Davew

MD read speads are faster that write speeds because bits are read by the laser, but when writing, the magnetic head and the laser have to position and I think that the laser has to stay on the disc for longer that a CD to heat it enough to store the bit magnetically. If the heads skimmed away too fast, I think the change wouldn't stay. Don't know if that's exactly right, but it satisfys me as an explanation of why MDs write slower than CDs.

ok, in the SonicStage library, for each track you have registered files, like 'song.wav', 'song.mp3' and 'song.omg' (for example) all associated to the same item in the database. When you backup the library, it takes all of the registered files, even a huge uncompressed wav and stores them where you say. So if you convert a wav to atrac using SonicStage it is registered to that track, and if you backup it takes that and copies it. Your backup can get HUGE.

My nhf800 goes at 350 to 3000 rpm CLV according to the manual, doesn't give separate figures for write and read though. when reading, it is just like a CD isn't it. I don't know how much slower it goes on write.

Hi Rob, something to bear in mind in relation to #6 (if you were to keep your music on your hard drive in atrac form) You mentioned about having an ipod but were afraid of losing the whole lot in a failure. Well, the same thing applies with atrac on your hard disk. Since the music is encrypted and can only play on your machine, if you have a system crash (ok, you're on linux, but it could happen) even if you managed to get the files from your disk, they are useless if you have to install SonicStage again becuase your ID has changed. The way that sony provide to get round this is they have a "backup tool" so that you can restore your music if you lose your installation. backing up takes just about the same ammount of disk (or removable media) space as your original files so you need double the space if you are going to be safe and take a backup. Hope this helps Dave

Ok, here is what i've found: you can't stop automatic splitting, 'SYNC REC' is for digital recording. and PCM recording also splits. you can show the remaining recording time, while in record mode go to Menu > Display> RecRemain BUT that gets rid of the level meters, which is no good for you. you can't monitor from the MD headphones while playing in SonicStage. as you probably know, when you playback it warns you that sound goes through PC speakers. You can't seem to alter it. Tho you can listen to the radio while connected to PC through the remote, but that is alot of use! Finally, there is no way to see the playback levels on the 800, none of the displays have it and no settings relate to it. Its clearly not designed for serious recording, is it?! hope this helps, Dave

have to say I agree with aer, data drive is only of use to me when im syncing small files between machines. today i had ~300mb file to put on disc and after a couple of mins over usb, gave up and burned to CD-RW instead

on first glance, I have a feeling that the answer to all your questions is probably no. But just so you know, I will investigate them later today. Dave

Sorry everyone, I forgot to add a data drive option to the poll as Qwakrz pointed out! :wacky: Also, if you want to include recording from digital as the same option as analogue, that is fine :smile: I mainly want to find out the most common types of uses but of course, 'other' is fine and i'm always interested to know! Dave

seems so far that there is a good mix if uses. I have an MZ-R500 (which is still fine, though now hacked) and an MZ-NHF800. Before I got that, all my music was still on CDs and I got tired of having to analogue it to the r500 if I wanted to listen on the move. So when I got the nhf800 it was partly because of the 1G, partly because of the radio, partly becuase of the usb upload/download and partly because of the PCM recording. I as many people, use it as an mp3 player and a live recorder, but I think that if I didn't need to record, I would probably have ended up with a HDD player. But, that said, I probably couldn't let go of minidisc! Since my music is now all OMG anyway it doesn't really affect me whether sony add mp3 support, but I am awaiting sony's OMG converter for self recorded stuff.... :laugh: Dave

Hi Was thinking about whether Sony might give MD devices MP3 support or not, and started thinking, well what do most people really use their MDs for.... so I set up a poll to find out :smile: Dave

sorry didn't make it clear, yes I had shuffle on for all the tests and repeat on too for some. I will try disc mem as I said, when i get chance! Dave

thats a good point, the recorder is a complex piece of kit and who knows how changing one thing affects another seemingly unrelated thing. I might have a play with disc mem later, see if i can get this to happen to me.

Hmm I am puzzled. I've got an mznhf800 so i decided to test your problem using an MD with 61 tracks 1) Repeat: OFF I cycled through all the tracks and noted the numbers, each appeared once. No Unwanted Repeats 2) Repeat: ON First 61 tracks, each appeared once. Next 61 tracks, each appeared once (but in a completely different order) No Unwanted Repeats 3) Repeat: ON Did about 20 tracks then took out battery for a while. Continued up to 61 tracks after replacing battery, each appeared once. Started repeating as normal after the 61st. No Unwanted Repeats So, I really don't know what on earth is causing your behaviour Unless the battery was out for a really long time or something?? Or you took out the MD or changed play settings, can't think of anything else!

things to remember: . Sony own the rights to various artists, they are not going to be rushing to open all the doors. . Sony are in competition with Apple etc, and need to provide users with some freedom or will lose them. I think a good solution for Sony and MD users would be for Sony to release some decent sofware (ie, not SonicStage!) for turning MP3s etc into OMG quickly and efficiently, AND to provide conversion for self recorded stuff off MDs into WAV and MP3. I know they are "considering" a converter, but they are VERY vague about the whole thing when asked about it!

yeah that's somthing i've wondered. Just how would sony go about updating the firmware in a NetMD or HiMD device?? They don't seem to mention firmware upgradable in the blurb, as some MP3 players do. hmm lots of things do it I agree though, you would assume sony would make it possible..... or maybe you wouldnt!