sallymae_hogsby

I wonder why H-MD wasn't considered. PCM capability is even more "pro". But I'm glad to see TASCAM's continuing support for MD anyway.

I've used the Mac-MD software for awhile. I works okay for what it does. But I ended up just getting a PC netbook (with XP) and using a 2GB memory stick for copying files to my Mac. Less limitations and frustration.

Very interesting. The potential is there. (And it's cute!) I fear that initially introducing it as a video playback-only format will likely doom it. I wish it were being introduced as a portable, recordable video, audio, general digital storage format.

A decent deal, for someone who already has a large supply of Hi-MD discs recorded, and wants another "safety backup" for the future. Where do these batches of units come from? How long ago did they stop manufacturing them?

My "traditional" response would be a HiFi home deck with all the editing features that Sony decks traditionally had on home decks, as well as USB interface. (I have an Onkyo deck, which I'm glad I have, but I wish it would do all that my Sony decks did.) My "radical" response would be to just have HiMD players be drag-and-drop players of WAV, MP3, ATRAC, FLAC etc files. MDs would just be the removable storage medium. Any special software would be optional. Essentially an alternative to SD or microSD cards. Minidiscs are cheaper, and I "trust" them for long term storage.

Here's the direct link to the item: http://www.recordingstore.com/digital_audi...d__hi_md_/1605/ (not including shipping - in the US, it came out lower than Minidisco.) They obviously still have it listed, in spite of my canceled order, so they apparently haven't given up on getting more in the future. I ordered (and received) a batch around 4 months ago.

I normally order my 1GB discs from RecordingStore.com. My latest order was cancelled with this message: Unfortunately the Sony HMD1G are backordered with no ETA at this time. We have cancelled your order and a full refund has been issued. I know I can still get the discs at MiniDisco, but do you think the supply is starting to dry up?

Thanks! I should have been more clear. What I'm talking about is more as a player. I have more music stored on minidiscs (mainly compilations copied from my CDs) than would fit on even the largest iPod. I cycle thru them (it takes a few years). I don't plan on actually switching to SD cards (I have several MD players stored away for the future), but was curious whether mp3 players with SD cards realistically work as a "format". (Compatability issues, whether SD cards can be trusted to play several years later, etc.) Sandisc/Sansa seems to kind of support the idea (most recently with microSD slots) but only on some models. And the players seems to be rather cheap. I'll look thru the other threads and see if anyone's tried SD cards as a portable music storage medium.

Has anyone tried any of the mp3 players with SD cards? Do SD cards work as well as minidiscs, or are there problems?

I use Hi-MD for the PCM setting, as my DAT deck is starting to show its age. (These are for home music recordings.) Fortunately I have several Hi-MD recorders (including a Onkyo deck) to last me well into the future. I use my huge supply of old "regular" MD discs, since 20 minutes is convenient for any single project (including alternate mixes, the backing, etc.) So there's no going back to regular MD there, since it's really a replacement for DAT. I also use Hi-MD for my regular portable listening. I mainly listen to compilations of music from different albums, so the longer the playing time on the disc, the more variety. As mentioned above, my old regular MDs get reused as 20-minute Hi-MDs for music projects. Needless to say, I was very disappointed that Sony gave up on Minidisc, aspecially Hi-MD, since it seemed to be the ideal Dat-replacement. I trust long term storage with MD over a stored CDR or hard drive any day. I've always loved the editing features on MD decks, so another disappointment is that Hi-MD decks didn't become available with these features. (The Onkyo's editing doesn't offer much more than what portables can do.) I'm resigning myself to computer editing, but it's actually more of a bother for me, since MD deck editing suited me well. So, no going back for me, in spite of Hi-MD being a format with no future evolution.

That in itself is quite interesting. I assume the recording would be ATRAC or PCM? Are there any consumer recorders that actually record in MP3 or WMA? Come to think of it, are there any consumer line-in recorders on the market at all, now?

Obviously begging Sony to release more MD units would be a waste of time. Tascam still makes (or at least still sells) pro MD equipment, tho it's not Hi-MD. Since Onkyo was able to make Hi-MD units, do you think it's at all likely that Tascam would consider doing a Hi-MD pro model? With many radio stations and field recordists using MD, you'd think there'd be a market for PCM-quality pro MD equipment.

bump

Soundwise, there should be no difference. Presumably the construction quality was more durable. Less likely to have mechanical problems (generally with the shutter) or flawed areas of the disc. I never bought those specific discs, but that's where quality should matter with a minidisc. As far as Hi-MD blanks go, are there any that aren't Sony's dark blue ones? That's all I've ever seen, in spite of different wrapping.

I've definitely lost recordings this way. My AC-adapter can lose its connection if I'm moving the unit, while it's writing to the disc. I now wait until it's done before reaching for it to do any titling.

I've had an RH910 for a couple years now. I haven't had any problems with the 1GB discs, but it definitely has been tempermental with recycled regular discs. (These same discs work fine on my Mz-M100 and RH1.) I finally gave up recording anything but new discs on my RH910. I've come to think that the RH910's recording mechanism isn't as stable as it should be.

Thanks! It's good to stock up. I see Recording Store even has Data Minidiscs. Were they just used for multitrack recorders?

Thanks for the info. I'll get several while they're still around, before they're sold at the price of "collectors items".

Does anyone know if the MZ-NH600 and MZ-NH700 are still actually being manufactured? I have a large number of Hi-MD compilations I use for commuting, where I tend to use an inexpensive MD player, because of the constant jostling and wear and tear. I'm wondering if I should start stocking up on players for the future, while they're still around, or if I don't need to worry.

I can easily imagine it, but I'd rather own it! These models are essentially pro/semi-pro. Does anyone know why companies like Tascam haven't gone Hi-MD? The ability to record PCM should be enough of a reason in the pro/semi-pro area, no matter what the state of MD as a consumer item. Has Sony made it difficult for other companies to license Hi-MD technology?

1. I can live with MD "going pro", but there doesn't seem to have been any development in this area either. 2. You'd think the ideal replacement for MD would be some kind of removable 1GB flash card as a "format" for storing large collections, or uncompressed music permanantly. (The idea of memory and the player being the same unit still seems so limiting to me, but I guess it works for most people.) With 1GB and even 2GB flash drives available now, it seems like it's almost at the point of being realistic. 3. This morning I searched online for the MZ-NH600's, for (relatively) inexpensive portable players for future commuting playback of my Hi-MD compilations. Most places don't have them anymore. Amazon has them for $149 (after shipping & taxes in PA). I have 2 that I got for $99 last year.

Unfortunately, not with an MZM100. The files will appear in the uploading software, but they won't upload. But the MZ-RH1 (or MZM200) definitely will upload non-Hi-MD files, as long as they weren't previously downloaded via Net-MD. Just this morning I uploaded 5 MDLP discs to SonicStage, and then copied them to a Hi-MD 1GB disc.

Unfortunately the MZM100 only *uploads* to Macs (as PCM only).

I bought the deck so that I'll have something sturdy enough to last, that can play *any* generation of my minidiscs in the future, after Sony has stopped supporting minidiscs completely. So the cost is kind of an investment. But I won't feel cheated if Sony or someone else keeps minidisc alive. It's a nice decent deck (in spite of no USB and other features already mentioned).

I just ordered this unit. I doubt Sony cares, but I'd have ordered a Sony Hi-MD deck if it had existed.