Topaz

I'm able to report that the clear blue discs are also now available in Hong Kong for the same price as in Singapore (US$6.00/disc). Its the same white outer plastic cover as in Singapore too. I'm not sure when they were first available in the shops in Mong Kok (since I've been away for a few weeks) but I'm glad they've arrived. I prefer the new clear blue disc over the original 1Gb discs anyday!

Whoops, sorry I meant SS v3.1

Hi Mikami! I've heard of similar practices in HK shops in previous times, but I think that happens less and less (and I thought it was just HK shops that did that...) I have been upgrading to the latest SonicStage version each time it was released. I'm currently on version 3.2. I assume that they will have ironed out any reported bugs and errors from previous versions so I guess you should keep up with the upgrades. I had some reliability issues with the bundled software (some tracks not uploading and erroring) but so far with the newer v3.2 I haven't had a problem. I can't really tell whether its faster or not, sorry. (sorry moderators, slightly off current topic but I want to respond to Mikami )

Thanks for the response so far! I am very envious of you, Ishiyoshi - your short cable is even shorter and lighter than my modified version, and it still has a filter on. BobS, that's a good suggestion - retractable means you have the best of both worlds, long and short. However, for the NH1, the unit has a proprietary USB port on the unit and is not compatible with the Zip-Linq as shown by Ishiyoshi. [attachmentid=309] Second generation units (e.g. MZ-RH10, etc.) will be able to benefit from this tip.

I want to share with you how I got on with reducing the length of my NH1’s USB cable to a more manageable length. I was initially bothered by the unnecessary length and relative rigidity of the supplied cable and after consulting the forum (here) (thanks to ROMBUSTERS for the tip), I purchased another USB cable from Sony to work on. Equipped with newly bought soldering iron, some snazzy shrink sleeving (2mm and 5mm diameter), and a spare surgical mask left over from the SARS crisis, I undertook the operation. <Scalpel...> After cutting the cable, my first incision into the cable wall revealed a lattice of screening mesh underneath. Exploring deeper exposed four thin wires (black, white, red and green). With so much extra cable available, I figured I’d do a practice run, and I’m glad I did – I learned a lot. One initial problem was that these four internal wires are very small and two of the colours didn’t strip easily. It took a while to get it right. <Clamp...> Also I would advise that you take care in “combing out” the cable’s screening mesh; try to keep both ends oriented in the same way for easier recombination later on. <Suction...> The next problem encountered was since I made the cuts and joins at the same length along the wire on my practice run, the 2mm sleeving made the whole thing a little bulky (even when shrunk down). It was tough getting the outer 5mm sleeving over (and it also looked like a black worm had just eaten a small marble). <More suction, please...> The solution was to stagger the cuts/joins at different places along the cable so as not make it too bulky in one place (two at one end and two at another worked fine). In the end I double sleeved it, slipping one 5mm section over, shrinking it down then slipping another 5mm over and shrinking that too. It was a fidgety job but the operation was a success and the new shorter cable works fine. [attachmentid=300] [attachmentid=301] [attachmentid=299] [attachmentid=302] [attachmentid=303] I can’t really understand why, in Japan, the long and short USB cable come as standard with the NH1 (Japanese NH1 owners please confirm this, thanks), but overseas only stock and supply the long version. Anyway, it also goes well with my MCMD-R1 too, and is far more portable, as you can see. [attachmentid=304] [attachmentid=305] I would be grateful for any comments, technical or otherwise – my only remaining concern is that screening mesh does not cover (and therefore protect) the joining area on the cable. I don’t know whether this will have a significant effect or not. FYI, cost of the operation: USB spare cable: US$29.50; shrink sleeving US$1.

Dear Mikami, Thanks very much for the photos. I really wish I had a Yodobashi Camera near where I live (at least I can only look at their webpage). I wonder if you can clarify some matters about your HMD1: 1. You have not shown the unit in an opened state. Am I correct in saying that the unit opens like a regular Sony MD? Do you have any comments on its loading and unloading? 2. I can't see what is written on the dark button on the top of the HMD1, near the ACCESS light. Can you tell us what it says and and what it is for. Thanks! 3. Is the top surface a similar metalic surface to the NH1? Anyway, thanks for the trouble to share these pictures. Its a big help!

Hi faelnor, Yes, I've had the same problem with some of my Japanese CDs - I transfer the music fine but on my English langage SonicStage and Windows the characters fail to be successfully transfered. However, I installed SonicStage on a traditional Chinese character version of Windows and I DO get the Japanese characters transfered OK. I'm not sure whether its the Chinese language version of SS or the operating system (supporting most common Asian fonts), but you'll probably have a better chance with both! I'm sure its something to do with the fonts (on the OS and SS) and whether they can be supported or not. Good luck!

Take a look at this thread for some more alternatives and options. My view is that you probably need several cases for the one unit, each used based on the circumstances (recording, listening, travelling light, travelling prepared, etc.)

Get both! (sorry, I'm a NH1 owner and I'm just drooling at the RH10 - to buy or not to buy, that is the question - for me anyways). Another couple of less central differences that I can remember... - NH1 has a Digital Pitch Control, R10 seems not to have, - Colour choice for the NH1 is limited to 2 (silver and gold) while if you are in Japan you have 4 colours for the R10 to choose from - three of which seem really cool - choice, choices... - The NH1 is likely to resist more scratching due to the case being mostly metal, the R10 has more of a plastic surface (this is just a guess brought up in a discussion), - (another guess from recording experience on the NH1) is that helped by the larger screen on the main unit for the R10, it may not be essential to have the remote connected if you are recording - the NH1 on the other hand really requires the remote at all times, especially during recording, Good luck in Japan - let us know what your eventual decision is and what tipped you one way or another. BTW, check out www.yodobashi.com and start doing your homework (Hi-MD is under the AV section). Make sure you also check out the stuff that you cannot buy where you are - loads of cool MD discs, cooooool storage cases and x4 MD cases for travelling, handy 5 discs-in-1 boxes, etc. etc. Have a great time!

Yes, that's me I believe you are refering to (hi tony, hi kurisu). There's not many of us HK-based forum users here, I guess, but a few nonetheless And yes, tony, the shop in Mong Kok I normally use (on Fa Yuen Gaai) only has Sony Niege 74s, not 80s.

I'm not sure whether this has been posted, still here's the link just in case... http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Product/Paudi/...view/index.html I've used Bablefish to translate it (better suggestions for mechanical translations are welcomed). Interesting to see the early renderings and mock-ups on the second page. Enjoy!

I have a NH1 and it's taken me a while to find out the most suitable case for this unit. But luckily I chanced upon a selection of nice Sumdex products and found that the Slim Vertical Camera Pouch (NBC-121) works great. For my NH1 its quite loose inside the pouch, but for extra safety I use a small single layer neoprene MD case, and then slip this case inside the Sumdex pouch. What's great is that there's still room at the top to fold in the remote and my MDR-EX71s and zip the whole thing up - a nice little package! I feel happy that my precious NH1 has a double layer protection and can take a few knocks, but the downside is its a little cumbersome to change discs. Its certainly a tight fit but if you can find the right single layer internal case then it works! Take a look... [attachmentid=66] [attachmentid=67] [attachmentid=68] As for the NH900, I know that the unit is a little thicker so I would strongly suggest you test it before you buy. It may be just right without any internal case - give it a try Link for external Sumdex pouch http://www.sumdex.com/core/NBC-121.asp

Dear Doc, I think Hi-MD is right up your street - I'm a linguist at a university and I use it very often for lecture and seminar recordings as well as recording material for language teaching and uploading my own-recorded MP3 files on our WebCT service. I agree that the one-time upload is not brilliant, but once you convert your recording to WAV format after the upload, you can go whichever way you wish - Audio CD, WAV CD, MP3, etc. and as many times as you like. And, of course, you still have the original after the upload... MD is very small and convenient - just dump a machine in a small case with a mic sticking out and you should pick up everything fine. If you are already using a mic in your lecture then you'll be OK, but student/seminar attendee questions may cause a little problem. The other big advantage is the time for each disc - I would say Hi-SP is fine for your needs and that's 2hours 20 minutes per 80 minute disc. You may want to see if Hi-LP is OK and then you are up in the 10 hours per 80 minute disc. Then, of course, you have the added option to using 1GB discs - and your recording capability may outrun the charge of a normal battery (a small problem in itself - but then I guess you can use mains). From what I can tell from your needs, with a Hi-MD unit and a decent microphone, you can very easily make your quality recording you need. I'm very happy with mine!

Tony, perhaps your paying too much for your discs... I'm in HK too and I pay approx HK$60/US$7.70 for my 10s, HK$30/US$3.85 for 5s (mostly TDK Fine but many other similar quality discs too). I usually buy in Mong Kok. The lowest I can find 1GB discs is HK$48/US$6.15, I guess since they are still very new. Let me know if you want the address...

Hi lkawamot, I'm using just plain ole Windows XP that was pre-installed on my Sony TR1 laptop I purchased last year. I still don't think I was doing anything particualrly wrong in my transfer but if you or anyone else have any suggestions, I think we'd all be grateful.