Hi DAT-Heads, here comes another little help for you D7/D8-users. Description ----------- The idea of a dB-scaled Record Level knob came from Heiko Purnhagen to me (thanks, Heiko). The advantage of this is obvious: if you watch your meter (at a Rec Level position of -7 dB, for instance) and would like a -5 dB softer recording for some reason, just turn your Rec Level knob onto -12 dB. I thought this would be practical and did the necessary measurements. How could I get a nicely printed scale from these figures? Easy. I remembered to have a LOTUS 123 version sitting on my disk and used it printing a "circle diagram" (or however this is called in english). Where can you get it? --------------------- The work-savers of you can go to Victor Yiu's "D7/D8 Resource Guide", where they will find attached to this here message 3 files, which are packed into a self-extracting EXE-File called 8_LVLDB!.EXE. To unpack: just move the file into an empty subdirectory and execute it. The files will be unpacked. The EXE-file can be deleted thereafter. The files are: 1. d8lvldb0.dj for HP Deskjet 550C; (greyscale) MAY work (or not) on other DJ 2. d8lvldb0.lj3 for HP LaserJet III 3. d8lvldb0.eps for EPSON LQ850 MAY work (or not) on other EPSON. After unpacking, type on the DOS-Prompt (xxx=what matches your printer best from 1,2,3 above) copy [path]d8lvldb0.xxx prn /b Don't forget the "/b" parameter. The printers above will print a dB-scale for your Rec Level knob of exactly the same size as the knob. Unfortunately there is some shading included, particularly strong on the Epson printer. I could not persuade my 1-2-3 program (V1.1) to print the thing in pure white - I selected the lightest shading possible. Print it on self-adhesive paper and glue it to the knob, the -oo dB mark on the RecLevel=0 position. Brickwalling ------------ If you want to be sure not to overdrive the D8 input stage, you should mark the area between -oo dB and -16dB with red colour. Whenever you need a Rec Level position in this area, the D8 input stage is in danger of overdrive in spite of meter readings below 0 dB. In these cases, use Mic sense "L", the Line input or even an attenuator (see "Analog input sensitivity" and "Brickwalling" in Victor's Resource guide for details). If you want to stay in control of the brickwalling while operating your equipment without a flashlight in darkness, you can mark the -16 dB position on the scale with a "feelable" dot of super glue. Construction ------------ My 1-2-3 file is of the brand "quick and dirty". If anybody is interested in it, can ask me for it via (direct) e-mail. For those who want to construct the scale themselves here are the figures I got. Mismatches between the left and right channel have been averaged. Value gives the cakepiece from ... to ... dB 10,5 -oo ... -40 7,5 -40 ... -35 7,5 -35 ... -30 8,5 -30 -25 11 -25 -20 15 -20 -15 22 -15 -10 17 -10 -5 20 -5 ... 0 13 0 ... 0 (RecLevl 9 = RecLevl 10) 34,7 0 ... -oo (RecLevl 10 to 0 or max to min) Notes: "-oo dB" means "minus infinite dB". Disclaimer ---------- I am, of course, not sure, if all D8 machines use a Rec Level Potentiometer with the same characteristics as my model, but chances are. On the D7 chances are too, but less. Please contact me before using these data commercially. The usual disclaimers apply all. Bye-Bye ------- This is about the last little helper that I am going to publish. It helps me, so it may help you. Greetings from Freiburg, Germany, from Ulrich Hornstein, yz0i398001@sneakemail.com