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raintheory

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Posts posted by raintheory

  1. For me, unencrypted .oma files aren't entirely useless. I use them for archiving live recordings that have been done in Hi-SP or Hi-LP. Converting them to lossless would just waste too much space. As long as I have a computer that is capable of converting them, I'll keep them. I agree that encrypted .oma and similar audio formats are too restrictive in the long run.

    This is how I archive stuff too. At least since '06 or so. Can always use HiMDrenderer or Sonicstage to convert to WAV when I need to work with them.

  2. The files are encrypted with DRM, and thus will not be playable on any machine/configuration other than the one they were created on... Reformatting/reinstalling the OS counts as a different machine/config.

    If the files were originally from CD, re-rip them and choose not to add copy protection in the preferences. This will avoid any problems like this in the future, as the files will then be playable on any machine.

    If they were imported from MiniDiscs, you are out of luck unless you still have the discs, in which case you can re-upload and follow the directions in the link found in my signature to remove copy protection (DRM)... Although it might be worth holding onto the unplayable oma files in case someone cracks the encryption (or sony opens the format) in the future.

    Sorry to be the bringer of bad news,,, :)

  3. There are some TOC cloning details in a link in my signature.

    If it is in fact a corrupt TOC, cloning may well be the only way to salvage the material (feel free to PM me if you want more info/help on the subject). If it only happens with this disc, chances are good that it is a TOC issue and not something to do with test/service mode.

    The issue could be a freak occurrence, or the ribbon cable that connects to the record head of your unit may be wearing out... In this case you will start to notice the same thing happen to more and more discs as the cable continues to deteriorate. There is a thread around here somewhere detailing how to repair the ribbon cable, but it might be better just to find a replacement unit.

  4. Oh and I also bought a Parallel > Ethernet adapter so I can try to make our LaserJet a network printer. I spent about 4 hours trying to share it from a WinXP box to our Linux box, WinXP laptop, Mac G5, and PowerBook G4. ...to no avail.

    After contemplating defenestration of said printer I found a used adapter on eBay for $10.

  5. The uploading process with the RH1 can be very straightforward once you have set the defaults, after which upon a successful upload SonicStage will dump resulting WAV files in the directory you choose.

    Just to elaborate on data loss; there technically won't be any as a result of the transfer as long as you have the SP upload set to PCM. The quality will be only as good as your source though (SP = ~292kbps, LP2 = ~132kbps, LP4 = ~66kbps). The good news is that being a Hi-MD recorder, the RH1 can record in uncompressed PCM (16bit 44.1KHz), so any recordings you do from here out will be technically CD quality.

    Uploading via the RH1 definitely cuts the time down compared to a realtime transfer. I spent a few years before the RH1 was introduced transferring our old discs in realtime via the optical output of my MDS-E10...

    What format are the recordings you are going to import?

    P.S. If you have ever used any other NetMD or Hi-MD recorders on your PC, be sure to follow the steps in the following thread to enable the full-speed transfer of legacy discs: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=21299

    ---

    Here are a few screenshots for you, as well as a rundown of some settings you will want to change:

    Main transfer screen

    post-1817-1215151853_thumb.jpg

    The red arrows are the transfer controls, so highlighting tracks on the MD side and clicking the left arrow will initiate the transfer.

    The gray toolbox below the arrows brings you to our next step, transfer settings. Assuming you have a legacy MiniDisc inserted this will be the NetMD settings, which is what we want. On the first screen click on the "Advanced" button, then click on the "Import Settings" tab:

    post-1817-1215152210_thumb.jpg

    You'll notice on your screen that the "Format for importing non-MDLP tracks" shows "ATRAC (256kbps)" by default. You'll want to open the drop-down box and change this to "PCM (1411 kbps)" in order for your imported tracks to be full quality. Keep "Save in WAV format when importing" checked, and choose a directory for SonicStage to dump your resulting WAVs.

    Once you've got the files imported and your WAVs in a folder, you can delete the files in "My Library" (be sure "Delete from computer" is checked when you delete them). The files in "My Library" are copy protected versions of the imported files, stored separately in SonicStage's folders, and effectively take up double the space on your hard drive if you keep them around. As long as you have your WAV files there is no need to keep the DRM'ed versions (which cannot be played in anything but SonicStage anyway, as they are .OMA files).

    That should do it! Let me know if you have any questions.

    -Aaron

  6. Haha! Yep, if money was no issue I would have chosen a mackie (we have a NICE one at work). But $40 for something little (for light use, no yanks or walking/driving over) was just about right.

    You'll be the first to know if I start having issues! ;)

  7. By standalone, do you mean a MiniDisc deck or a portable?

    The Rh1/M200 is the only unit that will transfer digitally/faster than realtime the "legacy" formats (SP/MONO/LP2/LP2) to PC. Along these lines, you cannot transfer NetMD recordings made via OpenMG/SonicStage, even with the RH1/M200 (there is a way around this, but it involves a hack, TOC cloning, which is another can of worms and a fairly difficult endeavor).

    See here regarding uploading, etc:

    http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=7070

  8. A small Behringer XENYX-802 mixer:

    behringerxenyx802mixerfql7.jpg

    The old Realistic mixing console I have been using for years finally bit the dust (plus it only had RCA ins/outs anyway, so I had a lot of rigging up with it), this one will be a great and welcome replacement for it. I can only hope it lasts as long though!

  9. MDLP recordings (LP2/LP4) are transferred as-is, SP/MONO recordings are by default transcoded to Hi-SP, however you can choose to have them uploaded as PCM (recommended).

    You can choose to have uploads automatically converted to WAV, or manually do it afterward. The resulting WAV can of course be converted to your format of choice.

    P.S. The RH1 is essentially the same as the M200. The only difference is the price and the fact that the M200 comes with a bundled microphone. You will probably find an RH1 for a good bit less money.

    • Like 1
  10. Sounds like yr recorder is somehow confused and playing back the disc at the wrong speed (i.e., if you transferred the tracks as LP4, perhaps it is playing back at LP2)...

    I've had this happen while cloning TOCs, but never seen it otherwise. Sorry I have nothing to offer except perhaps transferring in a different format, even perhaps trying SP compatibility mode to see if it plays that back okay.

  11. What I've done in the past is keep the unit in REC-PAUSE, then unpause it from the remote to start recording... Not as handy as a record button on the remote would be though.

    You can also adjust the rec levels via the remote, which does come in handy.,

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