zerodB

And instead of just importing the keys, like some media players do (like WMP for example), SonicStage backs up the WHOLE media library. UGHH...

If you have Nero Burning ROM - it can convert freely between all kinds of formats. Furthermore, you can get plugins for many more uncommon formats such as FLAC, AC3, & OGG at http://neroplugins.cd-rw.org/. Also you can try using Nero WAV editor (if you have NERO) - it's got a number of useful features and will support any format that Nero does, including plugins. For the most part, I would just use MP3. It's small and portable - you have plenty of options, and nearly all computers will have software that can play back MP3s.

The access databases mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. They are just acting a references. The real DRM encryption goes on in the OpenMG Secure Module. There do exist NetMD and HiMD APIs - the NetMD API was the basis of the "WinNMD" program, so in theory, once someone has worked out how to utilize these currently undocumented interfaces, some clever programmer could write an alternative program to transfer OpenMG content to disc. However, that's about as far as you could possibly go using these protocols - they're simply there to help the OpenMG module interface with the devices. You'd still need an OpenMG compliant program such as SonicStage to create the OpenMG content to begin with - so that's where you're stuck. You'd need to then hack & decompile SonicStage to work out how the app interfaces with OpenMG - that would be against Sony EULA and illegal. That having been said, at the end of the day, you'd still be restricted to using the OpenMG module and all the software/hardware restrictions it entails. Since there is no SDK or any other documentation available, it would probably be best to just use the workarounds currently in place. Here's a list of what we DO know: * There ARE directshow filters for OpenMG - meaning you can playback OpenMG content in Windows Media Player - but it will not playback files gaplessly, nor will it read the tag information from the file. In addition you will get an error message from WMP complaining of an unrecognised format each time you open an *.oma/*.omg file, but it will still play nonetheless. Perhaps someone could write a plugin for WMP to counter these issues? * On that point, the tag information for OpenMG content is stored at the very end of your *.omg/*.oma files in an XML structure. I'm not 100% sure on this, but from what I remember, if you try and edit the tags manually, the file will no longer be playable by the OpenMG subsytem - it must be security/DRM issues. * MarcNet has created a wonderful program which will convert OpenMG to WAV - resorting to back-hand techniques and the Directshow filters to bypass the OpenMG encryption. It does a great job, I am told. * RealPlayer has a plugin which allows transfer of RealMedia and MP3 content to NetMD devices. The thing is - RealMedia incorporates the ATRAC3 encoding algorithm. Again, I am not 100% sure, but I suspect that RealAudio @ 133kbps is the same thing as OpenMG Audio @ 133kbps (LP2). When transferring music to your NetMD device, RealPlayer will convert the RealAudio or MP3 file into an OpenMG file stored elsewhere on your hard disk - and THAT data is transfered via the OpenMG secure module to your MD device. With earlier versions of the OpenMG module, the 3-checkout limit still applies, contrary to what everyone else says. What the program ACTUALLY does is just re-convert the original MP3 or RealAudio file after the check-out limit has been reached - thus giving the apperance of an un-limited number of checkouts. However, the new versions of the OpenMG secure module allow unlimted transfers of an OpenMG file to a device, so this should not be a problem presently. FYI, Programs that WILL interface with the OpenMG secure module include: - SonicStage - BeatJam (Alterantive to SonicStage supplied with Sharp NetMDs - for more info check out the bablefish translation of the justsystem.co.jp website - http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/t...m%2Findex.html) - NetMD Simpleburner / MD Simpleburner - SonicStage Simpleburner (program for ATRAC CD Walkmans before the advent of SonicStage 2+ with ATRAC CD creation features) - RealPlayer (with NetMD plugin) - MAGIQLIP2 (I don't know anything about this program other than the fact that it exists. It's mentioned on the mora.co.jp website and is freely downloadble - checkout the bablefish translation again - http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/t...player%2fMQ2%2f It's in japanese only from what I can see - perhaps you could ask someone like Ishiyoshi to check it out for you.) Ok, I hope all that info helps. I would suggest to just to a bit of research and digging yourself. You might come up with something! Cheers, zero.

Anything is possible! It's just a matter of finding the right cables for job!

Well you're not the only one in wait for Hi-MD decks/car units. Though we do have a couple of great decks and a bookshelf from ONKYO, and a fantastic bookshelf unit just realeased from SONY. I'm not sure if Scale Factor Edit is a thing that will appear on Hi-MD decks - as far as I know, for technical reasons SF edit can only be performed with ATRAC recordings, and not ATRAC3/ATRAC3plus.

And even so, you willl find it may take slightly longer than the published speeds - especially in NetMD mode where the unit has to perform "SAVES" ot "TOC EDITS".

We should get this hosted/mirrored on minidisc.org...

Thanks, but I'm afraid i'm only really after the "Wind Player" ones. I'm not really interested in collecting designer blanks, but being a musician, I think those Wind Player blanks are way too cool to pass up!

I do believe Sony will eventually phase out old-skool MD, at least as far as portable recorders and decks go. I hope old-skool MDPs will be continued to be manufactured, but there are no guarantees. We may still get MD playback on the new units as we currently do. Note that all current HiMD bookshelf and deck units do support old-skool MD recording and playback. I'm sticking with old-skool MD, for most of the reasons you have described above, hair_old.

The RMC-33EL or 35ELK would be a perfect replacement for the supplied remote. Backlight, and LCD. The difference between the two is that the ELK has a higher resolution screen, and can display Kanjii (chinese-style) characters. Other remotes may work, but only the 33EL, and 35ELK will offer you full compatibility, allowing you to access the menu options from the remote. If you hack your unit, you can use these LCD remotes to access some new features, like the 6-band EQ, etc. Otherwise, just replace it with the remote that came supplied with your unit, RMC-11 (i think...)

I'm just quoting the published specs!!!

Hi-MD is still in it's early days. Sony are probably just concentrating on portables perhaps to test the waters a little... Hi-MD has HUGE potential, and we may see decks from Sony later on in the piece.

You could always custom build your own remote control footswitch you know - the remotes work simply by applying a resistance across two of the terminals...

I can tell you straight from my experience with the N510 that it should NOT be doing that. There's probably nothing wrong with your deck - sounds like the read mechanism of the N510 is damaged to be honest...

SB never had CD-text support to begin with. And given the rarity of commercially prodcued disc with CD-text to begin with, i'm suprised this was included into SonicStage to begin with. Perhaps this will be included for SimpleBurner in future versions. If you are using NetMD Simpleburner v1.x (old version of Simpleburner only compatible with NetMDs), there is a work-around: you can use a program called CD-Text Manager (google it!) to read the CD-Text of the disc and import the CD-text data into the NetMD Simpleburner database, prior to launching SB itself. Upon the release of Simpleburner 2 (HiMD/NetMD version), I contacted the author of CD-Text Manager as it appeared it would not function with SB2. He wrote back saying that Simpleburner 2 did not store its CD info in the same manner that SB1 did, and he was unable to find the database by simple file search. If anyone could find out how SimpleBurner 2 stores it's CD info, it would be quite easy to incoporate this feature into a prog like CD-Text Manager or an other application we could write for this purpose.

It is likely that the upgrade has reset your libray databse, including the OpenMG DRM. While the OpenMG (ATRAC3/+) files still remain on your hard disk, they will not play back in SonicStage since the DRM licences have been erased. If this is the case, then, unfortunatley, there is no solution for you. You'll need to re-rip the tracks into your library again.

A Hi-MD would be a plus for your needs - you can then upload the sound digitally to your PC for later editing. In addition, if you're picky about sound quality, you can use the Hi-MD to record in linear PCM, rather than in compressed ATRAC. However, if you record at higher bitrates, you need to be increasily careful that you don't bump the unit, as the anti-shock buffer holds less legnth of time at higher bitrates. I know this pointer sounds simple, but it's amazing how many people disregard it - keep the mics away from the unit as they may pick up operational noise from the recorder.

Just a point for all those newbie tapers - Your manual will guide you specifically, but generally, on Sony units, full bit (0dB) will occur when the 2nd last level indicator lights up. Not all units have the same number of indicators.

You CAN replace the internal battery yourself - there was a thread by skyther over @ the T-board with pics on how to do it, but I can't seem to find it at the moment. I wouldn't worry about it for the moment. Your battery should hold charge for a couple of years. Then worry about ordering parts, etc.

Perceptions on quality will vary - it depends on how finely tuned your ears are and also on what phones you use. Some will tell you that they can't discern between Hi-SP and the original CD. Linear PCM is a great feature for recording IMHO - you can now record in an uncompressed format, ready to be burnt to CD. Hopefully PCM playback won't chew up your batteries... ... 11 hours L-PCM playback on the 600 with a HiMD disc.

It's interesting... all this talking. What needs to be brought up is the fact that there do exist MO-media internal PC drives, and, owing to the fact that there are not limited in power consumpution, can write a LOT faster than the Hi-MD transfer rate. I wonder IF a hypothesised internal Hi-MD drive would suffer the same slow transfer rate as the portables do...?

Nope, none whatsoever.

Ok, I'm looking for Saehan "Wind Player" MD blanks. These ones: They're from Korea, I believe. They've got ones with a trumpet (grey), and another with a tuba (blue) on them. A set of those would be SWEET! I don't know who runs the site, he may be one of us, or a T-Boarder even but check out this page for what looks like nearly every blank ever made: http://www.oliver-richter.com/md/index.php

How do you mean? SonicStage can read CD-Text, but Simpleburner can't.

No it's not that, it's just that eventually, the battery WILL loose charge, as all batteries do, and then replacing it is difficult, since the battery is built in.