Assisted Listening Device?

[x-imagineer]

I'm heading to WDW in a week or two, and I know that you can rent the assisted listening devices that pump the master audio wirelessly into a portable headset. Has anyone ever rented one of these? Are there any ports on it? Tried to use it to record audio?

Curious, as this could be a new way to grab some stuff... ???

 

[torg0]

Curious, as this could be a new way to grab some stuff... ???

It's not so new

It looks like they have a new headphone system for the language system, i'm not sure it the ALD system has changed.

Mike

 

[x-imagineer]

Here's my report - ALD devices still are little walkmen-style with normal headphones. However, the levels are really bad. They distort badly even at the lowest volume. I don't know how they're supposed to help, because they're totally overamplified and come out distorted.

I tried to record a few and got pretty bad results. Results varied by attraction, the only one that was even remotely listenable was ETR at the MK. I have no idea how anyone could use these to record master audio.

 

[BLM07]

Its probably not worth it, I think most everything has been done already, and its probably hard to get a good signal in alot of places. Maybe the Test Track & Dinosaur preshow videos would work good, but those arn't too exciting.

 

[X-S Tech]

You obviously can't get Master quality but if you know what you're doing, you can get really really good results. The trick is to sit somewhere where you receive a nice strong signal and don't move. The type of recorder helps too. I haven't done this but know of people who have and the results are too good to believe.

 

[x-imagineer]

I'm confused how you could ever get decent results, because even with normal headphones attached I had to turn the volume all the way down to the minimum to avoid any kind of distortion (not recording, just listening direct through the headphones). I had perfect signals each time, so that's not it - they're just inherently run at abnormally high levels. I tried over 4-5 different units, so that's not the problem. Dunno how you could get great results off them.

 

[X-S Tech]

Well I can only guess that you in fact did NOT have a good signal. I haven't used them myself but have been told that location is everything, and just because you can hear the show doesn't mean that you are in the best location. Just what I heard. I've heard bad ALD recordings and great ones.

 

[X-S Tech]

There's also the possibility that the devices or transmitters are changed or adjusted once in a while and perhaps when you tried it, they were in need of adjustment. Just a thought.

 

[BLM07]

The Alien Encounter, Circle Of Life Enviromental Fable, Carousel Of Progress (1994) full show mp3s that are floating around were all probably ripped from the ALD system.

 

[Horizons]

Has anyone tried this in practice with good results? As noted in the posts below, there are several ALD recordings available (COP, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Tiki Room Under New Management, etc..). Most of the ALD recordings I have heard have excellent sound. It may be useful to try this technique on attractions such as Philharmagic.

 

[X-S Tech]

You can look on waltdisneyworld.com or disneyland.com for the attractions that would utilize the ALD system. As far as I know, an attraction either does it or not. There aren't any unmarked systems that don't. It does say that Philarmagic uses this system but I think I've heard of someone, (one of the best, when it comes to ALD recording) trying on this attraction with frustrating results. But who knows...