jadeclaw

@Rombusters: It is, leaning to the 132k-side qualitywise. @cromulent: SonicStage relies on directshow filters & codecs and if an inferior third party codec is installed, SonicStage trips up. It is the Windows-philosopy again: Mix it all together until everything stops working...

http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ Runs without any problems here.

If you listen closely with good headphones(the 150$ class and up), you will hear a small difference, the 105k being a little bit rougher. You wont hear that difference, when being on the road, especially in a noisy environment. It is still better than Hi-LP...

@Jimmix: While the results are better than the SonicStage-created tracks, Hi-LP@64k still can't keep up with LP2@132k.

Well, Norton has a software for this, it is called 'Ghost'. It creates a copy of the harddisk partition and can recreate the partition on the new harddisk, including restoring OS and Applications. One Problem: Buying a new Windows Install CD on ebay is about the same price... Plus, Windows is the only operating system, that suffers from 'Rotting'. So, once or twice a year, a fresh reinstall is necessary anyway, so this might be a good reason to get rid of all the junk that got installed along the important stuff. If the harddisk is unpartitioned, Windows 2000/XP offers partitioning the drive before continuing the install, so installing on a completely fresh disk is no problem.

@StarCapt: Look here:http://www.minidisc.org/images/sony_mzneh1...h1_avwatch2.jpg

Standard disc: Hi-SP. Maximum time here(80min disc): 2h:20min. 1GByte disc: Hi-SP as well (7h:55min.). Unless you want the highest quality AND the show is 90minutes or less, then use PCM.

If you selected that, when ripping or importing into SonicStage, you can use that for transferring too. To achieve that, you have to select 'Hi-MD' from the 'MD mode'-dropdown in the transfer window. On standalone playback, the recorder will show Hi-SP. Plus, you can check, what the files on the PC are in by right clicking on a track, then selecting 'Properties' from that menu. In the following Dialogue, select the 'Files' tab.

You're welcome.

One Note: Sony is too dumb to create software, that works with non-admin user accounts. Despite the fact, that the programming interface for that is known since the old times of Windows NT3.51. So, for SonicStage to work correctly, you need admin rights. (Security risk!!!).

SonicStage doesn't do mono. Mono is only possible with SP and since SonicStage doesn't have it, there is no Mono. If you need the playing time, use LP2 or record in realtime.

It is not the disc. It is SonicStage. I had it multiple times and I always could reuse the disc without any problems.

That doesn't work... Do a different avenue: SonicStage has a Backup-Software included. Use that SonicStage-Backup to make a backup from your Library on your old PC. Then use the SonicStage-Backup on your new PC to restore from THAT backup, you just made. Oh, and don't forget to give it time, it needed well over three hours to back up my 28GByte library onto a USB-Harddisk.

Yes. SS keeps the OMA, so a second transfer is faster. Plus, you can playback on the PC too.

@deafplayer: It is simple: Sony has a music business. That is the reason. But as long as it isn't deleted, playback through USB is possible, then capture it with TotalRecorder or a similar Software. @Rombusters: Normally, LP2 is 132kBit, but with the introduction of Atrac-CD-players and NetMD, the 105kBit rate was added. Why? I really don't know. If you don't mind a small quality loss compared to 132kBit, you can add about 1 hour playing time on a standard disc in Hi-MD-mode and about 4 hours on a 1GByte disc. In NetMD-mode, the playing times for 132 and 105kBit are identical, so use 132kBit for these.

@Sparda: Try Peter Ravn's HiMD-Calculator: http://ravn.net/md/hi-mdcal.htm

If you don't use them, your unit will not be harmed in any way. Use these clamps, when a broadcast station or an active radio mateur / cb-station is nearby. They prevent radio frequency interference.

Check the disc. It happened twice to me. PC wasn't a Mac, but the effects where the same. Out of my 300+ discs, there was one with a hole in its writing layer. In standalone recording, the recorder beeps, when reaching the hole and shows 'Record Error'. But connected to the PC, the recorder's firmware crashed, when reaching the hole. Depending on the USB driver, the OS gets downed as well. SonicStage died consequently... The second time, it was a small piece of white plastic stuck to a disc, which had the same effect... After removing it, the disc was fine again. Other posibilities: Electric interference - try adding one of the clamp-on filters included. or try to connect the recorder directly to the computer, if it is connected to a hub. We had reports of problems with Hi-MD and USB-hubs. And check Apple's update service for OS updates and patches for the USB-department.

Well, there is another point: Reliability. Until now, I had very little problems even with very old discs. My oldest discs are about 8 years old and they record and play back just fine. In comparison, a lot of CD-R/RW failed over that time on me. An estimate of 40% of these CDs are now unreadable. No, not scratches, just ageing. Reflective layer oxydizing, lacquer peeling off on the label side, writing layer slowly losing its optical characteristics - I've never had that trouble with Minidisc. The only thing to observe: Stay away from Memorex.

Zips are dirt cheap on ebay... Iomega produces only the 750MB version. Speedwise, the Zip250 is about 25% faster than Hi-MD on big files, on small files the Zip is 2 to 4 times faster, depending on the filesize. Reason: the slow positioner in current Hi-MD units. I guess, that will change with home/pc-units...

LP2 @ 132k and 105k have the same playing time on standard MDs, as the number of sectors per minute is the same. In Hi-MD mode, the data is differently organized, so that 105k gives about one hour more playing time on a standard disc compared to 132k.

I'm still waiting for a real Hi-MD-PC-Drive myself... RE: USB: First, USB1.1 is still faster than Hi-MD can read or write. Second, USB1.1 devices are more compatible with older USB-capable machines.

There shouldn't be a difference, as Hi-MD units write in bursts anyway, as the possible datarate is much higher than what codec and converters deliver. Plus, the data is buffered too... However, real-time recording delivers a better quality, than what SonicStage creates. Especially at low bitrates(Hi-LP/LP2/LP4).

The I say, sell it off on ebay and get a diferent one. And of course, when buying a new one, make sure, that you can return it, if it doesn't work.

You should be able to, if it is an analog recording.(LineIn/Mic) Or use Marc's tool (HiMDRenderer) Correct. Happened to me with the SonicStage 2.1. You have one shot...