Modernaire

I own one of these, - EXCELLENT MDLP deck. Not ES/QS level construction but a top performer with even NETMD abilities - USB B female in the rear - Optical I/O. Type S! Great price I might add - I paid higher! Good luck selling this beauty!

I usually name my discs for whatever them or person Im thinking of, usually my lady if its a soft rock romantic disc. Or I'll call something by a certain artist like Prince as Purple Jams or MJ as Gone Too Soon, whatever inspires the set, or Workout Jamz, stuff like that. Thats the enjoyable part of making an MD, it can be very personal, carefully chosen tracks considering the message, maybe what can inspire me to say walk or when I drive and do errands, maybe a morning disc as a pick me up and so on. In contrast to typical digital players in which you just dump a bunch of your favorites based on making a very loose radio-like set. Its just happen-chance-like selections.

For MD users who want to do the same but do not own an MD Transfer 2.0 or HiMD deck there is another way: MD deck - Standard or MDLP with TOSLINK/Optical IN/OUT jacks. A Mac with TOSLINK IN/OUT port like the latest Mac mini or Aluminum iMacs and ProMacs. Audio Capture software of your choice on the Mac. Record digitally into the Mac HD. Then playback with software of your choice with Optical cable out to in of a fresh new MD deck and that should do it. Keeps it all digital.

Im afraid that only maybe the higher end HiMD recorder MAY be in production. I've started to buy a few rare units as collectibles and backups. But Im not expert on where Sony is in terms of MD units still being produced, Im not that much of an insider! Maybe other companies in Japan still make them like JVC, Kenwood? Etc. Anyone have the inside on still in-production units. I know from visiting music instrument stores that the last great MD unit - the MZ-RH1 (?) is bundled up with a Sony mic for PCM live recording musician use.

Through ebay, years ago, well, maybe around '02 or so, I found these great MD boxes, they have lids, are not like racks and have slots for about 20 or so discs? They came in colors. I only bought three, I regret not buying more. I'll post photos one day.

I enjoy your enthusiasm in your vids Diskette! Love your member name too! Diskette!

Wow. That Tascam is beautiful! Type R or S? I own the MDS-JE780 I bought from someone who brought it over from Japan. Its not as bulky but wow is it a beautiful deck! Champagne, keyboard input, record levels for optical as well, plus it has NETMD capabilities, but that only works with Windows computers and I use a Mac OS PC. Optical I/O is great, sound quality stunning at SP and LP2 with S playback. I'd like another one like that 480 though.

It would of been nice if Sony as a last MiniDisc tribute would of released a high end ES/QS HiMD super duper deck with digital I/O and keyboard input. Just as a swan song. Shame.

I like it. Nice place. I love Sony products of all kinds, especially of course MiniDisc and ES, SACD and other products, so its a nice place to look into more of the Sony world. I also feel that perhaps this will get other Sony fans interested maybe in something they hadnt really looked into. People may crossover and for fun dip into the world of MiniDiscs in general, you never know!

If you're intention is to enjoy a mix that one, sounds really good and two that is a bit more personal, then MD is very useful. I tend to do special mixes of lossless songs on my iMac with optical out to my MDLP Type-S deck at SP or LP2 and I can really get a sort of carefully recorded personal mix-MD. I did this with Michael Jackson recently, mixing in tributes with his music, old song bits not on CD with another song, the result was touching and enjoyable beyond just a simple menu-selected playlist. My mind was on song selection, what each song meant Also, for that rare LP or 45(s), slapping that vinyl on a turntable and recording on the fly is on the negative, time consuming, slightly tedious, but on the plus side a somewhat fun process of handling formats like vinyl and MD and getting a kick out of the results! Ultimately its the music, songs that matter, the process if fun and the work in making an MD can be rewarding and you tend to appreciate the final result and music at the end. Thats what made music so good way back, people actually sat down, selected a few LPs and handled stuff, it was like a labor of love, physical and you listened carefully, bought a few LPs, not 10,000 songs all dragged over with little thought or effort and menu-selected. Artists, the music industry most likely knew this, they were really being listened to. For me its just one way I can take my music/songs with me, my practice recordings for portable review, my critical at remote location/work/gym/walks listening. Its still will be and for the long haul, useful for me.

My take - The MiniDisc format was a success, just not as obvious as say in Europe and Asia, but it was a success. Whats changed really is the music industry, Im giving CDs another 5 to 10 years until they are phased out as well. Yes, lossy portable players went hand in hand with the Napster revolution as I call it and that spoiled people into hoarding as much as they could and Apple ceased an opportunity and here we are. But I think its just part of an evolution of how music delivery (for lack of a better word right now, at this hour) is going to change. Online lossy music access and playlists will replace audio-specific portable devices like the iPod and such. You'll be able to access your music, that you purchased or whatever, from your cellphone/entertainment hybrid device. Oh, and lossless downloads will also prevail with full on cover artwork available for your giant flat screen home computer, downloadable or remote music entertainment. Streamed content as we become a less wired society around the developed world. I own no Crystal Ball along with my MiniDisc portables, but its not, at least from my view, a complete Sony failure. Its just how will you fit into the future model.

I like it! Like a nice new place...

The pre-recorded MiniDisc jewel boxes were made at the Sony plants. They dont make them anymore. I tried several years ago to find them and I think I actually contacted Sony Music and thats what they told me.

Old cassettes recorded on Maxells mostly. Project soon of transferring them to MiniDisc MDLP at LP2 or SP Type-S using a Sony TC-RX606ES cassette deck. After the project is done, which should actually be a lot of fun, re-listening, using the keyboard input to name, etc. and the healthy activity of getting something done and clearing up clutter, Im still going to keep the ES as I have old mint cassingles and cassettes that are special to me and very collectible. I once owned a Tascam 302 and I will never forget how GOOD that deck was, pro level, incredible B/C NR. I really truly regret selling it. Second close to it is the Elevated Standard decks with S-NR but of the mid to late 90's. Me too! I know computers well and have used Soundtrack Pro with much delight, but in my view, much like also creating music as musician or home recordist, using menu's, software, mousing around, selecting this, dragging that, takes so much away from the simple process of recording. I still love the separate dedicated deck that has the little red REC/PAUSE ready for me to push and start recording. Then listening closely to the results, there's just something great about that! Im looking forward to recording a few LPs for on the go listening. All this is just another excuse to listen to more music!

Yeah, on eBay around 02-04 you could buy those from a lady in China - Heidi something, I forget. I got authentic TDK Music Jacks but darn it, now that I look at them, Im wanting a few. I'll keep looking but if anyone has an unused set they dont want please post here and let me know! Thank you!

High. Havent been here in a long time but Im back. I have vinyl records I want to select tracks from and make MDs for my ride in and for workouts. Im going through my old MDs and I found I loved the TDK Bit Club series. Im looking for those really cool BIT CLUB MDs with traffic graphics, pixilated Mona Lisa, which I have on of but wouldnt mind a few more and any other TDK graphic-y MDs. The WA looks amazing and HO was nice, but I'd like BitClub or WA's. Maybe FlowerMix and definitely the FINE series especially the cat illustration ones. Anyway, so if you have preferrably new old stock or factory sealed, open only if mint, please let me know. Thanks! Examples::. TDK WA: TDK BitClubs: TDK Fine - CAT!:

I've posted on the other "TOC error Problem" thread my tests and findings. In a nutshell, here's what I did: My theory, is that okay, well if Sony just added the stress of the NetMD technology to a N900 revamped, okay, but I think as a result, you have to FORMAT the fresh (or used) MD in SP! The internal noises are probably normal, except for that clicking sound. Normally what I do is grab a fresh Sony or TDK blank MD and straight record at LP2. But I always ran into problems, sometimes it would record straight through but in playback it would stall or hang on tracks. But most of the time I'd get that TOC error click and non-record problem :whatever: So what I did recently is format an MD in SP, straight through, just recording of nothing (nothing connected and feeding audio), one track from beginning to end. THEN, I recorded in LP2 and NO problems recording or that dreaded TOC edit hang! :grin: At least for me this is working. But I've recorded in all manners, you know, pausing and holding that for a while, track marking, stopping recording, then continueing, whatever one does when normally recording and everythings cool. Now, maybe there was a couple of instances of stalling in playback, but it recovered nicely. I think that if you don't format an MD, meaning record in SP once and then in LP2 or LP4 or even Mono, then its like the MZ-N1 doesn't recognize the rest of the extended space on the MD, its confused in perhaps reading an LP2 recording as an SP and thinks it should stop and thus a TOC edit hang. Thats my theory, try it out and let us know what your results are! Good luck! :smile:

What do you mean by "clone the TOC of another disc which has only a full-length track on it"??? Can you provide steps for people who haven't done this, por favor? :smile: I lost a few recording with my darn MZ-N1, but I never knew of this trick! Thanks!

I don't know if anyones reading or checking this thread, but I'm trying to figure out a workaround or trick to get these suckers to work! Here's my latest findings: For most of the day I recorded in LP2 and for about 4 full recordings in LP2, I haven't had a problem! The constant sound I heard did go away, I don't know what that was about but, it now just does the recording internal sound every 1 minute and 40 seconds, which is fine. So I think in the case of these buggy MZ-N1's that there may be a trick with formatting the disc in SP before recording in whichever speed you want. This is just me trying, again, to figure out steps, or a trick/workaround to get the dreaded TOC edit problem not to appear again. I'm using an a TDK 80 minute MiniDisc (the funky BIT CLUB series from Japan) and I noticed that I first recorded in SP mode, THEN in LP2 (where I was getting this TOC edit problem) the problem stopped! I recorded with nothing attached to the MZ-N1. I went about my weekend errands with my MD in my pocket, every now and then checking the status of recording, see if it was in TOC edit mode with clicking and just hanging and nope! Nice smooth recordings in full 160 minutes in LP2! I recorded about 4 or 5 times in LP2 and smooth recording each! Hmmm, so can the trick be that "formatting" a mini disc in SP mode before you record in other speed help eliminate or minimize the TOC edit Problem of hanging on TOC edit and then just clicking? Try this, of course do use a fresh MD if you can and then use the disc you used before with problems. I think that if the mini disc you use has a slight defect or scratch the recording head and/or reading lens will jam.

I don't know of what part needs to be replaced or if it can be. I've been reading these N1's have a common problem. SOme say its the recording head, the very fragile looking thing, that may need to be replaced and cost like a new MD recorder! But let me share with you another observation. I've been studying my MZ-N1's internal sound. Yep, I noticed that in a few cases when recording in LP2 the machanism sounds of the unit recording and spinning the MD inside, stopped every 1:40 or so minutes. This sounds like perhaps the unit recording initially to the internal RAM, hence the silence, then "burning" to mini-disc, hence the motorized noise of things working. So did test in recording modes, in LP4 and it worked fine, no TOC Edit hang and click. Then I recorded in LP2, then the problem came back. I can't tell at what point, it could be in one hour in or less, not sure since I can't be staring at it. Unless one takes a camcorder to the thing then maybe. I bet its at a same point though. Then I recorded in SP again and listened carefully to the mechanism sounds I mentioned. This time the internal sounds, and MD spinning were constant. No stop and go type thing like in LP2. So, what I did was record a few minutes, I'll test seconds later, in SP mode then change to LP2 mode and the internals are constantly making noise, no stop and go! I do hear a slightly louder buzzy noise like it is burning to MD every minute or so. But the internal sounds are constant. Now the trick or workaround maybe to record a few seconds in SP mode, then record in LP2 mode. I use the MD primarily in LP2 mode, I record in Sp mode only when I want an album recorded in optical. So this may or may not be a workaround, I'll post again here if it works. Try this out yourself, you may have to hold the MZ-N1 to your ear for a while and be patient. Post here your findings or tests! Good luck! :smile:

Me too! I'm an MZ-N1 owner and have had the exact same problem. I've owned the MZ-N1 for about a year or two. I've had the problem now for about a year. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. The main problem is the recording, especially in LP2. Mine goes into automatic TOC edit after about an hour or half an hour or so. Its hard to catch because I can't be staring at the thing all the time. Then it just clicks and never ends its TOC edit. The other problems are slow advance to other tracks, like it hangs for a while when I go to another track. And the other problem is sometimes, not all the time, it stalls while in playback mode. In the middle of a song, it just stops and after a few seconds or almost a minute, it continues playing. Just the other day I pulled off the top cover to see what was going on. I studied it as I tricked it to play and record. I noticed it moved from track to track faster and fast forward and reversed faster. So I thought perhaps its the cover or parts that are not moving freely inside or correctly. I lubricated, very very carefully, not that I recommend this, the parts that I thought got affected. I then closed it up and noticed it was again slow at advancing. And the recording problem didn't go away. I checked the MD I was using and it had a scratch. I inserted a fresher one and the recording problem did go away. It recorded fine at LP2. But when I edited tracks it would hand and give me a Disc Read Error or something and stop, then the edits would be lost, they weren't written to disc. So its sensative to a bad MD disc or the recording heads and lasers are jamming inside. If you listen to the MD while its recording it makes a motor noise every 1:40 minutes as its recording. Then complete silence...then the noise. I believe this is when the MD is recording to RAM and then to disc. I'm not expert, but perhaps then it could be a RAM issue. Maybe when the recorded dumps RAM recording and burns them to the MD, maybe there's a problem then, after a certain amount or time. I did use and MD cleaning disc and I see no difference. Sorry for the length of my (first!) post, but I wanted to share my observations in hopes that our MZ-N1 could be diagnosed!