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sfbp

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Everything posted by sfbp

  1. The only trick is adding optical out on those decks which don't have it, at least for the MD section (eg MXD-D5C, MDS-JE480). They must all have the same style of firmware, because the "- DA" shows even on those decks that do NOT have optical out. Sadly the Onkyo MD-105FX (one of only a couple of Hi-MD decks in existence) doesn't do it. But that doesn't matter because a HiMD is already completely in the digital domain, and can be played back "directly" by a computer (ie it makes little difference whether the Hi-MD .OMA files are on the PC or on a minidisk, all the reproduction takes place in the computer's sound card, which DOES matter). But it can be done. Easily. Couple of wires and the right TOSlink LED transmitter.
  2. I'm really impressed - this is what the internet is for, to take advantage of our shared knowledge. Well done!
  3. Hello 1. Sonic Stage is not drag and drop. It's unknown to me whether MP3 files, for example, are directly copied to (and played from) the NW-E013F and similar devices. Or whether they get converted by SS and (then) copied to the device. The crash of SS is well-known, you should download the "Ultimate" version from our site here, and this may solve your problem. That crash occurs when SS goes out to a website that no longer exists, during initialization. 2. You may need the NetMD and/or HiMD drivers for Windows 64 bit (because I think the NW-E015F is set up to pretend to be a minidisc device or ATRAC Device). The .inf file you will have (assuming you have a CD or a download with the requisite files) is probably set up for Windows 32 bit. I'm not even sure if Windows 11 supports 32 bits any more. If it did, then the 32 bit Windows would likely solve your problem. However as there is no actual MD (minidisc) device, it is possible that the 64-bit thing is not an issue. But you may still be using ATRAC3 (which is a minidisc format) even if you start with MP3 files, for example. This means you still need a driver of some kind. 3. To support modified .inf files (such as the one I could make for you) is possible but Microsoft made it more and more difficult with successive versions of Windows. Basically you have to reboot the computer in a special mode for long enough to install the driver ("disable signature enforcement"). Once you have done so, all is well (and you can reboot normally), but you have to trick Windows into accepting "insecure" (tampered-with) versions of <whatever>.inf. Most likely, you have to get a driver installed, and somewhere there is a package for that. Maybe that's all you need. Perhaps you can tell us if you had it working before, or whether this is the first attempt on a new (to you) device and/or Windows version. It's also possible that you have to disable some (modern) checks in windows on self-modifying code ("Data Execution Prevention") but unless I had one of these and Windows 11 (I currently have neither) I can not really be sure about this. I hope this helps and that you can get it working. We have lots of people who know about this stuff, maybe one of them already solved this exact problem (your final question) 4. There are more modern (user-supported) software programs than Sonic Stage, though you will have to go through tha same or similar gyrations to get a new device working with these programs too. I am a SS fan, but there are plenty of folks who have experience with the new stuff. One program (out of the box and from Sony) that might work directly with your device is Sound Forge (part of Sony Vegas Studio Platinum) 9 or 10, as it has all the same smarts for reading and converting different files as does Sonic Stage, and will talk to an "ATRAC Device".
  4. Stick around, we may need you (experts at fiddling with the low level stuff are always welcome around here). Do you live in Budapest? We had an excellent techy member from there who left us, sadly.
  5. Right, but the existence of such errors does point to some underlying problem that is nothing to do with alignment. I don't think you can update firmware but maybe you (or someone reading this) knows differently.
  6. Not sure if this helps https://minidisc.org/part_Sony_MDS-JE500+S37.html The page speaks of random retry errors. You might do better with a newer deck - they are not that expensive any more. Kind regards
  7. I don't think SYNC REC works properly for most digital sources. In fact I think it may only work when the S/PDIF signal actually disappears. I'm sure you're aware that the red book specification on CDs always has a 2-second lead in allowing sychronization. Unfortunately for you a lot of CD players will completely hide that 2 seconds. a lot of folks have struggled with gapless recording for the opposite reason to you. Originally also CD tracks used to have the equivalent of track marks in them, but nobody uses that any more (in I would guess 20+ years). (help me you nerds of red book!) The exception to this rule is the PCLK-MN10 (or MN20). It turns off the digital signal so that you see a drop. YMMV. Even when you can get it to work (with the level setting which isn't there on portables), there is a problem where it drops out and makes a track mark you're not expecting. For example in a piece of classical music where everyone is silent for a bar and they come in together double-forte.
  8. (chiming in with the alacrity of the profoundly ignorant, as I have never even seen one of these) Either there's no signal from the head, so the servo system doesn't have the inputs to process feedback, OR the cog on the lateral sled that moves the head is stuck (calcified grease?) or, worse, broken. If it was recently writing, you are in a pickle because it looks to me (again, ignorant) that the design resembles the portables rather than the decks (of Sony), and there is probably a locking mechanism (on the whole drive) for when the write head is engaged ("dropped" in the words of the manual quoted). If so, it's very tricky as you will end up taking it to bits before that will release - unless you can find the right bit of metal to push so that the lock comes off. This is how portable units get permanently damaged, by trying to jimmy the locking mechanism. I know, I've done it. I think you need to see what position the head(s) is(are) in both laterally and vertically. It it possible to show us a picture by unscrewing the protective cover on the drive? Also you may be able to see the problem yourself if you open up BOTH your units in the same way and see what's stuck (i.e. not moving!) on the busted one. You also need to understand the pictures on page 65 of that PDF (it's numbered "5" so this PDF is several documents in one file). In particular it would be nice if there was a problem with the arm/rod/switch at 160/170. You might consider something like this (and there are other listings there): https://www.ebay.com/itm/196223789471 For parts, and the fault, that it has, may well be different from the fault that yours has. In any event the spares will be useful, especially if you have two of these and want to keep them going indefinitely. Or you could buy the whole MD mechanism (but of course a complete replacement unit may be just as cost-effective). KML 252 AAA. https://www.ebay.de/itm/353216727287 Sorry this is probably useless waffling by me. Good luck!
  9. Well, I think what they must have meant (in AD 2000/2001) was via MCrew and the PCLK-MN20. So yes, that absolutely works great. But no direct USB I/O of music. And like all other Sony Devices, no way to get digital OUT without hacking the device. I am sure it can be hacked, but at this juncture I simply don't care, there are plenty of ways to get that on other MD decks.
  10. I had forgotten too - your memory is better than mine. Thanks.
  11. I think it was always there but well concealed wrt NetMD. I think Sonicstage required tweaks/patches but the h/w supported it. It's not an option for *recording*, of that I am relatively sure. Edit: I found it - in SonicStage if you right click a track (file) and select convert, one of the options is 105kbps. Edit 2: looks as if SS does NOT allow transfer to NetMD devices of that format (however they mention it can be copied to AtracCD or an AtracDevice). I am guessing the very first NetMD/MDLP devices had it as an option, but it was withdrawn (there's no sign of it even in the earliest widely available model, the MZ-N1). Anyone?
  12. I now have two PX7's completely working. Blood, sweat, toil and tears and I know more about MD and CD stockers than I ever wanted to. The biggest cost was the shipping, I also have a completely non-working spare MD stocker (including MDM-7B which works) and CD unit (mostly gibbled, a non-working cd laser assembly, and a completely stuck stocker) Happy New Year to all!
  13. Well done Asivery!!! Thanks for the link. I see my recent comment about LP3 (105kbps) leaked through..... <big grin>. Excellent news.
  14. sfbp

    Happy New Year!

    I fulfilled a new year's resolution just now. I got down on my knees and prayed (well, actually I merely wrote a sort of grovelling email) to VLC. About Atrac Advanced Lossless. I had a conversation with Asivery over at WebMiniDisc Pro about this, and it does seem that it should be supported. Indeed my AAL files no longer give codec errors, but step through the seconds of the music. Just that no sound comes out. HNY2U2
  15. Is this a unit that has worked forever, or did you just acquire it? Did you get the "writing" message when the recording was over (when you pressed "STOP")? How long a recording (time) did you do, and on what input? If you have another MD the first thing would be to take the disk and put it in that other unit, and see if anything is there. If it says "Blank Disc" then I think I know your problem. Finally, can you **play** ANY disk in the MZ-R30? Welcome to our forums!
  16. Ignore the post I made (and deleted)... owing to some weird difficulty with seeing Sony's manuals online, I got mixed up, and couldn't see the details. The E95 is an ATRAC device, including ATRAC3 (NetMD) and ATRAC3+. You may need the 64 bit driver for NetMD (and MP3? not sure) but there is no driver needed for ATRAC3+. This (A3+) works like Hi-MD so if you are using the latest user-supported software like WebMinidiscPro you will need to tell it you have a Hi-MD device. The first step is to get some files loaded into SonicStage, and being able to play them on your PC. The fact that the PC won't boot with the device connected is actually a GOOD sign - it means most likely it's hanging up trying to access it. It might need our generic NetMD 64-bit driver. However the entries for your device are not there in that file. We would need to add. Do you have a package of driver files for this NW-E95? If so maybe you can post it here as an attachment (It will be quite small) or at least tell us what .inf files are in the package. I have some later NW devices than yours, and to the best of my recollection they didn't need any special drivers. So I am slightly puzzled.
  17. Well that was fast, Amazon delivered my NiCds. Stuck 'em in, checked the date. CORRECT! (the time was 15 minutes off and I haven't figured how to fix that yet) So Techmoan is only partially right. I think if there's charge in the onboard circuitry it does NOT die immediately. Maybe these NiCads have some other purpose.....? Do we have a SM, is anyone motivated to look? It wasn't without any battery (the outgoing ones were delivering 1.05V apiece, according to a techie friend a sure sign they're almost dead) for only 3 minutes or so, but still I am surprised. Stephen
  18. The MZ-R5ST is the ONLY "portable" with digital output. I think someone from the Intellectual Property department at Sony must have leaned on them after that? Mind you it doesn't do digital out until you plug it in the base station. It's also (essentially) an MZ-R50 which is held by many (but not all, some prefer the R30 or R37) to be the pinnacle of Sony's engineering. Solid as a rock, mechanically and aurally. Only drawback (and some say it's not) is no MDLP. I was surprised that I could order a whole stack of NiCds for under $10. More ways to pollute the planet..... Nice to hear from you, Philippe.
  19. Thanks, I opened it up and checked the NiCds. Looks like they are ok though there was a bit of corrosion around the contacts, but nothing coming from the battery. I am assuming that whoever sold it to me replaced them before shipping it off - would that everyone is so knowledgeable. The SRS-Z1000 looks like a nice speaker assembly. What's out there that compares with that, I wonder? I can see one on Yahoo.jp but it's gonna cost me $150 before I'm done. Not sure they are that desirable.
  20. All of the decks (just about) use the AK4524 or AK4584 (so you don't need the E10 or JA555ES, a lowly JE440 uses one). But a :codec: is not a piece of h/w. I don't believe it's running at 96Khz, but the real "chippy" guys here can confirm that. There seem to be two reasons higher rate sampling components might be used: 1. Upsampling can clean up waveforms. Someone should chime in about dithering which is the same process that must happen on downsampling, which may be relevant. 2. High speed copy sometimes depends on doing everything at double the normal frequency. The MDS-W1 actually doesn't use AK4524 but some other chip, though, and in any event its copy takes place in digital mode, no A/D required. I'm no waveform expert, but there are waveforms shown in every MD service manual. Bottom line - nearly all the Sony gear (I don't have knowledge about other manufacturers but Sony did invent MD) uses very good digital circuitry, and the high-end machines are sometimes more about marketing something, that is perceived to be better, by putting a higher price tag on it, than any real differences. Better capacitors, sure. The 24-bit thingy is part of ATRAC's definition - it's a logarithmic encoding of the digital signal with a 24-bit mantissa, so you can get better than :pure: 16 bits in a lot less data bytes. A CD supposedly contains only 16 bits per PCM data byte - but that has been oversampled and dithered (smoothed, in effect) before writing to the physical CD. Quite how CD playback gets oversampled data (they always claim 20 bits) played back to give better fidelity is a mystery to me, but again someone else lurking can probably give us a tutorial. Exactly how CDs get ripped is a related question - there are choices to be made at rip time. And ATRAC is a winning encoding. It lost out to MP3 almost 25 years ago due to (IMHO) a flawed testing regime that didn't actually use the data conversion paths that happen in real MD (and later) equipment. Yes, SP is probably better than straight PCM, but the ATRAC3 and ATRAC3+ codecs are probably more accurate than SP. But we are always using ATRAC3 (and ATRAC3+) at lower data rates than SP, so it's like comparing apples to oranges. There, I've shown you a simplistic argument the real techies could drive a truck through, but differences between implementation of digital codecs are relatively unimportant, from my limited understanding and my limited experience. The crucial thing is that they are digital. That's how people (eg the police) can recover details from bad images, for example, so-called "computer enhancement".
  21. If my memory serves, it's worse than that. If you cannot establish writeability, transfer FROM a HiMD disk is impossible. One of the reasons a lot of folks abandoned HiMD, because SonicStage doesn't work right in this case. Fortunately Sony came out with a bunch of HiMD play-only machines which removes the possibility of making a disk completely unusable because of a 1-bit error (unless you sent it into Sony). Of course none of THEM had USB connectivity at all. This unusability usually happened when someone ran out of battery, or tried to open a locked drive, or (.... add list of weird scenarios). If everything is read-only, I am not sure anything very much works. Why? Because Sony had to update the (stupid) transfer count to "check in" the song from the MD and thereby preserve rights for the music owners. Lost cause. It may well be that WebMinidiscPro and other software have magically eliminated that problem. I have no idea. With everything you describe including the fact that this a first-gen unit, I would highly recommend sourcing an RH1. For transfer purposes only, not to use as a player. Good luck!
  22. Again, no. There are a bunch of formats which exist that none of these software (except possibly SonicStage) will handle. In particular the entire AAL family, and also the format referred to as LP3 (I think that's right) which is ATRAC3 with a data rate of 105kbps, in between LP2 (132kbps) and LP4 (66kbps). In addition, unlike the RH1 and at least some versions of the MZ-RH10 family (second gen), the NH3D does not handle MP3. I am not talking about the ability to transfer MP3 **TO** minidisk (which SS handles by converting to ATRAC for that and other early units), but the ability to render/play MP3 which is already on an MD (which was added in the second gen HiMD and perfected in the third-generation RH1). The AAL format is handled by a whole bunch of non-MD devices collectively known as "ATRAC Devices". So maybe I'm being unfair since it doesn't ever exist on MD. But it's an important storage format (usually on PC) for users of the Minidisc technology.
  23. The other thing you can do is to buy an NW-HD3. Be careful, not all of them come with the adapter but this one definitely does: https://www.ebay.com/itm/126151274749
  24. There's an answer I could never have given. Well done! Certainly sounds like it fits the observed behaviour.
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