Aniblade

Hello all. I was away for a short time and returned to a rather pleasant email from Rachel Branch, a representative from Sony. The email was a response to my direct inquiry about the .wav converter software. I wanted to know *if* it was really going to be produced by Sony and if so, *when* we should expect it. Her answer, via someone named "Christine Battagliese" was as follows: -----Original Message----- From: Battagliese, Christine Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 11:28 AM To: Branch, Rachel Cc: Laronne, Shai; Novelli, Joe Subject: RE: News & Info query: Wave Converter The WAV Converter Tool will be available in Fall '04. You can check back at the Sony Support Site at www.sony.com/walkmansupport. I know news of this converter has been on this site for quite some time, but I thought I would confirm it yet again. I think this is encouraging.

Thanks, dex Otaku, this works fine also and has the advantage of allowing me to work with uploaded files (as opposed to having to edit a whole disc's worth of stuff at one time). Like you, I'm hoping that Sony releases the Wave Converter so that we won't have to do conversions in real time. Any ideas on how to batch convert a series of files using Total Recorder?

Thanks for the suggestions, dex Otaku. I'm not familiar with Total Recorder. Does it recognize .omg files and allow you to edit and save them in .wav format? If not, how are you working with the .omg files once they are uploaded? That's where I got stuck and haven't been able to find answers. Incidentally, I have finally been able to get absolutely good recordings in real time by tweaking my "Wave" recording settings to a lower setting. I guess I must have been overdriving the audio even though the meters in Sound Forge didn't show this. Just minutes ago I checked out the material I burned to CD and it was excellent. I would much prefer to upload the files and work that way, but this is at least a workable and fine quality solution until Sony releases their wave converter.

Like many here, I am a musician who would like to record live with my new Hi MD and then upload my recordings and convert to .wav format so that I can make CDs of my material. Following the suggestions of many who have tried to record in real time from their Hi MD using the USB connection, I have had mixed results. I have mainly been using Sound Forge to record the USB input from my recorder. For some reason, the results are not good. For example, I recorded myself singing without instruments in a quiet room, just to hear how it would sound. I then connected my Hi MD unit and recorded using the Wave recording input. I was intending to maintain the digital quality of the recording. Oddly, dynamic changes handled well in the PCM mode were completely exaggerated when I recorded the Hi MD playing through USB. I had no other programs running at the same time so there was no obvious reason for this. Also, there were unnatural silences between sung phrases like something was causing complete compression of quiet sounds to zero. In the end, the recording sounded terrible and I concluded that Sony had done something with the "SonicStage" software to preclude recording via USB. I will continue to try to figure out a way to make this work but I wonder if anyone has any idea how to get around these odd artifacts. Incidentally, I did try to use the "Line in" recording setting through USB and got an enormous amount of noise from the sound card. Not good! I'm hoping that's not the best I can do at this point. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

As you suggest, I will post my comments on the Live Recording thread. Thank you for your suggestions!

Thanks much for your reply, Kurisu. I am happy to be a part of this forum. However, I wanted to add that I've tried recording using the USB connection and several different audio capture programs. For some reason, the results are not good. For example, I recorded myself singing without instruments in a quiet room, just to hear how it would sound. Oddly, dynamic changes handled well in the PCM mode were completely exaggerated when I recorded the Hi MD playing through USB. I had no other programs running at the same time so there was no obvious reason for this. Also, there were unnatural silences between sung phrases like something was causing complete compression of quiet sounds to zero. In the end, the recording sounded terrible and I concluded that Sony had done something with the "SonicStage" software to preclude recording via USB. I will continue to try to figure out a way to make this work but I wonder if anyone has any idea how to get around these odd artifacts. Even though it is less than optimal to upload in real time, if I can obtain a good digital transfer from Hi MD to .wav format, I will be satisfied for now. I could then wait for Sony to release its Wave Converter (although you yourself said that no one should hold their breath waiting for such a release).

Fortunately Sony has stated that a standalone Wave Converter application will be available in autumn that will allow Hi-MD mic and line input recordings to be uploaded and exported to open .wav files, as they promised. Has this promise on Sony's part been confirmed by anyone? I've read about this promise elsewhere but can't find an official statement to this effect anywhere from Sony. When I inquired at SonyStyle they said there were "no plans at this moment for a converter." This seems to directly contradict the statements being made elsewhere. Anyone have a reference to a confirmation that Sony will in fact make a Wave Converter available sometime in Fall? I am so unhappy about the inability to convert from the .omg format that I'm considering returning my new Hi MD recorder and giving up on the MD format altogether. I've been a user for seven years now and I've waited a long time for the release of the Hi MD format, only to find out that Sony may have deliberately screwed its customer base again. Such a shame! Somebody give me a reason to hope again!