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Windows 10 installation (Net MD): 1) Download the files in description 2) Double click on "SS43_Ultimate.exe" and install the "SonicStage" program. 3) Go to Program Files (x86) -> Sony -> Personal Audio Drivers -> Sort by type -> Highlight all the ".inf" files, right click on one of them and hit install. 4) Unzip the second attached file "sony-net-md-drivers-win764.zip" and open up the folder "Sony Net MD Drivers". 5) Right click "NETMD760.inf" and hit install. 6) Go to Program Files (x86) -> Sony -> SonicStage-> Right click on "Omgjbox.exe -> Click on Compatibility -> Under the Compatibility tab, click the box and select "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)" Launch SonicStage, plug in your Walkman and a "NET MD" tab should show up in Sonic Stage. If the "NET MD" tab does not show up for you, then you need to find the correct driver for the individual Microdisc player You may receive an error when starting it, just click "next" and agree" and open it up a 2nd time without problems. Learning how to use SonicStage is very easy. SS43_ULTIMATE.exe sony-net-md-drivers-win764.zip

Since the "Ultimate" 4.3 version seems to have gained quite a popularity, and appears to be less glitchy than any previous one, I decided to build a second release. This is purely a cosmetic update. What's changed from the first release: 1. Updated Registry Information Setup is used now. This doesn't affect minidisc functionality in any way, but may add support for some newer ATRAC phones (you still need to provide the respective drivers). 2. The link to Minidisc Community Forums in the Help menu is replaced with a link to Sony Insider Forums. 3. Installation package extraction path is no longer saved to registry. 4. Windows Installer 2.0 distribution package is not included. The complete list of changes from the official VAIO version (including changes introduced in the first release): 1. System prerequisites from Microsoft (Windows Installer 2.0, DirectX 9.0c, Windows Media Format 9, Windows Media Format 9.5, Data Access Components 2.5) are not included. 2. OpenMG Secure Module version 5.0 with the respective Registry Information is used instead of the original patched version 4.7. 3. Sony CONNECT Store support is no longer installed. 4. SonicStage Security Update is installed automatically. 5. Latest Personal Audio Drivers for SONY devices are installed automatically. 6. The VAIO support link in the Help menu is replaced with a link to Sony Insider Forums. NOTE: If you have applied the experimental SonicStage patch 4.3.02 for Vista/Windows 7, you'll need to re-apply it after installation. Download links: SonicStage 4.3 "Ultimate" Release 2 for Windows 2000/XP/Vista (you must register at Sony Insider forums to download) Mini-mode skins Recommended PxEngine update

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum, and let me say that I love to see the love and conversation about MiniDisc keep going on I'm popping in just to let you know that I've recently released an app for NetMD devices. I wrote the app mainly for myself, but I thought it might be useful for some of you too! So, and here's the link to use it -> https://stefano.brilli.me/webminidisc/ And here's a short demo of how app works Any feedback is welcome! Stefano

As promised in one of my previous posts, here is the trailer for 'The Field Recordist' which features some of the mini disc recorders, together with recorded tracks: UPDATED - HERE IS THE COMPLETE FILM: Best heard with headphones.

Hello! Just thought I'll report it here, if you're trying to create an account without a connection with an already existing account like Google or alike, it's simply impossible to do so, because of incorrectly loaded reCaptcha. To make this account I had to rewrite the part of the site responsible for the captcha. If anyone else is experiencing the same difficulties, here are the steps I used to create my account: Go to https://forums.sonyinsider.com/register/ In devtools, open the `head` tag and remove all the scripts that mention recaptcha Add a new script, with `src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js"` Execute the following JavaScript code: const captcha = document.querySelector("[data-ipscaptcha]"); const parent = captcha.parentElement; captcha.remove(); const newCaptcha = document.createElement("div"); parent.appendChild(newCaptcha); grecaptcha.ready(() => grecaptcha.render(newCaptcha, {sitekey: "6LdgERMTAAAAAC4kTmm7BH1laShX3teATAV_6FIY"})); After that, you should be able to click on the captcha and create your account by executing the following JS code (the submit button is broken): document.querySelector("form").submit();

Finally, my homebrew laser power meter is put together. It cost $3 worth of surface mount components, a used disc sacrificed for the shell, a piece of pcb, and some other stuff I found in the back of my drawer. Initially I tested it with my digital multimeter hooked on those test terminals, but then I found this neat little five-digit Volt-meter I bought some time ago on ebay, I think it was five bucks or so with free shipping from China. Without much fine tuning, I popped this little probe into all the decks I had at hand, and measured the laser power. From the mV readings and the nominal laser power values I calculated the mV-to-mW multipliers, and I took the average of a unit I trusted the most, a 940. Using this sole multiplier as the "calibration", I recalculated the measured mW figures and compared to the factory recommended range. Most of the other units were nicely within specification, but this 530 in question, that immediately popped out, being near 40% below the necessary values, i.e., 0,55 mW and 4,32 mW versus 0,9 mW and 7,0 mW respectively. Now, it might be that easy, but before changing anything, I want to check the IOP, to see, whether that meets the specs, and set the measured value for further adjustments. For this I will need that rig connecting to the drive, currently waiting for the special connector to arrive. So much for now, I will update the thread as I progress. Some photos attached below, just for fun.

Which sort of cases are you after? You used to be able to buy the basic hinged jewel cases from Amazon but I've not seen them on there for a few years now: If you're UK based Retro Style Media sell them: https://www.retrostylemedia.co.uk/product/clear-minidisc-case Price per case varies depending on how many you buy. Note that the quoted price is ex VAT so you'll need to factor that in as well. They also sell the larger cases that pre-recorded discs used to come in back in the 90s: They come in a variety of colours but are a lot more expensive. You can find them here: https://www.retrostylemedia.co.uk/shop/minidisc-cases That website also has templates to download for the inserts etc. There's a bit more info (and a video) here:

Don't worry about it - I got myself a Sony LAM for testing and ended up falling in love with the whole LAM series of devices. I have 3 now, so I use that functionality regularly 😆

Over the past couple of months, I've been bitten by the MD bug again. I hadn't visited this forum in a VERY long time. I've used one of my MZ-NH900s at my work desk on almost a daily basis for 10+ years. It sits it's original cradle, powered from the AC adapter because the battery long since gave up the ghost. I have about 20 disc's (a mix of Hi-MD and standard MD My other NH900 has been broken for years after it fell out of my pocket and a disc got jammed. Was able to get the disc out by disassembling the recorder but when I all went back together the buttons were no longer responsive... So I put it in a storage box with my other MD stuff that wasn't used anymore. FF 1month ago, I was digging thru some things and came across my box MD recorders. Pulled out the NH900 and took it apart again. Long story short, it's had been returned to service! While looking for info on repair, I came across this site and an intro to Reddit MD. My interest stoked again, burned some new disc's, reorganized some of my favorites, and am trying my hand at labeling. I've also managed to buy a couple of new Hi-MD blanks and some used standard MDs. It's always fun to go thru used disc's from someone else to see what's on them 🙂 My MD arsenal consists of: MZ-R500, MZ-N707 (eprom nodded), MZ-N920, IM-DR420, MZ-NH600D, 2-MZ-NH900s, 2-MZ-RH10s (both with bad displays), and a MZ-RH910. 150ish standard MDs and 15 Hi-MDs. Most of my standard disc's are Hi-MD formated and most of the music is burned in ATRAC3plus @256k. I simply LOVE this format!

Nice to see SIF back up. Why was it down? It was quite a long time. I think many people have given up on it. That http://www.minidisc.wiki has turned out pretty nice btw. Still has a ways to go, but it has data on some devices not found anywhere else in English.

I don't have a question, just wanted to post a brief "ode" to my Sony MZ-R90 which I got, unexpectedly, as a birthday present in 2000. It transformed portable audio for me, but six short months later, my MZ-R90 was stolen by an opportunistic thief. Not long after that, I moved on to MP3 players, but just recently I have been reminiscing wistfully about that beautiful little piece of music technology. I had the black version, and I think the industrial design is really magnificent.

Back in 1997, long before MP3 was anything more than a concept, I was serving in the Air Force and frequently deployed overseas. Some guys on the squadron introduced me to a strange format for making music portable. MiniDisc. I soon got to learn that those tough little discs survived the rough-and-tumble of life in a kit-bag. We each bought portable players, and would ‘pool’ our discs together to make little music libraries, would trade discs with one another, and would copy CD’s for one another back home. No matter where we were in the world, AA batteries were easy to obtain, and just a handful of batteries would literally last weeks. It was a pocket-sized bit of luxury that we could carry with us, and I loved it. ......then, along came MP3 players and the ubiquitous ‘iPod’. Suddenly we could carry all of our music in a small space, and it seemed that the MiniDisc was dead. Within about 3 years everyone I knew had ditched the format and were literally giving away their discs and players, as were oil-rig workers, fishermen, and other locals who worked away from home for extended periods. I too, confined my MiniDisc collection to a box in the loft, and bought an iPod Classic. Fast-forward to 2005, and I deployed for a 4-month tour to Iraq. My iPod came with me, and I had the small luxury of my music collection to fall back on, OR SO I THOUGHT. By the second week I had the sickening ‘Sync Reset’ display (which of course was impossible without my PC) and in one fell swoop I lost my music. Other guys had problems with the portable power-generators cooking their wall-plug chargers, and soon quite a few of us had lost the use of our players, just when we would have appreciated them the most! Back home, and I was quickly falling out of love with my iPod. It seemed that whenever I updated my collection there would be issues with mixed/missing title-tracks and artwork. Any albums entitled ‘Greatest Hits’ would become an amalgamated mess, and whilst the battery-life seemed to get ever shorter, the demands for a ‘sync reset’ increased. The love was fading. I noticed something else, too. My listening habits were changing. My seemingly endless access to music made me a lazy listener, and I would frequently jump from album to album, track to track, and would often skip mid-way through a track. My days of listening to an album the way that the artist intended, had gone. This wasn’t music enjoyment. ....and so, by 2008 I was back to my MiniDisc, and what I revival it was! Equipment that had previously been prohibitively expensive was now dirt-cheap, and I was living the hobby like a millionaire! I soon had units for every occasion with Sony JA20ES and JA50ES decks for hifi use, numerous portable players, and a Pioneer MEH P9000 head-unit for the car. I could afford to be extravagant with discs, and my well used dozen or so swelled up to over 1,000. That was 10 years ago, and nothing much since then has changed. I still indulge in the childhood enjoyment of putting a ‘mixtape’ together in real-time, copying music from my CD’s and vinyl to Type-R SP to listen to in the car, or out walking the dog. Because space is at a premium my playlists are more carefully considered, and I listen to each track in full. My listening-habits are back to where they should be. In 20 years I can count on one hand the number of corrupted discs I’ve suffered, only ever having to re-copy one album. I keep discs and a spare player at work, in the summerhouse and in the car, and I have a physical, tangible connection with my music collection again. MiniDisc as a commercial format is dead, and I’m OK with that. It continues to live on in my household, and probably will do for years to come, maybe even for another decade or more. I continue to love the ‘forgotten format’, and those robust little discs give me everything I need.

Hi Folks, Long time no post, busy with child rearing. :-) I do stop by to read up on new posts and topics. I ran across this video on YouTube yesterday, sorry to post if everyone has already seen it but it was good to see and I wanted to share with all. Cheers!

It is currently admitted that the MZ-RH1 has the best DAC, ergo the best sound. I prefer however the sound of QS and ES Sony decks.

Hi all! So I've started a little project for myself. Minidisc never really caught on too well in canada so I won't be stmbling on any racks at the thrift shop anytime soon. I've been looking for storage solutions, haven't been a big fan of the wine box idea, generally I haven't seen anything that really caught my eye. For some reason it never dawned on me in the last year to 3D print some racks... I'm not sure why, I've been 3D printing everything else for years.... So I designed these up yesterday with some spare time. They're very rough still and very utilitarian. The larger one holds 10 discs and is meant to stack vertically (and has holes for nesting feet, and holes for screws). The smaller one to the right I haven't tested yet but I am thinking of a wall unit that makes the discs look like they are floating out of the wall. Edit wise I'm going to shrink the width by 2mm and perhaps put the discs at a slight downard angle rather than 90 degree so that if they were on an uneven surface, they'd still stay in the rack. What do you guys think? Feel free to toss any ideas my way! (also, for curiosity sake, the larger one took 8 hours to print! 3d printing is pretty cool but it's still a very slow process.) (The render) and printed

I got the drivers installed on my computer. I recommend watching this youtube video thats how i did it.

In case anyone is interested... I´ve written a review of the Sony MZ-R 50. http://marlene-d.blogspot.de/2013/07/the-legendary-sony-mz-r-50-review.html

I just wanted to say that it is nice to have some new members who are clearly MD lovers around to join in on the discussion and add new thoughts, ideas and opinions. Welcome all. :-)

Buy LIP-4 battery. First open all the cover of LIP-4. then you can small PCB. just remove the PCB using soldering iron or else. Do the same things with LIP-3 batteries. take the small PCB from LIP-3 and put to LIP-4 battery cell use soldering iron. Then cover you new battery, make sure it won't have electronics shortcuts. You'll have a new long lasting battery. It works on my MZ-N10.

I have a Sony MDS-JE780 for sale. It is silver and in mint condition as it has been hardly used. It is based in Wolverhampton so can be collected, or can be posted at additional cost. (I estimate about £7 with recorded delivery) £80 ono. Spec taken from the Sony website: Hybrid Pulse D/A Converter ATRAC DSP Type-S Long Time Recording and Playback (LP2, LP4) Pitch Control Scale Factor Edit NetMD Control A1 Keyboard Terminal 1 x Optical & 1 x Coaxial Input & 1 x Optical Output Available inblack and silverSee the link for more info.... http://www.sony.co.u...=TechnicalSpecs

MiniDisc is not useless; it's obsolete. There is a key difference. Nothing as multifaceted as a MiniDisc recorder can be said to be useless. That said, I think that even if Sony had marketed MiniDisc successfully, it would be obsolescent today because its competitors are more feature-rich. I have difficulty following some of the logic in this thread. MiniDisc and MP3 players both have shuffle functions. It's up to the user whether or not to use them, and absolutely nothing about an MP3 player compels one to do so. It SHOULD go without saying that either is just as capable of playing entire albums chronologically. You're arguing against your perceptions of MP3 users' supposed preferences, which are likely exaggerated and unfounded. The issue was the native functionality of the devices and which better suited the questioner. I still have my MiniDisc players, though I almost exclusively use my MP3 player (and never on shuffle). I may be returning to reporting soon and thus would use my MiniDisc to record, even though my MP3 player has a voice recorder. I also take out MiniDisc sometimes just for nostalgia. Whereas many of you are exalting album listening, I actually got into MiniDisc because it facilitated playlists, but now MP3 players do this better because the track need not be re-uploaded to form the playlist. Album listening has its advantages and purposes, but playlists demonstrate the user's creativity and make for great time travel. In my moments of nostalgia, I can call up playlists of the songs that defined eras I miss. It's a beautiful thing. One of you said you found MP3 players useless because they could not do all the things a MiniDisc player could. That depends on the MP3 player. (Further, it's a bogus statement because any mass storage device that plays music clearly has a twofold desirable purpose.) I actually can edit titles and move files on the go, but let's be honest: It is rare that such an act is of such pressing import that it can't wait until one gets home. My MP3 player is an Archos 5, which, like many MP3 players, has great sound quality, radio, a 250-gigabyte hard drive, a voice recorder, Wi-FI, Web radio and TV, DVR, picture display, and video. Useless because it's an MP3 player? Oh, brother. Much of this stems from your zeal to vindicate the MiniDisc, which I love. Another example is the citation of an intangible such as "cool factor," which lies in the eye of the beholder. Consider that being in the in-crowd like an Apple user can be said to be cool. Also, cool as in different just means anything opposed to the leading product, and that doesn't necessarily mean a MiniDisc. A lesser-known MP3 player can turn heads, but turning heads is not where the joy in product use lies. It is also flawed logic to assert that one likes MiniDisc because one prefers to carry around just a few albums. One can choose to listen to just a few on an MP3 player, first of all. The mere presence of all the other tracks you have neatly stored on the hard drive will not weigh heavily on the mind. Second, both MP3 players and MiniDiscs are mass storage devices. That's like one compulsive overeater defaming another because the other is even worse. That does not make you the icon of restraint; rather, you prefer a lesser example of excess. I do believe there still are real advantages to MiniDisc that relate to its native functionality. It's durable, sounds great, and records. It edges out MP3 in battery life, line-in recording, and usually voice recording. Actually, recording is where its greatest strength is now. Another strength is that different models are tailored to different uses; some have radio, some record and others have a digital amplifier, for instance. I love that my MP3 player works with Windows Media Player, which keeps track of the tracks you have and have not added to the device. Syncing automatically adds the new tracks. If I went back to MinDisc, I'd have to guess where I left off as I tried to upload all the music I have purchased since then to MiniDiscs. Also, I don't have to be bothered with SonicStage or ATRAC anymore, and I am glad. I don't have a second-generation Hi-MD player, so I can't put MP3s on them.

I have an N510 and a DN430. Both sound really good. I also have some S1's which, I know, are type R. They both sound excellent to me. I figured I'd take the (possible) slight noise quality hit and lack of remote for bombproof (especially in Orygun) performance of the S1. I can say those DN430's sound just fine. I think you can find that model with a radio too

I was the opposite. All my titling back in the day was done using the remote that came with my MDS-JE500. I only discovered the joys of PS2 keyboards and computer based titling in the last few years. I don't remember using the remote being that much of a chore at the time but the later developments certainly made things much easier. I've also now got what I suppose is the deck equivalent of this: Control A1II between my CDP-XB740 and MDS-JB940.

Yeah, I really don't fancy my chances of getting it back together again if I tried to dissemble it. Everything's so tiny compared to working on a deck. I got a bit annoyed with it yesterday 🤦‍♂️ and gave the jog dial a pretty vigorous work out and it seems to have improved a fair bit 🤣 I think I'll just keep playing with it for a while longer and see how things pan out.

Here are a couple of snaps:

Nice set up @fourbanks 🙂

Good luck! Let us know if you find a working method :-)

Hi Stefano, Your work is really admired. and I am not professional in these software but the user who is enjoying your talent works. this is an idea came up after I successfully tried the NetMD. These sony old network walkman is actually very similar to MD players, use Atrac format. anyway, if you get time and interests, maybe can check, I have to say, these very legacy network walkman are quite good-from design perspective, such as NW-MS90D, piece of art. Yours Henry

I'm wayyy off topic here, but if you like my waffle... These days (since early 1990s) we do the logic design with specialised software languages like SystemVerilog or VHDL, generally known as Hardware Description Languages or HDLs. This description can't be "anything and everything" you like in these languages, you have to use particular constructs in particular contexts to "infer" meaningful structures like combinational logic or flip-flops (an abstraction we call Register Transfer Level, or RTL). Then we use a process called logic synthesis which converts the HDL description into a logic netlist (AND, OR, NAND, NOR gates, flip-flops etc). This logical netlist then has to be "layed out" onto silicon by taking the transistors of each gate and mapping them onto silicon and defining the layers that are needed in the silicon (wells, channels, contacts), then these transistors have to be wired together by creating metal interconnects that join silicon contact to silicon contact in the required circuit topology. We also have to add power meshes and clock distribution networks and fix the timing of the circuit (setup and hold). Once the physical design is complete and the layout meets all of the logical and physical design rules, the design can be sent to the silicon foundry at a point we call "tape out". The foundry do the magic chemistry steps to actually fabricate our design onto a silicon wafer. Then there is test and packaging assembly and a whole load of qualification testing to be done before the device can be released as a production part. This is a design cycle that is typically between 1 and 3 years depending on the complexity and size of the design. That's an extremely brief and simplified overview, but I'm sure you could google for more detail! Back to FSMs we wouldn't usually (ever?) use a ROM style implementation on a custom chip, we'd use an HDL to infer "random logic" to build the next-state logic. The ROM method used in the project you are looking at is a clever way to implement "random logic" in one off-the-shelf chip - couple it with a bank of flip-flops (like IC9) and you have yourself the building blocks for your FSM. The clever bit now is to work out the ROM contents which is how you define the logic of your FSM and hence its function/behaviour. There are a couple of flavours of FSM, Moore and Mealy. These terms describe how the state and outputs are a function of the inputs (Moore -> outputs are only a function of the current state, Mealy -> outputs are a function of the current state and the current inputs). Your copy-bit killer is probably a Mealy machine (the output SPDIF flop stage is not part of your FSM state because it doesn't feed back into the EPROM). Anyway that's enough from me for one night!

422702501 This has been a very long journey. Trying to get a stupid little “rubber band”. One of the biggest break throughs was the posting on this thread what the actual sony part number is. 4-227-025-01 I swam through a sea of wasted purchases from sellers around the world with generic pictures of belts regardless if it was “the one” for the mds e12 or jb940. I waited for postage to arrive only to be disappointed at big-ole thick belts of varying diameter. I made calls, I drove to small repair shops, I was told by electronic repair facilities md decks are not worth the money to repair them. mdm-7 drives use this little belt to load. When the disc does not load properly you get a read error or a c-13. The disc will not eject in some cases, or it spits it back out in others. Between the 22 pro + consumer decks, car decks and portables I own. Along with the hundreds upon hundreds of discs I have recorded, I am not about to give up because they say they are not worth fixing. Today my six pack of belts arrived from; www.partsdistribution.com in denver colorado. They are genuine sony belts repackaged for uniformity. They are the real thing and they work like there was never a loading problem in the first place. Having the real part number opened up a wider range of possabilities. Amazon listes them, but are out of stock. Walmart lists them but are out of stock. Electronic parts distributers list them as discontinued. Using google search, armed with a real part number, I found partsditribution.com I needed 6, I bought 6. Now I can begin the easier task of extracting the e-12’s currently running on true rubber bands bought from the $ store. Then the more difficult job of extracting two 940’s from my work station. And while I am at it, a belt replacement pack goes the tc-we835 cassette with eject failure. my hair is already grey, so my face turned blue instead. We can call this saga over. But the number 422702501 should be a header at the top of everyone’s post just to make sure no one else goes through hell and back for rubber bands. pictures... An aray of used and new belts. My work station with the 940’s. A four belt pack for the cassette. Other than to save money, why would sony change from the robust gear driven mechanism of the 930 to a tiny little belt? I don’t know.

Prices fron Buyee are similar to what I get in Vietnam for those ES decks. I am happy.

The output from the headphone jack is analog(ue) so a DAC (Digital to Analogue converter) wouldn't convert the signal, even if it accepted an analogue (line level) input, which most don't I think. It would be best in this case to use a headphone amplifier which would connect with a simple stereo line lead: 3.5mm to 3.5 / 5mm depending on the headphone amp input.

I have 13 NOS HiMD blanks for sale. Five are in a box and eight are loose. While I have not been active here there are still 4 or 5 threads in the Feedback forum that attest to my good character. I am looking for $12 each for these discs plus shipping. If you are in the US I would sell the lot for $160 shipped. If you are overseas and want these I would need to find actual shipping cost. Payment preferred is Paypal Friends and Family. If these end up being sold one or two at a time please be advised that they are not eligible for Media Mail rate as they are blank. Pm with any questions. Thanks.

I've got Sonicstage Ultimate version 4.3 running happily on 3 Windows 7 machines (two 64 bit laptops and one 32 bit netbook). Touch wood and all, but I've never had any problems, including backups/authentication, most recently last weekend, with over 90GB/5000 tracks, and haven't had to resort to Phillppe's trick to get it work either. Installed the NetMD drivers and works fine with (Sony) NetMD as well as Hi-MD portables. Does a reasonable job as my main PC music player too.

Ask help to jonathanpotato, he is a geat MD deck specialist http://jonathan.dupre.free.fr/

Hey, folks. I have a fair number of very old live recordings on MDs that I'd like to transfer to my computer. They date from between 2000 and 2002, and as such they predate HiMD--they were largely recorded in mono on an old, old recorder (make and model lost to the sands of time). Is there any hack or program available that will allow me to transfer these recordings to my PC via USB on my RH1? Obviously I could play them in via a phono cable, but that's awfully time-consuming. Any suggestions? Thanks.

I used to be an addict looking for bargain Sony 940 decks in particular. I now think some time oh I should get rid of some but then I think once gone not likely to be ever replaced and I 'll regret it - interests come and go and ... come back & they are such nice machines? Now mini disc addiction is quite low in the scheme of things - Now consider Record Nuts, I mean the LP type. Some real lunatics have rooms of the things, the floor boards creaking under the weight and god nows what would happen if there was a fire......So take comfort and if you are nagged by a partner tell them that it could be worse, far far worse.....

1. How old were you when you first 'bought into' the format? 22 - in 1997 - i bought a MZ-R30 portable. 2. Do you still regularly use your very first player? No. Funny story really. I got my first portable whilst at University, and used it everywhere I went. Once I graduated a year later, I started driving everywhere so my MD was consigned to a drawer. I saved up for an in-car unit, and the R30 found a new purpose (recording discs for the car). Then the R30 died, so I replaced with a R90. Unfortunately, pretty soon after, my car was broken into and my in-car deck was stolen, along with the wallet containing all my discs. I couldn't bare to go through it all again, so I sold the R90 and replaced the in-car deck with a cd player. My MD days were over... 3. Do you regularly 'use' your items, or are some purely of interest as a 'collector'? I've just bought a MDS-JB940QS deck, because I miss MD, hate invisible music (ie mp3s), and love tangible formats (vinyl is my primary source of music). So not a collector, but hoping to become a regular MD user again (hence joining this community). 4. Do you listen to 'new' music on your discs, or prefer to keep the format for music 'of the era'? It'll be both. 5. Do you own more items than you can 'practically use'? In general, yes, but MD is a no. 6. Did you 'go away' from MiniDisc', only to return to it at a later date? Yes, about a 13 year gap. 7. Do you associate use of your player with 'fond memories', or is it a purely 'practical' consideration? I'd say in all honesty my return is more a nostalgic trip than a practical one, but I adore the tangible. My 'at-home' listening is always from either a vinyl record or a CD, and whilst I use my phone in the car and at work for music, I use my Spotify subscription. The sound quality is awful, even though I use a DAC.

Enzo Heavenly I have sent you a PM.

Thanks toxaco, I'll let you know, I think I have a version right around that same era, it has the virtual drive iso loader, etc and a bunch of good tools. I am hoping to get to play with this some this week. I'll keep you guys up to date.

MarZuRH1pilami Houba ! I have an extra fur (green) in case

Hi, for the people interested, there is a tool which allows you to recover your old SonicStage music library after a Windows re-installation or computer crash. It requires that you have a backup of the files in the directory "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\OpenMG". If you still have these from your old Windows installation and you have a collection of .oma files which you cannot access anymore due to a corrupt SonicStage installation and the fact that files are encrypted, then this tool will allow you to decrypt these files again. It comes with a readme file. http://rapidshare.com/files/444508273/openmg_20110125.zip This tool was not written by me but I compiled it and provided a readme. I simply provide the link to allow people to restore their encrypted SonicStage music library with .oma files (PCM and ATRAC3/3+). For all people who do not have a backup of the files in the aforementiond OpenMG directory anymore, you might be happy to hear that VLC is going to be able to playback such encrypted files in near future. Coming in late summer 2011, VLC will feature an ATRAC3+ decoder plus a decryptor for the .oma files. Adrian

On Friday I saw a new listing for a Sony MZ-RH710 on eBay. Honest listing with original a.c adaptor, couple of disks and the rechargeable battery. Machine was honest too - few small scratches but no damage or drops. It was buy-it-now for

Im afraid that only maybe the higher end HiMD recorder MAY be in production. I've started to buy a few rare units as collectibles and backups. But Im not expert on where Sony is in terms of MD units still being produced, Im not that much of an insider! Maybe other companies in Japan still make them like JVC, Kenwood? Etc. Anyone have the inside on still in-production units. I know from visiting music instrument stores that the last great MD unit - the MZ-RH1 (?) is bundled up with a Sony mic for PCM live recording musician use.

Subject says it all. I just missed out on one on eBay. If anyone has one, please post here or PM me. Thanks!

I like how they wrap up the discs so well, it almost makes it delicious enough to eat. And then with the fancy writing and pictures and all that colour makes you just want to buy some more discs. What would be cooler is if they had made discs with the shell made out of brushed aluminum, it would look beautiful and classy. I would buy a pack of 10 regardless of price.

The Sony ATRAC CD Player Boombox: Psyc ZS-SN10 This could possibly be the best boombox I have ever owned. I had the previous generation of Sony ATRAC Psyc ATRAC boombox (SN-YN7) and was disappointed in the weird vertical CD housing, the color scheme, sound, time it took to read ATRAC and mp3 CDs and the fact you had to have the boombox powered on to open the CD housing. Well, Sony got it right with this one. I have had this box since late May/early June 2005 and I am more than pleased. What you get: boombox, power cord, remote, Sony Sonic Stage CD (you have to burn ATRAC CDs with this software if you want to take advantage of the ATRAC sound and compression features), manual. Cost: around $80USD at Best Buy The Design and Looks: The color tones of black and orange of the ZS-SN10 are definitely more pleasing to the eye than the white/grey/orange of the previous Psyc boombox I had (ZS-YN7 model). That YN7 model also had an annoying design that did not allow the handle to be stowed out of the way. Well, the ZS-SN10's handle almost seamlessly stowes away into the boombox and the antenna is secured out of the way. I always felt like the antenna would be the first to go on the old model. By the way, a gal at work bought it for her daughter... Sorry to compare everything on the ZS-SN10 to the YN7 model but that's my experience. Well, I shouldn't complain cause I got both of these with Best Buy gift cards. Ok, back to the review. This paragraph is about looks and design. I think the SN10 does the job very well as the pictures below show. It's been outside more than a few times and my 7 year old has taken to using it to preview my CDs lately but it still looks good to me. Sound Quality: This is where the SN10 is the strongest. The bass is deep and rich, especially with the Mega Bass effect on. There is a 5 sound EQ with 1 custom setting you can adjust. The YN7 did NOT have the custom setting, only the presets. A big upgrade on the sound. I think the redesign of the body style really lets the bass shine on the SN10. The YN7 always sounded tinny and could rattle the box at times. No problems with the bass on the SN10. Basic Functionality: Radio: You have a very decent FM/AM radio receiver that allows setting of favorite stations, etc. I haven't spent much time with that since I don't listen to the radio much other than the NPR jazz late at night. Sleep: You can set the box to turn off at preset times, which is a great feature if you are like me and like to go to sleep listening to music but don't want it to play all night. Advanced Functionality: 1. Line Input: miniplug Having the ability to run a Line Input from a Hi-MD or mp3 player is a great upgrade on the SN10. The Sony site even mentioned that the YN7 had a line input but once I got it out of the package, I found out otherwise. The SN10 took care of that oversight. You simply connect the line input device and press the Line button on the front of the unit. It couldn't be easier to enjoy your recordings off your Hi-MD at a big weekend festival, etc. It's a great way to share your music while camping or if a friend brings over a mp3 player,etc. 2. Multi-codec handling: This unit handles mp3 files: VBR or fixed bitrates without problems. It also handles ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus bitrates (48kps through Hi-SP 256kps). Hi-SP sounds very close to PCM on this unit, even when cranked to high volume. The reproduction using that codec is super. I haven't noticed any problems with mp3 files in terms of sound playback or artifact productions. I have even found the LP2 105kps very functional on this unit when I want to put a lot of music on 1 CD. It's reproduction of sound at the 105kps bitrate is very enjoyable for outdoor fun on the deck or at the ppol. I have had over 160 songs on 1 CD I made for a reunion and never changed the CD the entire weekend. My only wish is for Sony to allow Sonic Stage to burn ATRAC CDs to all the ATRAC3plus bitrates. I'm sure this unit can handle all of them since it can handle all of the mp3 bitrate ranges I throw at it. The speed of reading ATRAC and mp3 CDs is VASTLY improved over previous generation ATRAC boomboxes. It can read and get ready to play ATRAC CDs with over 100 tunes in only a few seconds. The last model would take forever. It also handles regular CDs and even reads CD Text with scrolling of tune names on the beautiful orange LCD screen. 3. The Orange display screen : You can scroll through various displays showing time remaining, group name, file properties, etc. It's a very useful screen and easy to use. It could be a little bigger but it's easy to read and scrolls when you need it to scroll. You can also scroll through folders or search through folders for tune names,etc. It's very easy using the large buttons on the box or with the intuitive remote control. Pros: Great Sound Great Looks and Design Line Input is easy to connect and access Reads CDs fast Intuitive Remote and Button Layout Cons Sony needs to open the software for all ATRAC3plus bitrates edited on 03Sept05 The playback of mp3 and ATRAC files are NOT gapless. There is a small amount of silence between tracks. It's there but not long enough to be annoying. Screen could be a little wider If possible, make the box more energy effecient, 6 D batteries is a lot of batteries! Pictures of the ZS-SN10

Actually the MD units are usually rated at 3V which is what the concern was about. I don't know about the new Hi-MD units but the older non-Hi-MD units mainly came pacakaged with transformer-type AC adapters. The float output from a 3V AC adapter is therefore above 5V and as you explained (very well I might add ) which is why the original person thought that 5V from the USB was okay. There was a concern that since the transformer adapter would go to closer to 3V under load that 5V constant (from the USB) is too much. However that just isn't true because of the fact that I described above--the newer MD units have a degree of protection--if they are overvoltaged they display a warning on the display and lock out the power to the unit. Actually I'd say it was a pretty darn good breakdown!