zerodB

I believe you can copy OpenMG files (*.omg, *.oma) from one PC to the other - SonicStage on the 2nd PC should play the files without a problem - but you won't be able to DO anything with the files - such as transferring them, copying them to disc, etc. It will only work on the PC that the files were originally ripped from. But don't quote me on that... I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't work at all...

Only recordings in Hi-MD format (ie. on a Hi-MD, or Hi-MD formatted MD) can be transferred back to PC.

Nope there's nothing for non-windows PCs. Windows PCs are largely limited to using SonicStage, however there are some other programs out there (ie BeatJam) that will do the trick. HiMDs will only record in ATRAC3+ or Linear PCM - even so you'll need SonicStage to upload these recordings - however they can be converted to WAV - free of any DRM restrictions. Perhaps you should try real-time recording from MD to PC - it probably wouldn't be too much slower than L-PCM transfers over USB.

I'm sorry...? You mean to say that this baby can do REAL-SP transfers? And since when was there a 205kbps ATRAC3...? Surely you mean 105kbps?

When you unistalled SonicStage, did you uninstall the OpenMG Secure Module, and all the patches as well?

Like you said, if you rip all of your CDs into SS @ LP2, then SonicStage won't need to convert your music - it will simply transfer straight to your unit. Plus you won't lose sound quality due to transcoding. Another option would be to use the LP4 bitrate - it would certainly be faster, in transferring songs, but wouldn't sound as good. A final method would be to use WMA lossless - rip your music in Windows Media Player, and then import the music into SonicStage. With the latest version of SS, you can opt whether to keep the converted ATRAC files on your hard disk or not - so you can choose to save either time or space. Because you'll be using lossless, you won't incur a quality loss, however your music will take up a lot of space on your hard disk. SS will still need to do a conversion tho, but it might be faster than the MP3 method. The only reason I mention this, is that WMA (lossless) is compatible with most other audio players and audio editors. However, the quickest and simplest method would simply be to rip to ATRAC3 (LP2/Lp4)

Yep - that's the one I was referring to. Note that if you record your MDs to PC, then re-record or transfer that music to MD (or MP3, or any other compressed format for that matter), you will incur a generational quality loss as your music is being re-encoded.

There isn't much of a difference between Hi-SP and SP - for all intensive purposes they are the same thing. I recall an ABX text thread sitting around here ages ago - the results indicated that SP was slightly superior to Hi-Sp, but that difference was indeed minimal.

Kinda ugly MD unit if it was one...

SP has a much higher bitrate than HiSP, Ivan - SP ~ 295kbps, IIRC. "Fake SP" transfered via SonicStage will sound like LP2, but take up the same space on disc as true SP. There is no such thing as "fake HiSP" - HiMD units can transfer HiSP from SonicStage/Simpleburner.

Nope, it's not possible to use NetMD to transfer from MD to PC. The only way to do it is to record from MD to PC in real time. The program "WinNMD" can assist you in doing this, by using the USB to ascertain track lengths and titles - look at the stickies in this forum.

Well, as Sony sees it, ATRAC3plus is merley an "extension" of the ATRAC3 format:

Yep, you can do this for sure! Just hook up the ouput of your soundcard to the input of your MD recorder, hit record on your MD, play on the PC, and you're recording!

Seriously, that's not a bad idea. People don't just get the point - "why don't you just get an ipod?", they say. If someone sat down and explained what MD is without any flashy gimmicks, or break-dancers, it might just work... maybe...

Well I can't say too much here, cos I only own a couple of pairs of decent/semi-decent phones, but I use EX51s which are purported to be the same thing as 71s. I don't mind them since I've burned them in, but they are a little too muddy and fuzzy at times. Shures are always recommended by people in this forum - in particular the E3c's, and also the Etymotics E4Ps are supposed to be the best portable phones you can get your hands on. If you're on a buget, check this - http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=8592, or else take a look at the recommended phones topics in the "phones" sub-forum.

To be brutally honest, personally I think that looks gross... I much prefer the layout of the current page - sure it could do with a bit of jazzing up, but I can't make head or tail of the new one. I know it's still in beta, but I just can't see it working for me... EDIT: Though I do think that wiki-style product pages has a LOT of potential.

I would just recommend using your existing equipment. If you notice, the N10 is Type-R, so, provided you record all your CDs in SP mode using the digital optical input you're already getting the best possible sound quality from your unit. A (Lo)MD deck wouldn't improve on this - just give you more features. (Note that Type-S IS Type-R, just with improved playback for LP2/LP4 tracks) An upsampler for the CD player is unlikely to do much to the sound quality since MD has the same sample rate as CDs. You could check out Hi-MD if you want - certainly PCM would be an option, but it's probably not a viable one, given the cost of HiMD discs, and the way it will chew up your batteries... Most on this forum would find SP perfectly acceptable for everyday listening - certainly for portable listening. While you're at home, enjoy uncompressed linear PCM from your CDs. While out and about, enjoy what your MD has to offer - why not spend that money on a decent pair of headphones, if you don't already own one? That can make a HUGE difference to your listening... Cheers.

... like a whole bunch of silhouettes dancing and jiving aimlessly?

I can only speak for myself, here in AUS, but down at one of the JB-Hifi (CDs/DVDs/Electronics retailer) stores close to me, they've got a NEW silver MZ-R900. Goodness knows how long it's been sitting there for... Apart from that tho, all their other MD stock is 1G Hi-MD.

All the tails ppl were black! ... NOTHING SUSS!

Couldn't agree more there... What THAT ad is exactly for (other than pointless Sony branding) is anyone's guess... People just don't get the point of MD... and it's so sad, for such a useful format...

Then it should work fine.

Man, I wish I hadn't read all of this thread PRIOR to downloading the samples... So much for trying to remain unbiased - now I'm gonna have to make my own test for myself...

Or, alternativley, you could throw out you ipod AND your minidisc, as well as any electronic goods, and any items of value you have lying around. Sell your house, and all your assets, donate any non-saleable items, get rid of all your clothes, and go and spend the rest of your days in a monestary far away in the hills, quietly contemplating the inner mysteries of the universe. At least you'll never have to worry about transfering music from minidisc to ipod ever again, that's for sure! Dude, please try to keep your suggestions relevant.

Wow, looks like an awsome program...!