Info and forum posts by 'Jezebabe'

RE: Microphone connection for Karaoke

One way would be to plug the analogue (phono) audio outputs of the DVD player into a small audio mixer (the type you can get from Maplins etc). You then plug the mic into the mixer and then the output of the mixer into your amplifier. You would need to adjust the relative levels of the DVD and mic, and the master output level using the mixer.

I have done this with a small Behringer mixer using a Shure mic with excellent results. My mixer also has AUX sends so you can process either signal via an effects unit if you want to add reverb, echo etc

Jez

RE: Pioneer dv-444 and Planet of the apes(2001)

Mark,

I just tried Gladiator and I got about a half second pause in chapter 14 at the layer change. I haven`t noticed it on any other discs yet, but I haven`t played that many.

To be honest, I have yet to own a DVD player that doesn`t give layer change pauses on some discs, and it doesn`t put me off the DV444 given all the other features.

Mine is the DV 444S (silver) model by the way.

Cheers
Jez

Does anyone have a region hack for Pioneer NS-DV77 ?

Thanks in advance.

Jez

RE: Pioneer dv-444 and Planet of the apes(2001)

Nice to know that Memento as I`ve just purchased a DV 444 myself.
It really looks the db`s and seems to play everything well (except Mini-DVD).

Jez

RE: Anyone bought a Pioneer 444S from Bennetts - Macrovision disabled?

This was the Farnham store. They said it was "... a software upgrade that Pioneer do."

Might be worth a try at £198.94, even if macrovision is not disabled. I`ll try and pick one up today.

Jez

RE: Anyone bought a Pioneer 444S from Bennetts - Macrovision disabled?

Anyone?

Anyone bought a Pioneer 444S from Bennetts - Macrovision disabled?

When I rang my local Bennetts they said they had them in stock and that they had been factory modified to play all regions. They did not know whether they had macrovision disabled. Has anyone bought one from Bennetts and do you know whether Macro is disabled?

I am hoping that the factory modification is the same flash upgrade that other suppliers are providing which does disable macro.

Thanks in advance
Jez

RE: Replacing your DVD drive : Sampo/Encore/Afreey/Omni

Very interesting ... thanks Clayts

Jez

RE: Afreey 2060 / Phonotrend S-2100

Check out this thread http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/forums/thread.asp?Forum=211&Thread=27778
It contains anonymous`s mini review of the Afreey 2060 which he has just purchased from Second Spin.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 7th March 2001, 18:41

RE: How do other budget players compare to the MiCO?

Hi Anonymous

The web page that you gave for the "this player sucks" quote is from an old copy (December 2000) of the VCDhelper page. There are now 4 more comments including that one - see http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdplayers.php for details. On the whole pretty good, but the "some lipsynch problems" and "VCDs that look great on Pioneer 333 appear blocky on Afreey" comments are worrying.

Have you tried any mini-DVD, XVCD, X(S)VCD or SVCD disks on it yet?
You can get sample CD-R images for these from the above URL.

Cheers
Jez

RE: How do other budget players compare to the MiCO?

Carrot I would check out the story about Encore Direct`s demise here http://website.lineone.net/~clayton.hayward/Whatsnew.htm before considering the DV450.

I was actually thinking about one myself but this put me off.

Jez

RE: How do other budget players compare to the MiCO?

Hi Carrot

Sorry to hear about your probs with the Mico. I decided to hang fire with the Mico and Scan and see if anything else came along in the meantime.

Speaking of which, have you come across the Labway X-wave LB1000? It can play SVCDs but I don`t know about XVCD etc. They sell them here:

http://www.business-ecommercesoftware.co.uk/business/svpcomm/Online_Catalogue_DVD_and_MP3_Players_8.html

£220 seems expensive but it does look like a nice piece of gear.

Whaddya think?

Cheers
Jez

Labway X-wave LB 1000 any good?

Anyone have one of these and willing to give their opinion of it?

I still have my Aiwa 370 which is excellent in every way except that it won`t play SVCD (or XVCD etc). The LB 1000 looks like a possible alternative along with the Mico A980 and Scan SC-2000.

Cheers
Jez

RE: CHEAP CD-R SELLER NEEDED

I usually buy from the Computer Fairs too. Last time I paid 15 quid for 50 x 80 minute branded CD-Rs (SilverBlue). I can also recommend www.cd-rmedia.co.uk, although I had some problems with the 99+ min CD-Rs on my old writer.

Strangely enough, the cheapest CD-Rs I`ve ever bought were from PC-World of all places. This was over the Xmas break when I happened to go into my local PCW. They had 25 x 74 min Samsung branded CD-Rs on a spindle for 4.99 (reduced from 19.99) - that`s under 20p per disk! I went back in the next day to get some more and they had changed the price to 14.99, so I reckon it must have been a lucky mistake. Should have bought more the first time.

Thanks for the SVP link Carrot - they look like very competitive prices.

Jez

This item was edited on Saturday, 24th February 2001, 16:48

RE: IT Troll delivers: VCD playback on the LG DVD-3350E

Great, now all we need is an SVCD hack for the Aiwa ;-)

Now that would make me very happy!!

Jez

RE: Has anyone got a Photo album created with WinOnCd to play in the Aiwa 370?

ok, I`ve just tried it with WinOnCD 3.7 that came with my Plextor writer.
I created a video CD photo album with 2 albums on it. The Aiwa just sat there whirring for a minute or two displaying the start screen then ... nothing happened :-(

btw I used Verbatim 10x media which has worked fine for other video CDs in my Aiwa.

Before writing WinOnCd said that the photo album would only work on a Video CD 2.0 compliant player (which the Aiwa is). I tried it with and without PBC - still no joy. The disk played fine under windows. Go figure!

Jez

RE: For Everyone who plays Mp3s on their DVD Player

Nice, thanks for the info. Will give it a try on the Aiwa and let you know if it works.

Cheers
Jez

RE: Has anyone got a Photo album created with WinOnCd to play in the Aiwa 370?

Not tried it with WinOnCd but it works great with Nero. I created a slideshow using pictures from my digicam taken at 3.3 mpixels (2048 x 1536) with a 5 second pause between each one. The Aiwa played it perfectly. Will give WinOnCD a go and let you know.

Cheers
Jez

This item was edited on Saturday, 17th February 2001, 08:33

RE: To Jezababe. Did you buy the NAPA MP3/VCD CD-player?

Hi Kevindal

No I didn`t get the NAPA, I ended up buying a digital camera instead! Not very good at playing mp3 files though. Doh!

So, I`m still considering which portable MP3 player to get. There`s a Pine one which can display Mp3 tags. That Waitec Tanky (watch that spoonerism!) looks pretty much identical to the Napa. Where did you see a price for it? The web site says it`s not on sale yet. BTW the correct URL appears to be http://www.waitec.com/df-mp3.htm.

Actually, do you know of a portable like this which also plays SVCD? That would save me having to sell the Aiwa to buy another player just to get SVCD support.

Thanks
Jez

This item was edited on Saturday, 17th February 2001, 08:29

RE: Aiwa XD-DV370 Where can I find one?

Timski, are you on ICQ? If so msg me on UIN 929075

Jez

RE: Some thoughts on MiCO A980

Hi Bagpuss

Your needs in a DVD player sound very similar to mine (and Carrot Cruncher`s). Now I`m swaying back towards the Mico from the Scan.

Ah decisions, decisions.

Jez

RE: Aiwa370 and SVCD

Duke, I initially tried Easy CD Creator Deluxe 4.03 but got the same results with the VCDHelper Chicken Run SVCD Nero image using Nero 5.0.3.8 :-( For SVCD I also tried both the MPEG2 and MPEGAV folder options just in case.

I`ve created lots of VCDs with Nero that play smoothly on the Aiwa.

Jez

RE: Aiwa370 and SVCD

Rest assured I have produced VCDs, SVCDs, and even an XVCD and X(S)VCD.

They all play fine on the PC with WinDVD etc but only the plain vanilla VCD plays on the Aiwa. Even VCDs which are only a slight variation from the norm (norm = 1150 Kbps video and 224Kbps audio) play with jerky picture and sound :-(

Jez

RE: Aiwa370 and SVCD

Currently there is no way :-( Only totally compliant VCDs. I really wish there was too, as I am considering selling mine to get a machine that supports SVCD, not to mention XVCD and X(S)VCD.

Jez

RE: Mico A980 or Scan SC-2000?

Thanks for the clarification re the Raite and advice re the Revoy. I will steer clear of the Revoy, especially at that price.

Carrot, sounds like some major surgery on the Mico! I guess consumer drives are closely related to PC ones. It`s interesting that it was the drive and not the firmware/decoder that was the limiting factor.
720x576 XVCD at 10Mbits will do nicely ;-)

BTW I had a look at www.unbeatable.co.uk but the only 980`s they have are "open box". This sounds a bit like someone else`s returns to me.
I wonder if you have a list of other suppliers for either the A980 or A980S?

Thanks
Jez

RE: Aiwa XD-DV370 Where can I find one?

Or you can buy my 2 month old one. I want to buy a player with SVCD/XVCD/X(S)VCD support. Let me know.

Cheers
Jez

RE: .. or maybe the Revoy 2200?

Forget that, I just saw the price - £299 + delivery!!

Jez

.. or maybe the Revoy 2200?

http://www.revoy.com/index_uk.html

Any comments? Looks like an alternative to the Mico A980?

Cheers
Jez

RE: Mico A980 or Scan SC-2000?

Interesting Carrot. Hmm that forum message is a bit confusing. It mentions the Raite but the reply says you need a Yamakawa?!? Strange

BTW that dutch machine I mentioned was a Revoy. See http://www.revoy.com

Jez

RE: Mico A980 or Scan SC-2000?

Nice one Carrot. I`ve just captured some video from my DV camcorder via the AIW at 720x576 (4000 kb/s) MPEG 1 and the picture quality is outstanding given the reasonable file size. If I could play that back on a consumer DVD player it would be perfect. It sounds like it would definitely be possible with the Mico.

BTW I noticed a dutch machine (sorry can`t remember the name) reviewed in a DVD mag that said it was based on the Mico A980. They gave it a reasonable score. Any idea what it is and whether it`s any good?

Thanks for the manual by the way. It mentions DVCD and CVD compatibility. Any idea what these are?

Cheers
Jez
P.S. Still trying to decide - I`m still tempted by the Scan but I keep reading horror stories here and it puts me off. It`s also not clear whether it would playback X(S)VCD like the Mico.