Hi
I'm an old school mix-tapes-off-the-radio person, and very recently I've become interested in minidiscs. I was thinking about buying a device called the VersaCorder (a tape deck which can record from any audio source), but decided to explore the world of MDs for all the obvious reasons of superior sound, more durable format, ease of editing, etc.
I don't currently own any MD stuff, but I would like to purchase a portable MD player/recorder... NOT with Net MD on it, since I'm using a Mac and I also have a problem with NEEDING a separate computer (and special software) just to play and record songs. (Like I said, I'm old school!) The intended use for my MD player would be making analog recordings through the headphone jacks of my radio, portable CD player, and also a computer for recording internet radio stations and (audio from)MP3 files. I understand that I can do all these things with a simple mini plug-to-mini plug connector.
So here's my silly newbie question: How do I LISTEN to what I'm recording, as I'm recording it!? You know, like with a boombox cassette (my usual medium of choice), you can listen what you're recording as you record. I know that I could edit the MD track to remove DJ chit-chat and fragments of songs and the like, but it really bothers me to think about recording "in the dark," since sticking something in the headphone jack of a radio etc. usually cuts the external speakers.
Is there such a thing as a portable MD player/recorder with external speakers to listen to recordings as they're made? Or some kind of three-headed patch cord that would allow me to listen in on the mini-plug-to-mini plug via headphones? I've been looking all over the internet for an answer so I wouldn't have to post a really dumb message like this on someone's MD forum, but so far I haven't found the info that I need.
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies... I'm sure you must field about 5 different versions of this question regularly.