Yamaha CBX-D3 Owner's Manual - 8  Playback

INPUT LEVEL indicators17

INPUT LEVEL indicators17

INPUT LEVEL indicators

17

INPUT LEVEL indicators

Unlike analog tape recorders, digital audio recorders are very unforgiving when it comes 

to excessive signal levels. Digital audio signal clipping normally produces unpleasant 

distortion, pops, and clicks that can be impossible to remove without the use of highly 

sophisticated editing equipment. So great care must be taken when setting the recording 

level.

With a digital audio recorder such as the CBX-D3, noise and hiss produced by setting the 

recording level too low are not a problem. But setting the level too low reduces the 

effective dynamic range of the recording. In general, you want to use as much of the 96dB

*

dynamic range as possible.

Basically, the recording level should set so that the loudest signals light the –24 and –6 

LEDs, but never the CLIP LEDs. When recording with microphones, where sudden signal 

surges are possible, it may be worth having a “dry run” before you hit the record button.

8  Playback 

Sampling Frequency for Playback

Although digital audio devices generally use the same sampling frequency for both 

recording and playback, the CBX-D3 includes a sampling frequency converter (SFC) that 

allows playback at a different frequency from that used to record. This feature makes it 

possible to replay multiple files at the same frequency, regardless of the frequencies 

originally used for recording. Specifically, the CBX-D3 can replay sound files using any 

of four sampling frequencies (44.1, 48, 32, or 22.05kHz). The frequency is selected 

through the controlling software, usually so as to match the sampling frequency of the 

device (such as digital mixer or DAT, MD, or DCC recorder) to which digital sound is 

being sent. The SAMPLING FREQ indicator on the CBX-D3 indicates the selected 

frequency.

The sampling frequency used for recording determines the maximum sound quality 

obtainable from the file; use of higher frequencies at time of playback will not improve the 

quality. If you recorded a file at a 44.1kHz sampling frequency, it will not sound any 

different when replayed at 48kHz. But you should also note that a sound file recorded at 

48kHz will generally suffer no noticeable quality loss when replayed at 44.1kHz.

OUTPUT MONITOR indicators

The four OUTPUT MONITOR indicators show the current output level of each channel. 

Each indicator consists of a single LED which gets gradually brighter as the channel’s 

output level increases. Output levels can be controlled by software.

* 96dB is the dynamic range available from a 16-bit digital system (6dB per bit).