hygienist53

I have won an MD recorder: Sony MZ NH700 (£56 inc postage) (ironic that one's now advertised here - too late for me). and a microphone: SONY ECM MS907 (£40.50 inc postage) I know some of you suggested a clip-on, but my son specifically wants a hand-held, for interviews mostly. Neither seems to have been quite as good a bargain as I'd hoped for, but I'm very happy as I didn't have time to bid on loads of auctions and they'll arrive before my son's birthday. Thanks to all of you who offered such invaluable advice - fingers crossed that I haven't been scammed. Happy new year and good wishes to you all. I expect we'll be back in a couple of weeks, once he's opened them, for more advice. Cheers Ivy

Thanks for the advice again A440. I fear I'm pushing my luck with your patience, but this presumably is exactly the same ...but a few pennies less; I might as well get the cheapest (?)...(and I might even try putting in an offer if I can be bothered)....unless you can spot a difference. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280287387918 many thanks as ever. IV

Sorry you have to keep repeating yourself but I am getting the message and really appreciate your patience and kindness . Such good advice; I'm totally convinced, will stop agonising and shall get this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260311185391 It has a free lead which gives him the option of using the lead or plugging into the MD recorder...I think. Thanks very much and a happy new year. Cheers IV

Definitely want a hand-held. Thank you for teaching me about the various differences. I can get a Sony ECM-MS907 for £46.30 at Amazon, which is a good price. There's also a 2nd hand one coming up on ebay for £36 but maybe new is worth an extra £10. Meanwhile I'd like opinions on some cheaper options if anyone can be bothered, please: I can't see if these are stereo. And don't know if they're suitable. Should I just get the sony even though it's better than he needs? What do you reckon please? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aiwa-Microphone_W0QQ...229111001r36812 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/High-Performance-Hit...A1%7C240%3A1318 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...hlink:middle:uk This is a vintage mic - is it like washing machines where new ones aren't as good? or more likely, like mobile phones, where technology has improved. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ross-RE-342-stereo-m...A1%7C240%3A1318 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STEREO-CONDENSER-MIC...A1%7C240%3A1318 This one might be really good? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SENNHEISER-E825-S-CA...A1%7C240%3A1318 Sorry there are so many - I'll stop now and keep my fingers crossed that someone takes pity and helps me out....if only to confirm that I should just stick with the Sony Emc ms907, which is the safest option I reckon. Many thanks Happy new year IV

Can't believe I'm offering advice, but though I don't understand any of the technical stuff, I do know how to find good prices. I've done a lot of research and have found a coded link to a well-known UK site for the MZ-RH1 which sells it for £172.99 +£5 postage (depending where you are). Amazon UK and Play.com, for example sell them for a bit more, and I watched an auction for a new one on ebay last night, which went for £196.87 + £20 postage....go figure Send me a message if you want the link. Cheers IV

Wonderful explanation thanks. "I just looked at Ebay UK. And you know what? If I were you I'd take a chance on one of the fake DS70P microphones. They may turn out to be all he needs." I'm now considering this, which I've also posted in a newish thread about microphones http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120355849784 and this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260311185391 "Don't plug it directly into the MD unit. Photographers (even Sony ones!) think it looks really cute, but the MD has a motor to spin the disc that makes the unit vibrate. Plugged directly into the MD unit, the DS70P makes beautiful hi-fi recordings of the motor noise. The real Sonys, as noted above, do come with a lead, and you could always get a lead at any electronics store--miniplug to minijack--if the cheap ones don't include it." That is soooo helpful thanks. "The mic you are looking at in the link is mono and will only send sound to the left channel. You could buy a mono-to-stereo adapter for a pound or two that would send the same signal to both channels. But you would be better off with a stereo mic--it makes a world of difference in how enjoyable it is to listen to the recordings. Mono puts it in the middle of your head. Stereo puts it all around you. " message gratefully received "Do look at the Affordable Mics thread under Live Recording and see if you can contact Greenmachine. If he is still making those mics, it's a very good price. But those are two small mics on a lead--they need to be clipped to something. They are also omnidirectional, which may be very realistic--I love omnis--but may also not be appropriate if the audience is noisy and you're trying to capture the stage performance." Can't find what you're talking about but there will be an audience. "Get one of those DS70Ps and tell us how good (or bad) it is!" For sure - you don't get rid of me that easily, I'm enjoying the forum; though my opinion won't be worth much, I'll know if they're rubbish. many thanks and happy new year. IV

There's so much to learn and it's really kind of you to take the trouble - sorry it has to be such simple stuff. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260311185391 This is what I shall go for then, (unless you say I shouldn't) but it's obviously a fake as it's soooo cheap. I haven't got a player yet and will buy that first though. Or shall I get this one? The seller doesn't know the model number and doesn't know anything about it. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120355849784 Many thanks for taking the trouble to help. Cheers IV

Invaluable advice yet again, thanks. Can't believe how complicated it all is or how I got myself volunteered. Would still appreciate either a good-priced recommendation, or reassurance that the £5 ones on ebay will be OK,...or not of course, please.

How about this mic? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ECM-Z60-Table...5460&sr=1-8 There's a couple of very cheap ones in the Marketplace. Presumably Sony ECM MS907 and others are better, but not such a good price. If you haven't done so and can face skipping through my other recent post re MD player/recorder, you'll get an idea of my needs. Many thanks.

Too technical for my brain now, and more complicated recommendations than he needs - it's just a passing bit of fun for him at the moment, ....but I really do appreciate your efforts. He just wants something basic and isn't worried about the quality; I had been thinking about this one, but, it appears, (sifting through the bits of your advice that I could follow), that he will want a stereo mic, and this is mono (?): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-FV120-CE7-Voc...CJ3TMTWJAXQ5YRK I think I know which player to choose now, and will start researching mics - I'll text him to ask if he wants clip-on or hand-held, and be back soon. Meanwhile, all suggestions gratefully received, provided it's cheapish and you use simple words! cheers and thanks as ever IV I've now had time to look at your recommendations and have seen those cheap ones (ECM-DS70P) on ebay - they must be fake, but are they safe to use? Also, they appear to plug into the player rather than have a lead, and I'm not sure if that's an advantage or a not, as it must mean the mic will be covered if you have the player in a pocket (?). I think a clip-on mic sounds like a good idea as is the Hi MD one which is probably better than he needs. I'll be back! Ha This is an amazing way to pass one's time! I don't who is the saddest though - him, me or you lot!? But although most of this is way above my head, I'm learning so much...including using emoticans!

Ha, good point. British holiday camps are a bit like pantomime in that the attraction (which I've never discovered) is impossible to envisage or explain. It's amazing how many people read and contribute to these forums, especially as minidiscs are "seemingly" outdated.

Wow, A440, that is incredibly helpful and I've understood every word - well done, thanks. Yes, he is playing mini discs that are prerecorded and others do too, and won't need to upload (I finally understand what that means, thanks) old recordings. I shall look out for the machines you mention. Re mic: he is mostly recording speech and singing, but it's rather amateurish - the shows are a bit Butlinsy and "fun" rather than professional, though he'll want to record both amplified and non, presumably - recording things for the shows - like sounds/music for quiz questions and also of the show presumably. I'll have to try and ask if he wants a hand-held mic or a clip-on one (interesting that you use a pair) - you ask really helpful questions, thanks. If he's holding an amplifying microphone, he might not want to hold another one. Re curve ball - I'm relieved to say we'll stick with minidisc rather than make the decision even worse. Is that all your points? Hope so. One more thing: he doesn't use HiMD - just cheap old ones, so would you recommend any other machines? I reckon we should stick with your original recommendations, as the reviews are great though. Gosh it's complicated but you're all being incredibly helpful and I apologise for being such an ignorant pain. I thought kids would be less bother when they grew up but it hasn't quite worked that way. Cheers

That's really helpful. Many thanks, MDzorro He really just wants to play a bit of music to sing to and for quizzes and games on stage, so only needs a fairly basic one. I can get a new MZ RH1 for under £180 inc delivery (can give the link if anyone is interested) but it really does more than he will want. I'll look at the mics you mention, thanks. I've seen new mics on ebay which should be £40, listed for around £5; they're obviously fake, but will they work OK? Really appreciate your time. Cheers IV

Blimey that information really is detailed - a wonderful link, thanks, but my brain switched off during the first paragraph I'm afraid. Thanks again, Hungerdunger, but, provided I have understood you correctly, as it's difficult to find out what discs he uses, I shall stick with your advice and get a Sony one with an "H" to keep his options open. Cheers IV

Just to confirm, please: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=230316596554 This one , for example, had looked good to me and I had been planning of bidding on it, but it doesn't have an H and may not be suitable as it doesn't play the new discs(?) so I shall delete it. Your advice came at the right time and I'm very grateful. Cheers IV

Thanks, Stephen but I'm afraid that's gobbledegook to me. I don't know which minidiscs he uses, and I'm not sure he knows there are more than one type. Trouble is, he has no internet connection and works all hours, and I don't know when it's a good time to ring him, so I have to wait till he goes to an internet cafe to pick up his messages once a week - and he hasn't time to research it himself or get back to me with responses. I've replied (twice) to your private message, and thanks again. Other advice still welcome if anyone can be bothered with a grateful old fart like me....look on it as your bit of charity work during this season of good will! Cheers IV

Gosh, Hungerdunger, That is incredibly helpful. I was getting desperate. I'd been reading through old posts here and couldn't understand the jargon at all. I'm grateful for the simple explanation and have an idea of what you're talking about now. Thank you so much for your time and trouble. I'm aware of the Sharp/Amazon seller and have found this model cheaper, elsewhere but didn't want to publicise it in case it stirred up competition...though I expect people might have an idea where to find it. I have a much better idea what to look for now and will go back to my research with a more knowledgable eye. If you or anyone else has, anything else to add, especially about the mic, I'd appreciate it. Cheers IV Thanks for all the advice, Stephen. I thought I was beginning to understand it but you have totally baffled me with this post. I will private message you again, to double-check that your recommendation is suitable. Thanks to you all for your time and effort - it's another world and I realise I'm a very ancient ignorant MD Virgin Cheers IV

Hi, I'd really appreciate any advice please. My son wants a mini disc recorder/player for his birthday present; it must take a microphone, which he wants as well. He works as one of the entertainment team in Spain, for a British holiday company. I've been researching it all day and completely baffled. There's a Sharp MT280E coming up on Ebay in a couple of days. Any good? Should I buy new rather than 2nd hand? Though that is not available any more, there are other models places like Amazon, who has these:Sharp MDMT88 Minidisc and Sharp MDMT270HBK Portable MiniDisk Recorder with MDLP Mode and Long Playback & Recording Time by Sharp. I read somewhere that Sharp can be used anywhere but Sony only works in the country it is bought - presumably he can use an adapter? He has his ipod, laptop and mobile phone so presumably any mini disc player will work too? There are many Sonys, and if you say they'd be better, then which one? The best one seems to be this: Sony Hi-MD with Self-Recording, USB (MZ-RH1), but it's £185, and it's more than we want to pay; on the other hand, there's no point in getting him something cheaper if he won't be happy with it. He really only needs it for stage work, and he says he wants to play the company's discs plus record stuff he downloads from the computer, and also live on stage. Also, it appears there are different types of discs, and I don't know which sort his company uses, so does one of these play all types? I went into a Sony shop this morning; they sell the player for £250, (but out of stock), and the discs were 2 for £15, but Ebay sells them for around 50p each. Is it the same size/thing? If the cheap ones are just not rerecordable, it seems like a good deal as they're so cheap and he'll probably want to keep them anyway, but perhaps it's a different thing altogether. Also, what microphone? Haven't really started investigating but Amazon has this at £46: Sony Microphone and a cheaper one at £20:Sony Vocal hand-held microphone - can I be cheap? Is there another one I should get? There's another, neater one at £37 which plugs into the Sony recorder without a lead, but I'd imagine that wouldn't look so good if he's interviewing or talking on stage (though I don't actually know what he wants to record and will have to try to speak to him) Sony ECM-DS70P Microphone - Stereo Plugin Power - Key. This is a link to the page at Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_?u...p;x=12&y=17 I have no idea what I'm talking about and have never seen a machine, but do hope you can understand my needs and can offer advice please. Many, many thanks IV