Soon to be the greatest portable digital music device! ?

[feralicious]

Well I stumbled on this FM Radio/Digital Music Player/Recorder yesterday and it looks fantastic!
http://www.neurosaudio.com/store/prod_neuros.asp

So many features.
-FM Radio tuner.
-Plays mp3, OGG Vorbis, wav.
-Records from FM radio, from a line in or from an internal mic.
-Broadcasts whatever you're playing to your stereo.
-Five preset buttons you can set for playlists, radio stations, recordings.
-128mb, 256mb, 20gb, 40gb, 60gb, and 80gb models which are expandable with their "backpack" system. You can start small if that's all you can afford then buy a backpack with a larger drive.
-It's sexy!


Only 2 drawbacks as far as I can see.

1. no flac support as of yet, BUT Josh Coalson, FLAC developer, is currently working on it. Neuros firmware is now open source. So it looks to be coming at some point in the not too distant future and will be able to be upgraded with a firmware download.
http://neuros-firmware.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/view/Main/FreeLosslessAudioCodec
http://www.neurosaudio.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2212&whichpage=3&SearchTerms=flac

2. No gapless playing. Not a good thing and seems odd since the Rio Karma can do it. But then I don't know about those types of technical things. This feature has been requested and discussed so hopefully they'll get that sorted out soon as well.

(Oh, and no cuesheet support, but if you had the above would you need it? I'm not sure what role this plays in one of these contraptions since I don't have one... yet.)

But she's a beauty!

Can you convert a show to OGG as one whole file (without burning to audio, though I suppose you could use a cd-rw) so you could put your entire show into this thing and have gapless audio?

[ssamadhi97]

Can you convert a show to OGG as one whole file (without burning to audio, though I suppose you could use a cd-rw) so you could put your entire show into this thing and have gapless audio?
Using foobar2000:
* select all tracks of a show in your playlist
* open the context menu
* use Convert -> Run conversion, single file output

(that's a rough outline of the process. make sure that the diskwriter plugin is configured properly.)

[TheMamba]

^^^ What he said.

[Gizby]

Once I can save up the money, I hope to get the 20gig model for taping. $1 down, $249 to go.

[feralicious]

Using foobar2000:
* select all tracks of a show in your playlist
* open the context menu
* use Convert -> Run conversion, single file output

(that's a rough outline of the process. make sure that the diskwriter plugin is configured properly.)
Hmmm... looks like I may be spending $400 very soon...

[jcrab66]

the neuros is a pretty nice taping device.... i know a bunch of folks that are already using it..

[feralicious]

Once I can save up the money, I hope to get the 20gig model for taping. $1 down, $249 to go.Looks like you've only got $239 to go for a 30gb model here:
http://etronics.resultspage.com/electronics/Neuros

[feralicious]

the neuros is a pretty nice taping device.... i know a bunch of folks that are already using it..Hm, what kind of mic should one use? I'm so tempted to tape, but I'm too loud at shows. And I like to really enjoy them so I wouldn't want to hold back, and I also wouldn't want to have the quality of the taping on my mind instead of letting go and enjoying the show. Maybe I could just go see bands I don't like. :hmm:

[dorrcoq]

You? Loud? :hmm:

[fatoldpig]

i've been waiting for flac support and checking their site for about 8 months now.

[Gizby]

Looks like you've only got $239 to go for a 30gb model here:
http://etronics.resultspage.com/electronics/Neuros

Wow, a $10 upgrade from 20 gigs to 30 gigs. Thanks for the link!

[feralicious]

You? Loud? :hmm:Hard to believe isn't it? :)

[Kush]

the neuros is a pretty nice taping device.... i know a bunch of folks that are already using it..

I would be interested in getting one of these and was wondering if I could get some answers to questions I have about using it for taping.

[irishcrazy2005]

So what I understand here is that the taping would go through the line-in jack, which is a mono 1/8 inch analog jack. Do most tapers have digital inputs into their recording device (such as a Dat recorder)? Also, it says that it records in .mp3. Can it also record .wav?

-Phil

[Gizby]

So what I understand here is that the taping would go through the line-in jack, which is a mono 1/8 inch analog jack. Do most tapers have digital inputs into their recording device (such as a Dat recorder)? Also, it says that it records in .mp3. Can it also record .wav?

-Phil

Some features we have tested that are not mentioned on the Neuros website:

* Audio playback in MP3 format (up to 320 kbps), MP3 VBR, OGG, WAV & WMA and recording in 64-160 kbps MP3 format, 8, 44.1 & 48KHz WAV
* There is a maximum file size of 4Gb (that's huge!), so you can record a 44.1khz .wav file up to 6.4 hours long or a 48khz .wav file up to 5.8 hours long! This is long enough to record a whole show without stopping!
* This unit (unlike the iRiver recorders) has recording level meters
* The battery life when recording MP3 files is 4-6 hours. However, when recording .wav files, the hard disc is spinning constantly, so the battery life using only the built-in battery is about 2.5 hours. We now have two add on rechargeable external battery packs shown below which will extend this run time to 10 hours!
* There is a small amount of amplification built into the unit. If you plug a powered mic into the line input, you can increase the gain up to 12dB. With a sensitive mic (many of our small condensers have good sensitivity), you can get reasonably good levels even in recording situations that are not all that loud (close range voice recordings, unamplified music at moderate levels). Of course, in loud situations (amplified sounds, rock concerts), you will have no problem getting a nice, strong level.
* To insure that you will get a high quality recording when recording a .wav file, you should defragment the hard disc in the Neuros just before making an important recording.

The only downside I see is the battery life, but 2.5 hours for recording isn't too bad. And I'm also curious if it can record in 24-bit, as I'd love to be able to switch up to that.

[ffooky]

" Neuros does not support use on Apple computers at this time."

Bugger.

[camster]

speaking from personal experience, you're right it sux to stand there and be all quiet during one of your favorite shows. and there's always some idiot yelling 'freebird' or a 'woo-girl' there to yell all over your show anyhoo.

so tape others and try to trade. :)

camster


Hm, what kind of mic should one use? I'm so tempted to tape, but I'm too loud at shows. And I like to really enjoy them so I wouldn't want to hold back, and I also wouldn't want to have the quality of the taping on my mind instead of letting go and enjoying the show. Maybe I could just go see bands I don't like. :hmm:

[feralicious]

speaking from personal experience, you're right it sux to stand there and be all quiet during one of your favorite shows. and there's always some idiot yelling 'freebird' or a 'woo-girl' there to yell all over your show anyhoo.

so tape others and try to trade. :)

camster
I'm a woo-girl. :D And a whistle-girl. So you see my dilemma. :lol

[dorrcoq]

I'm a woo-girl. :D And a whistle-girl. So you see my dilemma. :lol

are you a girl who whistles and wooooos, or a girl that attracts whistles and wooooooos? Enquiring minds need to know! :D

[RainDawg]

2. No gapless playing. Not a good thing and seems odd since the Rio Karma can do it. But then I don't know about those types of technical things. This feature has been requested and discussed so hopefully they'll get that sorted out soon as well.
Yeah, the developers of the Karma pride themselves on being the only ones who have figured this out. It is actually quite a bit more difficult than it would seem apparently. Even the iPod, whose engineerings presumably have an open-ended research budget, have been unable to address this issue. :lol

FLAC support for the Nueros has supposedly already been completed, so I am sure it's release is very close. I have a friend with one of these, who bought it because of the potention an open source firmware would present. He really likes it, but his complaint is that it's a bit large.

I've used both quite a bit, and have to honestly say I prefer the Karma at this point, but give the Neuros a few more months or so, and they may move ahead.....

[Kush]

Now all they need is a digital line-in and they are all set up for the taping standpoint. Too bad I've been told that they don't plan to ever change that.

[Beleaguered]

I'd been holding out for a Karma2, but the announcement never came, so in Sept when I saw a new iRiver H120 (20 gig) on clearance at Best Buy for $184 and got them to apply a 10% off coupon I jumped. Plays ogg, mp3, and wav. Has FM, optical in/out, and records to wav or mp3. Plug it in to the PC and it shows up as a hard drive, no special software needed. On the downside, no gapless, no replaygain, and no flac. The good people at Rockbox (http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IriverPort) are porting their firmware to the iRiver H100 series, so hopefully they can address those missing features.

[feralicious]

Now all they need is a digital line-in and they are all set up for the taping standpoint. Too bad I've been told that they don't plan to ever change that.Ah... yes. What about the portable DAT players, what do they have?

[feralicious]

Yeah, the developers of the Karma pride themselves on being the only ones who have figured this out. It is actually quite a bit more difficult than it would seem apparently. Even the iPod, whose engineerings presumably have an open-ended research budget, have been unable to address this issue. :lol

FLAC support for the Nueros has supposedly already been completed, so I am sure it's release is very close. I have a friend with one of these, who bought it because of the potention an open source firmware would present. He really likes it, but his complaint is that it's a bit large.

I've used both quite a bit, and have to honestly say I prefer the Karma at this point, but give the Neuros a few more months or so, and they may move ahead.....
For me Neuros has features that make it more desireable, such as FM radio and being able to record off it. I have many radio shows I listen to and it would be great to record them to listen to when I won't be interrupted. And the MyFi is a great thing to have built in. And it's the same price or cheaper. I don't mind converting a show to one big OGG file in order to get gapless on it.

Plus, it's black with orange trim. How can you pass that up?

[feralicious]

are you a girl who whistles and wooooos, or a girl that attracts whistles and wooooooos? Enquiring minds need to know! :DHow does it feel to need? :devil:

[Kush]

Ah... yes. What about the portable DAT players, what do they have?


I like the idea of having a portable hard-drive to carry around with me. That way not only may it be used for taping but also when not taping I can have music to listen to and also the FM radio. It's a neat little package that I'll probably end up buying even if there is no digital line-in. I also like the 2.0 USB to connect it to the pc. And not to mention that FLAC is on its way. It's nice to see a company put out a product and then add different features that users would want. It's not very often that a company caters to consumers needs and wants.

[feralicious]

And their firmware is open source, so there's many possibilities. We just have to get RainDawg to write some more code. ;)

[RainDawg]

Oh my....there's just too many coding projects and not enough time to do them all! I'd even thought about getting invovled in the Neuros thing back when I heard they opened their source, but I just don't know much about coding on stuff that low-level, and I have more than enough to keep my computer programming needs fulfilled for a long time to come.

[Beleaguered]

Just in on Slashdot:
"Neuros Audio Releases Its Hardware Schematics"
http://developers.slashdot.org/developers/04/12/15/1427224.shtml?tid=137&tid=100&tid=141&tid=8

[jaguaracer]

If you guys wanna tape, Creative is selling refurbished/overstock Jukebox 3s on eBay for 150.
JB3 have digital and analog in. And 20 GB. Though slightly outdated and bulky, if you are looking to save, I would recommend the JB3.

[livedead13]

recording in 64-160 kbps MP3 format, 8, 44.1 & 48KHz WAV

What does the "8" mean right after "format"?
Certainly not 8 bit. It does not metion anything about 16 or 24 bit.
Anyone know what the deal is?

[Tahoetoeknee]

Lots of info on the Neuros forum
http://www.neurosaudio.com/community/forum/default.asp

[livedead13]

Lots of info on the Neuros forum
http://www.neurosaudio.com/community/forum/default.asp
Appreciate it. Guess I should have looked harder before I posted.
:)

[rerem]

Edirol now has a 24 bit recorder,records to compact flash-no moving parts but less capacity. Neuros is looking at US as their market as opposed to 15 yr old skateboarders listening to rap on headphones.-The add-on moduales,future flac/gapless plans/big HD options,fairly stealthy.. altogather a good step. On Oade's site I got a sense the inputs,ADC's could be better but in that price range you don't get everything

[diggrd]

Are you talking about the R-1? If so it's a shame they didn't put the optical on the input side instead of output. Would rather have bypassed their ADC, not much need for the digital output when the CF card plugs into your PC.