Skagen

Sonic stage is in some ways poorly designed and just inadequate. But not inadequate enough for me to knowingly put spyware on my own PC - yep any software by RealPlayer is pretty much spyware...

Not compared to a DR7, it doesn't. Sorry.

Dont be so sure. Now that HI-MD is out -at a prce range $200-400, market price of old MD goes down. So no reason why you won't see the older-generation minidisc technology in cheapo boomboxes! But that wont directly replace cassette. The logical upgrade path for somebody leaving cassete today is to get flash memory storage or a cheapo older genration 1-2 GB HD player.

Same as any other TV tuner remote out there on a cassette/CD/radio walkman existing today: you can listen to the audio portion of a TV broadcast - ONLY. You want a TV - buy a TV.

my-minidisc.de - online store in Germany is probably your chepaest best.

I used the have the japanese version of the R-900 and I actually though it was the best for jogging. It never once skipped on me. Since then, I've had a Sharp DR-7 and a Sony MZ-R909 and those DID skip on me. There may not be an easy solution for you. SOme factors in skipping. 1) hard surface make for more skipping. Grass is far less skip-inducing that running on roads. 2) holding the minidisc in your hand while you run, is better than having in your pocket- it shakes less 3) When you run with it in your hand, it helps to make smoother hand motions instead of really jerky ones - its better for your running form too! 4) if you have to put the minidisc in a pocket, a tight one is better than a loose one where it moves around more

Of the recorders out there the DR7 is porbbaly the best sound quality. Someone who knows about mics also claims that it has the best quality mic-preamp (aka "mic-in"). The DR7 works equally well with unpowered mics (into the mic-in) and powered mics (plug into the line-in) On that basis, the DR7 is a great choice for you. I have one myself and I love it. Regarding transfer to you computer, NO portable mindisc recorder can do this digitally. They all require you to play back the sound in real time naalog and re-record it onto your comuter (Yes, I think its retarded too, but that's what the facts are). So the best way to get your recordings from your MD to you computer is to buy the I-mic from Griffin Technologies, which is a usb connector with input and ouput jacks that you can plug into. It'll give you the cleanest analog line into your computer. I'm not too knowledgeale in that territory, so hopefully someone else can help you there The unit is exactly the same for all three, except for the name and some minor labelling differences on the minidisc unit itself. The DR7 is the Japanese version. The other two are the Singapore and European names for it. They have minor additonal accessories. The singapoer version has a world charger and the euro version has a European charger None make a difference. I think the Malaysian version is the cheapest in US $ terms and it comes with a the most accessories. Also the world charger it has is key since the other will run on Japanese or European current - ie they require you to buy a poer adapter. Some say the Jpanese current (100 Volts) is close enough to US (120 volts) and you canjust use it. I've done it before, but I don't know if that might shorten the life of the charger. It definiely wont hurt the unit though. www.teamdigital.net carries the Singapore version, and might be lower than audiocubes.

The earbuds that cpme with MD are lousy. For even just $12-15 the Sennheiser MX-500 will be a HUGE improvement in sound quality. I didn't realize just how bad the supplied standard earbud were until I got those MX-500.

In theory sure, you can come close, but in practice, its very hard to do a analog recording that will match the digital. Analog recording often have much thinner bass and slightly lower max volume. If you're using a Sony player/recorder that means your stuff will sound somewhat lame compared to a CD. Digital give you an exact copy of the original recording - no volume problems, no weirdness. Its much closer to CD quality with nothing to tweak or stress about, except to hit the "record" button. Why mess with analog?

MT 190 is the one you want or MT-200 (almost identical). I wouldn't buy it new - they go for about $175-200 new. MT190 and MT-200 (almost identical) go used on E-bay for $100-$150. That's a good price, especially if you get the MT-200.

I would say "ditto" to Sudden's recommendations of getting a used Sharp unit. However you mention upload to a computer. The easiest way of doing that is to get a Xitel gizmo that will take your analog output from your Minidisc recorder into a USB port and record it directly on your computer hard drive. There more info on that thing at www.minidisc.org, in the "Accessories browser" section. You will not be able to do it digitally - minidisc doesn't allow that - excpet via an expensive home deck. But I think that's fine - you make a good recording with a good mike, you'll have good music, whether or not its digital.

A new MT-190 costs roughly $180-200. I think that's a bit steep. You can get a used on on E-bay for $100-$140 easily. I think that's worth it. Good Things: - great sound - good feature set for the price - great design of the remote: simple, easy to use, hard to make mistake - good power 10 mW/channel: the most of ANY unit available Bad Things - slightly bigger than the average top-end unit - no lcd on remote Its a very good unit for low end and the only think that hld is back slighly is that its ever so sligtly bulky (but not as huge as the 290). Overall I think its a question of price. Above $140, you might as well go out and find yourself a used version of the next unit up (MT-200), or even the MT-770. Below that, you got yourself a nice deal.

324 Canal Street is one. There are also a few stores on Bowery (above canal st) Some stores at the north side of the mall under the Manhattan Bridge (at east Broadway)

If you decide to get the R909, and you are looking for a low price, I am actually selling mine. My e-mail is skagenNYC@yahoo.com. I'm in Norway, BTW...

J and R music world for the armband holder

Jogging in General: Why I jog with the my MZ-R909 in the pocket of my vest, it skips or stops a lot. When I hold it in my hand, it almost never skips. I think the movement of your arm act as a buffer insulating it from the impact as your body bumps up and down. I just bought an armband-style MD holder, but right now theres too much stuff on my arm when I jog, for me to be able to wear it correctly. I'm waiting for summer (ie when I'm not jogging with 3 layers of clothes!) to try it out. On "G-protection" vs other anti-skip: I've used a Japanese version MZ-R900, which no "g-protection". I also have used an MZ-R909. I usde both while jogging. The 900 never skipped - even not once - and thats WITHOUT g-protection. The 909 does skip, if I don't hold it in my hand while running. So I'm wondering myself if this g-protection thing really means anything at all. BTW the 909 nevers skips if I'm just walking aroun or on the bust/train whatever, so its not faulty - its more of reflection on the g-protection technology. On the 40-Second Buffer: I think the kep with jogging is to let the buffer fill up first ie play it for the 40 secs FIRST, and then begin runnning. That way it has a full 40 secs headstart to correctly read whatever its going to play for you. That has worked well for me.

just to let you guy know how much Paypal really sucks. So last week, they finally un-froze the account. They held all the moeny (more than $1,000) for over 3 months in total I think. No apology or reason given at all. They finally admitted that they had no justifiable basis for holding that money. Nor did they pay interest interest on this money that they had frozen, but were obviously earning float on! Needless to say that money is getting withdrawn and neither of us will EVER use Paypal again. Screw them! Hope the rest of you are aware of how much these guys can screw you over - without any justification whatsoever.

I don't see how that woud be. Portable minidisc recorders have only 1 output jacks: an analog headphone/line. You can't get a digital signal coming OUT from that, no matter what.

As long as the IPOD plays only MP3 format, its only going to get a certain user base. Now if somebody puts out somehting that plays Ogg format and records live audio, sure - that would be a threat. But MP3 format sounds like crap you can't even play continious mixes on it. So even if Apple adds recording capabilty to IPOD, anyone with discerning ears will still prefer the MD.

Christian, I may be able to sell you one.

But my best understanding is that the rough groupings of these things are: R500/R700/R900: Original MDLP ATRAC series N505/N707/R909/R910/N1: Added: MDLP Type R+quieter drive+Net MD N410/N510/N610/N910/N10: Added: MDLP Type S + size drop So there may be two questions there: a) is there discernible difference between the original MDLP ATRAC and the MDLP ATRAC Type R? This would answer the question of R700 vs N707 with ATRAC Type R. is there a discernible difference between the ATRAC Type S of the N10 generation and previous versions of MDLP ATRAC (Original & Type R)?

Just a quick clarification. "Guest" above is my post. I thought I was logged in when I posted, but apparently I wansn't. Anyway, it a problem that occured to me and is still not resolved. So FYI to those of you out there.