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Boat Stereo Questions
Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this
year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? |
Boat Stereo Questions
On Sep 10, 12:15 pm, Chuck Gould wrote:
Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? I went with one of the deh- pioneers (also not marine) and added the real ipod adapter. It transfers your ipod control to the radio controls and display. You could just get a second hand ipod and leave it connected if all you want is a lot of storage. We let everyone bring their ipods when we go out. I have not seen a stereo that uses memory cards. Many of the later ones can read mp3 cds. That at least would let you reduce your cd count. Most will recognize a folder on the cd as well so you can organize you mp3s if you go that way. |
Boat Stereo Questions
jamesgangnc wrote:
On Sep 10, 12:15 pm, Chuck Gould wrote: Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? I went with one of the deh- pioneers (also not marine) and added the real ipod adapter. It transfers your ipod control to the radio controls and display. You could just get a second hand ipod and leave it connected if all you want is a lot of storage. We let everyone bring their ipods when we go out. I have not seen a stereo that uses memory cards. Many of the later ones can read mp3 cds. That at least would let you reduce your cd count. Most will recognize a folder on the cd as well so you can organize you mp3s if you go that way. I vote for the ipod...my wife and I each have one, and we plug it into the car, she uses hers at her office, or while traveling, and as a way to play back non-music audio tapes. Very high fidelity, easy to use, and pretty reliable. |
Boat Stereo Questions
Chuck Gould wrote:
Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? Chuck, Ipod is generally considered the most user friendly music player, and the universal complaint is no FM reciever and the fact that you can only you download music from ITunes, and that will lock you up with Ipod because only Ipod will play Itune purchased music. You will be able to load all your CD's into the Ipod, so if you did not plan on buying the music online it is no big deal. I personally would buy the Ipod Nano and I FM/CD Player Tuner with the ability to plug your Ipod Nano into the Tuner. The Ipod Nano will hold about 1000 - 2000 songs, which is all I need in a MP3 player. http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/ |
Boat Stereo Questions
On Sep 10, 10:20?am, HK wrote:
jamesgangnc wrote: On Sep 10, 12:15 pm, Chuck Gould wrote: Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? I went with one of the deh- pioneers (also not marine) and added the real ipod adapter. It transfers your ipod control to the radio controls and display. You could just get a second hand ipod and leave it connected if all you want is a lot of storage. We let everyone bring their ipods when we go out. I have not seen a stereo that uses memory cards. Many of the later ones can read mp3 cds. That at least would let you reduce your cd count. Most will recognize a folder on the cd as well so you can organize you mp3s if you go that way. I vote for the ipod...my wife and I each have one, and we plug it into the car, she uses hers at her office, or while traveling, and as a way to play back non-music audio tapes. Very high fidelity, easy to use, and pretty reliable.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - How about the interface? I bought a portable mp3 player last year, (not the iPod brand), and I have loaded one album onto the thing and hardly used it since. The biggest problem is the interface, IMO. Push this button thirty one times, bush that other buttom twice, stop to chant, spin twice on left heel, push first button 11 times more and then second button another six. Although somewhat exaggerated, I concluded that it takes just about that much nonsense that to change selections. :-( |
Boat Stereo Questions
1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound
quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? HD FM isn't about better fidelity as much as it's about more programming. Many stations are broadcasting more than one HD stream. But I don't have an HD radio gear at this point. 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? I've never seen any car stereo head units (the radio) with memory card slots. I've seen some that have a USB socket. You can plug a regular USB 'thumbdrive' into them. You can also plug a USB card reader and use memory cards. The little cards are easy to lose or get stolen. 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. Then there's the hassle of having to use the stereo's controls to access the tracks. This is true whether you're using USB or a connected iPod. Make SURE TO TRY USING IT before buying it. Some systems have HORRIBLE user interfaces for dealing with the iPod. 4. Any general advice on this subject? It depends on your boat and listening habits. I greatly prefer having the head unit in the cabin and a waterproof remote at the helm (and on the transom but I don't use it that often). But the Clarion setup I've got isn't very friendly with how it lets you control things. You may want to consider a unit that supports remote control. I also run the DVD player through the AUX input on the back of the radio. This lets us watch movies using the full speaker setup instead of just the little ones on the TV itself. -Bill Kearney |
Boat Stereo Questions
Chuck Gould wrote:
- Show quoted text - How about the interface? I bought a portable mp3 player last year, (not the iPod brand), and I have loaded one album onto the thing and hardly used it since. The biggest problem is the interface, IMO. Push this button thirty one times, bush that other buttom twice, stop to chant, spin twice on left heel, push first button 11 times more and then second button another six. Although somewhat exaggerated, I concluded that it takes just about that much nonsense that to change selections. :-( The interface is considered the easiest and most intuitive mp3 on the market. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2015761,00.asp |
Boat Stereo Questions
Chuck Gould wrote:
On Sep 10, 10:20?am, HK wrote: jamesgangnc wrote: On Sep 10, 12:15 pm, Chuck Gould wrote: Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? I went with one of the deh- pioneers (also not marine) and added the real ipod adapter. It transfers your ipod control to the radio controls and display. You could just get a second hand ipod and leave it connected if all you want is a lot of storage. We let everyone bring their ipods when we go out. I have not seen a stereo that uses memory cards. Many of the later ones can read mp3 cds. That at least would let you reduce your cd count. Most will recognize a folder on the cd as well so you can organize you mp3s if you go that way. I vote for the ipod...my wife and I each have one, and we plug it into the car, she uses hers at her office, or while traveling, and as a way to play back non-music audio tapes. Very high fidelity, easy to use, and pretty reliable.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - How about the interface? I bought a portable mp3 player last year, (not the iPod brand), and I have loaded one album onto the thing and hardly used it since. The biggest problem is the interface, IMO. Push this button thirty one times, bush that other buttom twice, stop to chant, spin twice on left heel, push first button 11 times more and then second button another six. Although somewhat exaggerated, I concluded that it takes just about that much nonsense that to change selections. :-( Huh? The ipod is easy. We have last year's model, the 60 gig units. On my older car, I have hardwired a unit to the car's radio and the radio controls, including the ones on the steering wheel, switch to the ipod, and move forward through the various albums and within those, individual songs. Same with volume. Other vehicle, much newer, handles ipod directly...and there are third-party "car radios" that can be installed in boats that do the same. I also play my ipod through my stereo system. Works great. There are many sources for music for your ipod, including Apple's site, your own cds, and many other sites, some of which provide music in the ipod format and many which provide music in a format that can easily converted to ipod format. |
Boat Stereo Questions
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:58:46 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote: How about the interface? I bought a portable mp3 player last year, (not the iPod brand), and I have loaded one album onto the thing and hardly used it since. The biggest problem is the interface, IMO. Push this button thirty one times, bush that other buttom twice, stop to chant, spin twice on left heel, push first button 11 times more and then second button another six. Although somewhat exaggerated, I concluded that it takes just about that much nonsense that to change selections. :-( I'm with you. I'm getting tired of stuff that takes 10-10 vision, tiny fingers, and complex sequences to do things that were formerly done by twisting a big knob. Five-year-olds have no problem with it, though. --Vic |
Boat Stereo Questions
Vic Smith wrote:
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:58:46 -0700, Chuck Gould wrote: How about the interface? I bought a portable mp3 player last year, (not the iPod brand), and I have loaded one album onto the thing and hardly used it since. The biggest problem is the interface, IMO. Push this button thirty one times, bush that other buttom twice, stop to chant, spin twice on left heel, push first button 11 times more and then second button another six. Although somewhat exaggerated, I concluded that it takes just about that much nonsense that to change selections. :-( I'm with you. I'm getting tired of stuff that takes 10-10 vision, tiny fingers, and complex sequences to do things that were formerly done by twisting a big knob. --Vic You're hanging out with the wrong sort of woman. |
Boat Stereo Questions
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:32:53 -0400, HK wrote:
Vic Smith wrote: I'm with you. I'm getting tired of stuff that takes 10-10 vision, tiny fingers, and complex sequences to do things that were formerly done by twisting a big knob. --Vic You're hanging out with the wrong sort of woman. No, but I do prefer women who hang out. And electronics with similar knobs. --Vic |
Boat Stereo Questions
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:56:47 -0400, Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
Ipod is generally considered the most user friendly music player, and the universal complaint is no FM reciever and the fact that you can only you download music from ITunes, and that will lock you up with Ipod because only Ipod will play Itune purchased music. As with most DRM software, Fairplay has been cracked. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6083110.stm?lsm/ |
Boat Stereo Questions
thunder wrote:
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:56:47 -0400, Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: Ipod is generally considered the most user friendly music player, and the universal complaint is no FM reciever and the fact that you can only you download music from ITunes, and that will lock you up with Ipod because only Ipod will play Itune purchased music. As with most DRM software, Fairplay has been cracked. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6083110.stm?lsm/ The statement that you "can only you (sic) download music from iTunes..." is incorrect and was incorrect prior to the cracking of "fairplay." |
Boat Stereo Questions
You carry an old pc around in your car, yukyuk.
wrote in message ... On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:15:30 -0700, Chuck Gould wrote: 4. Any general advice on this subject? I generally don't listen to anything but digital music these days. Radio and music on bits of plastic is old technology. I agree with Harry et al that low resolution MP3s (192 or less) lose a little but you can get higher resolution "rips". I doubt most people can hear a problem in a 320 and if you can, just listen to WAV in full CD quality. Storage is cheap now. The only real question is which user interface do you like. I personally like a "jukebox" style where I can select songs with a numeric pad or just let it run "random". Unfortunately nobody makes a packaged system like that so I still run DOS based machines with MPXPLAY in my cars and house. |
Boat Stereo Questions
Be careful choosing an automotive radio. Many nowadays don't have an
'OFF' switch and are intended to be on all the time the key is on. This alone is very inconvenient. Also, some have incredibly offensive self-promotion 'adds' touting the units salable abilities and performance specs, which scroll across the display and cannot be turned off, have displays which flash or pulse icons or digital graphic equalizer displays to the music. Most have incomprehensible multi function controls which are either not labeled, or you need a mag glass to read microscopic icons. Several hours reading the poorly written manual and several more practicing trying to adjust the controls from memory while underway will tell you clearly how badly you ****ed up choosing the model. If you want cd/cassette function, and the ability to control a satellite cd changer, I suggest sticking with a basic unit, forgoing the wiz-bang Ipod thing, and getting this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-P...spagenameZWD1V I have this unit in my boat, and also in a few cars. Really outstanding performance specs and ease of use for a basic CD/Cassette radio, and none of the bad stuff detailed above. Here's some reviews on Epinions,: http://www.epinions.com/Pyle_PLCDCS9...splay_~reviews JR Chuck Gould wrote: Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? -- -------------------------------------------------------------- Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth |
Boat Stereo Questions
I won't pretend to be technologically savvy on this issue. I almost
had to be dragged kicking and screaming to CDs a few years back. However I purchased a somewhat inexpensive stereo for my boat last year that had an MP3 player connection (or for that matter any device that had a headphone mini-jack output such as - to date myself- a walkman tape or cd player). I then broke down and bought a cheapie 2 gb mp3 player this year and loaded it down with some 600 songs (yeah, not the highest quality level but let's face it I am playing it on a damn runabout boat not a $500,000 yahct). I think it is great! I mostly just play it so it randomnly plays whatever is stored but find it easy to pick artists or albums to play. Playlists are a bit more of a pain to setup and I just haven't done any. No skip, no bounce, no fading. I even like that the little mp3 player is attached to the stereo by a wire and becomes a wired "remote" (my stereo doesn't have its own remote). Gave the original cheapie to my daughter and bought another cheapie (just a little less cheapie) that has the ability to use the microSD memory cards in addition to the built-in 2 GB. I haven't tried that, but it makes sense to me to put the cards in the mp3 player, not the stereo as I see the mp3 player being something that can be taken from one stereo player to another as I become more techie with it (yeah, I said I wasn't very techie with these things so stop your damned laughing). Anyhow I can see how I can connect this player to my home stereo if I want, can plug it into a cheap extra set of powered computer speakers out in the shop for an instant shop stereo, will eventually be able to plug it into the car, etc. so I would want the memory card capability in the player, not in what is essentially just the amp and speaker system that your stereo is going to become. Dave Hall \ On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:15:30 -0700, Chuck Gould wrote: Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? |
Boat Stereo Questions
On Sep 10, 2:53?pm, JR North wrote:
Be careful choosing an automotive radio. Many nowadays don't have an 'OFF' switch and are intended to be on all the time the key is on. This alone is very inconvenient. Also, some have incredibly offensive self-promotion 'adds' touting the units salable abilities and performance specs, which scroll across the display and cannot be turned off, have displays which flash or pulse icons or digital graphic equalizer displays to the music. Most have incomprehensible multi function controls which are either not labeled, or you need a mag glass to read microscopic icons. Several hours reading the poorly written manual and several more practicing trying to adjust the controls from memory while underway will tell you clearly how badly you ****ed up choosing the model. If you want cd/cassette function, and the ability to control a satellite cd changer, I suggest sticking with a basic unit, forgoing the wiz-bang Ipod thing, and getting this:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-P...Cassette-CD-Pl... I have this unit in my boat, and also in a few cars. Really outstanding performance specs and ease of use for a basic CD/Cassette radio, and none of the bad stuff detailed above. Here's some reviews on Epinions,:http://www.epinions.com/Pyle_PLCDCS9...d_CD_Player___... JR Chuck Gould wrote: Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? -- -------------------------------------------------------------- Home Page:http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Thanks for the suggestion. Looks like a good, basic unit. I'm still intrigued by the "memory card" option I saw on a couple of units on the Crutchfield site, I'd like to just get the CD's off the boat entirely. Too bad about the brand name, "Pyle". I spent enough years in automotive retail (but not stereos) to be sure the competitor's sales force has a *lot* of fun with that one. |
Boat Stereo Questions
In article . com,
Chuck Gould wrote: 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: There are professional units from Marantz - but since you are not into recording with it - why not just get a portable PC or Mac and put iTunes on it? Good for watching DVD's too. If you want the ultimate portability, any of the current iPods will do (they are simple to operate), see www.apple.com/ipod. 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? CD's are good to buy the music, since you have full quality and can always rip them for portability to whatever the latest format is. If you want the ultimate quality, there is Apple's lossless compression (to half the size). Other than that use either mp3 (at least 192 kbps) - more universal or mp4 (at least 128 kbps) smaller for the same quality. This will compress to about 10%, ie 1 MB per minute or 60 MB for a full CD. An iPod shuffle will then hold 16 CDs, an iPod nano 64 or 128 CDs, and the iPod classic 1200 or 2400 CD's. You need a very good set, very good ears and perfect silence to hear the difference between 192 kbps mp4/AAC and the original. iTunes (free, both for Windows and Mac OS X) will do all this for you. It is a free download - easy to test. You'll get the playlists, albums list, artist list and title list on your iPod - syncing could not be easier. If you want more control, extraction etc use Amadeus Pro on a Mac - sorry cannot advise for Windows. I still buy most of my music on CD's (to have the full quality) and then rip for listening anywhere. iPods are simple to operate, run long enough, and have good sound quality. There is a reason they sell well. BTW: new models have just been introduced. My CD's stayed at home ever since my first iPod. As well as my Marantz recorder (Compact Flash cards) stays at work (I need it to record.) HTH Marc -- Switzerland/Europe http://www.heusser.com remove CHEERS and from MERCIAL to get valid e-mail |
Boat Stereo Questions
Chuck,
Many of the comments posted are accurate, and also are probably adding to your confusion. First off, I've heard HD FM and wasn't impressed by the quality. Perhaps on a high end stereo in a home environment, it may sound better... but on a boat? Actually, for me, FM is not really an option anyway. Where I boat I rarely get a reliable FM signal. So... I went with a pioneer unit (non marine) that plays mp3 (and wma) CDs, has an input for an MP3 player (I have a Zune, not an iPod), and the biggie... satellite radio (XM). With the XM Radio, I rarely listen to the mp3 player or CDs anyway. I know it's $12/ month but it's worth every penny for me. They carry MLB on XM as well, so one of my favorite activities is going out on the boat and listening to the Red Sox. Since I'm in CA, the AM Red Sox broadcast doesn't quite make the trip... Good luck with your decision. --Mike "Chuck Gould" wrote in message ups.com... Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? |
Boat Stereo Questions
|
Boat Stereo Questions
On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:15:30 -0700, Chuck Gould penned the following
well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats: Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost- wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14 years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like they used to. :-) Speaking of not making them like they used to......... Holy Smackaroons Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy "marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14 years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new language. Questions for the more techinally hip: 1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial? 2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's, etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on something much smaller). So: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. 4. Any general advice on this subject? I just bought a JBL in anticipation of installation. This will be a new install..... Although it is iPod ready.... aux in.... I was really more interested in it's ability to handle satellite radio (Sirius). I rarely listen to AM/FM anymore. -- Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC. Homepage http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/ Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats ----------------- www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com - *Completion*Retention*Speed* Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road ----------------- |
Boat Stereo Questions
Chuck Gould wrote in
ups.com: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. Ask it ONE important question...... Can I use Windows Explorer to simply copy a whole directory of MP3 music files to the player, or its external memory card, and play it WITHOUT using some hobbled up, record company approved, filtering software that makes you do them one-at-a-time. God some of 'em suck moving music to the player. The computer should treat the player as just an external hard drive copying files to....not filtering the files looking for illegal file sharing which sucks even if you're not downloading like mad from alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.(your favorite genre here) newsgroups..... Copy the files onto a massive portable hard drive you can plug into your laptop on the boat in MP3 format. I just bought a Western Digital MyBook USB hard drive, a whopping 750GB, for $179 on sale at Best Buy. This book-sized hard drive will store movies and music for a whole year in one, small package.....not 250 fragile CDs all scratched up and unplayable in a car stereo player that's gonna crap, soon, on a boat. Plug the hard drive into the laptop and the memory card or memory MP3 player in, too. Copy what you want to listen to on this watch to the player and tuck it in your pocket. Mine is a 2GB Sansa the size of a woman's lipstick case with color LCD screen, FM Radio, voice recorder... $80 on sale: http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Cata...sa_Express_MP3 _Players.aspx 500 songs fit on its INTERNAL memory (2GB) and you can ADD another 2GB with the external MicroSD very tiny memory module for $20 more from Newegg.com. (I'm using Kingston memory now, lifetime warranty and they replaced a bad one with no problem for free!) You won't have to reload 1000 songs often. That's 64 hours without hearing the same song twice. It also has random mode to shuffle the deck. The Sansa Express IS a USB plug...which runs 15 hours of continuous play before you simply plug it into the computer for an hour to rapidly recharge its lithium-polymer advanced battery pack.....all for $79! (c; A condom would make a great waterproof carrying case in bad weather...(c; Just put the open end with the headphone wire coming out of it DOWN in your pocket. To play through the boat's stereo is easy....use an FM stereo transmitter like: http://tinyurl.com/3axoru I particularly like this model, though have never owned one, because the whole transmitter is built right into a common 12V plug already in the boats. If you want to play to the whole boat, not just yourself, plug this cheap transmitter into the headphone jack on the tiny Sansa player for days of unrepeated music you can also carry ashore, in your car, listen privately in bed without disturbing HER...a real feature...(c; (NOTE - The $150 FM transmitters sound EXACTLY like the $15 ones on any radio.) Larry -- Paying for XM is just stupid..... |
Boat Stereo Questions
Paying for XM is just stupid.....
To each his own I guess. With XM, I don't have to worry about "using some hobbled up, record company approved, filtering software that makes you do them one-at-a-time," or copying "the files onto a massive portable hard drive you can plug into your laptop on the boat in MP3 format." I especially don't need to worry about carrying a condom and making sure the open end is down in my pocket, to keep things dry. g I just turn it on and listen. Plus, I don't care how fancy an mp3 player you can buy, it just cannot get live "out of market" baseball broadcasts. This last point is the real reason I got XM in the first place... for the Red Sox. All the music is just an extra as far as I'm concerned.;-) Just my point of view. Like I said, to each his own. --Mike "Larry" wrote in message ... Chuck Gould wrote in ups.com: 3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers, separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now available. Ask it ONE important question...... Can I use Windows Explorer to simply copy a whole directory of MP3 music files to the player, or its external memory card, and play it WITHOUT using some hobbled up, record company approved, filtering software that makes you do them one-at-a-time. God some of 'em suck moving music to the player. The computer should treat the player as just an external hard drive copying files to....not filtering the files looking for illegal file sharing which sucks even if you're not downloading like mad from alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.(your favorite genre here) newsgroups..... Copy the files onto a massive portable hard drive you can plug into your laptop on the boat in MP3 format. I just bought a Western Digital MyBook USB hard drive, a whopping 750GB, for $179 on sale at Best Buy. This book-sized hard drive will store movies and music for a whole year in one, small package.....not 250 fragile CDs all scratched up and unplayable in a car stereo player that's gonna crap, soon, on a boat. Plug the hard drive into the laptop and the memory card or memory MP3 player in, too. Copy what you want to listen to on this watch to the player and tuck it in your pocket. Mine is a 2GB Sansa the size of a woman's lipstick case with color LCD screen, FM Radio, voice recorder... $80 on sale: http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Cata...sa_Express_MP3 _Players.aspx 500 songs fit on its INTERNAL memory (2GB) and you can ADD another 2GB with the external MicroSD very tiny memory module for $20 more from Newegg.com. (I'm using Kingston memory now, lifetime warranty and they replaced a bad one with no problem for free!) You won't have to reload 1000 songs often. That's 64 hours without hearing the same song twice. It also has random mode to shuffle the deck. The Sansa Express IS a USB plug...which runs 15 hours of continuous play before you simply plug it into the computer for an hour to rapidly recharge its lithium-polymer advanced battery pack.....all for $79! (c; A condom would make a great waterproof carrying case in bad weather...(c; Just put the open end with the headphone wire coming out of it DOWN in your pocket. To play through the boat's stereo is easy....use an FM stereo transmitter like: http://tinyurl.com/3axoru I particularly like this model, though have never owned one, because the whole transmitter is built right into a common 12V plug already in the boats. If you want to play to the whole boat, not just yourself, plug this cheap transmitter into the headphone jack on the tiny Sansa player for days of unrepeated music you can also carry ashore, in your car, listen privately in bed without disturbing HER...a real feature...(c; (NOTE - The $150 FM transmitters sound EXACTLY like the $15 ones on any radio.) Larry -- Paying for XM is just stupid..... |
Boat Stereo Questions
XM is a great place to get ammo for your MP3 player.
Just record the data stream from the web cast, chop it up with a sound editor and rip it to MP3. It is where I get some of the old stuff they play on "Bluesville" that you really can't find at Wal-Mart Hehe, that's exactly what I do. I don't even bother to chop it up. I'll just grab the stream from DirecTV and record a huge mp3 to a cd-rw, and play it in my truck. When I get to the ends, I do it again (on the same CD). I only have XM in my boat. --Mike wrote in message ... On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:12:29 -0700, "Mike" wrote: Paying for XM is just stupid..... To each his own I guess. With XM, I don't have to worry about "using some hobbled up, record company approved, filtering software that makes you do them one-at-a-time," or copying "the files onto a massive portable hard drive you can plug into your laptop on the boat in MP3 format." I especially don't need to worry about carrying a condom and making sure the open end is down in my pocket, to keep things dry. g I just turn it on and listen. Plus, I don't care how fancy an mp3 player you can buy, it just cannot get live "out of market" baseball broadcasts. This last point is the real reason I got XM in the first place... for the Red Sox. All the music is just an extra as far as I'm concerned.;-) Just my point of view. Like I said, to each his own. --Mike XM is a great place to get ammo for your MP3 player. Just record the data stream from the web cast, chop it up with a sound editor and rip it to MP3. It is where I get some of the old stuff they play on "Bluesville" that you really can't find at Wal-Mart. |
Boat Stereo Questions
LOL! I did the same thing with 8-tracks. Thinking back to those days is what
made me start recording XM. --Mike wrote in message ... On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:15:09 -0700, "Mike" wrote: Hehe, that's exactly what I do. I don't even bother to chop it up. I'll just grab the stream from DirecTV and record a huge mp3 to a cd-rw, and play it in my truck. When I get to the ends, I do it again (on the same CD). I only have XM in my boat. I did that on 8 tracks before some of these folks were born. Back in the olden days they would run FM shows in the middle of the night without many commercials. I could set up my recorder to make a tape from 2 to 3:30 and have a good tape to play in the daytime when it was all commercials all the time. What I like about digital music is it is very easy to go in and chop out any particular song you want. I have an old copy of Sound Forge that will let you do tricks with sound that would dazzle a recording studio engineer 20 years ago. |
Boat Stereo Questions
wrote in news:qbqje3dq2kfigfl5kc9lgvhuledtd3p2iv@
4ax.com: It is where I get some of the old stuff they play on "Bluesville" that you really can't find at Wal-Mart. alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.blues How big are your hard drives??....(c; You don't have to download them in SLOWtime...one at a time. Download Grabit from www.shemes.com and don't buy their service. Grabit is free and completely automates downloading usenet binaries....at full cap speed, 24/7. Man, they got great old Blues on usenet...or about anything else you'd like to listen to but can't find and XM DOESN'T PLAY. Larry -- alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.(your favorite genre) |
Boat Stereo Questions
wrote in news:2itje3pvc3g57h6dis94jrhlmj2dn1ocb0@
4ax.com: What I like about digital music is it is very easy to go in and chop out any particular song you want. I have an old copy of Sound Forge that will let you do tricks with sound that would dazzle a recording studio engineer 20 years ago. You guys might want to look at "Total Recorder" from www.totalrecorder.com Total Recorder sits between whatever is playing and your soundcard, like a proxy server. I can also simulate a soundcard to record in silence as fast as the server will send it, much faster than X1 speed play. Total Recorder will rip ANY audio from ANY source on the net, webpages, Realaudio, WMP, any secure player, any sound input (digital or audio). It's later versions have a neat intellegent recording function for those late night recordings! Total Recorder now turns individual songs DIRECTLY into MP3 separate files, complete with functions to strip off the 2 second deadtime, etc. It will automatically rip like this from any source, including very high speed conversions of your CD collection direct to whatever speed MP3 compression you select. All you do is change CDs. Works great with its own normalization, DC offset, a full compander to level some awful recordings or streams. It also has a clock so it can start recording that XM or internet stream and stop it as you select. The scheduler has lots of modes and options. TR is not free, but you get lifetime upgrades for a pittance.... To catalog/search/play/log your extensive MP3 collection, I recommend a Russian program "MP3 Catalog Pro" from www.wizetech.com, the blazingly fastest MP3 catalogger on the planet. It's not free either but is cheap. It automatically creates a catalog of any and all MP3s on your system, reading the IDx tags off all MP3s it finds for instant searching through thousands of songs as fast as you can click. Drag the desired search results to another folder to burn or Winamp's playlist to play works great. Dragging to Nero burner also works flawlessly...in digital or CD mode. Just thought you'd like this information.....Sorry it won't switch XM channels from its scheduler...(c; Maybe in the future if there's a demand. Larry -- |
Boat Stereo Questions
I will check it out. Thanks!
--Mike "Larry" wrote in message ... wrote in news:2itje3pvc3g57h6dis94jrhlmj2dn1ocb0@ 4ax.com: What I like about digital music is it is very easy to go in and chop out any particular song you want. I have an old copy of Sound Forge that will let you do tricks with sound that would dazzle a recording studio engineer 20 years ago. You guys might want to look at "Total Recorder" from www.totalrecorder.com Total Recorder sits between whatever is playing and your soundcard, like a proxy server. I can also simulate a soundcard to record in silence as fast as the server will send it, much faster than X1 speed play. Total Recorder will rip ANY audio from ANY source on the net, webpages, Realaudio, WMP, any secure player, any sound input (digital or audio). It's later versions have a neat intellegent recording function for those late night recordings! Total Recorder now turns individual songs DIRECTLY into MP3 separate files, complete with functions to strip off the 2 second deadtime, etc. It will automatically rip like this from any source, including very high speed conversions of your CD collection direct to whatever speed MP3 compression you select. All you do is change CDs. Works great with its own normalization, DC offset, a full compander to level some awful recordings or streams. It also has a clock so it can start recording that XM or internet stream and stop it as you select. The scheduler has lots of modes and options. TR is not free, but you get lifetime upgrades for a pittance.... To catalog/search/play/log your extensive MP3 collection, I recommend a Russian program "MP3 Catalog Pro" from www.wizetech.com, the blazingly fastest MP3 catalogger on the planet. It's not free either but is cheap. It automatically creates a catalog of any and all MP3s on your system, reading the IDx tags off all MP3s it finds for instant searching through thousands of songs as fast as you can click. Drag the desired search results to another folder to burn or Winamp's playlist to play works great. Dragging to Nero burner also works flawlessly...in digital or CD mode. Just thought you'd like this information.....Sorry it won't switch XM channels from its scheduler...(c; Maybe in the future if there's a demand. Larry -- |
Boat Stereo Questions
wrote in news:r0qje3l6bgesnvtqtmioa5li0av0d97b7f@
4ax.com: My Sansa works like that. I am running straight W/98 and this shows up as a USP portable drive when I plug it in. Anything I load out there plays. Sansa used to be a no-nonsense ramplug drive, but has knuckled under of late. My Sansa Express 2GB will PLAY any file WinExplorer loads to it, directly, but the 2GB memory no longer operates in memory mode, only music mode so you can't offload it...which I don't like but it's not my favorite player. I only use it riding motorcycle. They don't make my player any mo http://tinyurl.com/24dhse Mine came with 100GB drive, but, because it's a STANDARD laptop hard drive, I've swapped it out to a 120GB I got for free from a trashed laptop whos battery exploded. The Digital Mind Xclef HD-500 is huge by Ipod standards. It uses a STANDARD Li-Ion battery you can buy from any place that supplies cellphone batteries and the STANDARD laptop hard drive, which is VERY rugged, indeed. The included nice leather case protects it from the scratches and bumps. Mine is old, now, but still playing great! It came from an obscure Korean military contractor: http://www.mclsys.com/index.html where I can still get firmware upgrades, easily installed over its STANDARD USB connector....just copy the firmware file to the hard drive where the bootloader looks for it...just like any computer. No rom burning necessary to crash. The Xclef IS a portable 120GB hard drive and will store, use, transport, copy, delete any kind of file...even from DOS it works....no funny business. Larry -- Did I mention it's HUGE?!...(C; |
Boat Stereo Questions
"Mike" wrote in news:juHGi.9460$924.3035
@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net: I will check it out. Thanks! --Mike Quite welcome. I've been using TR for many years. Larry -- Search youtube for "Depleted Uranium" The ultimate dirty bomb...... |
Boat Stereo Questions
That is what I am using to record from XM
I'll may start doing that as well. I use Media Center 2005 and record it that way. However, it gets recorded as a video. Then I strip the audio out of the video as an MP3. Looks like Total Recorder will eliminate the second step. --Mike wrote in message ... On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:11:00 +0000, Larry wrote: You guys might want to look at "Total Recorder" from www.totalrecorder.com That is what I am using to record from XM |
Boat Stereo Questions
On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:58:03 +0000, Larry wrote:
wrote in news:qbqje3dq2kfigfl5kc9lgvhuledtd3p2iv@ 4ax.com: It is where I get some of the old stuff they play on "Bluesville" that you really can't find at Wal-Mart. alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.blues How big are your hard drives??....(c; You don't have to download them in SLOWtime...one at a time. Download Grabit from www.shemes.com and don't buy their service. Grabit is free and completely automates downloading usenet binaries....at full cap speed, 24/7. Man, they got great old Blues on usenet...or about anything else you'd like to listen to but can't find and XM DOESN'T PLAY. Larry Agent will download pretty fast. Does grabit somehow do it faster? |
Boat Stereo Questions
John H. wrote in
: Agent will download pretty fast. Does grabit somehow do it faster? Yes! Grabit is MADE for downloading, not texting. Once you get the header updates Grabit neatly sorts and compiles multimessage binaries into one line, you can click and drag marking a whole bunch of binaries at once on the header list.....say all the .rar pieces for an entire movie on alt.binaries.movies.divx. Then, you simply press the GRABIT button at the top to add all those marked files to the download batch. Grabit immediately starts working on the batch as you mark and GRABIT more files. With any files in the batch, which shows as another tab from the header list, Grabit uses three simultaneous ports, not one, connected to the server. This completely maxes out your bandwidth cap and, because downloading on the other two ports continues, unabated, while the port that just finished one message waits for the next to start, there are no gaps in download bandwidth. Throughput downloading from 3 simultaneous ports is much higher than from a single port, alone, as there are no pauses. When a string of pieces has been stored in a temp folder, then Grabit does the multimessage decoding and storage to your desired output folder for further processing (like running Winrar to retrieve the Divx movie in playable format.) All this is much more efficient. The batch is independent of the header tab. When you've completed marking and GRABITing this newsgroup for today to the batch, you may delete the unused, unwanted leftovers on the list...which only marks them as deleted so you can start fresh next time you UPDATE the newsgroup...but does NOT delete them from Grabit's storage so you can click open the deleted files to retrieve yesterday's parts that completed today, or recovering from mistakes we all make. Having completed maintenance on this newsgroup, you simply open another one to go to a new newsgroup for more marking and GRABITing...which goes on the END of the batch no matter how many newsgroups you mark/grabit. You may, however, RIGHTclick on a file you want to download at the TOP of the batch, next, and pick "Download First" and Grabit will put that piece, say a .nfo file, the info on the movie, at the top of the que so it downloads next for viewing. The process may go on, indefinately. Grabit does a wonderful job of purging its header cache from your desired storage time, unattended. It never crashes, here, or crashes WindozeXP. My batches sometimes have 100GB qued up. Of course, one must have STORAGE to put the 100GB....or keep processing what it has got several times to recover the storage drive so it doesn't get a disk full error. If it does get a disk full error, it simply stops, pops up a window of warning and sits there, quite content to wait until you do something to correct it. Another thing I love about Grabit is its ability to store EXACTLY where it was downloading in the batch...whenever you need to PAUSE or UNBOOT Grabit to do something else. You don't need to wait until it is complete to shut down Grabit! If you just dump Grabit before the batch is complete, it asks you if you want to store the batch to disk so it can pick up where it left off at a later time. You click YES and Grabit stores the batch to its hard drive. When you boot Grabit next time, a window pops up asking you if you want to continue the batch where it left off. You answer YES, Grabit reconnects to the server and starts downloading from the last BIT it stored when you shut it down...without losing a single bit. If you answer NO, grabit clears the batch for a new batch. So, you can stop downloading, have your computer back to use, then start the downloading, once again, after you're done using the computer and are going out or to bed. Just let Grabit run during downtimes.....a real feature here. I can't believe they give such great, bugfree software away! http://www.shemes.com/ Larry -- Search youtube for "Depleted Uranium" The ultimate dirty bomb...... |
Boat Stereo Questions
"Mike" wrote in
: I'll may start doing that as well. I use Media Center 2005 and record it that way. However, it gets recorded as a video. Then I strip the audio out of the video as an MP3. Looks like Total Recorder will eliminate the second step. The best thing about TR as the storage device is its uncanny ability to make SEPARATE files of each song, instead of making one HUGE MP3 file you cannot search or randomize play in. It's awful boring always having to listen to the same music at the beginning of that huge MP3 file or having to sit there and scroll through 2 hours of music to have something new to listen to nearer the end of it. TR solves that making separate files out of it. It even works on BBC radio off the net on its web-based locked up player. I carry a lot of BBC programs in my car on the little MP3 player...instead of listening to the constant barrage of America's commercials on the radio....or paying someone NOT to play them, like XM. Larry -- BBC kindly, gently, declined my offer to pay my "radio tax". I'm still working on them trying to get a SUBSCRIPTION service going to fully stream BBC's HOME TV channels to me over the net. The News is all you get now for free. I want them to stream those great BBC TV shows I watched in England. I'll gladly pay for such fine programming in realtime. |
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