sfbp

You'll still need Sonic Stage (or QHiMDTransfer, when finished) to read or write a HiMD from the PC. There are checksums, and heavy duty (tripleDES I think) encryption involved in transfer. Sorry. However for NetMD disks there is support to export directly to the USB-connected hardware. I am not sure how much of the "standard" infrastructure is expected to be there, but I know Avrin created a minimal OpenMG install suitable for use with SimpleBurner (and without the full panoply of SonicStage). The SoundForge and SimpleBurner routes do not set the Track Protect flag. This flag is a real pain because you can not delete or modify (divide, combine, erase) legacy MD disk tracks that have it set. We also know the exact mechanism used so that when we finally get downloads to MD working the linux-minidisc utilities will leave it unset also (it is set by default for any properly authenticated download such as used by SonicStage). You can interconvert forms very nicely with Sound Forge as I posted shortly after I got it almost a year ago. The only file format it DOES NOT understand is the .oma file that has 1411Kbps in it, ie WAV plus an OMA header.

You might want to start here. Looks like there's no (analog) "line out" possibility for this model. However, there may be a hack you can do (or copy) if you read this thread. Note the last post I just added. This may give you optical or coax out, sounds like what you would need. I don't think there's a headphone volume hack for setting the destination on this generation of machines, but you could look at the service manual in the equipment browser. Stephen

It gets worse (the bad news). There's a copy of NETMD052.INF in C:\WINDOWS\inf (hidden directory) as OEMxx.inf, where xx is a randomly assigned (in sequence I think) decimal number of 2 digits. There's also an OEMxx.PNF file (same two digits) which gets generated during device installation, this must also be zapped. Also it's probably necessary to delete C:\WINDOWS\inf\INFCACHE.1 but I am not certain of this. It finally works (the good news). After numerous errors and much tweaking of the revised file (which I have posted above to replace what I posted before). BUT NOT BEFORE ONE MORE STEP. Assuming you already deleted ALL NetMD drivers from the device map, you need to find the following key in the registry, and delete it (and also any subkeys, such as Security, and Enum) followed by a reboot of Windows. (Otherwise you will get an error, the last hurdle, saying "duplicate device name" at the end of the install which was otherwise successful). HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NETMDUSB NOW IT WORKS. As there is only one driver the "Slow upload" problem for RH1 is gone forever, since it was only ever observed with 2 (or more) drivers both loaded for the same device. There's only one fly in the ointment which some dedicated hacker-person can figure out. For some reason there is ALWAYS now the assertion that the driver is unsigned (uncertified) with a massive scary STOP message, which must be ignored. Also it generates a restore point which when done many times is a nuisance because some restore points you might want from a few weeks ago get thrown out on the Least Recently Used principle. It's also a deterrent to newbies but that won't stop the hardcore folks here. I wish I understood why. I need a pat on the back for this. Note that the install of multiple drivers could easily be because Sony erroneously reproduced an earlier device driver version number (1.3.30.11110) down at the bottom of NETMD052.INF, instead of the current one (1.3.32.10310) that matches the actual version of the netmd052 driver. But this may in turn be what is causing the security warning. I really don't know (yet). PLEASE can someone who understands this stuff (I did it by guess and by golly) tell us what we have to do to avoid this security warning. I have a feeling we need to provide a new security catalog (NETMD052.CAT) but I have no clue how to do so since there is a trust certificate installed proving that the driver passed testing in Microsoft HW labs. I should be curious if this warning has been coming up under W7 for NetMD760.*, because I have not had the opportunity to try that driver under W7 myself, only relying on reports on this forum (in the other thread). Stephen PS. Final thought.... I recall running into the same difficulties trying to retrofit NetMD076.SYS to XP. It may well be that we can skip forward to the latest driver and there would then be only ONE for all units

The installer copies the file in Personal Audio (or <wherever>) to the system32\drivers. I agree with what you say but why does it work for the 760 driver supporting all the old units under W7? I haven't quite figured out the mechanism whereby it pulls the older drivers out when it wants to. I will read your reference on the MSFT site. I've deleted everything relevant from windows\inf, and also from system32\drivers, to force a fresh copy, still no dice. I think it has to do with the security catalogue as I am getting the dreaded "non-certified driver" error. Even if I ignore that warning, no luck.

Digital connections take some setup time. Does this happen when you put it into record-pause mode with the digital signal in connected?**** To avoid losing the beginning of recordings, you can start them by pressing the (circular) AMS knob. This will dump the 6-second buffer to MD. At that point fractions of a second become irrelevant no matter how they are caused. Hope this helps. **** if you have it busy recording but don't turn the digital signal on until the last moment, then this will never work. You will always lose the digital setup time, just as you describe.

Fine - but: a. this forum also claimed that X-app was something new b. it doesn't explain the observation if you follow the link to Tesco in Britain, that ATRAC was promised in the UK too. I figure there's probably a reason for Britain and Japan - I don't have numbers but I am pretty sure MD's second best market may have been the UK. I think this to be so from the continuing availability of second hand gear better than anywhere else except Japan.

Sorry to report - but I am not quite out of the woods on this one yet. Maybe someone knows why the system keeps trying to find NETMD033.SYS even though I removed the NETMD033.INF that pointed to it. Looks like there's some other layer getting in the way of this setup. SIGH.

As detailed in the other thread on this board, Sonic Stage, contrary to earlier reports, is absolutely not dead. I discovered this in the process of finding why my brand new NWZ-S754 walkman can be loaded with ATRAC files in Japan (and possibly Britain) but not here in Canada. Along the way I found that the previous instructions for installing the new software Sonic Stage V, work for the "new" X-Application 2.01. The latter is in fact simply a re-branding of Sonic Stage. Even the install files say "Sonic Stage V" inside them. (although IIRC the internal version number is now 7.0.xxxx). Another thing I discovered is that this (Japanese) version will talk to NetMD and HiMD perfectly fine, and (presumably) the NetMD760 driver in Windows 7/64 which we have taken some pains to validate here on this forum for just about all NetMD units. (HiMD is much less of a problem because it "only" needs disk access - although that statement is a bit of a simplification, it turns out). Inspired by success of the NetMD760 endeavour, I today also posted a solution to the "slow SP upload" problem caused by installation of multiple NetMD drivers. So this new X-Application software should work with a single driver for all NetMD and HiMD disks, either in XP/32 (with NetMD052.sys) or in W7/64 (with NetMD760.sys). The only problems remaining are: 1. I can't read Japanese - I have to do a lot of guessing to navigate about. 2. There's no way at present to convert the app to English (or other language) because the internationalization DLL is nowhere to be found. I suspect some technical/linguist genius could make one. Meantime we could always beg Sony for it. All the indications are there that the application is easily internationalizable. 3. The NWZ (recent models) sold here don't seem to work with X-application, though I can't for the life of me see why. I am reluctant to believe that that actually made different firmware when everything seems to be controlled by software on the flash memory. Again this is a problem Sony never anticipated (people actually wanting ATRAC and Sonic Stage!!!) but might be induced into doing something about. If anyone can shed light on the problem of lack of support for ATRAC and what we can do about it, I shall be eternally grateful. We know a lot, but not quite enough, yet.

Good to know, as I have a 980 myself. Well done!

Here's my first current shot at NETMD052.INF... those that know what they're doing can try it out. We will post a complete version in the downloads section once this is tried out and proven (for devices other than the RH1). ; Sony Net MD ; Copyright 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005 Sony Corporation [Version] Signature="$WINDOWS NT$" Class=USB ClassGUID={36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000} ;CatalogFile=NETMD052.cat CatalogFile.NT=NETMD052.cat Provider=%NETMDUSB.Provider% DriverVer=10/31/2005,1.3.32.10310 [ControlFlags] ; NetMD Devices ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0075 ; MZ-N1 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0080 ; LAM-1 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0081 ; MDS-JB980 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0084 ; MZ-N505 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0085 ; MZ-S1 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0086 ; MZ-N707 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00C6 ; MZ-N10 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00C7 ; MZ-N910 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00C8 ; MZ-NF810/N710 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00C9 ; MZ-NF610/N510 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00CA ; MZ-NE410 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00EB ; MZ-NE910/NE810 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0188 ; MZ-N920 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0101 ; LAM-10 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0113 ; AM-NX1 ; NetMD configs for HiMD Devices ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_017E ; MZ-NH1 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0180 ; MZ-NH3D ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0182 ; MZ-NH900 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0184 ; MZ-NH800/NH700 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0186 ; MZ-NH600/NH600D/DH710 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_01E9 ; MZ-DH10P ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0219 ; MZ-RH10/M100 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_021B ; MZ-RH910/M10 ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0286 ; MZ-RH1/M200 ; PC Link Devices (untested) ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_0034 ; LINK KIT ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_008E ; C7NT ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00AD ; L7HD ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_054C&PID_00E7 ; 333NT/373NT (should be the same as each other) [Manufacturer] %NETMDUSB.Manufacturer%=Sony [Sony] ; NetMD Devices %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0075 ; MZ-N1 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0080 ; LAM-1 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0081 ; MDS-JB980 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0084 ; MZ-N505 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0085 ; MZ-S1 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0086 ; MZ-N707 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00C6 ; MZ-N10 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00C7 ; MZ-N910 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00C8 ; MZ-NF810/N710 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00C9 ; MZ-NF610/N510 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00CA ; MZ-NE410 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00EB ; MZ-NE910/NE810 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0188 ; MZ-N920 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0101 ; LAM-10 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0113 ; AM-NX1 ; NetMD configs for HiMD Devices %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_017E ; MZ-NH1 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0180 ; MZ-NH3D %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0182 ; MZ-NH900 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0184 ; MZ-NH800/NH700 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0186 ; MZ-NH600/NH600D/DH710 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_01E9 ; MZ-DH10P %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0219 ; MZ-RH10/M100 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_021B ; MZ-RH910/M10 %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0286 ; MZ-RH1/M200 ; PC Link Devices (untested, originally used pclkusb.sys) ;%NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_0034 ; LINK KIT ;%NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_008E ; C7NT ;%NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00AD ; L7HD ;%NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc%=NETMDUSB.Dev, USB\VID_054C&PID_00E7 ; 333NT/373NT [SourceDisksNames] 1=%NETMDUSB.DriverDiskName%,,, [SourceDisksFiles] NETMD052.sys=1 [DestinationDirs] DefaultDestDir = 10,System32\Drivers NETMDUSB.CopyFiles = 10,System32\Drivers [NETMDUSB.Dev.NT] CopyFiles=NETMDUSB.CopyFiles AddReg=NETMDUSB.AddReg [NETMDUSB.Dev.NT.Services] AddService = NETMD052, 0x00000002, NETMDUSB.AddService [NETMDUSB.AddService] DisplayName = %NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc% ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER StartType = 3 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL ServiceBinary = %10%\System32\Drivers\NETMD052.sys [NETMDUSB.AddReg] HKLM,%NETMDUSB.DriverGUID%,,0x00000010, HKLM,%NETMDUSB.DriverGUID%,"Name",,"Net MD Driver" HKLM,%NETMDUSB.DriverGUID%,"Version",,"1.3.32.10310" [NETMDUSB.CopyFiles] NETMD052.sys ;---------------------------------------------------------------; [Strings] NETMDUSB.Provider = "Sony Corporation" NETMDUSB.Manufacturer = "Sony Corporation" NETMDUSB.DeviceDesc = "Net MD" NETMDUSB.DriverDiskName = "Net MD Installation Disk" NETMDUSB.DriverGUID = "SOFTWARE\Sony Corporation\Net MD\{12042ff7-8d00-4384-9a25-638918b94950}" [/code] This is now (23.2.2011) updated and should work. There's still a security (unsigned driver) warning, and you may need to follow the directions below (4 posts down).

I just had what I hope is one of my better ideas. Now we have established that the 64-bit driver pretty much works on all NetMD units, provided the installation file is doctored correctly, why don't we go back and fix the install files that come with the RH1 (for 32-bits) do the same? This would mean that NetMD052.sys would work for all Net MD units. And..... no more slow down by having multiple drivers connected to USB (the "Slow SP Upload problem"). Any takers?

Sorry, I was thinking of the end that goes into the minidisc (RH1). The best thing you can do is buy a bunch of cheap replacements. They are not knockoffs, just "factory surplus" IMO, and should be fine. Example: http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-Remote-control-RM-MC38EL-Hi-MD-HD5-N910-Silver-/140482712372 Another example: http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-Remote-control-back-light-RM-MC38EL-MD-HI-MD-/190502751788 I have never had this happen with either original or OEM (?copy?) versions. So it sounds like you must have given it a bit of a jerk. You might like to try and find the longer variety of earphones made by Sony. Just a word of caution on this - find (new or used) the ones with the gold 3.5mm plug. Until now, the ones with silver-coloured plug have been really bad news. With the longer earphone wire you are less likely to jerk the remote by mistake. Stephen

what happened to the one that came with the RH1?

I think that's relatively easy to answer. The NH600 (700 is the same) was based on the NH900 main board and mechanism (check the service manuals). They decided to replace the gumstick battery by an AA. Ipso facto, the unit was almost bound to be thicker by about that much (the difference between the battery thicknesses).

No luck at all making the NWZ-754 work so far. But the funniest part is that I now have Sonic Stage V (disguised as "X-Application 2.01") running with all MD's. Hi-MD, NetMD, RH1, N910, NH600, NH700 to name the ones I actually tried. HILARIOUS! All this nonsense about SonicStage going away. It's alive and well. The only interesting question is can it be made into English? There are lots of indications this may even be possible (well, Avrin probably tried and gave up with previous version, the resource DLL with the character strings in it is missing and the old english one doesn't match, for a start). So they never did get rid of it. If someone can tell me the steps to get earlier Network Walkmen going with PC, maybe I can even make it work with real Sonic Stage. The USB ID is 04CC under the Sony (054C) subtree.

Richard, I just got an S Series (S754, 8GB) which is finally available here in Canada. I managed to install X-Application 2.01 which as you say is (mainly) Sonic Stage. It's all in Japanese but there are enough glyphs that I figured most of it out and am happily playing music on the PC with it. The missing piece is the "right" driver to make it work with Sonic Stage/X-Application. Can you suggest the steps to take, so that I can do exactly what you describe, namely transfer to NWZ series? (I realise this term may be too broad a description, but the JAPANESE and ENGLISH versions apparently are supposed to support ATRAC - this makes me think that it is all in the PC software with identical hardware and firmware in the player)

Hmmm.... some progress. Managed to install X-Application 2.01, using the same tricks as outlined by the post here. Guess what - this is Sonic Stage V after all (well maybe it's VI or even VII but the install script says in English Sonic Stage V). It sure looks exactly like the previous install of SS V. Atrac files play nicely (on the PC). I haven't tried hooking up the RH1, as IIRC it didn't work with SS V anyway (aha - is that what the NetMD760 drivers were intended for... maybe this will work in due course). Only problem, I can't get it (X-App) to talk to the NWZ-S754. I am thinking some drivers may be required. I de-installed Content Transfer which was fairly obviously taking over the device when you plug it in. Waiting for inspiration, or a kindly Japanese-speaking person to try and get to the bottom of this. The noise cancellation setup is truly awesome. So far the walkman is otherwise useless to me. MP3 sounds like, well, er, MP3. I couldn't get an AVI file to register, and conversion to wmv (looks like that is the paradigm) takes forever and I gave up. Help! I suspect that this will work for all NW models, so perhaps someone who has done this with earlier models can advise.

Sony ICD-SX750. Much more practical for voice interviews, better built in mics (choice of stereo and mono, total of 3) and about $100 less.

No way. I routinely send MD's to the UK for the cost of a 50g letter (between $2 and $3). Never once has one been returned. Your postofficeperson is probably inexperienced, if you went to your local 7-11 or equivalent franchisee post office. I use CD mailers, if that's any help. Very cheap. No slipcase required, and its lack means the package is that much thinner and therefore more likely to pass the postal inspectors as being thin enough.

That in turn tends to suggest that adjustment will help. Cleaning often reduces resistance and can make a few millivolts difference, corresponding to the circuit firing (or not).

It's great that you know how to do this. If someone has no idea, trying to give detailed explanation ain't gonna work. I think the key is probably to install that driver BEFORE you try installing Sonic Stage, so that the driver doesn't get overwritten. Not sure, this sentiment could easily be backwards, ie it must be done AFTER to make sure the old one gets zapped. I have no clue, to be honest. I think your reboot was extremely wise. That's perfectly true and I would have told you that should you have asked. You need an RH1, sorry. Well perhaps someone out there suffered the same pain (or will do) and it helped them. I dunno. Congrats!

Well I got it (for 30 days or less, anyway). As predicted drag/dropping atrac on it doesn't work. It's not clear to me if it's possible to change the firmware - so would the only option be to buy one from Japan instead? There was software on the client end but it looks distinctly as if this is setting up Windows to talk to the machine, ie not firmware, as there were English texts and stuff before running the setup.exe program. What about this X-Application suite? Is that something that makes it look like some sort of Atrac Device or NetMD device? Added later: a ray of hope. The formats supported depend absolutely on WMP11 being installed. Which I do not! What I don't yet know if is if I can make .oma files work with WMP11 just as they do with WMP9. I'm hoping that perhaps the NWZ has the codes for Atrac but the silly content transfer application is preventing them from being recognized.

try reinstalling SS over top of this lot, without uninstalling it.

Something very odd - the japanese websites (and also one or two english ones such as Tesco) indicate that ATRAC and AAL are supported. Yet nowhere in the specs posted at my local store (Future Shop) does it show this compatibility. Two possibilities arise: 1. the support is there but not advertised 2. there are different versions of the firmware for Japan that support ATRAC whilst the non-Japan versions do not. Does anyone know whether either of these suppositions is correct? This might just convince me to try it out. Thanks Stephen