MDX-400

Moving this thread as it doesn't really fall into Tips&Tricks! Non-NetMD recording seems appropriate.

Well just to address some of this I must say a few things. On the first note about the 8 character display, that is and has been the standard number of display characters display on EVERY Sony car deck since the beginning of the UniLink ERA. I only know of one exception in the Sony car decks and that is the MDX-400 which has 10 characters. This is due to the fact that they are all required to display an entire CustomFile name on the screen (which is limited to 8 characters). This 8 character display is the base for the UniLink and CustomFile systems which are the backbone of Sony mobile and have been for over a decade now. Why the MDX-400 actually "got away" with 10 characters is beyond me, but it was the only one. As for the group title, I think the new CA790X does support group titles but they will likely have to be toggled. I.e. the display will show EITHER track title, or disc title, or group title or playing time, but not all of them. The REAL problem with Sony decks is the SCROLLING of the text, not how many characters fit on at once. Instead of continuous scrolling the title will scroll only ONCE and then if you want it to scroll again you have to press the scroll button. On the slightly older pre-Xplod decks it was even worse because there was no dedicated scroll button--you have to press the menu button first and then another button just to get it to scroll again! Why Sony doesn't let the car decks continuously scroll is a mystery and also really dumb. As for the dot-matrix thing, yeah I was kind of suprised to see the lack-of on the CA790X, but it really isn't that big a deal if you can see the letters. Plus the dot-matrix displays usually wash out more easily in the sun. As for the analog volume knob, actually not many HUs at all feature an analog volume knob anymore. They do have knobs but they certainly aren't analog. They are almost always "rotary encoder" (electronic) knobs that just drive the units volume control instead of up and down buttons. However yes I was appaled at the fact that the CA790X doesn't have a knob! The CA680X does! (I actually like the design of the CA680X but with the Xplod "quality" I'd stay far from it personally). As for the non flip-down face--that can only be had on lower end units for the most part in car audio (either that or the VERY expensive models of which don't come in the MD variety). (I think I've explained this before?). I see that is a feature you would want personally, but really this goes against what most everyone in the mobile electronics market wants. Furthermore the purpose of the flip-down is so that you can get more display area. You can't have a dual-line display and all that other stuff you mentioned you wanted AND a non-flip down face. That just isn't going to fit on a DIN sized unit, that's for sure. Another strange thing is that most of the Xplod units have traditionally had the EQ7 system (sort of a 7 band EQ) but the new CA790X only has EQ3! Gasp. I don't mean to be rude when I say this but it is probably a good thing that you aren't holding your breath for all of you want--it just isn't going to happen in the mobile electronics industry--especially with MD which isn't popular to begin with. I do see what you are saying though on some points. Personally I'm more concerned that Sony has decided to (since years ago now, really) go with all this Xplod junk which is just that--the quality of their mobile gear now has a bad rep and for good reason. There isn't a lot of a problem in getting the older good stuff, even in MD, but there is the problem of no MDLP...

The track marks are actually made by the Xitel DG-2 that your Sony MD recorder came with (the digital PC link box), NOT the software application. I'm not sure about the compatiblity of the DG-2 with WinAmp but I know it will make track marks with WMP 8 or BELOW or Music Match Jukebox. If it doesn't work with WinAmp, see what Xitel has to say about using thier DG-2 at www.xitel.com. It may be that the DG-2 doesn't support WinAmp (I'm not sure about this I've never used one). So you are limited in that way to programs that the DG-2 will make track marks with if you want the track marks as you describe. Also do NOT upgrade to WMP 9 as you will lose the ability for track marks to be made again as the DG-2's discrete mode doesn't work with WMP 9 either. Roland M.

USB input on the MZ-S1??? (Or any NetMD for that matter...) That connection is for NetMD only (i.e. connection to a computer for ATRAC3/MDLP downloads). To get digital output from your CD player to the MD, simply use the optical output and connect to the optical input on the MD. There is no need to worry about the USB for that sort of recording. Note that the LINE input and DIGITAL input on the MD will likely share the SAME jack. You will need a widely available standard Toslink (square) to Toslink miniplug cable (or simply a regular cable with mini adapters) to get the digital connection working between the CD and MD. Roland M.

The easiest way to do this is to record each MD track as a .wav file and then write them to a CD as an Audio CD using a CD writing program (Easy CD, Nero, etc.). (Record the .wav files as 16-bit stereo, 44.1Khz Sampling rate.) Almost every modern-day CD writer allows you to write CD-Text as well so you can input the titles for display on a compatible CD player. I don't know if there are any CD writing programs that allow you to record CD-DA (Audio CD) in realtime and even if there were it would make proper track marking difficult at best. Getting a CD writer hi-fi deck would make things pretty simple but they are pretty pricey and if you have a PC with a CD writer there is really no need. The only thing you'll have to worry about is the wait to make the .wav files (in real time of course) and then to write the CD. The quality won't decrease since CD Audio is uncompressed and better than MD to begin with. So the quality will remain pretty much untouched. Roland M.

www.partsexpress.com has these for $16.75 US with the AC Adapter but I have no idea whether they will ship to AUS and how much it would cost if they do... Go to the website and just search for "optical coaxial" (no quotes) and you'll see both the Toslink-->Coax and the Coax-->Toslink varieties. They also have an optical extender which amplifies the light in a Toslink connection for longer cable runs. They are all the same price I think. For a complete conversion solution, simultaneous bi-directional, I'd recommend the MidiMan CO2. It runs about $50 US... Roland M.

Yeah, I can't think of anything either... Without spacer files (which are a pain and cause unwanted spaces most times) there isn't much you can do. At least you get spaces with non-CD track files... It is too bad there aren't "files" that can be played by Media Player (and other sound software) that outputs the S/PDIF track mark code/signal out the digital output device. I don't understand why there can't be a program made with such an option or a file generated that does the same but right now I know of nothing that will do this Perhaps someone will write a PC-->MD program that puts the track marker code in between tracks on the player. Until then we're all stuck with spacer files or manual marking. Just as a general curiosity (somewhat unrelated), I wonder if when playing MP3 encoded CDs through an MP3/CD player with optical out, if those types of CD players put out track marks when changing MP3 "tracks" on an MP3 encoded disc??? Roland M.

I'd like to point out that there is no such thing as MDLP "ATRAC Type-R". ATRAC Type-R is just that, ATRAC, NOT ATRAC3! MDLP uses ATRAC3 and is not encoded with ATRAC Type-R at all. ATRAC Type-R ONLY applies to recording and playback of MD SP tracks. While there may be differences in the ATRAC3 chips in these units, I'm not really aware of any distinct improvements except Type-S which, to my knowledge, is not an encoding technology. Type-S AFAIK only improves the playback of MDLP (ATRAC3) encoded tracks. At least this has been my understanding of "ATRAC Type-S" which is a foolish way of wording the technology by Sony... What you have to be careful about here is comparing ATRAC coding to ATRAC3 coding--they are essentially completely different things just recorded to the same disc in the case of MDSP v. MDLP. A better name for "ATRAC Type-S DSP" would be "ATRAC Type-R + ATRAC3 Type-S Decode" but I guess that wouldn't be as simple and that is why Sony just chose Type-S. Roland M.

Nope. You'll just get a track of silence. To play MDLP you have to have an MDLP capable recorder. Just as a note for all--remember MDSP and MDLP are actually quite different formats they just happen to be recorded onto the same disc. MDSP = ATRAC coding and MDLP = ATRAC3 coding. ATRAC3 is also used on other devices such as the Memory Stick. Roland M.

Hmm... Did you try using Windows Media Player (version 8 or lower) or Music Match Jukebox to play the CD tracks? Perhaps the DG2s discrete mode only works for files? Maybe if you interspaced a CD track then file, CD track then file or something it would work better. You do get the track marks when recording files (as oppsed to CD Audio tracks), right? Another alternative is to rip each CD track you need to a .wav and then record it and delete the .wavs after. Though this is a bit inconvenient to say the least. Barring that you can always use a CD player that has optical out as it will always play the track marks through the optical output. (I have no idea why this doesn't happen from a PC. I wonder if you'd get track marks if you were to directly take the S/PDIF from the CD-ROM drive's 2-pin digital connector and changed it to optical?) Anyhow the only downside to the audio CD player method is that you have to have a CD player with optical out and you get the SCMS bit set which isn't that big a deal. Roland M.

Discrete (separate) mode means that the DG2 automatically inserts track marks in the recording when you are recording more than one track to the MD unit. As you might already know, simply transferring songs via optical output on most soundcards or by other devices such as the USB SoundBox does not transmit track marks like a CD player would. (CD players with optical out automatically pass track markers when changing tracks through the S/PDIF / Toslink stream so the MD recorder makes track marks as well). So the result is that if you don't use "spacer files" (files of 2-3 seconds of digital silence) in between tracks on the PC the MD recorder may put one or more tracks together as one and you have to go back and divide them or mark them manually as the recording is going. So it is either do it manually, go back and divide or have some seconds of silence between songs. The DG2 supposedly avoids all this hassle and inserts track marks in between songs for the MD recorder as a hardware feature. Though it has now been reported that the DG2 cannot make track marks when using Windows Media Player 9, most other versions of software including WMP 8 work fine. Roland M.

Yeah this thing is still listed at $200 US which is ridiculous! Especially considering if you bought an MDS-JE470 or JE770 when they were "current" models in the US they had a mail-in offer to get the PC-Link for FREE! (It was either mail-in or packaged with I can remember which). With that price, the only people that probably have those things are those that took advantage of that offer when it was available. Roland M.

Oh right, I was wondering why NetMD would be that important in-car! Well take a look at that thread I posted the link to. Someone mentioned a Kenwood unit with MDLP as a alternative to the few Sony models with MDLP that are available in NA. Roland M.

Have you ever used a Sony Discman/CD Walkman that had "G-Protection"? I've used one of these (D-FJ61 or something was the model) and I could barely make it skip with the G-Protection turned OFF! But turning the G-Protection on made it impossible to skip. I dangled it on the wrist strap and really went wild but it didn't skip. I'm sure it would skip if I didn't give it time to fill the buffer or kept at it for a good long while, but really it was skip-proof. Now think of an MD player with the same "G-Protection" buffer/pickup technology... An MD has around half (probably less than half) of the distance the pickup can move in either direction so it's recovery from mistracking is even faster. That said, you'll be hard pressed to make an MD with G-Protection skip, believe me. Even the units with "regular"/non-G Protection memory of 40 seconds don't skip. Just make sure you let the buffer fill before subjecting it to shocks and you'll be set. (Note that G-Prot units require you to give it some vibration after the first little bit of play to "activate" the full G-Protection system). Roland M.

I doubt we'll see a NetMD car unit anytime in the near future. First of all Sony has only released one recording car unit for the North American market ever, and that was the MDX-C800REC and that wasn't even MDLP capable. (There were/are a few other recording models in the JDM and perhaps other parts of the world as well.) Second of all, why would you ever need NetMD for the car anyhow? How many people have PCs in their car? It wouldn't really make sense to have a recording deck in the car that did NetMD downloads because you'd either have to have an in Car PC or bring your laptop in the car to record anything--not really convenient if you ask me. Even if it would be useful for a small group of people who plan on transferring music in-car, I don't think there is any way any manufacturer would make a model like this to cater to the very few people that would buy it. For other car choices (without NetMD or recording) there are a few current models to choose from, from a handful of manufacturers. See this thread for more info: http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?t...t=19&highlight= Also, though there are some people that don't like them, flip-down faceplates are most often the mark of higher end car HUs that cost more. The faceplate can hold more buttons and have a larger display and also hide the unsightly slot for media insertion. Most of the time, to get a unit without a flip down face, you have to go for something cheaper and lower-end. Roland M.

Well I guess from the new introductions of the new units, it appears that the F means that it is equipped with a tuner. But why they didn't stick with the G and call it an NG610 or NG810 is beyond me. Perhaps the tuner is different in some way than the previous units? The remote IS different I suppose. The NE does indeed appear to stand for NetMD downloading/recording but not "real" recording. As for the N910 (?!) perhaps that will be the model the US gets instead of the N10? But what Leland says makes the most sense of all the different models. Not all of them will be available everywhere, they will probably just be different models for different countries... Roland M.

Hmm, well most places in the US that sell the Extigy have it for around $110 or so (plus shipping if you aren't buying it locally). I wonder if you could get that $50 rebate to apply to those sales because that would be a pretty good deal for an Extigy at only $60 or so. The MD portable with the optical out is actually the first consumer MD unit ever, the MZ-1 (no R as it was the first one and I guess they didn't need the R as there were no players yet or any other MD devices). Edit actually the $110 prices for the Exitgy are the OEM box prices the retail is about $125, but where are you seeing this rebate? I went to Creative Labs' website but I can only see rebates for the sound CARDS and nothing for the Extigy.

Just to add a short note here, any unit that has NetMD MUST also have MDLP because NetMD uses only MDLP (ATRAC3) technology. So if the unit has NetMD then it has MDLP. But, yes, unfortunately there is no unit that has tuner and NetMD as of yet, and I have no idea if there are plans for one but I think the progression to every unit becoming NetMD enabled (i.e. when no new units are released that don't have the feature) that we will then see an FM tuner on a NetMD model. Roland M.

All consumer digital recording equipment that is meant for audio only (i.e. not computer based like CD-R drives) have SCMS built into them. It isn't a "feature" specific to MD. Copying has little to do with why MD portables do not have optical outs. Decks have it and while yes the decks do have SCMS, so do the portables! Furthermore you can make a digital to digital copy of an MD depending on how the MD copy was made (actually rather if it was a 1st generation or not as dermined by SCMS). For example if you make an MD recording from a CD via an audio CD player's (or DVD player's) optical output stage then that S/PDIF stream will be flagged with the information that you are making the second generation from the CD (which is the first generation). This means that tracks that are recorded to the MD in this fashion cannot be digitally recorded again from that MD. However if you were to record from a PC via an optical output from your PC (whether it be a USB connected device or a soundcard with optical output) the PC world cares not about copy-protection and completely ignores SCMS. So if you recorded a track digitally from your CD-ROM drive the bit doesn't get set as the MD simply thinks you are making your own personal first-gen recording. Then that MD can be copied, digitally, to another MD (or other digital medium). In fact the first MD copy can be copied to as many other MDs digitally as you'd like but none of the copies can be copied again as it will not be permitted by SCMS. So depending on how and what was recorded to the MD you may well be capable of recording from MD to MD. Shorty though raises the valid point that if you copy from MD to MD you are decoding ATRAC and then encoding it once more (unless you are using pro equipment that can access ATRAC directly--but that would not have SCMS anyway). As for the issue of optical out on the MD it is a valid one, IMO. However the need for the optical out is more for transferring the data from the MD to somewhere else, not necessarily for playback. In other words the main use would not depend on if you had a receiver that has optical input (as most modern-day receivers do) because the difference between the D/A in the receiver and the one in the MD unit would probably be inaudible anyway. The only thing connecting an optical out on the MD to the receiver would do would be to use the receiver's D/A converter instead of the one in the MD portable. The use for the optical output (if there were portables with that feature) would lie as I mentioned mostly in transferring audio and I do think that it would be a beneficial feature to have. I too think manufacturer's should include optical output on portables but it is just cheaper not to and since they have been doing that since the MZ-R2 and no one really complained all that much they don't care. It is simple to see that digital outs are just not provided in this fashion if you look at the MD decks. 300 and 400 level decks from Sony have never featured digital output but 500 series and higher decks, which cost more, have always had it. Roland M.

I just thought I'd post this to answer the question of how to get optical (Toslink) output from your PC to record on to MD. While there are several sound cards (and adapters for those sound cards) that can supply optical and sometimes also coaxial I/O the easiest method is usually to use a USB sound device that provides such features for your PC. You just plug it in and go... There have been one or two models in the past but recently there have been some new additions to these USB sound ports so I'd like to make a short list of the more popular and relatively inexpensive ones... (All prices are indicated in US dollars.) Xitel DG2 (aka Digital Hi-Fi Link) $35-40 on eBay--provides optical out and "discrete mode" that puts in digital track markers automatically. Link: www.xitel.com USB SoundBox ~$30 on eBay (used to be cheaper)--provides both optical digital out as well as analog output in the form of a minijack. Sampling rate is fixed at 48kHz and there are no track marks (you have to use "spacer files" and your MD has to put in the track marks by itself). Xitel PRO Hi-Fi Link $99 MSRP--this is a new unit from Xitel and provides a bunch of new features. It has analog level output in the form of L/R RCA jacks, as well as coaxial digital output and optical digital output. Retail version comes with plenty of LONG cabling: good quality optical, stereo RCA and (75 Ohm?) coaxial RCAs are provided. Additionally (unlike the two above units) this model features Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 pass-through so you can hook up a compatible receiver/decoder to get surround from DVDs, etc. Link: www.xitel.com M-Audio/MidiMan Sonica MSRP $69.95--this is another relatively new unit that features both analog out (in the form of a stereo minijack) and optical digital output in a small little unit that connects to your PCs USB port. This unit, like the PRO Hi-Fi Link, features pass-through of 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS signals via the optical output. Supports many different sampling rates (up to 96kHz) and up to 24-bit PCM (16-bit for AC-3 and DTS). Link: http://www.m-audio.com/products/consumer/s...onica_page1.php M-Audio/MidiMan Sonica Theatre--Coming soon. Upgraded version of the Sonica. Will support digital input(?) as well as Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES (upto 7.1 channel output supported). No additional info yet. Link: http://www.m-audio.com/products/consumer/index.php# There is also the Creative Labs Solution of the Extigy. However this is more of a sound "card" solution rather than just an optical out solution. MSRP on the Audigy is $150 I believe. It also connects to the USB port of a compatible PC and provides several I/O features. It supports up to 24/96 on the digital outputs. It also features stand-alone DD decoding (helped via Ceative Labs' Software) but DTS is not decoded to 5.1 analog outputs. However both DTS and DD are supported through the digital outs for external decoders/receivers. I features 5.1 channel analog output and many PC standards for audio. It also features optical in and out as well as coaxial input and analog line level input. It features a remote as well. The Extigy is said to "strip" SCMS. Details are at: http://www.soundblaster.com/products/extig...igy/welcome.asp Well that's my list for now. If anyone has any comments on these or additions to the list, please feel free to add them! Hope that helps people out those that are looking for easy solutions for optical output (and input in some cases) on their PCs. Edit: Okay I've decided to make this a "Sticky" to keep people informed about ways to get digital output from a PC... I've also been informed of the cost-effective Yamaha Cavit DP-U50 unit (thanks to Watchdog on the T-Station forums!) which I will add to the list... Yamaha Cavit DP-U50 MSRP $99 CDN!--"External Audio Soundboard Processor". It also connects to the PC using USB and costs less than the Xitel PRO Hi-Fi Link and offers some different features (though it was reported the US MSRP was $250 US on the DP-U50 it appears there has been a price drop...). Dolby Pro Logic Decoding. Virtual Dolby Digital and DTS (2-speaker output only). However note that Yamaha makes no mention on ANY of the 3 different Cavit units' ability to "pass-through" AC-3/DTS digital bitstreams so I currently can't comment on whether it can do this or not. (The Sonica, PRO Hi-Fi Link and Extigy can do this). Edit: It appears that while the DP-U50 (and other Cavit units) can pass through an AC-3/DTS digital stream if it is on one of its digital inputs (opt. or coax.), it cannot send a 5.1 digital stream that it gets from the PC 24bit/96kHz max. resolution, also offers input facilities via one Coax, one Toslink and one analog input. This provides the ability to get sound into the PC via digital or analog connection and record to the HDD, something that the Xitel and M-Audio USB units do not. Offers multiple DSP modes via the on-board Yamaha DSP processor and also provides a 7-band EQ. All in all a very nice unit with the exception of the lack of ability to pass a 5.1 stream from the PC through its digital outputs. The Extigy lacks some of the sound processing ability of the Cavit and may also have worse sound quality but I have to say the Extigy has the edge as it can output 5.1 digital streams from the PC. The U50 Cavit is cheaper though. There are 3 different Cavit units but the DP-U50 is far cheaper than the other two units--the other two are ridiculously costly in comparison. See them at: http://www.yamaha.ca/computer/cavit/index.htm .

Yeah so would I. Hoping there will be corrective hearing surgery available later on is like taking up smoking hoping there will be something "invented" to clean out your lungs later in life when you are dying from lung cancer/emphezema etc. Just doesn't make sense to me. Protect your hearing now so you can enjoy music for a lifetime--at least that's my opinion.

The 7700MDX isn't even a NA model AFAIK, it is a available elsewhere though. I never really paid too much attention to whether they were releasing new car models in Japan but I did notice that the US models have been stationary in terms of HUs. The 66XLP is the latest but it is a changer... The MDX-M690 seems to have been short lived in the US and is no longer offered by Sony. The CA680X though is still a current model though it has been for a couple of years. Hopefully something new will be released. I always thought they might release an MDLP recording deck but I guess since the 800REC was not a good seller Stateside they decided against it. As for the repair of your MDX-C800REC, I think the problem is likely a defective pickup. I'm not sure about the cost of that pickup (I could check) but it is likely over $150 US dollars. However, there is hope for you! You can get the unit repaired for about $125 US through Sony's flate rate program that covers most units that are within 7 years of their "out-of-service" date or the last date Sony shipped/sold the model. This is actually a little known service I find. The $125 covers return shipping but the unit must be repaired by a Sony owned repair facility not just simply a local Authourised repair oulet. There are several Sony repair facilities about the US however and it is worth it to ship the unit to them and get the flat rate repair as it will likely be much cheaper if you require a pickup. If your model falls under the flat rate program (there are also a few conditions that apply) then that would be your best route. The only problem is that the repair can take upwards of a month or so and may even take longer if they have to get the part(s) required shipped from Japan (but that shouldn't be the case since your unit is relatively new). While it might be gone for a while I think that would be the best route to go. I mean unless you have a CD changer, personally I would rather have no unit for a short time than a unit that has only the radio working. Roland M.

I think you guys are confusing Smart Space and Auto Cut (like Me mentioned) with Auto Pause. If "though" meant the feature that is actually called, Auto Pause, that is a feature that goes along with Auto Space and are playback (as opposed to recording) features. Auto Space automatically makes a space of 3 seconds (of silence) after playing each track so if you wanted to record to a cassette tape you'd get the "silence markers" for tape decks with AMS to find the tracks. Auto Pause on the other hand simply puts the deck into pause mode after each track. Once it is in pause you press pause/play to unpause it and it will again pause after the next track is done playing. I don't know what the use of this feature is really but if though says he "needs" it he must know what it's good for! As for adding it to a JE470 I have no idea about that. But did the lower-end 4xx and 3xx series models have this feature and it was just removed on the JE470 was this a comparison to a 500 series or higher unit? Roland M.

I'm 24. BTW, Me, I posted on the T-Station thread as well. However I was pretty suprised when I saw you were only 16 ??? And Mystyler only 17 ??? I would have guessed you guys were older than that! Roland M.

Thanks, Me. Actually, though, I was asking what the difference beween the JE470 and JE480 was... They seem identical to me. Maybe a feature here or there is different? Roland M.