zerodB

Please note that there is a difference between "PROGRAM PLAY" and "BOOKMARK PLAY". A Program is a playlist you create prior to listening, while bookmarks are on-the-fly playlists you can create while listening. Troy - The bookmark function is what you're asking about I believe.

That's AUD$200 right?

In any case, it is very likley that a new version or updated existing version of SonicStage will be supplied with the 2nd gen Hi-Mds - the software will need to allow for direct transfers of MP3 files to MD.

Nope. You don't have to register @ connect.com to upgrade, but upgrading via the web is currently the only method of upgrading to the the latest version.

I'm not entirely sure. I belive you're right! It also may be possible to go into the service mode and blank the disc from there.

I think tony is just really confused about whether SS converts 105 to 133 on your computer before transfering to your MD disc, (in the sense that 133 is converted to SP in fake-SP mode), or whether 105kbps is the actual bit rate of the music on your disc when 105kbps oma files are transfered via sonicstage (with extra padding/wrapping to maintain compatibility)? BTW tony, we have the same bookshelf unit, mine's blue.

I believe the reason you can't divide may be another silly OpenMG DRM restriction. Since you uploaded the concert as a single track to SonicStage, it needs to maintain the data as a single track, to avoid potential copyright problems. Why this should exactly be classed as a "potential copyright problem" I don't know, but that is the way the OpenMG system operates: without any regard to conventional logic and common sense. Solution: Divide the tracks manually on your unit prior to transfer to PC. Or just convert the whole track using the WAV convertor and then go from there as mentioned above.

ATRAC3 105kbps was originally for Sony Network Walkmans. I guess Hi-MDs can use that bitrate now too.

I have Sony LabelMaker 5.1 installed on my PC. If you have an MD running in either SonicStage or M-Crew, you just hit the print label button (or go tools -> print a label in the SonicStage menu) and it enters in all the track details for you according to how you've titled your disc. Though I've never used it to print an MD label, it looks too weird for me. I think Ishiyoshi's method sounds the easiest.

It's an interesting bad point. And not just for SACD, but for HDCD as well. Quite a few of my CDs are HDCD compatible, but the only way I have to access the full HDCD resolution is to play it in Windows Media Player through my CD-Rom drive. So what happens exactly when I hook up the optical out of my USB PC link to my MD unit? The MD does a downsample right? But will this result in anything better than just simply chucking the CD in my cd->md micro system (non HDCD) and just hitting record?

You *can* erase the tracks with a NetMD, you just need to use the PC Software (sonicstage) in order to do it. The reason the tracks are protected, is because you transfered them from a PC to begin with! Now just use the PC to delete them! This is so that any tracks with media rights do not accidently get deleted.

Again, this will only work if you have a full-duplex soundcard that supports this. Your best bet with DRM content is to burn it to an Audio CD. Then, re-rip the audio cd into whatever application you use - yes it's transcoding, but unless you don't have to transcode anyway, it's your best option - plus it will remove any DRM restrictions.

Note that the WAV conversion tool will only display media that has been uploaded from Hi-MD to PC, and recorded from an analog connection (not digital).

That method will only work if you have a Full-Duplex Soundcard. There is a Nero Plugin for RealMedia available - get it here: http://neroplugins.cd-rw.org/ That site may be of interest to a lot of you who want to burn/transfer unusual formats such as Monkey Audio, FLAC and AAC.

Before using your CD Drive, SimpleBurner will want to check to make sure it is compatible and perform a few tests to get optimum CD recording. If you get this message, it's probably because SimpleBurner is having problems with your CD drive. Uninstall SS/SB and all OpenMG related applications, delete all the accociated folders and files, delete all the associate OpenMG/SS/SB registry entries and then reinstall the OpenMG Secure Module and SimpleBurner. It should work fine - if not, you have got a problem with your CD drive.

This has been around for a while. Apparently it can only convert MP3s to ATRAC3plus bitrates and not ATRAC3.

As far as SonicStage 2.0 goes, here are the differences between versions. 2.0 - First Official Release. Originally shipped with Japanese/Asia Pacific ATRAC CD Walkmans. OpenMG 4.0 - which allowed unlimited transfers to devices. Supported NetMD, and Network Walkman in addition to ATRAC CD Burning. 2.1 - Hi-MD Release with added Support for Hi-MD. 2.2 - Special US Connect only release with additional online music store features (ie. Connect Radio) 2.3 - Current Version. Added support for HDD Network Walkman and for Audio CD / MP3 CD burning (though this may have allready been present in your previous CONNECT version). Some people claim that the ATRAC3/+ encoder is better in 2.3, but I seriously doubt that is the case. If your current SS works fine, I see no real reason to upgrade. There are no new features or benifits that would warrant an upgrade.

Nope, it can't.

I think it's about $480 or so at recommended retail prices to buy the phone outright. Though when the time comes, I'll just scour one off ebay, or purchase it cheaper locked into my network.

Wowee! What a nice bunch of folks y'all are! So where are these invites? I can't seem to find them in my newly created account! Is it because I'm new?

Hmm, this thread is strangley quiet. Thanks to anyone who has had any input so far. Dex and bug have had some results testing out the FDDShow codecs, it appears that there may be a problem with mp3lib, and I eagerly await confirmation of these results. I'm still giving some thought into the issues that need to be resolved. You have a good point about SP2 kurisu, but there should be no real reason why SonicStage can't happily exist on SP1/SP0. I see no real reason to restrict users, however I can see the installer harshly warning a user against installation if SP2 or other required components are missing. More thoughts on this within the next 24 hours...

Thank you for your help, Nismo. I'm sure I'll enjoy my new gmail account!

I'm thinking of an SE T630, mainly for the nice looks, TFT screen, and bluetooth connecivity. What do you guys think?

I understand gmail is in BETA at this stage, so accounts are limited. Still, is there any way to get a gmail account? POP access would just clinch the deal for me!

Cool, it makes me feel a lot less uncomfortable about that CMT-333NT arriving in a few days...