portable storage

Wed Dec 5 20:53:10 UTC 2007

I have been trialling an Xs-drive, a portable HD with mp3 playback  
capability. It is AA battery-powered, takes many different sizes of  
flash media cards, and operates as an external USB hard drive. No  
problems with it so far.

http://www.xs-drive.com/

Linda

On 06/12/2007, at 4:57 AM, Terry J. Klokeid wrote:

> Thank you for this straightforward advice about standards, Aidan,  
> and the rest that you advised.
>
> I conclude from your deswcriptions and others provided by list  
> memers, that for simple storage in the field, there is no inherent  
> advantage to any particular hardware. Since an 8 gig card in the  
> Zoom H2 Handy recorder will hold over a dozen hours of recording,  
> which may be all that I'd record in a week, I think that I will  
> equip myself with is a small supply of such cards for the H2. The  
> H2 uses AA batteries, so power is no issue with it in my context.
>
> The one feature of the iPod that remains viable for my context is  
> that it is a portable playback unit, once the files are in MP3  
> format, I assume. I have to have some portable way of playing back  
> selected files in the field. Something I can carry through rainy  
> weather and set up indoors or outdoors.
>
> But other MP3 players seem to be much cheaper (and more so all the  
> time), and hence relatively disposable should they get dropped in  
> the sand or whatever. Maybe it's just a question of finding a model  
> that is not too fiddly.
>
>
> On 2-Dec-07, at 4:38 pm, Aidan Wilson wrote:
>>> Record in wav format, at least with 44.1 kHz sample rate and 16  
>>> bit resolution, it'll take ...about 10 MB per minute... it's  
>>> archive standard...It's also the format used for long-term  
>>> storage ...
>>>
>>> Aidan Wilson
>>> Audio at Paradisec
>>>
>
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> On 2-Dec-07, at 4:38 pm, Aidan Wilson wrote:
>
>> Sorry, I meant to send this to the list. Perhaps a 'reply-to:'  
>> field with the rnld address should be included in the list's  
>> messages?
>>
>> Aidan Wilson wrote:
>>> There are portable hard drives that operate on AA batteries that  
>>> basically take everything off a device through a USB connection,  
>>> that is, it doesn't need a computer to do the transfer, which can  
>>> be a real bonus out in the field. Later on of course, you should  
>>> get to a computer to make actual backups.
>>> The iPod isn't such a bad idea, besides the card reader  
>>> accessories, there are USB transfer accessories that do pretty  
>>> much the same thing. But when it gets ingested into the iPod, you  
>>> won't be able to play it normally (if you use apple's default  
>>> iPod operating system, that is) since you have to upload songs  
>>> and photos via iTunes to do that. So it'll work just like a  
>>> backup hard drive.
>>> The problem with the ipod though, is that the battery isn't field- 
>>> swappable, and you'll need a computer, or a DC-to-USB adapter, to  
>>> charge it if you want to use it for more than about 6 hours.
>>> Something else to think about regarding formats; please don't  
>>> record to mp3 format. Record in wav format, at least with 44.1  
>>> kHz sample rate and 16 bit resolution, it'll take a little more  
>>> data space (about 10 MB per minute), but the resulting quality  
>>> compared with mp3, and the fact that it's archive standard, make  
>>> up for the space needed. It's also the format used for long-term  
>>> storage and, provided you either have the recordings archived in  
>>> an institution or are vigilant enough to periodically check your  
>>> backups, the recordings should last for as long as you want.
>>>
>>> Aidan Wilson
>>> Audio at Paradisec
>>>
>>> Naomi Elizabeth-Palosaari Fox wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>  I had considered the same question a few months ago. I am using  
>>>> my Ipod for backup storage in the field and have no problems to  
>>>> report. The reason I wanted to do this was because you can get a  
>>>> Memory Card reader which will directly transfer files from  
>>>> memory cards to the IPOD without needing a computer.
>>>>  http://www.ipoding.com/modules.php? 
>>>> op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1510 <http:// 
>>>> www.ipoding.com/modules.php? 
>>>> op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1510>
>>>>  I assumed that the card reader would work with any kind of  
>>>> file. However, I could not actually get the reader to work with  
>>>> my Ipod, although I4m yet not sure if that4s because of the file  
>>>> type or because I had received a faulty unit. They are difficult  
>>>> to find and I had to order online. If anyone has had any success  
>>>> in finding a way to store and upload audio files from a solid  
>>>> state recorder, I4d love to hear about it.
>>>>  By the way, I4m very satisified with my primary mobile storage  
>>>> device, a Western Digital 160G portable hard drive, small and  
>>>> easy to transport.  There are bigger capacities available.
>>>> http://www.buy.com/prod/western-digital-passport-160gb-usb-2-0- 
>>>> portable-2-5-external-hard-drive/q/loc/101/203169718.html
>>>>   --Naomi
>>>> ____________________________________
>>>> Naomi Fox
>>>>
>>>> Center For American Indian Languages
>>>>
>>>> University of Utah
>>>>
>>>> naomi.fox at utah.edu <mailto:naomi.fox at utah.edu>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>>>> -----
>>>> *De:* Terry J. Klokeid [mailto:klokeid at victoria.tc.ca]
>>>> *Enviado el:* sab 12/1/2007 10:59
>>>> *Para:* RNLD List
>>>> *Asunto:* portable storage
>>>>
>>>> I am looking for portable storage for voice recordings.
>>>>
>>>> Our project has just purchased some Zoom H2 Handy Recorders to  
>>>> make voice recordings, mainly in field conditions, not studio  
>>>> conditions. Our tests of a unit before purchase indicated that  
>>>> H2 recordings are of suitable quality. The portability and  
>>>> ability to record without an AC power source and without a  
>>>> computer will suit our conditions.
>>>> The H2 records onto SD cards. Our ultimate aim is to put  
>>>> selections onto CDs and MP3 players for distribution. To  
>>>> accomplish this, the recordings will be passed around to several  
>>>> computer setups. (We use a variety of computers. The one I use  
>>>> most is a G4 Powerbook, OS 10.4.11, but the project membership  
>>>> uses both Macintosh and Windows machines of varying vintage.)
>>>>
>>>>  What is the best way to store the voice recordings long-term? I  
>>>> have thought of the iPod, because: 1. it has ample capacity, I  
>>>> think 180 gigs, 2. it is portable and runs on battery power, 3.  
>>>> the recordings can be played back without the presence of the H2  
>>>> or a computer, for example taking it to someone's living room  
>>>> for review, or playing back on the beach (for place names and  
>>>> such).
>>>>
>>>> Or is the iPod not feasible?
>>>> I am still unfamiliar with formats for digital storage, so there  
>>>> are undoubtedly issues I am unaware of.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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