A440

I recently was looking for a new pair of Shure E4--the best in-ear phones I've ever heard--and Google directed me to this place: http://www.dbuys.com/product/?9758&cart_id=9837596 $177 instead of the $299 list price most people charge--think about that markup!--with no tax, and free shipping which was not some slow ground carrier but overnight Fed Ex. Never heard of dbuys before, but if you're looking for those phones, highly recommended. Those are dark gray, not the Ipod-white E4c. Too bad they only sell one MD unit, the DH10 (at a very high price).

Have you tried playing back your .oma tracks?

As pointed out, MD units do not have a built-in microphone, so you'll have to get one. In the US, the basic Sound Professionals BMC-2 will give you hi-fi recording, or for speech, you can get something as cheap as this: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-STEREO-LAPEL-MICRO...1QQcmdZViewItem (search Ebay for : Stereo Lapel Microphone for Minidisc) Greenmachine's mics come highly recommended, too. The RH1--still not out in the US--is a premium unit with a lot of features you don't need. You would do fine with the MZ-NH700 , which takes regular AA batteries and records and uploads just as well as the rest of the Hi-MD units. Look on Ebay, or here for about $150: http://planetminidisc.stores.yahoo.net/mz-nh700s.html or here: http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553220 For something as easy to record as speech, there are also a slew of little voice recorders (Sony, Olympus, etc.) that just record and upload voice, though not particularly hi-fi. For something that plays back mp3s and records voice with a built-in mic, you could also track down the Iriver IFP-7xx (which has a built-in mic but will also accept an external one) or the Iriver T30 (built-in mic, but will not accept an external input unless it's amplified). Both are probably under $100.

You'd still have to install 3.4 onto the other computer. The MDCF file is a full installer. A USB drive is just another drive in Windows, so you can save files onto it or edit them. But .wav files get large--much larger than the Hi-SP files. The biggest thumb drives I've seen are 2GB. Also, I don't know if SonicStage needs hard-drive space during the conversion. How is SonicStage changing the order of tracks? Are they titled or untitled?

A microphone is going to be the giveaway for recording, which is another reason I like little ones like the SoundPro BMC-2. Wear a shirt with buttons (not a T-shirt) and go to the concert with the mic wire hidden behind the buttons and the mics folded over the top buttons and also hidden. A pat-down search usually goes for your sides, not your front. Most security guards are there to search bags and backpacks, so wear baggy pants and keep the MD in a pocket. Plug in the headphones if they're earbuds, put them around your neck if they're headband headphones--see, you're really just listening to music. Put labels on blanks you're carrying as if they already have music on them. If for some reason the guards do search your pockets or use metal detectors, tell them the MD is your mp3 player. Everybody takes cell phones, cameras, etc. into concerts--it's just one more little gadget. Really, most security guards are not experts at this stuff. They're looking for weapons and intoxicants. Festivals have to get thousands of people through the gates, and they're not going to want delays to build up while they do extensive searches. The odds are in your favor. And if you do get caught, just take the MD back to your car and enjoy the festival. It's all a game anyway.

Recording on Hi-SP will give you eight hours per MD, so you would want to group your collections. But it seems like your dad is going to end up with a stack of Hi-MDs that he can only play on one device. What happens if he loses it or it breaks? You'd be better off recording to CD to MD in PCM (best sound quality), uploading to computer, and burning to CD. It's more time-consuming, but then your dad would have CDs that he can play anywhere. Or, for this project, Pata2001 had the best idea: record directly to your computer--get a Griffin iMic if you need a line-in--and then use CDwave http://www.milosoftware.com/cdwave/ to split it into separate album tracks, and burn to CD. You can get yourself a MD for recording live music anyway, but it's not the best method for this project.

First things first: the RH700 does not have a mic jack. Only Line-in. So it's actually a downgrade from the NH700 (and all of Sony's previous 7xx models, which had mic jacks). The second generation has a few changes from the first. How important they are is up to you. Second generation (RH) units can play both ATRAC (the MD format) and mp3. On the NH (first generation) units, everything has to be converted to ATRAC, compressing the mp3s one more time. That might seem like RH is better--except that mp3 playback on the RH910 and RH10 has mediocre sound quality. Mp3 playback was only improved in the new RH1, still not available in the USA. Another difference: NH units can record (in realtime via mic-in or line-in) in formats compatible with older MD units: SP, LP2 and LP4. They can't upload those formats to your PC, and if you don't have an older MD there's no reason for you to care. The RH units eliminated the old formats, probably to make room in the firmware for mp3 playback. Also, RH units have a shiny finish that scratches up in no time. Bottom line: If you're using the unit as a recorder, and don't have old MD units that you want to play things back on, NH and RH units are functionally the same: they record in PCM, Hi-SP and Hi-LP for uploading to your computer. If you have a lot of mp3 and want to put them on a minidisc for portable play, you might prefer the RH, but you'd probably be better off with a good mp3 player. The NH700 exists mostly on Ebay and from online minidisc stores, and I still think it's the better bargain. For a physical store in New York City, try J&R ( http://www.jr.com ) or B&H ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com ), which may still have RH units.

Generally, no. Voice recording is easy: narrow frequency range, narrow dynamic range, mono. Most voice recorders (and that would also include little digital recorders) record compressed sound, sometimes ridiculously compressed, because they're not going after high fidelity. You don't need it to understand dictation. Minidisc records in PCM, which is CD-quality sound, and in stereo. Things that call themselves "voice recorders" probably don't. Check the specs. The Creative Nomad Jukebox 3, now discontinued, did offer high-quality recording and 20 GB of storage. A lot of concert tapers used it. But it had Line-in rather than a mic. And it's the size of a CD player.

Ah, you are used to cassettes. Each time you Stop or Pause recording you get a new track. There is also a button on the MD unit--Track--that allows you to insert a new track mark as you record or as you play back. Track marks are silent and gapless. When recording a concert, for instance, I push the Track button during applause between songs. You can set the MD unit to insert a track mark at regular intervals, like every five minutes--very useful for skipping through interviews. And you can set the unit to Group so that it starts a new group--a new folder--after each time you Stop. So if you have Interview A, divided automatically into 5 minute segments, and finish up and push Stop, and then record Interview B later that day, each one would be in a separate folder. And you can title any track or group either on the unit (which is slow) or from your computer. The reason I recommend the NH700 is that it's the cheapest HI-MD with a mic input and it takes a AA battery. NHF800 is the same thing plus a radio in the remote. The others take a rechargeable battery, plus an awkward AA add-on, and cost more; they also have a variety of additional (but inessential) features. The M10 and M100 cost an extra $100 simply because they are Mac compatible--otherwise they're the RH10 and RH910. Unnecessary for a PC user. Check Ebay for the NH700. After Sony introduced its 2005 (RH*) models it sold all its Australian NH models for low prices, and they are still around.

You're going to have to test and see whether the little battery in your mic is strong enough to give you a line-in signal. The only way to find out is blast your stereo and see if you get anything strong enough. Otherwise, use Mic-in. Because that mic doesn't pick up low bass, you may be able to record music without a battery box or attenuator. The ECM-719 allows you to adjust the pickup pattern: directional or omni. For an interview, you should switch to directional and point the thing right at your subject. For music, I prefer omni, but if you're getting a lot of noise from behind you, directional is another option. Hi-LP might be good enough for interviews, though I wouldn't use it for music. Again, test and see what you think.

With minidisc, your choice is between low price and uploading capability. If you are content to use minidisc exactly like your cassette recorder--that is, as the endpoint of your recording, which would then have to be recorded into your computer in real time--then you can use any minidisc recorder that has a mic jack. Look in this list http://www.minidisc.org/equipment_browser.html for whatever model is available that has a mic jack (look under Inputs) and takes an AA battery. For black, you'd probably have to look for a MZ-N707 (black and red). Note: a Line-in jack is not a mic jack--it needs an amplified input. With the older models, you would record the interviews on MD and then record them onto your computer out of the headphone jack. Even the older (NetMD) models that have USB jacks work that way, so don't be deceived by the presence of a USB jack. Hi-MD was introduced in 2004; regular MD or NetMD means you would be buying an older unit, which could be very used. However, if you want to be able to upload your interviews then double your budget and, as atrain says, get the MZ-NH700. Takes an AA battery, has a mic jack, uploads. Think about the time saved and convenience, which in the end might be worth another £30. You have another choice: a little flash memory recorder like the Iriver 7xx or 8xx series. They have built-in mics or will accept an outboard mic, and can just drag-and-drop the recordings onto your computer because they work like a USB drive. The Iriver T30 also has a built-in mic, but won't work with an outboard mic, only a line input. Those, too, are old units, but you might be able to find them unopened somewhere near your budget.

It's pretty hard to figure out what format the Cowon U3 uses for recording. WMA? MP3? The manual says you can set bitrate, but I can't find what format it uses (one of the menu examples says .wma). You can get uncompressed .wav (PCM) on the NH700. The Cowon has a maximum storage of 2GB. You'd have to keep uploading and clearing your recordings off it, as opposed to the removable storage of Hi-MD. And the NH700 takes a regular, easily replaceable AA battery. What happens when the rechargeable Cowon runs down? If it had mic-in and .wav recording (and for all I know it does have .wav recording), it would be tempting.

Battery box: Speiseteil

The link suggests this is only for the newest Macs, with the Intel chips. Older Mac users are still likely to have problems.

In REC SET there should be a menu item for Sync Recording. Turn it on. When it senses a silence between tracks it will insert a track mark. However, if your CDs are gapless, you'll have to insert the track marks later.

Once again I'm guessing here, but what files does the Fraunhofer codec actually install? And where do they go? How about making copies of those installed files (probably .dll or .ax files) and putting copies into the same directory as omgjbox.exe ?

It sounds like Soundstage has forgotten again that it knows what mp3s are. Do you have this same problem after a reboot? Install that codec again if you do.

That skip sounds like it might be a defective disc, even if it is new. First step would be to try another disc. But why are you doing the realtime transfer anyway? Why not upload from NH1 and then use SonicStage to download onto another MD?

Well, it won't be your recording, but check this out: http://www.lders.nl/ Security's definitely not catching everybody. SoundProfessionals' in-ear mics TFB-2 look just like earplugs, but use them with a battery module or attentuator (Radio Shack headphone volume control) because they'll pick up more bass (and sound much fuller) than your current mic. Or you could get the good old SoundPro BMC-2 , which are the size of a Jelly Baby, and clip them onto a dark garment--also with attenutator or battery box. mics: http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/...tegory/110/mics battery module: http://www.microphonemadness.com/products/mmcbmminminc.htm Or look at Greenmachine's little mics and battery module: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showt...=15entry99412 His latest URL is at the end--don't forget to ask for the MDCF discount! If you're worried, leave the unit on Record/Pause with Manual Volume set outside the venue, then start recording with the remote, take one look at it to make sure everything's coming through, and just let it roll through the show with everything hidden. You can always add track marks later.

Your ears and your minidisc both pick up 20-20,000K. So do GM's microphones. And they have a stereo plug that goes into the MD unit. It looks like his standard mics are high-sensitivity microphones, for acoustic music, etc., and the pros are low-sensitivity, for louder sounds. Depends on what you expect to be recording most: amplified or unamplified music. He also makes a battery module. This allows you to record higher-volume sound (Mic-->battery box-->Line-in) and bypass the over-sensitive minidisc unit's preamp. Here's a translator: put GM's page into it. http://babelfish.altavista.com/ Bestellen is the price list, but he offers a discount to MDCF members (see the Affordable mics thread). You can send him an email under Kontakt.

I'm guessing that you use Hi-SP to record on an 80-minute MD, and then edit your music as .wav files. In Sonic Stage go to Tools/Options/Transfer/Hi-MD/Transfer Settings. It probably says Standard Transfer Setting and is trying to transfer big, uncompressed .wav files back to your MD. Switch to ATRAC 3plus 256 kpbs, which is Hi-SP, and you'll get the same disc capacity as before. In theory, it won't sound quite as good, because you uploaded a compressed signal, converted it to .wav--which doesn't lose anything but doesn't improve anything--and then compressed it again. But you may not even hear any difference.

You didn't make a bad choice. The RH1's advantages over the RH10 are improved MP3 playback, Mac compatibility and holding the settings for recording (notably Manual volume). The first two are irrelevant to you, assuming you have a PC, and the third is a minor annoyance that's probably not worth the $100 difference to you. As far as anyone here knows, the recording aspects of all Hi-MDs are the same (and excellent). So there was no need for you to wait for the RH1, especially since you got a good price for the RH10. You'll need either an attenuator (cheap and inelegant) or a battery module (around $50) to record a full band or a concert. And mics of course. With decent mics, you'll be amazed at the fidelity.

Your mic will work with a Hi-MD recorder. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a whole lot of bass response--only down to 100 Hz--around the G that's the bottom line of the bass clef. The way to get recordings out of your MD unit is through the headphone jack in realtime. http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=7070 Or bite the bullet, get the MZ-NH700 and look for a mic with frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz. If you're in England, try greenmachine's omnis, at the web address in post #20. http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=14388&st=15#

The mic jack of a minidisc is stereo. A pair of omni mics (like Sound Professionals' BMC-2, which will be fine for your purposes--get clips for them) is connected to one stereo plug that feeds them to the left and right channel. So no, you don't need another MD unit. Audacity does have a Mac version. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/ Don't over-complicate your setup. Your ideal would be to mix low levels of the audience, recorded omni, with the cleanest possible recording of the comic--preferably through his own mic, or through some directional mic. (Directional mics are generally called cardioid, as in cardiac. Imagine a heart shape with a mic at the pointed end--or hypercardioid, a narrower pattern, or shotgun, picking up narrowly straight ahead.) If you were a recording engineer, you'd send both the comic's mic and the audience mics onto multiple tracks into your recorder (which could be a laptop) and mix them together later. I don't know anything about that Beachtek mixer. It appears that it mixes two sources together to go into the camera. What you really need is three: stereo ambience from the audience, mono from the comic. Conceivably you could take the comic in one channel, audience in the other, and mix them together to mono, directly on to your video. But you don't want comic on the right, audience on the left. Frankly, here's what I would do for starters if I were you. Shoot the video with the camera's built-in mic or the accessory mic mentioned in this review. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/.../sony-hc1.shtml Put a quiet friend at the best seat in the house, where she can hear the comic clearly, with the omni mics elevated overhead--on a tripod or long pole or something, away from the audience conversations--running into the MD. Or put the omni mics on a pole attached above the soundboard, running into the MD. Since comedy clubs are nearly as loud a rock clubs these days, you should probably get a $50 battery module like this one-- http://www.microphonemadness.com/products/mmcbmminminc.htm and run Mic--battery module-Line-in. The battery module gives a little power to the mics, making them respond better and boosting a loud signal enough for Line-in. Recording through Line-in also raises the threshold enough to eliminate some of the quieter, distracting room noises. That's my basic setup for recording concerts. Applause is loud and crisp; music is as clear as the sound system makes it. You might just be able to use the MD audience recording by itself if the comic is audible enough. Basically, your Beachtek in action forum suggests the same thing: "I've found that High Quality microphones positioned at the location of the sound engineer, or somewhere within the audience will work best if you can't mix the audio yourself." If not, you need to figure out some way of getting the comic's mic directly, and do a mix afterward--or see if the audio from the camera gives you some clarity from the comic.