A440

Old minidisc units--anything that is called NetMD or MD, like that Sharp, which is VERY old--do not allow you to upload recordings to your computer. You would have to record the recordings in realtime out of the headphone jack. Many radio journalists have done this through the years, but you don't have to any more. Hi-MD allows you to upload recordings to your computer, through a cumbersome piece of Sony software, SonicStage. The only Hi-MD units worth getting, in my opinion, are the basic MZ-NH700--which only works with Windows PCs--and the elegant MZ-RH1, which works with PCs and Macs. The MZ-RH1 is top of the line and also has other features: plays mp3s without conversion to Sony's format, and is the only unit that can upload old MD recordings. MZ-NH700 http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553219 (Don't worry about the AC adapter--you'll be using batteries, which have a very long life.) MZ-RH1 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4415...3_Minidisc.html These are very portable hi-fi recorders, which is why minidisc users tolerate SonicStage. But at this late date, minidisc may not be the most sensible unit for you, since flash memory recorders are arriving that don't bother with the encryption of minidisc. The Zoom H2, supposedly due in August, has a built-in microphone and promises very hi-fi recording and direct uploading (no SonicStage)--for $200, which is about the price of the MZ-NH700. The unanswered questions, since the H2 is not on the market yet, are about reliability, build quality and the quality of the inputs. You could also look at the Edirol R09. Zoom H2 http://www.samsontech.com/products/product...cfm?prodID=1916 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4801...al.html/kw/ZOH2 For super-cheap immediate use, you could seek out an IRiver IFP7xx unit--795 is 512MB, 799 is 1GB. They're discontinued, but you can find them on Ebay for under $100. They have a mic input (stereo miniplug) and their own built-in mic for mp3 recording. The iRiver T30, also discontinued but available, has a little built-in mic that's not bad--you'd have to decide if the quality is good enough for radio--but only a line input. The red T30 is 1GB.

Do you have another disc you can try? It's possible it's just a bad disc. Does the unit read the disc if it's not connected to SonicStage? If the disc is blank or unreadable, or you don't care what's on it, you could also try Erase All or Format under the Edit menu on the MZ-NH700. It wouldn't hurt to update SonicStage to 3.4 at least (there's a full installer in Downloads). If I remember correctly, 3.2 finally allowed you to do more than one upload of a recording from the disc, and that's an important upgrade from 3.1 .

It sounds like something didn't get into the right place. Maybe it was blocked during installation. Try uninstalling it with Add/Remove Programs and installing again. If you use the Sony online installer make sure your antivirus and firewall are turned off. Or use the full 3.4 installer from Downloads--it's a good stable version. If that still doesn't work look at this link: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=8071 to clear all the SonicStage junk out of the registry before trying again. (Note: If you have a Sony computer, don't delete all the Sony software registry items, just SonicStage and OMG.)

The R900 was once the top-of-the-line minidisc recorder. It has line-in and mic-in and a metal shell that made it very sturdy. Some people really loved that model because it was so thin and cool-looking. They didn't make MDs with computer connections then. But if you are recording something live the R900 will still be useful. Assuming it is working, you could probably get a decent price for it on Ebay. Go under Advanced Search on Ebay and search Completed Listings and you'll see what they are selling for these days. You might get $80-$100 if it's in good shape. You might want to take a look at this. It has a lot of information on the MZ-R900. http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-R900.html

Thanks for the AVG links. I had the Norton 2007 trial and it let through a virus and couldn't detect it, while Ad-Aware zapped it immediately. I'm currently trying TrendMicro, whch isn't getting in the way of anything else, but when the trial expires I'lll install AVG.

I forgot to suggest this, but try a different USB cord--they're the standard USB-to-mini-USB cord that comes with many cameras and PDAs. Borrow one from a friend if you don't have one around. I doubt it will make any difference, but it can't hurt to try. Otherwise, it's the unit. If you purchased it new and it's still under warranty--probably 90 days, but check the paperwork--then contact Sony. If it's out of warranty or you got it used, repairing it is not worth what it would cost. The NH600D will do everything your unit would do and more, and you can find it for well under $100 if you look around.

How long have you had your player? The head might be worn out. The 420D was the budget unit.

Guitarfxr, you may be giving Michael more fidelity than he needs. Michael, how hi-fi does this podcast have to be? Are you talking about commercial radio quality or quick-and-dirty mp3 quality? if you are just recording speech you can use a mono mic, but unless you want to go through the whole adapter routine as above, it's best if the mic is wired to a stereo miniplug (which will look exactly like your headphone plug). Take a look at http://www.soundprofessionals.com and http://www.microphonemadness.com for various shapes and sizes of microphones. You do NOT want a microphone (like the Sony DS70P) that just sits on the unit because it will pick up the mechanical noise of the unit. It has to be a mic on a cord. The Sony MS907 might be good for you, too, though Sony mics are said to be a little noisy. http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Pr...ed.SON+ECMMS907 The big advantage of the RH1 is that it uploads old MD recordings. The smaller advantage is that it holds Manual Volume as a setting, instead of having to go through menus to change it from Automatic. However, you'd probably be using Automatic for voice anyway. That, a much cooler design, and faster uploading is what you get for the extra $100 with RH1. And if it's other people's money, why not. Finally, an alternate method. Look at the $200 Zoom H2, supposed to be released in August. It's got a built-in mic, it seems to be made exactly for quick and easy voice recording, and you won't have to go through the whole SonicStage rigamarole. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4801...al.html/kw/ZOH2 You might even be able to get away with an itty-bitty flash recorder like the Iriver T30, which has a built-in mic (and no moving parts to make noise) and actually sounds decent. Not excellent, like a good mic into a minidisc, but decent.

Just to clarify: You make a recording on the MD. Then you open SonicStage and transfer it to the computer. (The version on the disc that comes with the NH700 is probably out of date. 3.4 is the oldest version you should use, and you might as well use 4.3.) Then, with SonicStage, you convert to .wav (which takes a lot of hard disc space, so be prepared). And then you edit the .wav file with Audacity or whatever. Alternately, once the file is on your computer you can use Hi-MD Renderer (free from the Downloads section linked on the right side of this page) to convert to .mp3, but as greenmachine says, converting to mp3 lowers the quality. That may not matter on a voice recording as much as it would in music. Files in formats Audacity can read can be dragged and dropped into Audacity. But Audacity cannot read files in the form that is on the MD. If you do get the RH1, the disc that comes with the RH1 has an excellent version of 3.4. Bobt is right: if you're getting the unit with OPM (other people's money) get the MZ-RH1, which is the only unit that can upload files from your old MDs. The NH700 cannot do it--it can only upload its own recordings in Hi-MD formats. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...p;Q=*&bhs=t

If you use an old-school MD you are going to have to record in realtime. Audacity does not "import"--it just records in realtime. Since your company is paying for it, get a Hi-MD instead: MZ-NH700 or MZ-RH1. That will let you upload the recording directly to your computer (Windows only for NH700, Windows and Mac for MZ-RH1). http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553220 The MZ-N510 is not suitable. It does not have a microphone jack, only a line-in jack. A microphone jack has a preamp in the unit to make microphone recordings audible. A line-in would need an external preamp, which would cost as much as the MD recorder. On the http:/www.minidisc.org page is a Browser tab with all the units listed. Before you buy something, make sure it has a mic jack.

Sony was able to get the data off a "Cannot Record or Play" disc I had, which doesn't guarantee they will be able to do the same for you. Sent back both the old disc (still unreadable) and a new one with playable files. I'd give Sony a try. If Sony can't read it, no one can. And in future: Upload immediately, and then run File Conversion Tool with "Add Copy Protection" unchecked to give you unencrypted files.

Downloads (up there on the right) has an MDAC Repair Tool that is sometimes helpful for database problems. Give it a try.

Yes, that is usually exactly what happens. Try it with your own unit sitting on a shelf and making a non-essential recording. But you are always taking a risk to depend on that. Different brands of battery may tell the unit different things about how much power they have, leading the unit to expect power that's not there for the final writing. Some batteries have a reserve of power near the end of their capacity, others just stop. The MD unit is pretty sophisticated in judging battery power, but you never know. Get a high-quality battery and it will outlast the 8-hour capacity of Hi-MD disc at Hi-SP. (I like Duracell Ultra, and have gotten away with a regular Duracell. I have had less luck with Energizer.) Don't bother with the dinky 700 mAh rechargeable battery that may have come with the unit, because it's not enough. I've never recorded a full disc at Hi-LP, so I couldn't tell you if a Duracell will hold out that long. I also haven't yet tried recording a full disc on one charge of the RH1 battery--perhaps someone has? "Pause" doesn't save anything. Until you hit Stop and System File Writing is completely finished, you simply don't have a recording.

There's no difference between MD and Hi-MD discs for recording quality. With digital recording, like MD, the medium makes no difference. The file is the same on MD, Hi-MD or uploaded to your computer. The disc is just a storage medium holding numbers. It's not like analog recording tape, where different kinds of tape give different frequency responses, or vinyl, where heavier and higher quality vinyl gives you richer sound.

If you haven't changed the default for SonicStage, your music is probably in a folder called Packages. Look under the Tools/Options/General/Location to Save Imported Files in SonicStage to see where it is storing music. You can also use Windows Explorer to search for Packages. .HMA files are encrypted music all combined in one big file. Don't touch those files or you may ruin them. There is hidden information that tells SonicStage how to read them, and if you move or alter the files you may make them completely useless. You are probably burning an Audio CD from ATRAC files, which are compressed. They can't bring back full CD sound.

It needs an external mic, yes. If it had a built-in mic it would pick up the sound of the minidisc moving.

SonicStage likes to be a dead end for music--you can put it in but it's hard to get it out. I suggest you try Hi-MD Renderer, which is in Downloads for free (upper right, or look at the Hi-MD Renderer forum under Software). It may be able to convert your ATRAC files to mp3. SonicStage 2.0 is terrible, and you should upgrade to 3.4 or 4.2 if possible--look in Downloads or search the forums for 4.2 and installer. But even with the upgrade, you may not be able to get your files out with SonicStage itself.

A line input needs a strong signal. A mic input--there is none on the MZ-NH600--provides a little bit of power to the mic and also has a preamp behind it to handle a weak signal. The MS907 expects a preamp. For amplified music you can probably get away with mics plus a battery module. I use Soundprofessionals BMC-2 mics and a Microphone Madness Classic Mini Battery Module to record music into my line-in jack. Those are probably fairly sensitive mics, more sensitive than the Sony--which means they generate more voltage when sound hits them--and the 9V of power from the module provides a strong enough signal for line-in except for things quieter than speech.

For loud music, the alternative to Mic-->Headphone volume control (technically an attenuator)--Mic-in is Mic-->Battery Module-->Line-in. You still need to set the volume with Manual Volume. I use Sound Professionals BMC-2 clip-on omni mics and a Microphone Madness Classic Mini Battery Module. http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-BMC-2 http://www.microphonemadness.com/products/mmcbmminminc.htm Your most economical bet in Europe is Greenmachine's mics and battery box, which users here have been very happy with. http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=14388

Shotgun refers to the pickup pattern. A shotgun mic is very highly directional, picking up just what is in front of it--useful for things like stage miking where you want to isolate a signal. Or spy use.... Other pickup patterns are omnidirectional (obvious) and cardioid, heart-shaped (as in cardiac)--imagine the mic at the point of a heart-shaped area. Hypercardioid is narrower. Shotgun is narrowest. You probably wouldn't want to use it with half a dozen instruments spread across a room because you would lose the ones on the sides. There's no mono recording setting on the NH700--at least, I couldn't find one on mine. Your ATR9720 must be feeding its mono signal to both sides of a stereo plug (with two circles around it, like your stereo headphone plug). Otherwise you'd only get playback on the left channel, which happens with a mono plug. One-point stereo mics do various tricks to create stereo depth--pointing the elements differently, etc. Audio Technica probably does something sophisticated with its one-point stereo mic. A few meters separation would probably sound extremely unnatural. You judge stereo sound with two omnidirectional transducers six inches apart: your ears. Most mic stereo techniques striving for realism use about that much separation. Look at Microphone University on this site (it's a frame so I can't give you a direct link) and check out stereo techniques. http://www.dpamicrophones.com/

Just to condense and go step-by-step with what's above, here are some practical directions: Go into the MENU/REC SET/MIC SENS menu and immediately set to LOW SENS. That setting is good for anything but the softest sounds and will stay in the recorder until you change it. REC MODE: You might as well use Hi-SP until you improve your mic. It will give you space for a full concert on one 80-minute disc. The quality will be fine. That setting also stays in the unit unless you change it. Plug the mic into Mic-in. Here's the tricky part. When you are about to start recording, put the disc in the recorder, push Record and Pause simultaneously (the display will blink). Then go into the REC SET/REC VOLUME menu and switch to Manual. For starters, set to 20/30. Un-Pause to start recording. If you possibly can, see what kind of readings you are getting at the show and raise or lower so that the peak is a little over halfway up (you can rotate the wheel, push the jog lever left or right, or use the remote--you'll see REC 20/30 on the display. You can only set the NH700 to use manual volume with the disc in the recorder and REC-Pause on. Otherwise it will use AGC and that will not sound good with music. The recorder will not hold the Manual Volume setting so you have to do it each time. Yes, it's a pain, but it becomes routine. And here's the unknown variable. I don't know how sensitive that mic is. You may or may not get distortion from bass if you are recording loud music. Bass distortion comes from the mic preamp (connected to the mic jack) overloading. That mic does NOT have a strong bass response--it only goes down to 100 Hz, not the 20 Hz of the lowest bass--so it may not distort. (That's one reason it was made with a limited bass response.) You'll have to try it. Try it at home with your home stereo cranked up, and play back the results. If it does distort, get the VC-1 headphone volume control from Maplins, about £4. Plug the mic into it, turn its little volume control all the way UP and use that to record your next concert through Mic-in. Even at maximum, the headphone volume control cuts the signal going to the mic jack, so it would reduce distortion. Only use it if you need it, because it slightly degrades the signal. Eventually, if you like minidisc recording, you'll probably want to get a better mic and a battery module. But start with what you've got and see how you like the medium.

It's possible that your antivirus, firewall, internet security, etc. program is preventing SonicStage from connecting online to authenticate. Turn off any security programs and try again. Don't forget to start them afterward.

Who needs Sony? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...p;Q=*&bhs=t

Just make sure you have SonicStage 3.2 or above--possibly more current than the one that came with your unit. (Look in Downloads, link on upper right. Or search the forums for 3.4 and installer.) You can upload the same disc as many times as you want with SonicStage 3.2 and later. The least glitchy versions, unless you need Vista, are 3.4 and 4.2. Earlier versions of SonicStage would only let you upload once, and if you have uploaded with those old versions you can't re-upload those discs with any version. But Sony removed that restriction after an angry mob carrying torches marched on Sony headquarters. Once you have uploaded the files to My Library in SonicStage, you can make portable copies of the uploaded files by using File Conversion Tool, under Tools in SonicStage. Uncheck "Add Copy Protection" (as if...) and run the conversion tool. It may take a while, and as with any SonicStage operation, you should make sure the process is not interrupted until you hear the stupid little ding-ding sound. Then you can copy the unlocked .oma files (from a folder called Packages, unless you changed the default) onto CD or DVD. Any SonicStage--not just your original installation--should be able to play back those files. --------------- Should you need it, this is a link to a copy of the full 3.4 installer disc that came with the MZ-RH1. It's more than 200 MB, so don't even think about it on dialup. http://s15.quicksharing.com/v/8783199/SS3.4RH1.iso.html You'll need Nero or another burning program to convert the ISO to an installation CD. There are smaller installers available in Downloads.

Dimensions L x W x H = 178 x 64 x 30 mm (including battery pack) 178 mm = 7 inches, more than 4 AAAs. Too big for my pocket and, at the moment, for my pocketbook.