sallymae_hogsby

I'll settle for any hi-md deck at all. I've had 3 MD decks over the past 12 years or so (original, MDLP, MDLP with optical out) and they all still work. I've had many portables, and only the two most recent still work without some kind of glitch. It might be because portables go thru more trauma, but the decks seems more durable.

Just to restate the obvious (as many others have here), if "they said they have run out and won't get their next batch in for several weeks", something is certainly not being done right. It's amazing how poorly something sells, when it's not available...

Is the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) just for analog (mic & line) input, or does it also work when the input is digital (such as from the optical-out on a CD recorder)? I tried to do a search on AGC but didn't get a result, in case this is covered elsewhere. Thanks!

This is from the "Hi-MD Music Transfer for Mac Ver. 2.0" manual. One of the notes at the end of page 3: The following tracks cannot be imported. -- Tracks that have been downloaded from a Macintosh computer to a Hi-MD Walkman using Hi-MD Music Transfer. And this from the notes at the end of the first column on page 4: Audio data downloaded from a Macintosh computer to a Hi-MD Walkman using Hi-MD Music Transfer cannot be re-imported to the same Macintosh computer. For this reason you should make double check (sic) the contents of the original files before deleting them on the computer. Could someone see if this can be "gotten around" by changing the track name slightly? Thanks!

I'm pleased to hear about the MZ-M200, since that means the "one model per year" statement wasn't to be taken at face value. Does the May release of the MZ-RH1 in the US mean that the Mac software should be available early too?

This isn't a criticism of the MZ-RH1, but just a question about a possiblity for the next version of it (the 2007 model?). Is there any reason why the playback info that's on the remote couldn't also be put on the main body on the front? There's all that empty surface there. I understand the whole "view the side from the shirt or pants pocket" situation for recording, and how the remote is an extension of this. I also understand that it's primarily a recording device. Would having a "playback readout" on the front require it to be extra thick or something?

I just nitpicking here (I agree with your post) I'm pretty sure DAT came first, as Sony's first misguided attempt to replace the cassette. Much too fragile a medium to do that. I always got the impression that Sony unintentionally created a pro format with DAT, when it meant to create a consumer format.

If Sony has abandonned DAT, a Hi-MD deck is necessary for PCM recordings, if nothing else, as a replacement. CDRs and hard drives can't be depended on for long-term storage, the way MD can. I can't imagine a (semi)pro recording studio or radio station using Hi-MD in the studio, if they have no choice but to use portable equipment.

MDfreak, I'm assuming your unit doesn't have the Mac software with it, or that you don't have a Mac? I'm trying to find out if it's still the basic PCM-only upload Mac software, or whether the Mac software has more options now. Thanks.

Akiba-Gadgets http://akiba-gadgets.com/2006/03/sony-mz-r...c-recorder.html says: "This unit will use the NiMH gumstick battery, NH-14WM, and have a AA-cell addon pack for enhanced battery life when out and about." Are they misinformed, or do they have more information?

That seems to be where Sony is/was heading recently, with MD being targeted for pro/semipro audio. (Wave-only in the Mac software, with no DRM.) Still, it's been awhile since the MZ-M10 and MZ-M100 were released. I'd hoped there would be further developments (like non-portable models for home studios and radio stations) by now. I'd love to know what Sony's current plans for MD are.

Have we ever found out the reason for this? Does Sony refuse to let anyone else do it, or are they charging some prohibitive licensing fee?

The NH600D is being sold for around $95 now, (Amazon, J&R) with a list price of $250. Since I haven't seen any real promotion (other than J&R itself) I half-suspect it's a "liquidation" price.

Yes! I really miss all the editing features that were the norm on decks, but difficult or nonexistent on the Hi-MD portables. Fade-ins and Fade-outs, changing the level of a track (or part of a track) are what I miss the most. Tho this can be done with software on the computer, Sony made it so easy to do on the deck itself. DAT wasn't just used for portable recording. Hopefully Sony will remember this.

Now THIS is intriguing. 8 channels of audio, up to 96kHz in sampling frequency... We're talking high resolution surround sound 5.1 (or even 7.1) channels here. Sony definitely has plans for future professional audio storage in mind, with ATRAC. Combine this with those old forgotten rumors of 2GB or even 5GB Hi-MDs, and things get interesting. I doubt our cute little consumer MD models will have much to do with this, but ATRAC is certainly evolving.

Am I the only one who's a bit suspicious about the release of these players? Especially the fact that they don't play the mp3s that can be transferred to disc via recent recoders. I'm wondering if Sony is just trying to get some money back on the expenses that went to developing these players before Sony decided to give up on MD as a consumer format. These players seem to be unreleased leftovers from last year. The "new" Kenwood and JVC MDLP players seem even more suspicious. Why not even bother to release Hi-MD? It's like everyone is dumping their unreleased consumer models while there's still a consumer base that will still buy players. (Obviously they can't expect to new customers to buy players.) I'm looking forward to Sony's new direction of "pro" models of MD gear, which makes a lot of sense, since the market for a DAT replacement is still wide open. I haven't been convinced that the rumors of MD being dumped as a consumer format aren't still true. I wouldn't be surprised if we're just going thru a "glorious sunset" of unreleased MD consumer models, before the dark sets in.

Can anyone confirm this from personal experience? I'd love to be able to use my MZ-RH910 as an auxillary "upload machine" to my Mac, without having to unhook an MZ-M10 that's set up elsewhere. (I'd been waiting for Sony to release an "indoor" Mac-friendly model for music production, but fear that's not likely now, so may go ahead and get an MZ-M10.) Kurisu, if you have any hints that the (semi)pro use of MD might still be developed, please relieve my despair...

Units: 1 "classic" deck, 2 MDLP decks, (I'd buy a Sony Hi-MD deck if it existed, with a digital out), 1 "classic" portable player, 3 MDLP portable players, 1 Hi-MD player. Daily Use: copying tracks from my CDs onto MD compilations for commuting. (I have several hundred made already, that I cycle thru, as the years pass.) Because I commute in a relatively noisy environment, I run the music thru a compressor before recording it. Straightforward downloading/ripping can't do this. Favorite Use: Making and Listening to the compilations mentioned above. Professional Use: I am a home musician, and create all my album masters onto MD. (I enjoy the ease of MD editing to insert/shorten/lengthen pauses, as well as adjust the volume of individual pieces, and then burn it to a CD master from the digtal out.) I was very much looking forward to a rackmount or home deck version of the MZ-M10 or MZ-M100 to upload to my Mac, and hope the plans for MD as a DAT replacement won't be dropped. Alternatives: I don't like any of the present alternatives to MD. With PCM, it had finally evolved to the point where it was more useful than ever. Request: If you must abandon MD as a consumer model, PLEASE continue developing it as a DAT replacement.

After reading this thread, I'm a little confused. Has anyone who actually has a MZ-M10 or MZ-M100 gotten the software to work as it's supposed to on a Mac? Does the software not work correctly, or are people just playing around with the software, with other MD models?

Several online places claim they have the MZ-M100 and MZ-M10 "in stock". Has anyone actually seen one yet?

Yep! Some nice, decent, sturdy studio Hi-MD equipment! And durable field equipment. We'll pay for the quality, but if Sony makes Hi-MD "pro", it will have to stand up to pro demands.

Also, what is the difference between the MZ-M100 and the MZ-M10, besides cosmetic differences? I've read the descriptions at several places, and can't figure it out. Tho this place: http://www.venturaes.com/index_new.asp?htt...ony/index4.html lists "CD Radio Cassette Recorder" as an accessory for the MZ-M100...

I notice several places are selling the Mz-m100 (starting July 29th, 2005) with SoundForge editing software bundled in for an extra $100 ($499 total). Is there anything special about SoundForge?

If MD does become "the new DAT", it will be likely that other manufacturers will join in. Under the guise of being "pro" equipment, they tend to be less restrictive than Sony, doing things like allowing SCMS to be turned off. There's no reason (unless Sony doesn't allow it) that a pro MD deck couldn't incorporate the software to create WAV files directly. It will be interesting to see where Sony goes with MD as pro equipment. If MD is no longer under the watchful eye of its Music Division, things could really develop.

Does the same restriction apply for the Mac software, that the original recording has to be Mic/Line-In (analog)?