MDI niggles

[Corey_R]

Yeah, I've got a 64GB Corsair Voyager GTR.

I do have an issue though that on some music, the volume level drops in "difficult passages" (i.e. a recording where the master level is higher than spec, which is basically most modern CDs, but also where the content places a difficult load on the amps/speakers, i.e. distorted guitars with palm muting in combination with drums and bass and prominent vocals etc). The volume drops up and down in time with the palm muting/open strumming on the guitars. Yet, copy the same files to my 2GB Toshiba USB and it plays fine...

I haven't yet got hold of an alternative 64GB USB stick to determine whether it's an issue with the Corsair product drawing too much power, or whether it's more widespread and just because of how many memory chips are in the 64GB models.

I guess the alternative test would be my 64GB USB stick in another MDI/Dynaudio system.

[Frankenstrat]

I do have an issue though that on some music, the volume level drops in "difficult passages" (i.e. a recording where the master level is higher than spec, which is basically most modern CDs, but also where the content places a difficult load on the amps/speakers, i.e. distorted guitars with palm muting in combination with drums and bass and prominent vocals etc). The volume drops up and down in time with the palm muting/open strumming on the guitars.

That's called 'pumping' and is usually associated with limiters. Is there a limiter circuit in the Dynaudio system?

There are CDs that are brickwalled, which sucks the dynamics out of the recordings. If you look at a waveform of the recording, the peaks all bleed off the top and bottom of the spectrum, hence the waveform looks like a brick wall. I have Oasis Time Flies, and it's seriously brickwalled.

[shakespeare]

I use my MDI and iPod+cable every time I drive my car. I have the latest MDI firmware that I'm aware of, and mine does skip the first second or so of songs from time to time (not always, but often).

I get the skip too, but aside from that it's working great! I have an iPod classic 30gb permanently tucked into my console, is the "skip" problem on all types of iPod/iPhone, anyone know of fix?

[Corey_R]

That's called 'pumping' and is usually associated with limiters. Is there a limiter circuit in the Dynaudio system?

There are CDs that are brickwalled, which sucks the dynamics out of the recordings. If you look at a waveform of the recording, the peaks all bleed off the top and bottom of the spectrum, hence the waveform looks like a brick wall. I have Oasis Time Flies, and it's seriously brickwalled.

Yep... I understand. But the same files play fine when on a much simplier, 2GB, USB key. As in literally the same files! (not re-rips or anything like that). So it's not the song or the CD causing the problem, it's just contributing to the conditions required to cause the problem.

Dynaudio + MDI Golf's are rare in my circle of friends and acquaintances. Almost as rare as 64GB & 128GB USB keys...
I really need a 128GB USB key as 64GB isn't enough to store my personal CD collection converted to MP3s (LAME -V2). But there's no way I'm going to pony up the cash for one until I know where the problem is.

[AdamD]

I get the skip too, but aside from that it's working great! I have an iPod classic 30gb permanently tucked into my console, is the "skip" problem on all types of iPod/iPhone, anyone know of fix?

It's done it with my 1st gen Nano 8GB, 120GB iPod Classic (permenantly in the car), and my 32GB iPhone 3GS.

[Ideo]

Yeah, I've got a 64GB Corsair Voyager GTR.

I do have an issue though that on some music, the volume level drops in "difficult passages" (i.e. a recording where the master level is higher than spec, which is basically most modern CDs, but also where the content places a difficult load on the amps/speakers, i.e. distorted guitars with palm muting in combination with drums and bass and prominent vocals etc). The volume drops up and down in time with the palm muting/open strumming on the guitars. Yet, copy the same files to my 2GB Toshiba USB and it plays fine...

I haven't yet got hold of an alternative 64GB USB stick to determine whether it's an issue with the Corsair product drawing too much power, or whether it's more widespread and just because of how many memory chips are in the 64GB models.

I guess the alternative test would be my 64GB USB stick in another MDI/Dynaudio system.

Corey - when I pick up my car next weekend you're more than welcome to test it on mine. I will have MDI and Dynaudio.

[Frankenstrat]

Yep... I understand. But the same files play fine when on a much simplier, 2GB, USB key. As in literally the same files! (not re-rips or anything like that). So it's not the song or the CD causing the problem, it's just contributing to the conditions required to cause the problem.

I did notice you'd said that in your original post, what did you use to convert the WAV files to MP3?

[Corey_R]

C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Lame\lame.exe -V 2 --add-id3v2 --pad-id3v2 --ta "%a" --tt "%t" --tg "%m" --tl "%g" --ty "%y" --tn "%n" %s %d

I always use the recommended settings/recommended versions/recommended compiles from Hydrogen Audio. So atm I'm on EAC v1.0b1 and LAME v3.98.4

[Mr_Bob]

Corey,
does it have some form of software loaded on it?
I know some of them have file management programs...

i'm wondering if it's trying to be "smart" and stream the files to the RNS, rather than acting purely as an external storage device...
might be worth re-formatting it?

Alternatively, given it's a large capacity device, perhaps the RNS is still referencing all the data on the device in the background, and that is consuming some of the bandwidth?
whilst the GTR has a high transfer rate, i'm not sure that the RNS is capable of the same transfer speeds....

[Corey_R]

Hey Mr_Bob,

Yeah, I did format after I upgraded the firmware on the Corsair GTR. It is a bit of a strange issue.

[Frankenstrat]

It is a bit of a strange issue.

That's an understatement! I use GoldWave to convert WAV to MP3, on the other hand I have downloaded quite a few MP3s from the recording site I frequent, so they'd be converted using a variety of programs and kbps settings. Apart from varying volume levels, nothing has given me anything like the pumping that you're hearing. Mind you, the biggest USB stick I have is a 4GB Lexar, maybe it *is* the size of the pen drive that's causing your problem.

[Ryan_R]

I recently installed the MDI in my car (I'll endeavor to get pics later) and had a quick question (searching Google and here didn't help) - are we supposed to be able to copy MP3 files from a USB stick to the RNS510 HDD like you can with an SD card?

I had this expectation in mind when I got the device and was a bit miffed to find the option missing. I've also upgraded the firmware from the My-GTI site. I can of course understand not allowing the copying of files from an iPod, but I thought an exception would be made for USB drives. I'm always telling myself to 'remember to grab the SD card out of the car next time I go to work so I can put more music on it', followed by me getting off the train and going d'oh. Using a USB stick would be much better for me.


For those who have MDI, do you also have a separate AUX input, and does it function? If I connect the MDI box to the system the 'AUX' label on the RNS changes to MDI and AUX doesn't function (which is reasonable I guess, unless there's a VCDS settings somewhere I can change). Since upgrading the MDI firmware, when the MDI is connected but no device is attached, it allows me to select 'MDI' (not greyed out) and then where the song title would go it says AUX, but the AUX line isn't active still. I could always get the MDI 3.5mm audio jack adapter if I really wanted, but just checking first.

[Corey_R]

are we supposed to be able to copy MP3 files from a USB stick to the RNS510 HDD like you can with an SD card?

Yeah - I made the assumption that we could do this as well, but we can't

Not that I've ever seen documentation which says one way or another, but it doesn't work.

[Ryan_R]

Oh well - I guess the MDI will just be something to entertain my iPod owning passengers then :p

[AdamD]

Oh well - I guess the MDI will just be something to entertain my iPod owning passengers then :p

Or just buy a big USB stick and leave it attached to the MDI - as many members do.