S.S.

I am pretty pissed that NetMD won't let you add/delete track marks or delete tracks on files you've "checked out" from Open MG Jukebox. This whole restrictive configuration is really annoying, and it really P's me off that they so restrict our abilities to manipulate our sound files. That said... it sounds like there is no way around this. I want to create/delete track marks on the MD unit itself. Is there a way? If not on the unit, then is there at least a way to do it in OpenMG? I hope someone can help! Thanks.

Oh yeah - I forgot to mention some other REQUIRED features: - Bookmarking - Some of the files I record are an hour or so long. Sometimes I fat-finger it (kinda hard not to when the buttons are so damn small) and instead of fast-forwarding through the track, I skip to the next track, etc. It really sucks to have to start over from the beginning of the track and hold the fast-forwarding down to get back to the spot where I left off - it takes forever!! Before I got this first MD of mine, I thought that you'd be able to bookmark points in a track while you were listening to it, but it looks like that is not possible. It looks like with the N707, you can only bookmark when you're recording via the mic. That's lame! Is there anyway to get around this w/ the N707? I want to add bookmarks throughout my long tracks, and as I am listening to them, so that when I fat-finger, I can more easily get back to say, the middle of a 60-minute track, etc. Does anyone know if on the newer Sony's w/ bookmark functions, if you can bookmark while listening to an already-recorded track? Another HIGHLY DESIRED function - - Faster fast-fowarding/reverse - When you hold fown f.f. or reverse, it goes really slow. It doesn't seem to accelerate, either, as you hold the button down for longer. Does anyone know if this is configurable, or if certain models have faster f.f./reverse speeds? Thanks. :wink:

Ok – thanks again for your advice. I just got a Sony N707. It’s ok – but it has some flaws, and now that I have my first MD, I realize some additional features I need in an MD. Below is my revised list of what features I think I need (including stuff from my very first post, above). Might you guys know of a model to recommend? If it’s not a Sony, where I can buy it? MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA - Good shock absorption – will use it while running - Very compact - Mic jack (or Mic-compatible) - NetMD/able to record directly from pc - Line in jack (so I can record real time from a radio/tuner). REALLY-DESIRED CRITERIA: - Built in speakers: It’s been a real hassle dragging my MD and my huge boombox and the cables all over my house to listen to my MD, whenever I move about the house. I definitely don’t want to use the headphones at home – I can’t stand that. It almost sounds like to get portability and the ease of having available speakers as I move about the house, I either need to get two different units (a typical portable one and one with built in speakers – like a business MD recorder) or have to get a set of small portable speakers (like that Sony one that folds up into the dimensions double-wide cd jewel case)? - Built-in radio/tuner: This is still on my “wish list”, but it seems that for practical reasons, I should give up on this and resort to plugging in a radio when I want to record straight from radio. THINGS ABOUT THE N707 I WANT REVISED!: - The multi function button (play/stop/ff/rewind) sucks – it’s too small. I already have small hands – even then, sometimes I push the button in the wrong direction and instead of pausing it, I stop it, etc.! :evil: A unit with big-enough buttons would be better! - More intuitive unit interface: Gee, is BJ really right? Do the Sharps have a more intutive interface? I know that with a limited amount of buttons on the unit, you will have to “drill down” through a certain level of menus in order to access specific functions. But, so far, I find it more cumbersome than necessary on this damn N707. - LCD display that “streams” the track information faster? Most of my track titles are long, and it takes forever for the little screen to stream the track information so I can tell what exact track is being played! - Backlit remote: Now I realize a remote is really necessary, and preferably one that displays track information. BTW – topjijo – regarding your mention that etronics has a bunch of MD units – that excited me at first. But then, if I recall correctly, all the boombox units they listed were unavailable!! Waaaah!! :cry: Hehe. My verdict so far on this MD stuff – I’m pretty disappointed in what was promised, but… the fact that it appears to be the only super-compact, portable, recordable digital media that is not in tape form (i.e. linear-access) seems to be its saving grace. Anyway - study hard, topo - esp. if you're going to school there! :wink:

I don't get it. So far, after having my first MD for only a few days, I already hate OpenMG!!! It really SUCKS!!! I have the newest RealOne player (the free one), and I downloaded those Sony device plug-ins. How do I use it to transfer mp3's to my MD? Do you still have to use OpenMG to convert them to ATRAC files first, or can RealOne do that, too? Can you provide some detailed info. or references as to the step-by-step instructions? I'm already struggling with other MD and sound file downloading issues - I don't think I currently have the time/patience to dink around with it and try to figure it out for myslef. :? Why does ctwilley refuse to use RealOne? I do hate some aspects of it. Too much commercial stuff and other crap that just pops up on my pc. Is Winamp more "commercial free"? I've never used it, I think. Thanks!

Ok - thanks for the advice so far. I spend hours on this site trying to gain knowledge from all these different threads, and it's so... exhausting...!! I feel ready to give up and just buy one. It's so hard to get a better idea of what is what when the stupid stores here barely stock any MD's. Is it something about living in the Pacific Northwest? What areas have bricks & mortar stores that sell a healthy selection of MD's? That brings to mind another question - aside from portable MD's, why are all the other types of units (boomboxes - especially, decks, etc.) so darned hard to find, even online!? If MD's are supposedly so great, why is is so damn hard to find them in most stores? We have to resort to wading through all these online discussions just to get a more complete picture of what they're all about! Maybe it's just me - instead of wasting time reading posts I should just go and shell our about $200-$300 for one (to avoid getting the cheapest bottom-of-the-barrel model which I might later regret when I realize it lacks features I want). Ok, I remember some other "features" I would like my MD unit to have: - Some type of secure way of attaching it to my gym shorts or arm while I'm walking in the gym. - External speakers (it's ok if it's as an added accessory) that has good enough sound quality to listen to talk radio. - Do any MD's have timers so that, say, if I were recording off a radio tuner via a line in cable, I could tell the unit to stop recording after 60 minutes? Also, if I can only find a good-enough MD via an online retailer, do most of them allow returns (if I'm not satisfied) without outrageious "restocking" fees, etc.? Lastly, does anyone know about a good "boombox" type unit? In otherwords, one I could use at home that has the convenience of built in speakers, maybe a built-in mic, that is somewhat portable, and has a built-in tuner? I kind of can't believe that practically all the MD's units out there, readily available and affordable, or little walkman type units. If MD is so great, why are there not more MD's in boombox and deck form, etc.? Thanks again.

Someone above mentioned that they got an armband carrier/holder or something, for his/her MD. Where can you find these? Just as importantly, where can you find ones that don't look gay (silly)?? Don't any popular models (if any at all) come with custom-fit hooks or cases or something where you can hook it to your gym shorts or to your arm? Why not? That seems so important!!! Agggh.....!!! :evil: :x

I am new to MD totally and have been trying to do much online research in the past week. I'd appreciate your gracious advice on my issues. I think I want a NetMD recorder for the following purposes: MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA - Use it to walk/run on treadmill in gym - Be able to play radio talk shows - of course, this means I have to somehow record archived or live-streaming online radio broadcasts/show on a computer - Very compact, as I will hold the player in my hand while on the treadmill. It doesn't appear that there are convenient/effective/attractive ways to "hook" the MD player onto your body somehow where it will be stable and not skip while running. - Overall not be require too much fussiness with basic functions such as downloading music from your pc and recording music from the built-in tuner (if it had one). - Overall have pretty good user-interface/controls design. I thought Sony usually has more graceful/elegant and functional user controls than other Japanese manufacturers, when it comes to miniaturized gadgets - no? SECONDARY CRITERIA - NOT be totally cheapy and easily breakable if you just happened to knock it over a little, like on a table or something (unlike falling off a counter/table onto the floor). - I would be interested in recording radio audio (mainly talk shows, not music) real-time - by using the MD's radio tuner (if it had one). I don't know if this is possible with the newest crop of MD's w/ tuners. From the information on this website, it seems like it's possible, but I'm not sure. - If it were convenient, I would like to mess around with recording live voice with the MD unit - again, talk, not really singing. I don't know of the quality of recording voice with these units, especially the ones designed mainly to play discs (most of the MD models), not record voice (for example, Sony's "business" MD recorders). OK... I think I've listed all the criteria I am trying to meet! :shock: Now - what do you advise?? :? I see many posts discussing MD's by other Japanese companies, but it seems both in local stores and online, the selectin is almost alwasy SONY SONY SONY. I didn't mind, at first, because I overall view Sony as having quality products - if not a wee bit overpriced for their name/reputation (I don't mind paying a bit more for reliability instead of spending lots of time "bargain hunting"). But if you users are advising models by Aiwa, Sharp, etc. which I can barely fine even online, then... that doesn't help much! :? Second - I see that the Sony MZ-N505 is available now online for about $82 USD. That's not bad. If I wanted a current Sony model with radio tuner, that would cost about $200 USD, and with a mic-jack as well, $280 USD!! Is it worth another $120 USD or $200 USD for features (radio tuner and recording live voice) that might not even work that great on a tiny little unit? Would it be better to buy an additional bigger unit (such as a home unit or a business recorder) if I discover that I really want those additional functions? In total, this would cost more, but it's also frustrating to pay extra for features on a little unit when the features aren't really optimized for nice "usability". I'm afraid that the MZ-N505 might be too cheap and flimsy. I am not super clumsy, but with the unit traveling around in a gym bag, being used while running, and being moved back and forth to record stuff off the pc, etc. - there are chances it will get knocked around! I originally thought that having a built-in radio tuner was a necessity, because I want to record radio talk shows which might not be available online later (or if so, they might also cost $ to access). However, what is the quality recording straight from the built in radio to a minidisc? Is it even possible w/ the current Sonys (I see from this site that the older ones w/ tuners did not allow that)? If it's cumbersome, and the sound quality isn't very good, is it not really worth another $120 USD just to get a built-in radio tuner? I think I have overwhelmed myself with this post! I might be leaving out a few other smaller issues to consider, but I think I have the major ones down. Also, I am not really too interested in an MP3 player. I don't think I would care to have to have a limited space to manage my entire music/voice files on the unit. Plus, like someone else mentioned, the larger the centralized collection of material, the more of a pain it is to wade through it. I hope some of you who love to discuss stuff on this site can give me some pretty good feedback! THANKS! :wink: