[sdiy] Should I repair my Fostex, or should I go HD recording?

[JH.]

> I own a 1010LT. If hooked up properly I don't notice any digital noise.
> If I connect both the 1010LT and the Mac's internal audio output to the 
> mixing console, there's a lot of noise, due to the ground loop.

This brings up another interesting point: Given that I avoid the GND loop
(transformer or whatever), will my onboard audio system (on the PC;
ASUS P4P800 Deluxe) still work, or is the audio channel "replaced"
with the 8in/8out card?
I'm asking because of all the other applications like watching DVDs
on the computer ...


> It's probably also easier to acoustically isolate the recording studio 
> from the computer. The Fostex R8 is so quiet that it can be run in the 
> same room where the microphone is - I wish this was true for the Mac...

No here I have taken a huge step forward when I bought my new PC.
A Deltatronic Silentium (http://www.deltatronic.de/) which has a
huge (roughly 1/2 m**2) heatsink instead of a fan. It's more quiet
than my Fostex R8 even with only the capstan running and the transport
on stop!

> I still remember when the 
> percussionist wanted to replace just *one* beat - and I was the one who 
> had to operate the punch in/out buttons. 

I know what you mean. (;->)
And even though the R8 is remarkably precise here, I guess the high
mechanical forces during such operations is what has killed some
mechanical part inside of mine for the second time. (The punch
doesn't cause the mechanical stress of course, but repeated locator
operations certainly do.)

JH.