BearBoy

Welcome to the forum Perus! I'm sure you'll like the MDS-JB980 - lovely deck (albeit both of mine need a bit of fixing atm)

Thanks Kevin - that's really helpful. I might pop the lid off and see if there is anything glaringly obvious but it sounds like I just need to pick up a donor deck from eBay.

Many thanks for the reply Kgallen. I've got one of THESE if that's what you mean by a DVM? Sorry, I am far from being an electronics expert. If it is, I would be very grateful if you could give me some instructions as to what to check with it. Good to know I could use an MDS-JE480 as a donor machine. They're generally a lot cheaper than a replacement MDS-JB980 and my faulty machine is cosmetically immaculate. Is a drive swap a complex task?

I'm not having much luck with my MiniDisc decks at the moment. My MDS-JB940 and my main MDS-JB980 are both having eject issues (I think the belts have gone). I've ordered a replacement belt so hope to get one of those fixed this week and, assuming it's successful, will order a belt for the other. Whilst those two machines were out of operation, I put my spare MDS-JB980 into my office system but I am having some issues with it. I bought the device a few years back and, after some brief testing, it has sat in its box in a spare bedroom. It seems to play MDs without any issues but I am having issues with recording. I have carried out two types of test today using three devices (the faulty MDS-JB980, an MDS-JE500 and an MZ-N910) with these results: Test One Insert blank disc into MDS-JB980 Record CD via optical input – tracks show but do not playback (mechanism whirring but never displays 0:00 and starts playing) Eject MD – TOC writing Re-insert MD – shows as blank disc Insert recorded disc into MZ-N910 – shows as blank disc Insert recorded disc into MDS-JE500 – shows as blank disc Test Two Insert blank disc into MDS-JE500 Record CD via optical input – playback works fine Eject MD - TOC writing Re-insert MD – playback works fine Insert recorded disc into MZ-N910 – playback works fine Insert recorded disc into MDS-JB980 – playback works fine Enter track name using MDS-JB980 Eject MD – TOC writing Re-insert recorded disc – shows as blank disc in all three devices Yesterday it seemed slightly better at recording and some tracks (although never the first recorded track) would play back on the MDS-JB980 and the other devices but then the "blank disc" issue would occur after trying to name tracks or re-record the first track that wouldn't play back. The first disc I had the issues with was a brand new sealed Sony MDW80T. I initially wondered whether it might be a disc issue but have had the same results with a different disc (and the discs work fine when recorded on using the MDS-JE500) so I think it must be the deck). Any ideas as to what the issue might be and whether there is anything I could do to fix it?

No, just saw it on YouTube a few minutes back

The MXD-D5C is in Techmoan's new MiniDisc video:

BTW, here's the link for the new Techmoan video:

Came across this whilst watching a new Techmoan video about MiniDiscs: https://minidiscday.com/

Have a look at: https://www.bandcds.co.uk/all-others/minidisc-duplication-and-production/

Given the volumes you’ve got in mind, I would imagine you’d be best looking at NetMD options as copying in real-time would take ages. NetMD’s not something I’ve ever used but I am sure someone on here can give you some advice. Re ATRAC Type S, that was a development of Type R that improved the playback (not recording) of MDLP recordings. As such it’s not really relevant to your needs. There is a company that will duplicate MDs for you (and print inlays etc) if you would prefer to avoid the DIY route. I’ll try to find the link.

I bought an MZ-E30 and an MDS-JE500 in 1997. Was totally blown away by them. The MZ-E30 got stolen around 2001 IIRC but the MDS-JE500 is still going strong.

Hi Mark. ATRAC Type S adds better playback of MDLP recordings but is otherwise the same as Type R, which your MDS-JE530 has. If the recordings sound fine on your deck then I suspect the MZ-R35 is the issue. I'm not familiar with the device but does it have any EQ that the previous owner may have messed around with? What headphones are you using? Maybe a different pair might produce better results?

Glad to hear you’ve fixed it Mike.

Hi Ken The MZ-R500 is not a NetMD player so you won’t be able to connect it to Sonicstage. If you had a NetMD compatible unit then you would connect it via USB. What is the other player you have?

I bought some of those CD sized MD cases the other day. I remember seeing them for sale in HMV back in the late 90s early 00s but never picked any up. Not 100% sure what I will do with them yet.

And we're back again

Indeed Back to the OP's question, if you cannot locate an RM-D49M, you may have some joy with a remote from a cheaper machine. The remotes for my decks appear to be reasonably interchangeable, only missing buttons for functions that appeared as MiniDisc developed (e.g. MDLP, Group etc). I've got three different types of remote: RM-D10E (MDS-JB980) RM-D49M (MDS-JB940) RM-D7M (MDS-JE500) They all appear to be able to control any of the various machines, although I have not tried every single function. Maybe someone else with an MDS-JA555ES (I am not so fortunate) could test out other remotes and see if they work?

No, you posted it in the thread about cases: The remote for the MDS-JA555ES is the RM-D49M, if you can find one.

Yeah, the batches of 50 appear to have gone out of stock again. Good to see there is another working link. The seller is the same in any case: AWV International.

The MiniDisc cases I posted above are back in stock via Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00X2KBLU8

Not sure if you've seen his previous MiniDisc video Philippe but he shows his Onkyo MD-105FX in that (starting at 36:10 ish):

The MiniDisc featured in the video can be purchased here: http://eox.no/shop/ The website of the company who produced the MiniDiscs is: https://www.bandcds.co.uk/all-others/minidisc-duplication-and-production/ Looks like they can print directly onto the blank discs and will do low volumes (5 discs). Might be of interest to someone planning a MiniDisc project

Maybe. They've shown as unavailable like that in the past though and then come back into stock so you never know.

Do you mean cases for individual MiniDiscs or a case to store MiniDiscs in? If the former, I bought some of these a few months back but they appear to be out of stock at the moment: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00X2KBLU8 They've been out of stock previously before becoming available again so it might be worth keeping an eye open. Second hand ones are often available on eBay but are not always in great condition.