jadeclaw

Hi-MD recorders do play gapless. Gaps can be introduced by the ripping process itself and that can depend on the CD drive used. For the highest quality, recording in realtime off the digital out of a regular CD-player is recommended. Yes, the codec in the recorder is better than the one in SonicStage... Another problem in SonicStage: playing back from Hi-MD in SonicStage is not gapless, despite the fact that the same disc plays gapless, when the recorder is used without the computer.

It's not, that the upload adds imperfections, it is that tracks get randomly trashed. If a track is successfully uploaded and then downloaded back onto a MD, it sounds identical to the original track. The problem is, roughly 1 out of 50 tracks gets trashed and if you cannot repeat that recording, then you have a problem...

My idea would be the Delta mic plus the micPod from Reactive Sounds The sound samples given there are quite good.

Sony promised a converter, so that own recordings can be exported into standard wave files. We're still waiting... To come back to your original question, any synchronization has to be done during edit of the video as none of the current Hi-MD recorders have a synchronizing input. With its rehearsal divide, the NH900 would allow to set a trackmark within 1/6th of a second on the clap.

Clearly, this is false advertising and I think, these guys should be notified: http://www.asa.org.uk/index.asp And since the same product is available at the normal price, I come close of calling it fraud.

Readonly discs cannot be uploaded. You have to close the read-protect lever for the upload even to start. Symptom of a failed upload: you see the little green icon in front of each track? (Transfer window, inserted Hi-MD disc) If a track is uploadable it looks like this <[]. After upload, the pointy edge is gone [] On a failed upload, the counter still goes up to 100% but the icon stays pointy. <[] In addition, the failed track is no longer playable. Not via SS, not in standalone mode "CANNOT PLAY". To reduce the probability of a failure, connect the USB-cable only. If the recording cannot repeated, record it off the USB instead of uploading it. The protect lever simply pushes a switch, so no mechanics involved here.

Time to get serious here... First, the tuner is included in the 800. The tuner is in the remote and you can not record from it. The 900 doesn't has a tuner but other features instead. If you think, you can live without the radio, take the 900, but if the radio is essential, take the 800 instead. A word about batteries: The 800 takes AA-cells directly, a 700 mAh cell is included, aftermarket suppliers offer batteries with up to 2400mAh, effectively tripling the playing time given in the manual. You might need a separate charger to get the full capacity of these. The 900 takes gumstick type batteries, which are considerably more expensive, but it allows to get rid of the bulge on the back. Best thing would be to view the unit's pages here and to download and read the manuals. The NH900 is here: http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-NH900.html The NHF800 is here: http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-NHF800.html You still have the NH600 lying around? Don't open the package, return it to get the money back.

Yup. Quality is considerably better than SonicStage but still well below FM-Radio. Ringing and phasing effects are still well audible. High range is much better than SonicStage but the artefacts render it unusable for music. And the high range still breaks down, when the music becomes complex For me, LP2 is the lowest acceptable quality, but I have decided to use Hi-SP exclusively + PCM for special occasions.

Din Unlock means, that there is NO signal at the input. SCMS protection shows up as "No Copy" It looks like, that the driver is unable to correctly initialize the Yamaha card. Check in the Control panel --> Device manager for any Hardware conflicts. In addition, deactivating the onboard sound in the computers BIOS-Setup could solve the problem as well. Deinstalling and Reinstalling the drivers helps sometimes too. If all fails and there is still a conflict between the Yamaha and the onboard sound, deactivating the onboard sound using the jumpers on the mainboard would do the job as well. Last resort: Backup all data, Reinstall windows.

NH900 or if you want to save a few pounds, the NH700. Sounds good and does its job. Btw, the data behind these links IS correct...

I've tried to copy a Hi-MD formatted MD by copying the HiMD-folder onto the PC and copying it back to a different MD. Doesn't work. I'm sure, there is a hidden area, that cannot be accessed in storage mode.

The MP3-decoder in sonicstage sucks. The route via wave file usually works.

So, no special audio caps, selected amplifier chips and metal oxide resistors? Oh well. Reminds me of Breitling watches - 2 grand for brass shell with a cheap swatch inside...

Try Stereo-Mix instead(Muting everything except Wave, of course). Or if the SP/DIF of the Card is full duplex, connect input and output with an optical cable, play out via digital out and record via digital in. Or just use Total recorder or VAC (Virtual Audio Cable)...

Redid the test, SP is SP. Seems, that I have mixed up the tracks in my earlier test...

Select Standard transfer (the fourth button between the windows), in that dialogue it is the upper radiobutton. Check the files in the library for their properties, select the File Info tab in that dialogue. It should state OpenMG Audio(Atrac3plus) under File format and 256 kbs right to "Bit Rate". If not, delete the tracks from the libraries and reimport them again. When deleting, check the "Remove from my Library" and mark the "Delete OpemMG-Files" as well. Don't mark the "Delete non-OpenMG-Files" box! Don't convert after importing. Finally, click Transfer mode again, select Standard transfer mode, click on Details, and select "Convert automatically and transfer" and in the listbox select "ATRAC3Plus 256kbs". Whe you transfer then the files are automatically converted to Hi-SP. Subsequent transfers are done without converting.

I just wait two seconds after pressing Stop and that is usually enough for the disc to spin down. However, I took some MDs for a closer look and most of the discs are constructed in a way, that the recording area doesn't touch the casing. Exceptions: TDK RXG and the fully transparent Color series. Here the top surface can touch the casing. Add fine sand and you have a problem...

Well, you made me repeat the test and I don't know, what went wrong the first time, maybe I mixed up some tracks leading me into thinking, that it is glorified LP2. However, I repeated it and the NH700 definitely creates true SP quality wise. I cannot tell, if the NH700 is better or equal to my JE500, my ears are at the limit here. The chain as usual: CDP-711 --> digital --> MD --> TA-F470 --> DT-770.

More bugs: 1.) The running times of the tracks in an album are getting mixed up, when sorting the album. Refreshing the list doesn't correct this error. 2.) Artist info is missing in simple mode. Feature wanted: Let us freely select the bitrate, when transferring onto MD, regardless of the omg/oma-files on the HDD, so I can have Hi-SP on the PC and LP2 on the MD. Allow to create Sub-albums in the Library to allow finer organisation on the PC.

VanRecord is quite limited. It is not even possible to set the bitrate for the encoder... Audacity, Nero Mediaplayer et al: The source to record is selected in the Mixer panel. A single / double click on the Volume control brings it up, then select Options --> Properties and in the following dialogue select Record from the three radiobuttons. In the listbox below, you'll select, which channels to be shown, make sure, that Wave is checked. Confirm with OK. Now you see all recordable inputs lined up nicely in the mixer, check the box under the control in the Wave channel, set the slider to 100%. The USB-Audio from the recorder is played out on the Wave-channel. Almost all recording software relies on the mixer panel and its input selection. If additional effects software has been installed , when you installed your soundcard-driver, make sure, that it is deactivated. When you're through with that, start your Wave-software, start SonicStage, insert disc, then start recording in your Wave-software and immediately then start playback in SonicStage(Transfer-window). If you already have stuff in SonicStage and want to get it out, start playback in the Library window instead.

How boring... How about a nice condo: The Making of: http://tilofranz.net/case/holz.htm

The disc plays in an old MD-deck. So it is backward compatible. Oh, you wanted full SP-quality? Sorry pal, no place for nostalgia here. :wink:

To my ears, it is LP2 with a compatibility layer. My JE500 sounds better (ATRAC4.5)

The connector on the NH800 has the extra notches, according to the promo pictures the connector on the NH700 doesn't have them. My NH700 has the connector with the notches. Hmm, could the radio remote work?

Yep, but it doesn't prevent all losses. There is a bottom number of tracks that get trashed anyway and electromagnetic interference increases that number. Normal filetransfer in Windows, standalone recording or playback is not affected in any way, regardless if the ferrites are on the cables or not...