TITLE: "sinc'n determinant"
QUESTION [14 upvotes]: The function $\text{sinc}(x)=\frac{\sin x}x$ permeates mathematics and physics in several aspects, and it carries multiple presentations/formulations. My interest is to inject yet another one of such.
Let's understand the determinant $\det(M_{ij})_1^{\infty}$ to mean $\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\det(M_{ij})_1^n$. The following has experimental basis, therefore I like to ask:

Question. Is there a proof for the determinantal representation
  $$\det\left[\frac{(i-1)!}{(2j-1)!}\binom{i^2-\theta^2}j\right]_{i,j=1}^{\infty}=\text{sinc}(\pi\theta) \,\,\,?$$

REPLY [4 votes]: This is just another way to compute $\det\left[\binom{i^2-\theta^2}j\right]$, which will spin out of a more generalized determinant evaluation.
Define the determinants with indeterminates $\mathbf{X}=(X_1,X_2,\dots)$, 
$$M_n(a,b;\mathbf{X})=\det\left[\binom{X_{i+a}}{j+b}\right]_{i,j}^{1,n}.$$
Lemma. For $a, b\in\Bbb{N}_0$, we have
\begin{align}
\det\left[\binom{X_{i+a}}{j+b}\right]_{i,j}^{1,n}
&=\prod_{1\leq i<j\leq n}(X_{j+a}-X_{i+a})\cdot
\prod_{j=1}^n\frac1{(j+b)!}\prod_{i=1}^b(X_{j+a}-i).
\end{align}
Proof. By Dodgson's condensation, we always have
$$M_n(a,b)=\frac{M_{n-1}(a,b)M_{n-1}(a+1,b+1)-M_{n-1}(a+1,b)M_{n-1}(a,b+1)}{M_{n-2}(a+1,b+1)}.$$
It just remains to justify that the RHS in the lemma does so. This part is routine. $\square$
Corollary. In the special case $a=b=0$ and $X_i=i^2-\theta^2$ for all $i$, we obtain
$$\det\left[\binom{i^2-\theta^2}j\right]_{i,j=1}^n
=\prod_{\mu=1}^n\frac{(2\mu-1)!}{(\mu-1)!}\left(1-\frac{\theta^2}{\mu^2}\right).$$