-
Posts
6,728 -
Joined
-
Days Won
11
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Downloads
Everything posted by sfbp
-
Sony MDS JB980 stuck on standby mode
sfbp replied to Andrew12345's topic in Technical, Tips, and Tricks
You (or someone else) is going to have to start by disassembling the drive properly to see what's up. From where I sit there's not much more anyone can do except that. -
After Windows update screen not showing upper half
sfbp replied to Ayush.Chawla23's question in Vaio
I think you misunderstood Microsoft's announcement, but now I understand. It's a warning (nag) that you need to get the next version of Windows by November. The update is dated June 2019, it seems (I've not dared to install it as they seem to keep going back on their implied promise to support things by taking away support for various items such as your "Vaio gate" whatever that may be). In the past, I've had a notification from MSFT that if a Windows upgrade fails or displeases in any way, that I can revert within 30 days. I'd be inclined to explore that option; and once you have that dealt with, assuming your machine is in warranty, call Sony. If it isn't in warranty, try to turn off updates and suppress these stupid (?) notifications from Microsoft. I'm not planning to upgrade beyond 1803 any time soon and I have a bunch of machines on 1703. 1709 and 1809 were both disastrous, by all accounts that I have read. Seriously though, we don't know much about VAIO. I know a lot about PC and I've never had a VAIO. This forum grew up catering to non-PC Sony devices, and the section on VAIO really doesn't provide much for anyone, sorry about that. You would be better to look in a standard PC forum. -
Actually the *tuners* are. Sony engineered them cleverly so that the dependencies are in the tuner module. But with head units it's a bit of a pain because everything is packed in there.
-
Sony MDS JB980 stuck on standby mode
sfbp replied to Andrew12345's topic in Technical, Tips, and Tricks
Which is it? (not that it matters) 940 or 980? I have a nasty suspicion that you broke something when putting on the new belt. Sorry. -
After Windows update screen not showing upper half
sfbp replied to Ayush.Chawla23's question in Vaio
1. I am reasonably certain there is no November 2019 update, either now or in the future 2. This forum does not generally deal in Vaio problems, particularly Windows problems. There are many support options for you out there. 3. Please don't post twice, that is considered spamming - I deleted one post and left this one in the hope someone may have seen something like this. My only advice would be: go to safe mode and reinstall graphics drivers. -
The FM transmitters for head units are REALLY HORRIBLE, in my not so humble opinion. I got an MD changer with this option and it lasted 3 weeks before I ditched it for the Unilink thing. Bluetooth, OTOH is much much better in modern cars - all one really needs. The perfect head unit (which will never be built) will be HiMD with Cell-based internet. However, if you get the NW-F88x series flash player, provided you get the Japanese version, you're good to play back ATRAC into your Bluetooth-capable headunit. And that works a treat, I have rented cars all across Europe and serenaded myself from the NW-F887 (note that the NWZ-F887 etc doesn't cut it, since it doesn't have ATRAC support). Oh yes, the other thing about radio receivers and tuner modules is that the channel spacing is different here in Amerique du Nord, 200Khz instead of 50kHz. IIRC they always had something here called side bands (esp on VHF TV which is now gone too) and so you couldn't have 105.6, 88.2 or any other such thing, only the odd ones like 105.7 and 88.1 (our two CBC radio channels still). I have a head unit in wife's car that came from HK and it's no big deal to avoid the FM "even" channels. However AM is more of a problem, the channel separation is, I think, 90 in HK (and probably elsewhere) whereas here it's 100. YMMV. It's so long since I used AM in UK that I can't recall the details. This is a real pain as you really cannot hit some local stations right on the middle of the band. I was really surprised when someone moved R4 to LW (from MW) a few years back.
-
You were clear, but I could only think that the reports were due to something else. Sony's stuff is reliable, but faults are often misreported Isn't VHF going the way of the dodo in Blighty?
-
The only variation in head units is the tuner module which is different for Europe, Asia, and N. America, and Japan. Different spacing, different bands. I don't think there's a single one that works worldwide, the exception to the general rule being some Onkyo bookshelf units, which doesn't help you. I can tell you it's possible to swap them (at least in the case of a bookshelf type unit) because I did it. Not sure how modular the car-fi is as it's a bit more crammed. The worst differences are: Japan doesn't go above 90MHz for VHF, and AM has strange bands which are sometimes 100kHz off (though it works). Could it be that you read of someone trying to use the wrong unit on European airwaves?
-
Windows Programs that can Natively Open Atrac3plus files
sfbp replied to DieselPower's topic in Grab Your Music (GYM)
Probably your AIMP is not configured to call the correct (later, or latest) version of the libraries in ffmpeg, or the latest version simply isn't there. You should be able to download that. Note that VLC has its own libraries/plugins/what-have-you, it doesn't use ffmpeg directly to the best of my recollection. -
Best batch minidisc recording methods for a label?
sfbp replied to sadiest's topic in Technical, Tips, and Tricks
Just looked at the link. Wow, impressive! Any idea what their base per-copy charge works out at (presumably includes media)? -
Best batch minidisc recording methods for a label?
sfbp replied to sadiest's topic in Technical, Tips, and Tricks
If you want a "prerecorded" disk there's only one format, and you probably can't buy the burner (it's like a CD). So we assume a WRITEABLE (Metal Oxide or MO) disk as the target. To reach the max number of people (very annoying for some person reading of a release then discovers their MD will only play one format), you must choose the original ATRAC (Standard Play, or SP) format. It should be possible to pick up a duplicator for not too much money. Remember you need Pro gear because otherwise SCMS kicks in and you can not make a copy. For example two of these can be chained together: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-MDS-B5-PROFESSIONAL-MINI-DISC-PLAYER-RECORDER/233189997646 See here: http://minidisc.org/part_Sony_MDS-B5+B6P.html Another option is the MDS-W1 dual MD deck http://minidisc.org/part_Sony_MDS-W1.html which although not supposed to be used to copy disks, does in fact do so perfectly (and digitally to boot). Ask philippeb here how, or google his posts. As you rightly observe there are Denon custom rigs but you don't really need them to do 100 MDs. I looked on buyee.jp for Yahoo Japan auctions but didn't find anything. A good programmable deck from Denon (you can automate with RS232 serial communication) is this http://minidisc.org/part_Denon_DN-980F+990R.html Here's one on sale (2 days to go) https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/x624764668 Forget about Type-S, that's not your problem, it has to do with playback, and even then, only of MDLP (ATRAC3) not of SP. -
MDS-E12 keeps TOC reading without disc.
sfbp replied to Mocker's topic in Technical, Tips, and Tricks
Yeah, that's more like advanced technician mode, Kevin. I was trying to avoid suggesting that publicly, as accidents have been known to happen, read about here on the board. Take it slowly and carefully and watch how the drive fits together. Don't force anything. While you have it apart it should be possible to check the belt. If you get it off, you will see immediately if the belt is stretched relative to the replacement one that I assume you have in hand. Be very very careful not to bend or disturb the OWH (above the laser) or scratch the laser (Optical Pickup or OP) when you follow the recommended direction to use a paperclip or other device (tweezers) to position the new belt. I actually thing something inert (spudger set made of plastic, or matchstick) is safer. Stephen -
Windows Programs that can Natively Open Atrac3plus files
sfbp replied to DieselPower's topic in Grab Your Music (GYM)
There's no way you're going to get 292 on a disk. Doesn't exist. Even the QHiMDTransfer folks pulled it off an RH1 as 1411 and that didn't work so well, as I understand it. Whether or not most of these programs work depends on whether you have the Sonic Stage (OpenMG) library installed on your PC. However VLC and other things which depend on ffmpeg will play the subset of formats which that software is known to support, NOT including Atrac Advanced Lossless. The good part about ffmpeg/VLC is that they don't respect the encryption on files that have been transferred from a MD that locks the data to a particular install of Sonic Stage on a particular PC. Woe betide anyone who does a system upgrade without running the Backup Tool first! Of course we know better - always decrypt the files (File Conversion Tool) to avoid accidents. As far as whether a given file gets opened by a browser, that has zero to do with the browser and everything to do with mime types. Even then you still have to have something set up that will play those mime types. In the case of WMP (at least until rather recently) it is necessary to add the extension recognition to the software configuration, since it does an end-run around browsers and determines for itself whether the file is kosher. Close, but no cigar as they say. Thanks for your suggestions. One comment that does bear to be made is that Sound Forge (part of Vegas now although you can probably lay your hands on it) does understand ALL ATRAC formats provided the files are not protected/encrypted. It's also quite reliable at converting from one to another, although making a NEW files always has to be .aa3 (which can then subsequently renamed .oma). For some reason it edits .oma files perfectly. ATRAC3 is a very good encoding, and is the format of choice if you don't have a HiMD unit. Not to be confused with ATRAC (1) version 3.0. -
MDS-E12 keeps TOC reading without disc.
sfbp replied to Mocker's topic in Technical, Tips, and Tricks
Well.. first you should be prepared to remove the drive completely from the E12 so it has no power and is otherwise not constrained. Then it should be a simple matter to convince the mechanism to spit out the disk by turning the driven pulley by hand very gently. If you encounter resistance then this is the problem, more than the belt! -
Is this any help? For the record, the one in my cupboard turned out to be D-NE270 and I am listening to it as I write. Very decent. No optical out, but I don't care about that. I have a gazillion devices I can get data off a conventional device with (any PC and most DVD players), so the optical is unimportant IMHO. It also lacks the "Sony remote" jack, so everything is done with buttons on the front. The other useful place for ATRAC CD turns out to be in the car - there are lots of Sony head units that can play back ATRAC CDs which avoids having stealable CDs in the car. I even had my stack of them stolen and found it abandoned half a block away when they realised what they had netted.
-
Strange question. If you mean which of the players which happened to provide optical out has the best analogue out? - no idea. If you mean which one has the best optical out, I'd say they are all much of a muchness. I'm sure they all use the same mechanisms and OPs. I would imagine that plugged into a mains adapter would always give more stable power and therefore less electronic jitter, so avoid anything you cannot get a wall-cube for. There's one quirk - some of them will actually read ATRAC CDs as well as MP3 CDs. In neither case do you get optical out, but it's a useful feature. I may be wrong but I think it's the D-NE01 (at least) which did this.
-
No worries... all the same topic. I will shortly get my hand on McLovin's unit and (like the breakfast, old joke) I'm sure it will all come back to me. Yes you need a HiMD formatted 74 minute disk (not sure about 80) and you need to put about 5 minutes of music on it. A couple of tracks to be safe. It's not good enough for it it be formatted blank HiMD (don't ask). Find the status byte at 0931 and see if it's set to 01. More later, busy right now.
-
Right - it's playing back whatever you gave it, but somehow the input source got gibbled between the connector and the disk when recording.
-
Somehow I feel this listing is past its sell-by date, being from more than a year ago. Good luck with that!
-
As OP said he was new to the format, it occurred to me that perhaps they were data discs. So much for that theory. Narrowing things down, it seems that both optical and line in give the same bloops and bleeps, which are duly recorded and played back. Therefore it sounds like the circuitry either in or just before the main ATRAC chip (CXD-whatever). This is a VERY old deck, using ATRAC-2 which is so ancient that most of us have never worked with it. I have exactly one more thought - check the power supply and see if the voltages being delivered to the main board are as advertised. This wouldn't be the first piece of equipment to fail because its PS failed to deliver enough voltage to it. Other than that, I think we're done. Sorry. There are many old decks you can get on eBay for not much money. May I commend to you for example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-MiniDisc-MDS-JE480-Player-Recorder-MDLP-DECK-WORKS/153560958199
-
The outside
-
Just musing on this. Could you post pictures (front and back) of one failing disk? No need to do them all, just the last one that failed which you posted the video of.....
-
I agree. That's pretty odd. Too bad you don't have another unit to figure out if it's the playback or recording that got smashed. If you do, simply play that disk in the other unit and if it works we know the playback circuits aren't working, for whatever reason, on your MD. I'm wondering about sample rate errors but you presumably checked all that by recording from line in instead of optical. Is the Onkyo set to anything special? Have you disconnected everything except one component each time (CD and MD for recording, MD and receiver for playback) from both MD deck and receiver?
-
No it isn't. If you don't tell us exactly what you did it's hard to help you, too. I'm suggesting the (correct) sound was never there in the first place. You can test that by listening to the output of the MD deck rather than the input. If you don't know how to do that, please ask and someone less grumpy (than me) may explain.