor (it changed recently) to mail me the 2.02 firmware also, if you have no luck elsewhere.

Nils

p.s.: I hope I can tryout the punch issue early next week.
 
11.20 am Thuesday:

Hi Skippy,

Just reading your posts. Mate, you only had to ask and I'm only too happy to check out the Aust., distributors.

I will call them and depending on whether their tech support staff are in or out, may have an answer for you before the sun goes down:) .

I should actually pull my finger out and take the 1 1/2 hr drive down the freeway to Sydney and have them upgrade my D160 for the over 30gig drives.

Chris O :cool:
 
Skippy,

Firstly, please understand that due to my owning the earlier D160 and knowing that it was highly unlikely that any future budget would me to consider upgrading, I have not kept up to date with specific details of subsequent model's h'ware and/or firmware, consequently, relating Mk1 or Mk11, V1.XX, etc., to your specific situation is a bit difficult for the technically challenged like me:D .

Never the less, I have spoken to tech support here and if I understood the guy correctly, he said that they have no Mk11 upgrades (firmware???), BUT they have up to Mk1 V2.02.

If this is correct, would that upgrade patch be of help to you, as the guy appears to be quite willing to email it wherever needed.

Chris O :cool:
 
Missed this response until today. Shoot, yes, I'd like it: you have my real email address, so feel free to give it to him! I'll be looking forward to playing with it...
 
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