MDane

Not really, when speaking of the things I mentioned...well other than maybe a few cherry picked studies usually sponsored by the sources in question. But since this is a MD forum, and the fact that it would take pages to undo such a mindset, lets get back to gear.

Maybe so, but what good does it do if there is a cell tower with many high power directionally focused elements on it on every square mile of land these days. Not to mention in the US they are still putting fluoride in most of the water for some reason, and aspertame is in virtually all candy and diet drinks. In other words, it's a loosing battle. But I agree to do what you can - don't be a dope and sleep with your cell under the pillow or on the bedside table, or run around with a bluetooth headset on all the time, phone on waist, etc.

I had put off getting an RH1 since it came out, but wanted one. But I finally broke down and bought my M200 early in 08'...and have not regretted it one bit. It is basically a way to bridge the gap between SP-MD and computer file storage...even if not a true link to the mainstream.

I agree with the others that felt you may have gotten into the product with the wrong impressions of how it works, or how simple it will be to a novice. But keep in mind most of us (on here) have been using the MD format for many years, learning how it works, and getting each upgrade / change in small steps, rather than simply picking one up in 2009 - so we are not "special", lol. In other words, once one gets the gist of how the software interfaces, it is pretty simple, even if not a quick process. I tend to set up desired transfers, and simply walk away. Come back later, and you player will be loaded and ready. Another tip is if you have a slow (old) computer as I do, 4.X versions will lock up much less and run much faster than 3.X's for whatever reason. BTW, you may also want to consider a later Sony flash players, as some of them will handle drag and drop. A compromise for people that are able to use SS correctly would be the Sony NW-E10X flash players which are virtually a (play only) counterpart to the HI-MD's, as they handle the same ATRAC's, Wav. and MP3....no more, no less. But those will still require SS proficiency.

I thing I see where you are getting lost. You must use the file conversion tool before importing then into the new install. In other words, you would have needed to do the process using your original (2.0) software. If you simply saved the files before the format and later attempted to import them into the new software (4.3), then they will not work and are pretty much void if I am not mistaken. I lost quite a few files myself this way not knowing this a while back when my computer went kaputt, and I had to use another one. However, I was semi-lucky because I still had all of the source material on SP-MD so I was able to "re-upload" everything using SS 4.2. Now I make a point to run the FCT every once in a while, in case I get a HD crash or need to use the files on another computer, etc.

1. On the newer versions (like 4.3) you can specify what files to make default with SS, or omit those you don't want it to open. That being the case, this should not be a problem. I am not 100% sure I am following the question, but you must run the file conversion tool (before hand) to remove the (small) .omg from the files, therefore making them free to be used on other system, or when importing them to a fresh install.

I just bought a new Sony NV-U44 (basic GPS). Got it for only $100 new, so I cannot complain. Also, I picked up a Sony ICD-U70 voice recorder / mp3 player. So far I am quite dissapointed with it, as it will not hold a candle to the NW-E series players in any way (as I expected it to). In HQ mode it only records in 19 kbps...and even has two lesser modes (what's the point). It also feels clunky, and when playing MP3, if you stop and restart, it starts the track over...quite annoying with podcasts. Even worse the display never shows anything except track number / time. One good thing about it however, is that it supports drop and drag under windows for MP3. Interestingly, it has no ATRAC support.

Actually, I have had a few do that, even with the slider in the right position. I was only able to erase them with my older (home) deck. However, once I did, all was fine.

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1. I still can't see how chopping off what little may exist above 19khz makes a (noticeable) difference however - or be the reason one compression scheme would excel over another. However, if the chop point were, say 12.5khz, I could see it. I am looking at it like this - I can take an equalizer with 10+ bands, and go to either extreme (+ or - 12db) on the highest band, and not really tell a difference most of the time (assuming it's centering frequency is quite high, for example 18khz). 2. That makes a little more sense now. However, I could probably still make a case for my scenario however...as my SS devoted computer is only a PII, and it can still make, say a 5 minute LP2/LP4 file in maybe 30 seconds. So going with your explanation, that would put the "relative processing speed" of my home MD deck along the lines of maybe 25mhz by comparison to the computer...assuming only double the processing ability of the computer per second when Atrac file creating...and that doesn't even factor in the other drains on the computer's resources. My point is that it's a tough theory to swallow...but you may be right regardless. I just feel like my circa 2000 MD home deck should be a little faster than that. When time permits, I will make some back to back comparisons to see what I can hear acoustically speaking. Chances are I will be better off to use LP4 to see any differences. 3. I believe that due to my relatively limited experience with MP3 I may not be following this completely. Even in the good ole' free-for-all Napster days, I typically just converted such files to MD, and never once bought a devoted Mp3 player - so I am not sure as to any difference I would encounter versus using ATRAC equipemtn. However, I do use my E105 to play back MP3 podcasts...but never notice gaps, lack of gaps, etc. However, once I get a handle on this, I can experiement with it...as it pretty much plays everything. For now however, I am assuming this is what you mean: Say I had a recording of a live concert that runs continuously, but I put track marks in to seperate songs. Then if conveted and played back in MP3 there would be an (unnatural) sound break between tracks. Is that what you mean?

On the first point, I figured that recording in real time would have the advantage of having more time to encode, versus, say a conversion in SS that will encode, say a 4 minute song in 30 seconds. Also, I totally agree that Atrac 3+ has a newer and more thorough encoding method that previous ones...but what about deck LP2 versus SS LP2 for example? Also, if one has ever messed with equalization, they would find there is probably no musical sound above 19khz. For that matter, very little data even exists above 15Khz for anything but maybe test tones, sound effects, etc. So if one is not worried about how the newly encoded file looks on a graph or whatever, I cannot see how that (19khz chop) would effect anything to the human ear. Or does this somehow color everything else in the final product? I am not sure I follow on the forth point, meaning I don't know what you mean by gapless. In other words, I figured would use my M200 and upload all MD based music to the computer which would produce tracks exactly as they were on the MD (but in WAV). Then I figured I could use some pretty standard MP3 software to convert these files over from WAV to MP3. Then, if playing these files back on a car deck, why would it not be seamless from track to track (assuming no intentional sound breaks). Please elaborate as to how this would not work exactly as I had expected.

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OK, I figured I would put some things out there...to see what you guys have found...as I am still in the process of simplifying my music collection as much as possible. 1. For starters, it seems to make sense on the surface that recordings made in real time (with hardware) would fare somewhat better than those done via software, assuming they are being encoded to the exact same bitrate. Can others second this? 2. Would real time recording be better if done via analog inputs or via digital input? Of course one would automatically think digitally would be superior, but myself as well as a friend that I discussed this with a while back both concluded that music recorded via analog seemed to sound a little smoother, particularly on higher frequencies. All I can figure is that there may be some minor differences in the way the sound was processed that would cause this. Or does Sony make an adjustment in the encoding process (when recording via analog) that colors the final result in a way that seems better (to the ear)? Or is this all in my head, lol. 3. When making an MD the other day with my JE440, I noticed that it actually says "Atrac DSP Type-R / Atrac 3" on the front (never paid attention to this all of these years). So am I to assume that the DSP Type-R only applies to SP recordings (hence the slash) or does it apply to the Atrac 3 modes as well. If not, I would then wonder if there is any (acoustical) advantage of using a home deck to record LP modes versus simply using SS, a even versus a portable unit, etc...other than any advantage that might exist recording in real time (as asked in question 1). Although this is not exactly the same thing, I made a test recoding using the deck in LP4 mode, and compared that to one of the same material encoded to 64 kbps (Atrac 3+), and the 3+ blew the doors off of the LP4. Doing this comparison a while back recording talk material however didn't seem to leave such a gap between the two methods. Even though I realize that the +3 encoding is said to be superior, this still confusses things a little more...and makes me wonder if there really is an advantage to Type-R, real time recording, etc. Any insight? 4. I have "toyed" with the idea of simply converting all of my Atrac music to 320kbps MP3 for car use - as I currently have the dilema of some of my stuff being on MP3, the other half on ATRAC (MD and files) as some may know from my other thread. In other words, if I did this conversion, I could simply buy any deck with USB and load up a HD with everything and forget about it (or get an SD card deck) and accomplish the same thing. Anyway, I have to wonder how well a high MP3 bitrate would fare. From what I have read, MP3 is pretty decent in high bitrate...but "decent" is a relative term. I just have to wonder how audio would fare if converted back from ATRAC to MP3 (rather than the other way around). Anyone else tried conversions back to Mp3? Chances are this would sound like mud, but I wanted to put it out there to see what others have found.

That (in bold) is exactly the reason. Plus it gets a little messy for car use when you try to carry many discs at time. Also, somehow various discs would always dissapear like socks in the dryer - often my favorites. Finally, the advent of the stopwatch (Psyc) flash units a couple years ago sealed the deal for me...an actual excercize portable that plays most of the current Atracs that can be had for under $20. So having one's whole music / MD collection on the HD opens up many new doors. Once everything is stored on the HD, you can then dole out files for all of your various equipment, even back to MD if desired, back it up, share between computers, etc. In other words, with the right Sony components, you can actually have the same flexibilty as those Smipod guys, but with actual harware based editing/recording, and better sound quality. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple having, say a home deck and car deck (or portable) and lots of discs (I did that for nearly a decade). But for very little additional money, one can increase their music flexibility while still staying with true to the Atrac/MD format to some extent.

I didn't know I could...assuming you are speaking of an option in SS. If so, do I have to work primarily with an uploaded file, or can you do this with a file contained on a disc when the RH1/M200 is connected via USB. I will experiment a little when I hear back from you. Either way, from my experience over the years, deck editing is so much tighter than via software as I found when I had a PC3 a few years ago. But sure, having the ability to use SFE options on non-SP recordings in any form would be great.

I was thinking the same thing when I read post #1. The reason it came to me so quickly is because when I first started messing with SS, I also was misled by the term "atrac lossless". I initially didn't realize this was basically just a glorified way of saying it is a splitable file...meaning it is virtually the same file as the original yet can be split off (immediately) into the desired (pre-determined, pre-tagged) compression for transfers to portable devices. But after some experiments, and reading info on this site and a few others places, it all made sense. So I had already had the dilema the OP had a few months ago, and had already worked it out for myself. 1. I agree, as my JE440 only allows SFE editing in SP. Due to this, those of us with RH1/M200's are stuck with using SP at some stage for all live recordings that inevitably require SFE editing (unless there is some deck or software I don't know about that allows such editing in all MD modes). Of course we can get by recoding in LP modes for material that only requires divides...but fade in and out, etc. sure would be nice there too. The rub is that to get either long duration live recordings or pure sound quality benefit from an RH1/M200, it needs to be used in Atrac 3+ or PCM in Hi-MD mode. Sure, one can record in PCM, and then record that music to SP the old school way, and start from there - but that is a whole lot of extra steps...and then the newly edited (SP) file has to be re-uploaded and compressed (if not saving in WAV) just to have a PC useable file. This almost makes me want to go back to a SP recording portable, and a simple SP deck...but then I would loose my uploading ability. Sheesh! 2. For what it's worth, using say 256-352k Atrac 3+ is probably acoustically transparent to the human ear on almost all music...and even 292 (SP) is nearly equal to it when recorded in real time using a quality (Type-R) home deck. In other words, they both fall under the category of "good enough", but I do realize the desire to have a perfect file to satisfy the OCD in all of us.

Wow, we so jacked this guy's thread...and I guess I started the process, lol. Maybe the moderator should split this thread. Kenwood did make an in-dash (DIN) MDLP changer, but I agree that is the only Sony MDLP changer for the US. Anyway, I had occasionally thought of getting a 66XLP a few years ago when they came out, but I ended up putting upgrading off, and stayed "old school SP" for many years (since the late 90's). But now that I listen to (MP3 based) podcasts / mix shows and also have a M200, and "decent" SS 4.2, it's time to change. In the end, I would like to be MD free in car (yet use Atrac/Mp3), even if I continute to use standard MD to record from the radio, and HI-MD for live recordings/Music Choice. As of now, the closest thing I can see to fit my needs is to get one of the Sony car decks that have a "U" in the model #, and use my E107's to load Atrac data to the deck, and use my SD cards w. readers for all other (MP3, WAV, AAC) music. Why must I use both? Well thanks to Sony, they will only play Atrac via a connected player or on Atrac disc (made with SS). In the end result, I still would have a clumsy (front) cable from the deck to the player, or a reader/flash drive sticking out. Otherwise I would have to burn Atrac discs and then store them. Additionally, I have read on Atraclife that these never seem to play right...and the whole reason I got into MD a decade ago is to not have to mess with CD's (in any way) in the car. It's never pretty with Sony.

My previous (had since the late 90's) computer had a 300MHZ (PII), and it would run SS 3.4, yet painfully, very slow, with occasional lockups. More recently (after its motherboard demise) I threw together another computer out of a few old ones I had (for parts) and I installed SS 4.2. I figured I would just run with it until I get a chance to buy a new unit. However, it actually works so well (relatively speaking) that I have pushed back computer shopping for a few months now. Anyway, the current computer I am speaking of has a 350 PII, with 192 mb of ram (it only had two slots) and lots of other mismatch stuff. Anyway, with SS 4.2 installed on this one, it works just fine. Don't get me wrong, when doing a transfer or conversion, the processor is running at 100%, but as long as I do these things while away from the conputer (meaning not running other programs simultaneously) all is good. Keep in mind however that I have Windows 2000 on it, so your using XP on that older computer is likely taxing its resources already, so running SS is likely too much for it, particuarly older (hungrier) 3.X versions. Of course you never mentioned the processor in your HP, but if it is at least 300mhz (Pentium) and you use 98SE / 2000, you should be able to run 4.X SS just fine. However, you will want to make sure no software runs (simultaneously) from boot up, and you may even have to disable virus software when running SS, as those often also eat up resources too. But I would at least try going to 4.2 with yuor XP first before a complete OS redo...but make sure to run file conversion on all of your files (turn then into OMA) or you will loose access to them.

That's pretty neat...but would not help my scenario. I don't use my HI-MD unit (M200) outside of the home (due to its cost and delicate nature) yet use MZ-E105/107 (portable flash) because they play exactly the same things as the M200...but cost like $15-20 (each, I have 3) and is tiny and seemingly unbreakable - and is simply easier to use. It's only control port is USB...as it has the same USB connection as all other Sony MD/flash players, but just has a standard headphone jack, and no compatibility to inline remotes. If someone were to make an adapter using USB however, that would be perfect...and would make more sense because all Network/Net/Hi products use it. However, in theory, I could buy a basic HI-MD unit and use it with that interface...but even if I got one @ say $40, and this interface at $50 (I have no idea what it would cost) I could have nearly bought a new CDX-410U for that, which would allow me to connect any USB Sony portable device into the front...even if I still don't like the idea of a CD player that would sit idle and only be a patch to my portable (waste not want not). Plus I am quite partial to my older 8500X and 673R car MD decks...the only reason I don't already have a new (USB slot) Sony head unit yet...even if I rarely use the MD section on them anymore.

Are you speaking of one of these? If so, I already have the equivalent for my Kenwood KMD-673R (RDS version of KMD-44). The problem with general RCA input (aux) adapters is that the deck doesn't control the flash player (of course) and only patches sound through. However, if Sony makes something that interfaces with their flash player and tricks the deck into thinking its a typical CD/MD changer...that would be awesome. Please advise...it would save me from buying a deck I don't need otherwise. In other words, I could run any vintage (Unilink) Sony car deck with my psyc flash players!

1. I agree. I have similarly been using a home decks...starting with basic JE320's from the late 90's till recently for most recordings - upgrading to a JE440 about 4 years ago (with many in between, including two MD/CD decks). I just like the editing the home deck provides, with seems unmatched by a portable, or even software (for a while I had a MDS- PC3 too). I often still run live recordings and similar through SP because I can do S.F.E. in SP...as well as immaculate divides, seamless removal of commercials on radio recorded material, etc. Now I (similarly) have an M200, so I am torn what direction to take next...but I am moving toward converting most of my SP to 256K (3+) for simplicity and getting a Sony Car deck with USB (to control any of my 3 E105/107's). However, the thought of making ATRAC CD's gives me a headache...and seems backwards at this point. I wish Sony made a true solid state car deck like everyone else does now...but as you know, they are scared to death of SD media (for obvious financial reasons). So I have to choose between going all MP3/AAC with a convenient SD / USB deck, or use one of the few select Sony car decks that support ATRAC to some extent (even though not on memory cards / flash drives). Uggghhh! 2. Elaborate if possible!

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Hmmm, that's kinda what I figured on my last post, yet a slightly different version of it. FWIW, in SS, you can go into the properties and choose one of the files (if there are two versions), delete the optimized one, and change the path to the other (if necessary). However, you may not be able to use the old (non-optimized) .oma files anymore (maybe you were saying that above, I dunno). Anyway, I agree that fake SP is crap, even if not in performance, totally in principle. Not only does it take whatever the original is, and convert it to "basic 132"...it's not even the real time Type-R LP2 that home decks do pretty well. In other words, even if the original file was WAV, at best the output would be "quick LP2"...that if I am not mistaken...even in those Sony sponsored tests did relatively poor. To make matters worse, I wonder if SS recompresses LP2 again during the fake SP transfers. If so that would be awful souding...yet the unknowing victim would be expecting first generation SP from LP2. I have to speculate that in actuality, later SP encoding is so good (acoustically) that allowing straight computer/file transfers of SP would be something Sony is totally afraid of. Sure, they have recently submitted to WAV, MP3, and so on with SS 4.X, but maybe they are afraid of MD owners (like me) that have built up several hundred MD albums over the years...not to mention the fear of bulk MD file trading via SD cards, etc.

LOL...well I do know about: no optical out on most MD decks, no true SP support on SS, dropping support on older products once a new version is out, etc. But I figure that designing SS to intentionally mess up files once DRM was removed is a little lower than they would stoop...but ya' never know. I hope not, as I remove DRM about once a month on all uploads (so some have been through the process several times). Maybe I will do some back to back comparisons, and see if there is anything to this.