Voice Recorder 6-second Christmas Card (Pack of 5) - Santa Claus

Let me preface this by saying that I don't like cute, as a rule. I work in corrections. Cute is not normally one of the adjectives which go along with our duties.

I've used these cards twice. Last year, I ordered the 12-second version from another company. We use them at Christmas to allow inmates to send personal greetings to their family. The facility where I work is not considered large, but we used over 100 of these cards. I would estimate that about 5% of them are duds (dead battery or something). The rest worked very well. It allows you to record your own words, and then anyone can play them back. The Holidays are a stressful time at jails and prisons. Anything which allows an inmate to feel more connected to their families is a help.

Aesthetically, these aren't exactly Thomas Kinkade, but if you want great beauty, then you need to fork out more bucks.

On the other hand if you want, or need, a decent looking, recordable greeting card, then this is the best price I have found. Go for it.

Marantz CC4003 5 Disc CD Changer (Black)

• 5 disc changer
• MP3, WMA, RS-232C
• Cirrus Logic DAC
• Headphone with Level

I've always had mass-market cd players before, figured digital is digital, and never realized the difference that a higher quality player can make. This Marantz is a revelation. It brings my cds alive with a depth, vibrance, and clarity that I've never heard before. It's also quite stylish, with the trademark Marantz curved edges. The buttons on the front of the unit are a bit small and obscure, but I like the remote. It's got excellent functionality and the buttons are nicely sized. So far, my only quibble is that when you stop a cd in the middle it does not start back up at the same place, but goes all the way back to the beginning. And the changer tray seems potentially delicate. I'll keep my fingers crossed on that one. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase.

Buy Marantz CC4003 5 Disc CD Changer (Black) Now

It's getting hard to find a decent multi CD player with good sound. My old Denon sounded very good, and I really liked the loading system which allowed me to change 4 discs at once and to change discs while one was playing, but after 10 years it started to go and needed replacing. New Denon's still sound good but people always complain about the bad quality, problems with loading mechanism breaking down, etc. Yamaha's multi-CD player works very well but the sound quality doesn't match the Denon and I don't want to go backwards in terms of sound quality.

I read MANY reviews and ratings, and Marantz seemed like a good step up from my old player. The same parent company owns Marantz and Denon so the sound is at least as good... it's most likely the same converters and sound in both units, but don't quote me on that. Marantz has a 3 year warranty, while most companies only give a 1 year warranty.

I didn't read any bad reviews of either the cc4003 or cc5004 CD players, and people liked them both. They were very well rated and recommended, especially the cc5004. People seem to think these are single vs. multi versions of the same level player. I found out the hard way this is NOT TRUE!

Based on all I read, I bought the cc4003, in order to play several CD's. At first all was good and I was happy with my purchase. The loading tray seems better than that of most other brands, but it's annoying that you can only load 1 CD at a time, and the tray never opens to CD1 so you have to constantly press "Disc skip" button after loading each CD.

However, I soon came across 2 burned CD's that did not play properly. The first of these took a long time to load, skipped tracks and sounded VERY distorted; the second disc would not even load ("no disc" message appeared). These 2 CD's were in mint shape, they had always played before, they still played on every other device I tried, they were burned the same way I burn all my CD's --using Nero software and copying from original CD sources --so it makes no sense that these were unplayable. This meant that I probably had MANY CD's that would not play for some reason... who has time to test out all their CD's???

I thought I had a faulty unit, so I returned to the store along with the CD's, to try another cc4003 and found the same problem. However, the cc5004 played these CD's fine (to be safe, I tried 2 cc5004 players).

In the end I exchanged the cc4003 for a cc5004 and would recommend people avoid the cc4003. It's too early to tell whether I'll have any issues with the cc5004, but I tend to believe it will work fine. Marantz is a well reputed company and the construction seems sturdy. The sound is the same on both units.

The remote works well, far better than my Denon remote ever worked. However, it's very big and somewhat awkward for one hand. The Denon remote was easier to hold. Also the "door" on the back which hides the batteries is flimsy and can fall off.

On a side note, I also tried playing my CD's through my Panasonic Blu-Ray (which cost about 1/3 the cost of the Marantz CD players). The sound was the same as on the Marantz CD players, which surprised me, but they probably have the same converters. The Blu-Ray also has a digital out for the sound. However, the Blu-Ray does not allow me random play or to get to a specific track via the numbers on the remote (i.e. if I want track 15, I have to press play then >> 15 times!), so it's not practical for me.

Read Best Reviews of Marantz CC4003 5 Disc CD Changer (Black) Here

fantastic it is like have a complete new cd collection

it was time to change an old technics (95).

i was surprised asking for a cd changer, the sales men in many electronic stores answered : get a dvd player no more cd players are manufactured

and this one has been made in january 2010.

cons

slow motion of the changer when loading the cd`s and noisy

pros

friendly remote control

great sound

you are getting new techno at very good price

i recommend this cd player

Want Marantz CC4003 5 Disc CD Changer (Black) Discount?

I just got this a month ago. Good So far.

Looks really good. Sounds good, I have attached to a Carver Preamp and it sounds just fine (not a big believer that there is much of a difference once you get above $250 units). The carousel is a bit clunky in movement but not a problem. the diameter is tighter than my last Panasonic, you can only remove CDs one at a time. the buttons on the front are poorly marked (can barely identify buttons if lighting isn't really bright)and most of then are covered up when the drawer is open, this just means it helps to have the remote with you when changing CDs.

This is clearly a case of getting what you pay for. I am very pleased with this exceptional piece of audio equipment. I'm hearing notes and asides and things I've never heard before in alot of my favorite CD's. The imaging, separation, clarity, and, depth of field is superb! Ever think all CD and DVD players are alike? Well, this fine instrument will show you otherwise. I really love the clunky remote which has a retroseventies feel and a simple, logical style. I regret to inform everyone that the manufacturer's carton proclaimed "Made in China" but despite my reservations it performs beautifully. I only wish there was one more slot for a sixth CD. If faithful sound reproduction is important to you paying this much for a machine that does one thing exceptionally well can't help but bring you joy. This system feeds into a Marantz Model 2230 (1974) which drives two first generation Advent Speakers (1969) bringing all the clarity and power I need. The bass is especially noteworthy. Shipping and setup was not a problem and I was anxious about it but FedEx got it safely to my home.

Exceptional job and thanks to both Amazon and Marantz Inc.

Sony TCM150 Cassette Voice Recorder - Portable

I've been using this Sony for recording church services for a couple years now. Obviously, this is not a high-tech operation. I convert the tape into digital format for editing on my PC to create CD's. I've been able to make some great tapes so far and I'm recording in a huge "cathedral" type church. For the size and cost, I think it's great. I don't think I'd use it for listening to music as the microphone is rather "noisey". I recommend this for persons who aren't ready to make a major investment in high-tech recording equipment.

The Sony TCM-150 is about the cheapest cassette recorder on the market at this time. For five to ten bucks more you get voice activation, an external microphone jack, a tape counter, and extended play/record. The models with these features are the Sony TCM-200DV (without the tape counter) and the Panasonic RQ-L31. Of course, in all these cases, you're getting a cheaply made recorder intended for lectures, notes and inteviews. If you want something for music or that's built to take some punishment you'll have to pay more.

Last word on the 150: The odds are you're going to need at least one of those extra features especially voice activation. Pass on this one and pay just a tiny bit more for something better.

Buy Sony TCM150 Cassette Voice Recorder - Portable Now

This is a terrific tape recorder.

I've always found that bells and whistles like voice activation don't work. This one does. You want it on, you turn it on. You want it off, you turn it off. It's recording quality is very good for this medium. We're not talking digital sound, of course, but no magnetic tape machine will deliver that quality.

I've used probably a dozen recorders over many years, and this is one of the best values out there.

Read Best Reviews of Sony TCM150 Cassette Voice Recorder - Portable Here

My new car doesn't have a cassette player, not even an option, so I decided to try a portable cassette player and see how cumbersome it would be. It's great! This little Sony T150 stores in my center console, has loud volume if I need to hear it heavy traffic, and it's clear as a bell. Now I carry it back and forth to house and car just easier than my plug in boom box. the 2 batteries are supposed to last for 26 hours but actually lasted 34 hours in play mode. Am very happy with this Sony.

Want Sony TCM150 Cassette Voice Recorder - Portable Discount?

I WANTED A NOT TO EXPENSIVE CASSETTE RECORDER. I WANTED A BRAND NAME. I SAW THE SONY RECORDER FOR A GOOD PRICE,AND I FOUND IT. RECEIVED PRODUCT VERY QUICKLY. RECORDS FULL LENGTH CASSETTES. EASY OPERATION. PLAY, RECORD, STOP, REWIND AND FAST FORWARD. LARGE SPEAKER, WHICH IS IN THE FRONT, WITH THE CASSETTE WINDOW DISPLAY. THIS HELPS ALOT. SOME CASSETTE RECORDERS HAVE WINDOW ON ONE SIDE, WITH THE SPEAKER ON THE OTHER. WITH THIS RECORDER, YOU CAN LISTEN AND RECORD WITH THE PLAYER ON IT'S BACK. YOU ONLY HAVE TO USE THEBACK SIDE TO CHANGE BATTERIES. RECORDS CLEAR VOICE. PLAYBACK FINE. THANK YOU

Optical Splitter

• 1 Female TosLink x 2 Female TosLink
• Gold Connectors
• Compatible with Male TosLink cables
• Color: Black

I'm using this backwards from how it's made. Instead of using it to split one output into two, I'm splitting one input into two and it works fine. My receiver only had one optical input but I had two devices with optical outputs. Using this I now have both my XBox 360's optical output and my cable box's optical output going into the splitter and then one cable going from the splitter into my receivers single optical input. Some people told me this wouldn't work but I guessed that it would since it shouldn't make a difference which way the light is traveling. Much more convienient then buying one of those selector switch boxes and having to manually change the selection all the time.

Buy Optical Splitter Now

I ordered one of these because my receiver only has 1 optical input & I needed a second input for my X-Box 360. I also ordered 2 relatively cheap optical cables from the Parts Express seller as well. This splitter has no optical connector on the end of the Y so a short optical cable + a longer one to run from one of the inputs to the 360 was also necessary. The other input was used for an OPPO 970HD Dvd Player & I already had the cable to use for that one.

It's pretty straight forward how to use the splitter. The time spent hooking this up was maybe 10 minutes max & would've probably been even less had I had quick access to the back of my receiver. Originally I had no idea something like this existed & I stumbled upon this product by accident. The price is more than reasonable & will save you from buying a new receiver if you need a second optical input. I've had mine for about a week & have not noticed an distortion or changes in sound quality.

Highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Optical Splitter Here

Understand how your devices are working prior to purchasing this item if you are attempting to use it as a 2-1 (2 outputs to 1 input) solution for your A/V receiver. It did not work in my case because the item does not block any signals. So, if you have a device like I do that doesn't turn off the optical signal when not in use (my DirecTV HD-DVR), it will not work correctly since the signal gets mixed/corrupted.

Want Optical Splitter Discount?

I bought this to use as a combiner (switch) because I had two audio devices outputting optical digital audio, but my AV receiver only had one digital audio input. I specifically didn't want a device with a manual switch because I didn't want to have to manually adjust that switch on top of already changing my TV input every time I wanted to go from watching TV to playing Xbox 360, or vice versa.

This device works perfectly for my application! Both of my audio sources go into the end with two inputs, and my AV receiver is hooked up to the end with one input (which I guess would make it an output?). If my Xbox 360 is outputting audio, the AV receiver plays that audio. If my cable box is outputting audio, the receiver plays that audio. The only caveat is that one of the devices *MUST* be turned off and not emitting any signal, because if the device is receiving two signals at once, nothing will come out of the receiver (as the signal will be a garbage combination of both inputs). This is fine for me, however, as I can easily have my cable box or Xbox off if I'm using the other device.

I see this product seems to have a lot of mixed reviews, and a lot of people claiming it doesn't work. It could have something to do with product defects, but mine seemed to be constructed well enough. Another problem I could foresee is that you need to make sure, if you're using this as a combiner, that only one audio source is being inputted to it at a time! Even if some devices are off, they could still be sending some kind of signal through the output (which you can easily tell by looking at the optical audio jack when it's off and seeing if its still got that red glow). To put it simply, if you got two audio signals going through, nothing will come out of this.

I also couldn't be happier with the price of this, especially when compared to the ridiculously priced switches that also include HDMI inputs and whatnot.

I received my switch/splitter today in the mail, popped in the toslink cables from the Xbox 360 and PS3 and ran one to the receiver. It worked perfectly for me. I think that the major issue people were having with other components is that if either component connected constantly sends the audio signal regardless of activity, it will not work; however for the Xbox 360 and PS3, neither of them send the signal for audio unless they are on, so it works flawlessly.

Blackmagic Design Intensity Extreme HDMI and Analog Capture & Playback Device - Thunderbolt

Blackmagic has some amazing stuff and this is yet another great addition to their product lineup. It could not be simpler: plug in HDMI, get video and audio out through the thunderbolt port.

What's great is that your Mac will see this as a web camera, making it instantly compatible with any application that supports camera input. I've tested it with everything from Final Cut Pro X to the Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder and it has all worked flawlessly. My only caution is that you need to know exactly what resolution and framerate your HDMI is putting out first, and then select the appropriate camera in the driver. For example my Canon HV20 camcorder outputs 1080i, so I needed to select the 1080i 59.97fps option.

I'm using this with the Blackmagic Design ATEM Television Studio Production Switcher and it's working flawlessly. I connected the intensity extreme to the ATEM's program out via HDMI and was able to broadcast to Justin.TV using Flash Media Live Encoder. It carried both the audio and video from the ATEM the moment I plugged it in.

If you're still using firewire to stream high definition to your Mac, this is a great path to using more recent cameras. It not only allows you to live stream 1080p from some of the newer AVCHD cameras and record that video completely uncompressed. Many newer cameras will bypass their internal compression when sending video out through the HDMI port.

Like many other Blackmagic products, simplicity is key to the operation. You'll find it will start working right away when something's plugged in with very minimal configuration. It's really impressive especially considering how inexpensive it is. Just be sure to pick up Apple's overpriced thunderbolt cable as the intensity does not ship with one.

My company has purchased several of these. Here's what you need to know.

First, it's not all solid state. There's a fan. Be prepared to vent it, and not stuff it anywhere. Out in the open, even on a warm day, and it's ok.

Second, these are fragile. Treat this like glass. If you travel with it, protect it well.

Finally, if you're on the road doing streaming, carry extras. I won't go so far as to call these 'unreliable', but I will say that they cannot be abused at all. We purchased 4, and 3 had to be exchanged. No doubt we treated these like regular gear, and that would be a mistake. When they work, they work great. When they stop working, it's a boat anchor.

I would highly recommend this for the cost. I'd pay triple for this, and in the end, I still might. The less often it moves, the more of a bargain you have.

Buy Blackmagic Design Intensity Extreme HDMI and Analog Capture & Playback Device - Thunderbolt Now

I purchased the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme for recording in the field from a Panasonic HMC150 to a MacBookPro (running under Lion) via HDMI-out on camcorder and Thunderbolt-in on computer. My hope was to avoid the good-but-not-great AVCHD format/H.264 compression, and to record straight to ProRes. In comparing some footage and color bars shot simultaneously using the HMC150's AVCHD format vs. the ProRes 422 (using Blackmagic's MediaExpress), the ProRes was very noticeably better. Of course you can expect those files to be huge compared to those recorded to the camcorder's SD card.

Also to note (if you're not Barry Green), if yours is the same setup as mine, to get any image to come through to MediaExpress, you need to set your HMC150 to 1080/30P and MediaExpress preferences to HD 1080i 59.94 (or 720P/30P(or 60P) and 720i/59.94, respectively), as the HMC150 seems to record in a 59.94fps container, which I was not aware of. Additionally, a $50 Thunderbolt cable is required not a $10 Mini DisplayPort cable. The TB cable has some necessary circuitry.

Read Best Reviews of Blackmagic Design Intensity Extreme HDMI and Analog Capture & Playback Device - Thunderbolt Here

Watch my video review!! (copy and paste link in browser)Pros:

Multiple input AND output options.

HIGH speed with thunderbolt cable.

Clean design, looks great on desk.

No annoying indicator lights.

Cons:

The biggest con is its price+the price of the thunderbolt cable wich is NOT INCLUDED and there is no way to run this device without one.

Another small con is the software can be a little difficult to understand at first, but it is not a big issue once you figure it out.

Wrap up:

The blackmagic intensity extreme does everything it claims to and does it well. The build quality is unmatched and I would recommend it to anyone who intends to get good use out of it.

Want Blackmagic Design Intensity Extreme HDMI and Analog Capture & Playback Device - Thunderbolt Discount?

I bought this product and had to return it because it was not operating correctly. I was sent a replacement unit that was 100% non-functional. My opinion is this product is absolute garbage. 2 units and both were garbage.

There is at least one upfront caveat. The unit is completely incapable of accepting a progressive signal over component cable. I spoke to a technician on the phone and he revealed as much. He also said that they are having serious issues working with Thunderbolt technology. For some reason they are building devices that are compatible with a new Macbook Pro (for example), but another identical Macbook might be completely incompatible. These things are beta at best.

I bought an Elgato video capture device and it flawlessly captured video from a VCR. The first (semi-functional) Intensity Extreme unit was dropping video/audio constantly with the same material. A product that is less than 3x the price did a better job.

Save 5% Off

ROXIO EASY CD & DVD

• CD/DVD burning software for faster burning and safer back-ups
• Easily rip, play, edit, organize, and burn digital music
• Copy CDs and DVDs with 1 click; drag-and-drop photo tools
• Create electronic albums or slide shows; design custom labels
• Make DVD movies with professional transitions and animated menus

Installing this program on a computer running Windows XP a HUGE problem. After installing Window gives the message that the software will cause Windows to become unstable, and that Windows prevented the drivers from loading. Then sends you to Roxio website for patch. The patch did not work, and their support service provides a resolution that involves editing your computer's Registry, a task I do not want to attempt.

By the way, the only way you can speak to a live person is to pay $35 per hour, more than I paid for the program itself.

Totally frustrating software for XP.

Buy ROXIO EASY CD & DVD Now

I have used Adaptec Easy CD Creator since version 2.0

I just purchased CD & DVD Burner brand new from Amazon. And now I discover it's a "Legacy product!"

It doesn't recognize EITHER of my DVD burners, both of which are MORE THAN 2 YEARS OLD with firmware updates. One is a Toshiba, the other is a NEC.

I went to Tech Support at Roxio and started a "ticket." It still has not been answered after more than a 2 weeks. I have tried twice to Live Chat no one is available, though I'm "first in the que." There is no phone number for technical issues, just "customer support." In short, there is effectively no technical support for this product at all.

I see at the Roxio forum that the product is incompatible with Internet Explorer 7. We're supposed to "roll back" to IE 6.0. I have a new install of WinXP and rolling back isn't an option. Besides, if a piece of software doesn't work with the most ubiquitous Internet Browser, it needs a patch, or, it needs to be pulled off the shelves.

In sum, this is the worst "new" product I've purchased in years, and the tech support is also the worst I've experienced in a long time.

My money is simply shot with no hope of this software ever working. That is unacceptable. When this happens to me, I stop buying software from that company...for good. That means Roxio has lost a faithful, long-term customer.

Read Best Reviews of ROXIO EASY CD & DVD Here

After reading mixed reviews about Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator, I decided to give it a shot based on past experience with Roxio products. I've used Roxio products in the past to make flawless music CD creations and copies. Recently, I updated my CD-R drive with a DVD-R burner from a reputable company. The software that came with the burner wasn't exactly what I was looking for, so I decided to give Roxio a shot. I have had nothing but success making music CD's (both copying and making MP3 cd creations). When it comes to copying DVD's.. this is where the problems start. Although this software doesn't allow you to make copies of DVD's with copy-protection, there are ways to get around it with the appropriate software. Whenever I open the Disc Copy feature, and insert my DVD (from my personal collection to back-up), the program freezes, and basically renders my computer helpless. The Disc Copy program is still open, but it will not allow you to click on any of the buttons in the program. Windows Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del) allows you to end the program, but my computer still doesn't cooperate. I cannot open 90% of my programs after this happens, and if you attempt to shut down windows ('restart' or 'turn off') it will just go back to your desktop window from it's half-way attempt after your screen has transitioned from color to b&w. If you use DVD Shrink (free download) and save the movie to your hard drive, and then go to the Disc Copy feature and pull the film from your hard drive to back up, it doesn't freeze for some reason. (But I have yet to make it all the way to a 100% copied disc without getting a write error message... so far about 5 attempts equaling 5 more coasters to add to my desk). Let me note... I did go to Roxio's home page to update the software, and my DVD-R firmware is the most recent to date. After all of this... still just frustration. Roxio's tech support is a joke, and apparently you have to pay for phone support. Other reviewers had the exact same problem, so it isn't just a freak glitch. I should have listened to my gut and went another route, but decided to give Roxio a $30 donation. So in a nutshell, if you're planning on using this program to make copies of DVD's... SAVE YOUR MONEY.

Want ROXIO EASY CD & DVD Discount?

Loaded it on my laptop. It says that a compatible device was not found.

Went to website, downloaded patch. It said I had the latest patch already.

Everywhere you go on the roxio website, it tells you you can upgrade to version 8 for $20 off. It still is more than $50 and if Version 6 doesn't work, why would I throw more money at the problem?

I could find no usefull information on the website and no way to speak to someone.

I took it back to Best Buy. They said they could only exchange it for the same piece of junk. I went next door to Staples and they said if I bought software that does not work from them, they would refund my money if I bought it back within 14 days. So, I found a new source for software.

Pros:

It did not crash my laptop

It did not cause the modem to dial international calls

Cons:

Doesn't work

no tech support

doesn't work

no tech support

I wish I hadn't purchased this product. Once installed I was never able to get any of the features to run because of one error after another and finally my computer froze or hungup, and I had to run my computer in "safe mode" to get to the program and delete it, and then run a rebuild to get my computer back to where it was before the installation, and since this, my computer boots much slower than it did before I installed this program. I've since purchased Nero and it works much better for me, it is a bit complicated. I've also purchased a program from Avantrix, which I appreciate as a senior citizen because the language is not lofty of complicated it is the simplest program I've ever used, for instance if you point to a disc format that it doesn't support, it simply fades out. Most of the "thinking" is automatic.

Micca MPLAY-HD 1080p Full-HD Digital Media Player For USB Drives and SD/SDHC (Realtek 1055)

I chose this little box over the NBox and other comparable media players, mainly because it has a wider array of audio/video ports, and it pretty much splits the difference price-wise. I am using the HDMI port for my plasma screen, and the digital coaxial port for my receiver. I am beholden to Western Digital My Passport Essential USB drives, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The HD picture looks fantastic, and the booming 5.1 surround sound far exceeds what I could get out of my laptop. It browses reasonably fast through your files, folders, and sub-folders, and it offers continuous playback of your media. It played AVI, MPG, MP4, VOB, MKV, and pictures with no problems. The box is packed with composite cables and a short component video cable. It has two USB ports, and you can supposedly copy/paste/delete between the two, and apparently you can play a photo slideshow and music simultaneously, neither of which I have tried yet.

However, it does have it's shortcomings. Like most remotes, this one is a little user un-friendly, and doesn't seem to work when you're more than 10 feet away. The manual is scrawny and somewhat disorganized, so read it carefully. It wouldn't cooperate with one of my drives for some reason, and it also wouldn't play any of my Flash videos, not that I ever save them anyway. I put a movie on pause for a few minutes; when I resumed play the audio became out of sync, and I had to cue backwards to align it again. Still, the pros far outweigh the cons--I doubt I'll burn a DVD ever again.

Some tips: if you hook this up and turn it on and get no picture, repeatedly push the "TV Out" button on your remote first, the menu should soon come up in sharp full-color form. I recommend powering down the unit using the on/off switch on the back, rather than using the remote. It's supposed to go into "standby", but it seems to me that it still uses too much power for being inactive, and I'm more comfortable shutting the player down completely before I remove the USB cable. If your movie file is encoded with AC3 audio and you're using a hi-fi, set the digital out to "RAW" so your receiver can decode the Dolby Digital/DTS soundtrack, otherwise you'll just get 2-channel stereo.

All in all, a remarkably versatile little gadget that should round out any home theater, whether you're running out of storage space for your DVDs and CDs, or if you want a convenient way to move your PC experience to the living room. I just hope it's as durable as it performs.

This thing has played every file type that I have thrown at it. It's small and can be easily concealed, but like the pervious reviews, the remote needs to be pointed directly at the device. Setup is a breeze, just configure to widescreen (16:9) and set the tv resolution to 480p,720p,1080p etc.

Buy Micca MPLAY-HD 1080p Full-HD Digital Media Player For USB Drives and SD/SDHC (Realtek 1055) Now

Working exactly as described, have had NO trouble hooking it up, having it recognize and read my files from hard drive, and remote works also. VERY nice to have. However, now that I have had it for about a month, it keeps freezing and then when you try to turn it off, it won't and it won't play or move and so we have to pull the power out of the back and restart it that way, then sometimes it flickers when coming back on and you have to unplug it a second time. I am hoping this problem does not get worse, if it keeps it up at its current rate, it is livable, but if it gets any worse I may become upset. Bummer too, because I love the convenience and if I could afford it I would get one for every room and get rid of all movies and DVD's. :-)

Read Best Reviews of Micca MPLAY-HD 1080p Full-HD Digital Media Player For USB Drives and SD/SDHC (Realtek 1055) Here

From the Product Description: "The MPLAY-HD makes finding and playing your media files quick and easy. Its media library feature is like Google for your videos and music, finding exactly what you want is just a quick search away even when you have thousands of files."

Um... My 250 gig hard drive takes two hours to index. That's NOT "quick and easy".

I can imagine that this player would seem perfectly wonderful for anyone just starting out in life, with only a handful of media files. You know: a few dozen songs; the holiday photos; 3 movies. The interface would seem awesome. The 10-second delay while the machine indexed your couple of hundred files would be almost no worse than waiting for your DVD player to read a disc menu. But fast forward to the same person, 6 months later, with a few thousand songs, 150,000 images, and 5 movies, and this player is just an utterly frustrating kid's toy version of what it actually claims to be.

Prior to having indexed everything the player is useless*[but see footnote added after hearing from Micca on this] folders simply don't exist in the menu. Once the index file is in place you are good, unless you power down the player or remove the drive. If you do that you then have to wait for, or cancel, the "quick" re-scan, which takes about a third of the full time but actually doesn't seem to do any fresh indexing. I may be wrong about that. After waiting 40 minutes I usually have forgotten what it was I set out to do.

If you rename files or folders, the old files and folders are all that show up in the menu until the drive has been completely re-indexed, and trying to access them results in an error.

If you delete a folder, even using the player itself, the folder still shows on the menu until you perform a complete rescan, and trying to open it results in an error.

If you forget to delete the recycle bin on your hard drive, or, you know, you actually WANT your hard drive to have a recycle bin, all the recycled files show up as regular files on the scan. Deleted media files show up as all being in the recycle bin folder, under bizarre names, and are all presented first in a list of available files. But deleted folders appear in their original undeleted place in the directory structure, as though you hadn't deleted them after all. If you try to open one of these folders you get an error message.

If you simply add a few folders to your disk drive and plug it back in, the new files don't show up at all until you've done a complete rescan.

Did I say how long that takes? At best, the player can scan about 30 files a second. That sounds awesome until you do the math on how many files there are on your hard drive.

THAT is what makes this player absolutely useless to me.

The reason I bought this player is that I had the earlier version with the exact same name. It was a bit flaky at times if it couldn't read a file it locked up. If you tried to hurry it, it locked up. If it was in a bad mood, it locked up. Curing the problem took 10 seconds: unplug and reboot. It had no frills It couldn't do random play, which was frustrating, but then (unbelievably) neither can the new one, and it had a character maximum for files in a folder: if a folder contained 14,000 files you pretty much had to name them "00001" through "14000" to get them in under the character limit, or the player locked up. But, well, I can't think of anything else I wanted from it that it couldn't do. It was a four star machine and what in particular it could do is take any size hard drive and allow me to navigate the hard drive's directory to find a folder of items to play so that within moments of plugging the hard drive into the player, I could forget the player existed and just enjoy the show.

I figured it was so good that I wanted another one; that way I could play a slideshow on one, and music on the other, and not have to interrupt one whilst making changes to the other.

But instead of the player I was expecting, I received this piece of garbage.

Oh, and after having allowed the new player to scan my disc drive, Windows 7 then suggests the drive may be damaged, and asks to check it for errors. The problem persisted and I re-formatted the drive in order to start over from scratch. After that the drive worked perfectly, enabling me to port files back and forth from home to work without any error messages, until I again allowed the Micca player to scan it. The same thing happened to my backup disc drive.

One time after using my disc drive in the Micca player it became entirely unreadable by Windows 7, resulting in another format; another time after using my backup drive in the media player almost all the files on it appeared to have a different time stamp to the files they were copies of, which meant the backup program basically had to delete the entire disk, file by file, and rewrite everything. This took all evening. I have no evidence that the Micca player was in any way responsible for either of these events. I just mention them in case someone reading this had the same bizarre things happen to them.

During the week I spent struggling to find a way to get the player to work in a way that was useful to me, I encountered a number of other problems and quirks that I neglected to document properly. But, to be fair, the new player does have a few neat tricks I'd like to see implemented on a player that does its scanning on the fly. For example, clicking "play" on a folder allows the player to play everything in that folder, including nested folders. Unfortunately you can't jump in half way; it's all or nothing, unless you are prepared to press "forward" a few thousand times....

Oh. That reminds me:

The old player figured that if you pressed "forward" or "backward" during a slide show, and it responded by displaying the subsequent or previous image, then that ought to be sufficient feedback for you to know it was doing what you asked. That's the sensible way of things. The old player was clever like that. It also was pretty reliable about responding to such a request. The new player, on the other hand, doesn't think like that at all. When you press "forward" or "backward", and the device actually figures out what you wanted and responds to your request (often it just doesn't bother, or it waits 10 seconds to think about it), it then changes the image and throws up a huge arrow in the top right corner of the screen by way of confirming that it is indeed doing what you asked. This ridiculously blatant icon persists for a couple of seconds and is horribly distracting while it is on screen. A manually operated slideshow really tests your mettle. I gave up. It just bugged me too much. The entire player just bugged me too much.

So I replaced the new Micca player with the old player, took the two hard drives I'd used for the test, reformatted them and re-installed all their files, and I am now back to where I was a week ago with nothing to show for my wasted time and money other than this scathing review.

*Added August 15, 2011, and see additional notes in comments: The player works pretty well if you turn off the indexing, and instead of using the "Music" or "Photo" icons you use the "File" icon and then click OPTIONS to select "All Media". You can then navigate the regular file structure and go right to the folder where your stuff is. This information is somewhere in the manual. Way towards the back, I think. I certainly missed its importance when I read through the manual on first opening the box. I have thus altered my rating from one star to three stars. I still think the whole idea of scanning a drive for files in order to build a media library is horribly flawed.

Want Micca MPLAY-HD 1080p Full-HD Digital Media Player For USB Drives and SD/SDHC (Realtek 1055) Discount?

I just bought this digital player and it works great. The price was good and the quality is pretty solid. The player will not play back videos captured with my cell phone except for the audio portion. Also, the female end of the AC power conection on the player is a bit loose and doesn't keep the plug in place to well (so don't move it around after you have it hooked up or it will get disconected)!

Save 40% Off

Blue Microphones Mikey Digital Recording Microphone for Apple iPhone and iPad

• Superior Quality audio Recording with built-in USB charging port
• iOS compatible with iPod touch (4th Gen), iPhone 4/4S, iPad/iPad2/iPad (3rd Gen)
• Use the Apple Lightning Adapter (sold separately) for compatibility with iPhone 5, iPad (4th Gen), and iPad Mini
• Works with most popular recording applications; advanced processor for future app compatibility
• Input jacks for guitars, mics and any device with line-out
• Automatic or manual gain control

Update: I love this device. The first Mikey Digital I received was defective (had a high-pitched background noise in the recordings). I contacted Blue Microphones and they promptly sent me a new one at no cost.

Let me tell you, not only does it sound great, but I've already tried recording it with my band and the recordings sound amazing. No peaking and everything sounded crystal clear. Plus it's great that you can plug a USB cable into it (not included) and allow it to charge the device at the same time (so I can just tell it to record during a 3-hour show and not have to worry about it). The software I was using to record was FiRe 2 (highly recommended. Not free, but great. For free software, try Blue FiRe which used to be sponsored by Blue Microphones). The builtin compression was my favorite feature even when the loud music stopped and we were just talking, you could still hear it at the perfect audio level and when loud bursts came in, the levels balanced instantly (no noticeable peaking I say "no noticeable peaking" because in a couple rare spots when there was a burst I could see a couple spikes while doing some post editing of the audio, but for some reason I couldn't personally hear them. I fixed them anyway in the final editing).

It also has a port that I can plug my guitar into and record. Although I'm not personally interested in that feature, I can see how other's would find it useful (The Mikey Digital has a 1/8" port and comes with a 1/8"-to-1/4" converter).

If I do simple talking and compare it to a high-end/expensive condensor mic, I can hear the difference in quality, but not by much. But for mobile recording, nothing beats this in my opinion. And for recording loud (live) music on a portable device and not have to worry about peaking... that, for me, makes this thing priceless.

Overall, for a portable recording device I highly recommend it!

-----

Old Review (originally was a defective unit that was quickly replaced by Blue Microphones).

I was so excited to get the new Mikey Digital. I had pre-ordered it and got it yesterday. Unfortunately all of the recordings have a high-pitched background noise to them when used on my iPhone 4S. Take off the mic and use the builtin mic with the iPhone and the recordings sound crisp and clear, however I plan to use this to record live shows of my band (the builtin mic can't handle that much volume and when we record from our mixer at a show, it's just not the same as when recording from out in the audience).

I tried it on two different iPhone 4S devices and also tried all the usual things (normal restart of the phone, hard restarting the phone, closing all other apps, etc)... still the same results.

I'm going to try to send it back to Blue Microphones for another one. Hopefully the next one will work better and I can come back here and give it 5 stars (I really want it to work and hope it lives up to all the other Blue microphone devices I own).

Buy Blue Microphones Mikey Digital Recording Microphone for Apple iPhone and iPad Now

Here's my quickreview of the Blue Microphones Mikey Digital iOS microphone. In conjunction with the FiRe2 field recording app, it is a great portable sound recording studio.

Read Best Reviews of Blue Microphones Mikey Digital Recording Microphone for Apple iPhone and iPad Here

Overall, I give the Mikey Digital 4.5 stars.

I bought it for my iPad 2 since it had both microphone and instrument input. The microphone is very "user-friendly" and was recognized with no issues in several apps including Meteor and Voice Synth. The audio quality seems quite good perhaps a tad hissy but wasn't really noticeable "in the mix". The instrument input worked well although the included adapter did *NOT* work for me. It was very loose on several cables I tried, including those at Guitar Center. I got a $3 adapter from GC and that fits tight and works great. Other than the adapter, my only complaint about the Mikey Digital is that the 30 pin connector does not fit very tight on my iPad. This isn't a big deal with the microphone, but with the instrument adapter and cable attached, it needs to be stable on a flat surface to avoid the connector being dislodged easy on the windmills, Pete! :-) But audio quality through the instrument input was very clean no noticeable noise to my ears.

Want Blue Microphones Mikey Digital Recording Microphone for Apple iPhone and iPad Discount?

For anyone who uses hearing aids, you know how hard it is to hear in a noisy restaurant. The Blue Mikey has changed this personal isolation for me. The following New York Times article explains it better than I can. As for issues with the iPhone 4s, I had no problems using it with either the old OS or the new 6. I don't know why people are having problems. My iPhone is in a Lifeproof case so I had to get a special adapter from Lifeproof which works perfectly. I also use the soundAMP R app which is $4.99.

For Hard of Hearing, Clarity Out of the Din

By ANNE EISENBERG (New York Times)

DIGITAL hearing aids can do wonders for faded hearing. But other devices can help, too, as audio technology adds new options to help people converse at a noisy restaurant, or talk quietly with a pharmacist at a crowded drugstore counter.

Richard Einhorn, a composer who suddenly lost much of his hearing two years ago, relies on his hearing aid, of course, for general use. But when he is meeting friends at a busy coffee shop -where his hearing aid is not always good at distinguishing their voices amid the clatter -he removes it. He has a better solution.

He pops on a pair of in-ear earphones and snaps a directional mike on his iPhone, which has an app to amplify and process sound.

"I put the iPhone on the table," he said. "I point it at whoever's talking, and I can have conversations with them. Soon we forget the iPhone is sitting there."

Mr. Einhorn's ad hoc solution to restaurant racket is a feasible one, said Jay T. Rubinstein, a professor of bioengineering and otolaryngology at the University of Washington.

"It makes sense when you need to capture a speaker's voice in a noisy environment," he said. "A system that gives you a high-quality directional mike and good earphones can help people hear in a complex setting."

A new version of the directional microphone Mr. Einhorn uses, Blue Mikey, is available for $99.99. One app he uses is soundAMP R, which is $4.99. For earphones, he likes the in-ear Etymotic hf5, at $149.

Every hearing situation has its own solution. When Mr. Einhorn leaves the restaurant and wants to make a cellphone call, he might switch from his iPhone setup to his hearing aid and a companion device worn around the neck that receives Bluetooth audio from the phone and transmits it to the hearing aid.

Once home, he might take advantage of a tiny, inexpensive component in his hearing aid called a telecoil, or t-coil, that can pick up sound directly from a simple wire loop that he's connected to his TV. As long as he sits within the periphery of this loop in his living room, the t-coil receives the transmission. "It's crystal clear," he said of the broadcast.

The loop comes from Contacta. It attaches to the TV audio output and can either run around the edges of the room or just be placed inside a mat that sits beneath a chair, or in a pad that tucks under a cushion.

None of the various technologies he uses are perfect in all situations. "It takes time and practice to learn where they work well," he said, "and to switch from one device to another."

The range of options Mr. Einhorn deploys for dealing with hearing loss is not unusual. "There are many combinations of technologies possible now for people who need hearing assistance," said Stephen P. Bowditch, an audiologist and faculty member at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Before someone commits to a device, Mr. Bowditch advises a hearing test. "Every hearing loss is different, and we know in audiology that one size does not fit all," he said.

MODERN digital hearing aids tend to be costly -they can run $6,800 a pair and more, and are rarely covered by insurance. But the t-coil, the tiny internal copper component in Mr. Einhorn's hearing aid, is gradually becoming an inexpensive way to broaden and refine the reach of hearing aids. These t-coils are now standard in most of the hearing aids that Mr. Bowditch installs. "If we can fit it in, we put it in," he said. "Whether people use it is up to them."

There may soon be many more spots to use a t-coil, as hearing loops gradually appear in an increasing number of public and private spaces, said David G. Myers, a professor of psychology at Hope College in Holland, Mich. Dr. Myers has long championed the use of hearing loop systems, in part through an informational Web site.

Emcom Systems in Trenton is developing a small mat with a built-in hearing loop. The loop is connected to a microphone that can sit on counters at pharmacies or medical offices so that people standing on the mat can conduct a quiet, clear conversation with staff members, said Mark Zuckerman, director of marketing. The system will be on sale later this year for about $1,100.

"We want to support crucial conversations in the daily lives of people" who are hard of hearing, he said.

E-mail: novelties@nytimes.com.

Save 33% Off

The Mikey is exactly what I needed for recording minutes of meetings. It is easy to use and the clarity of the recording is amazing.

I will use it for lectures too.

PNY Performance Series 32 GB Class 6 15 MB/s Rated SDHC Flash Memory Card (P-SDHC32G6-GE)

Was looking for a card for my Raspberry Pi and this one fill the bill, wanted more than just the 4 gig recommended and wanted something I could depend on. Case Closed.

Rainman

Inexpensive 8 GB class 6 card that works as advertised. For me, the 'sweet spot' on size, speed & price.

Buy PNY Performance Series 32 GB Class 6 15 MB/s Rated SDHC Flash Memory Card (P-SDHC32G6-GE) Now

It's considerably cheaper than the Sandisk, at least when I bought it. I use it for my Samsung WB100 Camera, and I feel very content with it.

I have yet to find any flaws with transferring from my camera to the PC, and 16GB is definitely more than enough for my photos and the occasional videos I have.

Read Best Reviews of PNY Performance Series 32 GB Class 6 15 MB/s Rated SDHC Flash Memory Card (P-SDHC32G6-GE) Here

I bought this because it was for a good price & most local stores charge a lot more for this item. I have used it only for a short amount of time & seems to be good & liked getting it from this seller for the price.

Want PNY Performance Series 32 GB Class 6 15 MB/s Rated SDHC Flash Memory Card (P-SDHC32G6-GE) Discount?

I've used so many different brands of flash cards over the years, but I purchased a PNY card about a year ago to use in a Wildlife camera. This card is still going strong and working great even after almost a year on a post in my back yard, out in all the horrendous weather we sometimes have here on the Oregon coast. This is a test far beyond anything you will ever give a flash card in a digital camera. I'm so impressed with this card that it was the only brand I wanted for use in my new Canon SX50 HD. My congratulations to the manufacturer you have a quality product.

F30 HD Dual Camera Lens Car Vehicle DVR Cam Dash Video Recorder 8 IR Lights SOS

• Unique human voice in Chinese, Russian and English, and a numberof exclusive patents
• SOSemergency button - press SOS button in case of emergency, themachine will automatically save 2 files of the emergency as non-deletablefiles.
• 2.7"16:9 HD display, dual-lens can rotate by 180 °
• Fastswitch to the night-shoot mode, the mode is very effective tosolve the overexposure problem, and thereby to see the licenseplate as clearly as possible.
• Seamless video, up to 30 frames / s

After seeing all the Russian video footage of the meteor explosion of 2013. I decided I had to get one of these camera's. Who knows what interesting things you might capture on video. The product is almost what I expected … my only complaint would be the quality of the video is not quite as good as I would have hoped. It's 1280X480 and that's only if you just use one of the 2 camera's. If you use both at the same time then your down to 640X480. BTW it records what displayed on the LCD screen. Your choices are 1, 2, 1+2 or 2+1. In my case I'm doing 1+2 with one camera facing forward and one out the back windows. I'd like to catch the person behind me texting when they rear end me if that's possible. When going back and reviewing the footage you can make out the cars and their make and model but reading a license plate would be out of the question. Still over all I feel it's a decent product for the money. Keep in mind that you have to buy the Micro SD card separately and it needs to be a class 6 or better speed wise.

Philips Portable Media Player, 30 gig, MP3/WMA and Video Movie Player

• Video or Music player, records video from PC or from direct video source
• 30 gig hard disc drive, stores up to 130 hours of video or up to 15,000 songs
• 3.5" color screen for easy comfortable video viewing
• Record your favorite TV programs direct from TV output or video source
• Timer function to schedule the downloads form your PC or direct video source

The screen is bright, clear, and big enough to watch for hours comfortably. Audio, through headphones, is good. Built-in speakers are nice, if you are in a quiet environment, as volume is small. Navigation is simple and intuitive. Battery life is very good. I can get through two full movies and still have a little left to listen to music. With my iPod Video, I am lucky to make it through a single movie. The PMC7230 also comes with a little kickstand to prop up the unit.

The reason why this unit does not get a 5, is because of the transfer of files to the unit. Transfer of MP3 files through Windows Media Player is slow, as they have to be "converted." Included video conversion software is very slow, but the good thing is that there are free alternatives available on the web.

Another bonus is the ability to record TV or other content.

After getting the content on the player, you undoubtedly will enjoy the experience, and notice many heads turn.

I love my iPod, but it's clear that iPod is for audio. The PMC7230 is for video.

Buy Philips Portable Media Player, 30 gig, MP3/WMA and Video Movie Player Now

Don't waste your money the device could be good but who will ever know. It is crippled with PlayForSure mandatory requirements for the playback of all video.

In other words if you want to watch any video you *HAVE* to convert it using the ArcSoft conversion program. For a simple movie this takes hours on a good PC with 4 Gb of memory! Who has the time or the patience to do that.

I have a load of mpg files I wanted to transfer and play but could not just copy them. They had to be "converted" (in this case read crippled with some copy protection. DRM is stopping fair use and innovation. The whole point of these small devices is to allow playback anytime anyplace anywhere I suspect this portable media center could do it but I will never know.

Hours later I am still waiting for the first file to be converted.

Read Best Reviews of Philips Portable Media Player, 30 gig, MP3/WMA and Video Movie Player Here

I just received this media player about 2 weeks ago. I read trough the reviews, but I purchased it because this is one of the few media players out there that lets you record directly though an external source. i.e.. TV or SAT service. I have loaded my MP3 library with ease. It does need to "convert" but I didn't find it to be a long process or problem. I have not used the software to "convert" movies. I have recorded about 10 movies (1.5h 2.0h) long. I've got about 150 songs and 100 pictures on the media player; and I have only used about 15Gigs. I have the movie setting set to "medium" quality, which is still good.

PROS:

*can record directly from external source, such as TV, SAT Service, DVD

player

*3.5 LCD color display

* bright screen

*Timer to schedule TV recording

*Easy synchronization with Windows XP PC

*good speaker w/o using headset

*ability to view movies recorded on the PMC7230 on the Television

CONS:

*Battery life is about 3hours for movie playback

*When you record directly from an external source into your "video"

folder; the movie cannot be named. This make is difficult to identify

which movie is which. They are categorized by date recorded.

*I have gotten a message that you cannot record due to "copywrite" law;

only on a few DVD's.

All in all I am absolutely pleased with this PMC7230. I gave it a 4 because you cannot name the movies to be able to identify them better. This is something I can live with, given the performance of the product. I would definatly recommend this product.

Want Philips Portable Media Player, 30 gig, MP3/WMA and Video Movie Player Discount?

This is a great player and it works with Windows Vista. Don't install all the software first. Connect the play to you PC, drag and drop the files and try. If you cannot play the file, install the converter software, but you don't really need to convert anything. After installing the converter software, everything is good for me.

Save 38% Off

I had low expectations for this unit but it was surprisingly usable. It has a big enough screen, drag and drop files, feature rich records live TV amazingly simply. Using vista, you just plug the device in and it automatically detects everything no drivers necessary. Then you can drag and drop music and pictures. For videos, you need to run it through their software without using mediaplayer and it converts AVI/WMV pretty quickly on a decent computer. Slideshow for pictures. 4 stars for the price.

Tascam DP-02CF Portastudio Compact Flash Multitrack Recorder

• Two XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power for condenser microphones
• Eight-track recording at uncompressed 44.1k/16-bit audio quality
• Portastudio-based interface with volume fader, pan, effect send, high and low EQ controls per channel
• EQ frequency button to access high and low EQ shelf frequencies
• USB 2.0 interface for transferring tracks, mixes and backup files to a computer

I purchased the DP-02CF expecting a Multi-Track Recorder, much like the 10 or so Recorders I've owned over the past 25 years past from Tascam. However, even though the new Digital technology is wonderful, things here are not quite what they appear to be in this case...

First, even though you are using a CF Card and you can use up to an 8 gig card [which is great] you are limited to .wav format in FAT 32 which burns 1/2 a gig of space off the top, and limits the length/size of your files per song. Plus the usual FAT 32 file corruption issues which can sneak up on you in a hurry, trust me. Also, be careful, very very careful when buying a card for this deck. The approved media list has a big list of cards that made me cringe, several of the 8 gig options cost lest than $30 on Amazon, Gasp! I mean, you get what you pay for and if you're using ANYTHING less than a Sandisk Extreme 3, you're going to end up cussing out the unit and tascam within 2 weeks! Trust me on this one...

Second, where do I begin?

When you setup a recording and start adding tracks, each time you playback and listen to what you recorded, you are required to go back and reassign everything from scratch, including track sends! Nice huh... This doesn't sound like much at first, but after you use the unit for a while it becomes a time consuming adventure in frustration.

Next, the Deal Killer...

This unit should be described as a very limited Mixer, with a 2 track recorder with bounce down capabilities slapped on the top. This is not a multi-track recorder like any I've ever owned before or even a decent mixer, since NO EFFECT SEND is available during recording! You heard me right, you can't even add compression to a vocal as you record, but more on this later.

So, I was expecting PRE and POST eq [as almost every other deck I've owned from Tascam in the past] but alas even though there is nice eq, effect sends and controls, they are all POST. In fact in Record mode you only have 2 tracks, dry to the card that's it. Only in POST final mix-down to a DVD, or whatever you make your master on [No bounce-down eq/effect capabilities either since EVERYTHING IS POST HERE!] Like I said, this makes this unit a mixer with a recorder slapped on, not a full featured recorder as it appears to be. I mean if your 15 and this is your first recorder for band demos, great! Otherwise you will be sadly disappointed.

This means if you plan on using the eq, and effecting your signals during bouncing down, NONE of the adjustments you make during mixdown will record to the track, it's just a mixer kids! So, if your vocal stack of 4 tracks needs a little hi end added during bounce, or if the bass guitar/guitar/keyboard mixdown needs a little extra push, or you need to do anything during the mix-down process getting to your final 8 tracks, tough luck! Only in the final mixdown to another device, can you use any of the eq/effects. This is why the unit is so inexpensive, and why it's useless for anything other than live 2 track demos and practicing bounce down, so that later when you buy a real recorder you'll know what to do.

This is the reason why I was in shock when my unit arrived. Just remember when looking for a multi-track, always ask up front if your deck has PRE and POST options for eq/effects. I should have asked, oh well...

Here's another example of the frustration.... Let's say your recording live and you want to add in some compression to the vocal track as it's live going into the deck. Tough luck! You can't use the effect send to add your $1000 compresser/limiter and Exciter. How about adding a little eq to the bass guitar from the line in, same deal tough luck! NOTHING can be added to the instruments as they go in, or as they are bounced down, it is ONLY during final mix-down TO ANOTHER DEVICE that you can you add anything!

One last time, everything on this mixer [aka multi-track] is post. You might as well buy a nice mixer, and a zoom, you'll have more options and a better final mix. Plus, you won't have to worry about your CF card corrupting from the Fat32 formatting after spending 3 days recording and bouncing down tracks.

If they had only been honest in the description of this unit [and it's NOT Amazon's fault, they just list the factory description which is totally misleading] then I could have avoided wasting a week trying to find out why I couldn't save any of my mixdown settings.

Buy Tascam DP-02CF Portastudio Compact Flash Multitrack Recorder Now

After having the fortunate opportunity to play with both the Tascam DP-02CF and the Fostex MR-8 MKII in a local music supply store I was very impressed at how much easier the Tascam DP-02CF was to operate than the Fostex MR-8MKII. For roughly the same price (and the advice of the sales clerk) I opted for the Tascam over the Fostex.

The user-interface is as friendly as Mr. Rogers on laughing gas, after using the device for ten minutes I was recording vocals and guitar tracks. The unit has a recording limit of two tracks at a time so this might not be the appropriate tool for professional use. However, for small-time/home use it is perfect.

It is very apparent that Tascam has designed this unit with the outmost simplicity in mind. I can tell after using other high-end 8-track recorders the DP-02CF was made recording tracks quickly and with no technical hassles. This is really convenient for amateur musicians who are just getting started in recording and editing music.

For a limited time (so I'm told) Tascam is including a 1GB flash card with the unit so buyers can start recording as soon as the recorder is plugged in. One thing I will mention is the lack of USB cable. In order to drag and drop music files from the unit to your PC or Mac you will need to purchase a separate USB cable (like the kind that printers use) because it is not included with the DP-02CF. Something to keep in mind if you are buying online or in stores.

The quality of the sound is as close to CD-like as I've ever heard with using an digital 8-track recorder of this caliber and in this price range.

Note: For a limited time some units have been mislabeled with the Tascam "Portastudio" logo reading "Portastud" (sounds like a blow-up doll for women) and some websites are offering discounts because of this misspelling. I am one of the proud owners of the "Portastud" models!

TASCAM DP-02CF Digital Portastudio Specifications:

Recording:

Recording Medium: Compact Flash memory card

Recording Resolution: 44.1 kHz/16-bit

Number of Recording Tracks: 8 tracks plus Stereo Master track

Number of Simultaneous Recording Tracks: 2 tracks

Frequency Response: 20 Hz 20 kHz (+1/-3dB)

Signal to Noise Ratio: >85dB (A-weighting, 22kHz LPF)

T.H.D.: 0.02% (1kHz, 10dBV, 22kHz LPF, master fader at nominal)

I/O:

Analog In (INPUT A/B)

Connector: XLR-3-31 type (Pin2:hot) and 1/4" TRS phone

Nominal/Max Input Level: -8 dBu/+8 dBu

Input Impedance: 2.4k ohms, >10k ohms on guitar input

Phantom Power: 48V (on/off selectable)

Line Output:

Connector: 2x unbalanced RCA jacks

Nominal/Max Output Level: -10dBV/+6 dBV

Output Impedance: 1k ohm

Effect Send:

Connector: 1/4" phone (unbalanced)

Nominal/Max Output Level: -10dBV/+6 dBV

Output Impedance: 1k ohm

Digital Out:

Connector: Optical (TOSLINK) digital audio output

Data format: S/PDIF

Headphones (PHONE 1, 2)

Connector: 1/4" stereo phone jack

Max. Output: 25mW + 25mW (@32 ohm)

Physical:

Dimensions (w x h x d): 16.4" x 2.6" x 11.8"

Weight: 4.1 lbs.

Power Requirement: 12V, 2.5A (TASCAM PS-1225 power adaptor)

TASCAM DP-02CF Digital Portastudio Features:

Two XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power for condenser microphones

Eight-track recording at uncompressed 44.1k/16-bit audio quality

Portastudio-based interface with volume fader, pan, effect send, high and low EQ controls per channel

EQ frequency button to access high and low EQ shelf frequencies

USB 2.0 interface for transferring tracks, mixes, and backup files to a computer

Dedicated stereo master track for mixdown

Internal metronome and bar/beat display for song position

Headphone output

Stereo line outputs on RCA analog and S/PDIF optical digital connectors

1GB Compact Flash card included with enough room for a dozen songs or more

1GB Compact Flash card included as a launch promotion

Read Best Reviews of Tascam DP-02CF Portastudio Compact Flash Multitrack Recorder Here

Yep, this recorder is pretty easy to use, and handy, and fun and all that, but it has one bug that drives me nuts. In the heat of recording, when you are doing multiple takes, it's easy to hit the stop and play keys too quickly in succession. When that happens, the unit freezes up and you cannot play back, or record, or save data, or do anything at all. Your only option is to pull out the power cord and start over. You will have lost everything that wasn't saved before the freeze.

This is a piss off, and probably something the Tascam engineers can't or won't fix anytime soon. Caveat emptor, fellow artistes. Other than that, it is a pretty nifty unit.

Also, make sure you clear editing history fairly often (you'll see what I mean), or the unit thinks you've run out of storage space. I think this is a RAM and not a flash card problem, but the 1GB compact flash card won't hold that much in any case. Get a bigger one (or three.) They're getting cheaper all the time.

Want Tascam DP-02CF Portastudio Compact Flash Multitrack Recorder Discount?

Amendment to review: I should mention that you should familiarize yourself with the features of the DP-02 before buying this. It's about $150 more, but I think, in retrospect, it would have been a better choice for me. You'll have to lay out $100 or so for a decent-sized Flash card, anyway. Why not just get the built-in disk drive plus the other extra features? If I could, I'd trade mine in for the DP-02.

original review:

I've had this unit for a few weeks now. I like it. It's relatively easy to use. In my opinion, it's much easier to use than any software I have used, mainly because you don't have to deal with compatibility issues with sound cards, etc.

I found it a bit confusing at first, trying to figure out how to get a song from the main partition into the FAT partition from where you can then copy it to your computer. Not a big deal, though. My main complaint is the lack of accessories.

They don't bother to include a USB cable, and it's one of those unusual USB cables with a different fitting that you're unlikely to have sitting around from a digital camera or MP3 player. I had to pay $35 for one at Best Buy after searching around the house for it for several days. (I could hardly believe they wouldn't have automatically included it with the unit, so I assumed I must have set it somewhere when I opened the package and forgotten about it.)

Also, the 1G Flash card gives you hardly any space to work with. The main review says it has room for a dozen songs or more. This is not true. I started running out of space after playing around with only four very short demos (anywhere from 45 seconds to 2 1/2 minutes), most of which did not use all eight tracks.

I think you need a 4G card minimum. That's going to cost you upwards of $75 extra, in addition to the $35 to pay for a USB cable. So be ready to invest $110 more, at the very least, to make this unit usable. (In reality, an 8G or 16G card would probably be more appropriate if you want to have a decent amount of space for your recordings. These are not cheap at all. I priced 4G cards in the $70-$80 range at Best Buy, and those larger cards are sure to be quite a bit more.)

Again, though, it's a great unit. So, if you don't mind laying out a bit of extra money for accessories, it's definitely worth the price. (Cheaper in real dollars than the original Tascam 4-tracks were back in the 80s. Imagine how much cheaper if you take inflation into account!)

I have owned the Tascam DP-02CF for ONE WEEK. So my opinions are from a new user's point of view. Previously, I had been using my old Tascam 424 4-track recorder. Now with the DP-02CF, I GET TWICE THE TRACKS, with 5 TIMES THE TECHNOLOGY all for about HALF THE PRICE! Hard to beat that deal!

COMMENTS ON ISSUES

1) No you don't get any special effects on this machine.

But I read that the effects on the DP02 were bad anyway so no loss there. Besides, as a guitarist, you should already own an effects processor before owning this machine. (It just seems like the logical order to do things).

I like that this machine HAS NO BELLS OR WHISTLES. That's just more stuff to confuse you with. I bought this to do recording not to get lost in a wave of features and technology.

2) No, it is not the end all for recording.

It is just the opposite. This is a basic machine. I don't plan on making professional CD's from it just acid tapes or whatever. However, I'll bet a really skilled person could make professional quality recordings from this machine.

3) Yes, the manual is poorly written.

And you CANNOT just start recording "right out of the box." If so, then you are either a genius or you probably owned one of these machines before.

Is it my imagination or are some things not even written in the proper order?

Like, shouldn't the details for Formatting the CF Card come at the beginning rather than on Page 39?

And it can be confusing as they talk about something but you are not sure what it applies to until later! (e.g. For AUTO-PUNCH: the "In-and-Out Marks" are explained on page 30. But Auto-Punch is later explained on Page 33).

However, you can start recording fairly quick and learn the key features as you go along. There will be a little learning curve if you are new to this (as I was). But hey, I HAVE RECORDED 3 SONGS IN MY FIRST WEEK!

4) The 1G Card holds about 8 minutes of music using just 4 tracks.

I don't know why they say "holds dozens of songs." That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen. One key thing: ERASE YOUR HISTORY once you have finished the song. Otherwise, you won't even get 5 minutes.

5) Annoying Trait It Can Lock Up So Save Often!

THIS IS FOR UNSKILLED MUSICIANS LIKE ME WHO DO 50 TAKES PER TRACK.

If you keep messing up and keep hitting Stop-Rewind-Record really fast, the machine locks up and you have to unplug it losing everything IF you did not Save it.

SOLUTION: I finally learned after my 10th Lock Up to use the Location Mark so that you just hit the "Insert" button and it takes you back. IT IS SOOOOO MUCH NICER to record with this feature. So the LOCK UP PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A good machine for the price. And it looks better at home than in the picture. It is also a little bigger and heavier than I thought. By this I am implying that it does indeed seem like a well built machine. A Solid Machine for Beginning-Intermediate users.

Coby DVD-537 5.1 Channel DVD Player with Progressive Scan

• Progressive scan DVD Player/5.1 Channel system/Super slim design
• Plays DVD/DVD+R/RW/DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW Discs
• Compatible with NTSC/PAL System
• Multipe subtitles/Viewing angles/Convenient on screen display
• Zoom operation/Parental lock contril

I was able to use this product twice before it ceased functioning. I watched one DVD over 2 sessions and when I attempted to watch another one a few weeks later, it wouldn't even power on. Truly you get what you pay for.

Buy Coby DVD-537 5.1 Channel DVD Player with Progressive Scan Now

This product does what it advertises and not really much else. It has progressive scan playback with component out and digital audio out. Playback quality is passable though it does not contain the technologies in higher-end dvd players to prevent pausing during layer-changes and buffer through skips and dirty disc sections. But then again, it's a $40 dvd player. The remote is, well, a remote you'd expect with a dvd player of this price.

This player will not take abuse or excessively heavy use. But if you break it, take consolation in the fact that you can buy 9 more before you have paid up the same for a quality Sony/Onkyo/Denon/etc. player.

Read Best Reviews of Coby DVD-537 5.1 Channel DVD Player with Progressive Scan Here

I purchased this DVD player cause i thought it was a nice original design and is half the size of a regular DVD player, but when i went to use it for the third time the unit would not turn on. Since it was older than 30 days (but less than a year) i called Coby directly. They said i had to send it to them, plus $12 to get it fixed or they would send a new one, but that it would take 4-6 weeks! Since it was only $35 I junked it and got a second Philips unit which i have never had problems with.

Want Coby DVD-537 5.1 Channel DVD Player with Progressive Scan Discount?

I had this product for several months, but only used it a total of maybe ten times before it stopped working completely. Even in earlier uses it didn't work as advertised, because it wouldn't play my DVD+Rs correctly. Also this player has the worst remote control I've ever used. The buttons are completely flat and extremely hard to push. I had a similarly priced unit from Magnavox that lasted for years, so I don't buy the whole 'you get what you pay for' argument. This product is just poorly made. I won't be buying any more Coby DVD players.

Save 20% Off

This dvd player is alright. Picture and sound quality are good, especially considering the cheap price. However, the one big drawback is the remote, this thing is tiny and the buttons are not very responsive.

Sony V8-25CLD 8mm / Hi8 / Digital8 Camcorder Video Head Cleaning cassette

The Exact thing you need for D8 Sony DCR-TRV Models. Really. It works fine. It does fix the camera when you see that prompt that flashes after a few years of use that says "CLEANING CASSETTE" "CLEANING CASSETTE" over and over. You can't get by without this thing. I just wish I would have bought it when it was $9.99 at my local store years ago. The shipping is about the same price of the item, but good luck finding one at your local store. After you open it and stick it in your camera, you will be A-OK again in 10 seconds. This is it folks. Crack open the wallet and whip out the Credit card. Also, I do not work for any Co. affiliated with this company or product. I have no agenda. I mean what I wrote.

By virtue of transferring V8 tape to DV, I became aware of the image quality before and after head cleaning. After cleaning, the video was considerably better, clearer and with better color quality even though the tapes were 15 years old. Cleaning the tape heads was extremely easy and well worth the very reasonable price. Buy one and use it. You'll like the results.

Buy Sony V8-25CLD 8mm / Hi8 / Digital8 Camcorder Video Head Cleaning cassette Now

Stupid Spinning Head, Tape Based Video Cameras!

They all rub a little oxide off the tape as they spin. And before you know it, the recording head becomes clogged and no longer writes :-(

.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ???

.

I bought 2 of these cleaner cassettes a couple of years ago, and they have kept my Sony TR-120 running LONG past it's expected lifetime.

.

Soon it'll be time for a new Video Camera. I am NOT crazy about the current crop of DVD-R based cameras. Hard-Drive based cameras are the current way to go BOTH are power hungry solutions.

.

BUT !!!

.

With the arrival of Solid-State drives (VERY little battery drain, high reliability, currently expensive, but coming down rapidly) it won't be long before it doesn't matter that these cleaning tapes aren't available any more.

.

Merlin

Read Best Reviews of Sony V8-25CLD 8mm / Hi8 / Digital8 Camcorder Video Head Cleaning cassette Here

Just what I wanted, worked for my purpose. Received BEFORE expected. Thanks!

Want Sony V8-25CLD 8mm / Hi8 / Digital8 Camcorder Video Head Cleaning cassette Discount?

Looked all over for this cleaner. Couldn't find it. Thanks for finding it. It came so quick. And it works just right.

SanDisk SDCFB-256-A10 256 MB CompactFlash Card (Retail Package)

How many pictures will it store? It is the most commonly asked question from digital camera enthusiast but usually the question that is the most difficult to get a straight answer about. Well, considering I worked in the memory industry for over 7 years I can help clarify this perplexing question and do so unbiased as I have since changed industries.

The SanDisk SDCFB-256-A10 256MB CompactFlash Card, like most 256MB cards, will store on average 284 pictures when used with a 2 megapixel camera, 213 images when used with a 3 megapixel camera, 128 pictures when used with a 4 megapixel camera, 102 images when used with a 5 megapixel camera, and 80 pictures when used with a 6 megapixel camera. These numbers are based off the assumption that you are going to shoot your images at the highest quality JPEG setting available for the camera and understand that they are estimates and may be off by as much as 10 percent due to numerous factors including the complexity of the scene being shot and the compression algorithm used by your specific camera.

I truly hope this review was helpful to you in determining whether this card is the right capacity for your specific needs.

I recently bought a Canon S40 camera which I love..I also purchased this Sandisk 256MB card to go along wiht it..I have taken as many as 264 pictures( think you can get as many as 500 on it) at 2272X1704 resolution(highest resolution for this camera) and it still was going..I believe you can only get about 30 with the card that comes stock with the camera..If your not to much into the high resolution you can get about 1500 pictures at 640X480 I think...Thats a huge benefit if your traveling and cant download onto a computer for a while. Did a week at Disneyworld with the kids and captured the whole thing on one card...SWEET!!

Buy SanDisk SDCFB-256-A10 256 MB CompactFlash Card (Retail Package) Now

The Sandisk 256Mb Cf card really delivers 244MB after formatting it in my Canon A80 camera. But this happens to many CF cards, you have to accept that.

I chose a 256MB card since the Canon takes up about 2MB PER Picture on best quality and size settings ( total about 120 odd-pics). Lower quality( picture compression) or pic size gives me much more images. I can record about 700 odd seconds of video on the card @ 320*240 15fps settings. I definitely recommend this card size as one if you plan to buy a 3MP+ camera. Since the price difference is reducing every day, it makes more sense to opt of a 256Mb instead of a 128MB card. FOr 5MP and above, however, a 512MB+ card may be better suited.

The card is very reliable. I've been using it for 3 months+ and have taken 500+ photos on it. However, the speed at which the card writes the image is a bit too slow for my liking ( or maybe its the camera?). Next time i'm going in for a faster card , maybe from the Sandisk ULTRA II series....

Read Best Reviews of SanDisk SDCFB-256-A10 256 MB CompactFlash Card (Retail Package) Here

I bought a Kodak Easyshare 4300 (3mpx) camera recently and found that it was short of memory. I ahd 16 mb with the camera which was not enough for more than 15 pictures at highest resolution.

But with card I can take around 240 pictures of highest resolution. Ofcourse one might wonder whether you would take so many pictures before you can download them.

If you go for a trip I doubt if you will have access to a computer. Even if you do you need to install teh software on that computer and download them. So if you are going for a skiing trip with your family and would like to capture every moment, you need atleast 128 mb. 128 mb is good but might fall short if you want to take small videos.

So I strongly recommend this card as there is not much difference in the price between 128 mb and 256 mb. Also if your digital camera has the facility of videos then this card is a MUST.

And ofcourse you might wonder if the prices might go down. But you should also count the invaluable moments you can capture and share immediately with all your family and friends. Also I dont think you will get a better deal than this for atleast 6 months. Dont miss the mail in rebate offer from amazon.com

Want SanDisk SDCFB-256-A10 256 MB CompactFlash Card (Retail Package) Discount?

I have two Sandisk 256MB CF cards, and I'm very happy with them. My oldest Sandisk 256MB CF card is about a year old. Between the two of them, I've taken several thousand pictures, and so far neither has given me any problems. My oldest card has proven its reliability in the combination of humid Scandinavian summer weather, a lot of hiking in southern Arizona's blasting heat, and some really cold Colorado winter weather. It has performed exceptionally well under all of these conditions.

Pros:

* Durable and exceptionally reliable Sandisk does without a doubt have the most reliable CF cards on the market.

* This card is due to its reliability and price, without a doubt the best value for money of any CF card on the market today.

Cons:

* Molasses in winter pretty much describes the speed of this card. Seriously though, tests show that unless you're transferring files to your computer via a USB 2.0 interface, the read/write speed between the camera and the CF card does not nearly exploit the potential of any good card. There might be a 20-30% difference between a fast and a slow card when it comes to in-camera read/writes.

This card is extremely reliable, and looking at reliability+price (you can get really good deals on this card) vs. speed, I'd say this is the best value for money of any CF card on the market today. I give it an unconditional 5 stars!!!