1kyle

If you've got a kenwood older MD / CD radio -- this solution works fine Mine is a Kenwood KMD-673R Ensure you are not using the CD / MD changer feature and for 19 GBP (34 USD) you can get one of these http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/stock01/auxin.asp This type of solution might work for other makes as well. Works a treat -- fits in 2 minutes even if you are ham fisted. --now I can play HI-MD in the car (or even Ipods Ugh UGH) and still play the older disks via the head unit. Just plug the 13 Pin din connector to the Din plug (changer connector) on the Car radio and away you go. Keep pressing the SRC button on the head unit until DISC appears. If you already have a changer connected you'll need a switching unit. Now your aux device will now play through the radio. Press the SRC again to select MD for the built in Minidisc (MDLP) unit or TUNER for the radio. Simple, easy and quick. (I still feel that these Radio manufacturers should fit a front AUX in as standard as there must be a HUGE demand for this feature and it's not difficult to Engineer it in). Cheers -K

I'd go for any decent deck with an AUX in on the front --very useful but not many seem to add this feature. I'm currently using a Kenwood MDLP car radio --but I really would like the ability to play HI-MD disks as well. (Now solved -- see post in Hi-MD section). I'm not sure whether HD radio is worth the effort. We've got DAB in the UK and whilst it gives more stations the bit rates aren't anything spectacular that would make me want to listen rather than popping in one of my own MD's. HD radio may also become Subscription based and it won't be available everywhere. For speech etc old fashioned AM is still fine -- we are lucky enough to have a very high quality (Content not audio) Long Wave station BBC Radio 4 on 198 Khz which can be received EASILY in a car radio all over northern Europe -- from about Bilbao in Spain to Poland. This is primarily a TALK station so the Long Wave sound is adequate for this type of listening in a Car --some great programs can regularly be found on this station which really alleviate the boredom of travelling long distances on the inevitably congested UK road network. I'm sure there's a lot of demand for a Hi-SP car deck that could also play legacy format disks. -- I really can't be bothered with carrying CD's around and in any case MP3 CD's to my ears don't sound very good anyway. For Kenwood car radios see my topic posted in the Hi-MD section. This solution may work for other models. If all else fails you can always install a Cassette Radio and use the Cassette adapter --but I think you might have trouble finding either of these products any more. Cheers -K

Works fine as well on my mds-jb980 --this has an optical out --of course you are limited to real time but it works. You will have to label the tracks manually as your SP disks probably didn't have any track info on them. Now with SS 3.4 you can make HI-SP copies of your tracks even if the SP is not a first generation copy -- ===> Optical out on the recorder to Optical in on your computer and record in WAV / PCM. After you've done this tansfer to library in ATRAC3 Lossless. If you still want to make SP copies for use in legacy decks, car radios etc etc then you'll have to play the track via a computer and connect the optical out on the computers sound card to the optical in on the legacy MD recorder -- Note the latest models won't RECORD in legacy formats (SP/LP2/LP4) but will play back these formats. Cheers -K

If you guys are using NERO (on Windows) and have SS 3.4 installed you can burn a CD to a "Virtual Drive" using NERO's Drive Image (bundled with NERO software ever since rel 5.0). You can then transfer to MD etc. using the SS software. This means you can burn a CD and then rip it without actually having to use "Real CD's). Lots of possibilities here. Cheers -K

I'm still not sure whether SONY plays mp3's in Native mode or does "in line" conversions. Note that as any conversion will be done by HARDWARE it can be incredibly quick unlike software transcoding -- and as the MD device has something like a 10 second buffer (or bigger) you won't percieve any delay due to "In line" transcoding. One would probably have to get at the design manual to see exactly where transcoding is done -- if any. I doubt whether Sony would deliberately add artifacts or intentionally make the sound worse. What probably is taking place is that Sony's transcoding algorithm is probably using less of the file to keep the transcoding speed as high as possible. This means that unless you have a very high bit rate your mp3 files won't sound very good. I'd be interested to know exactly where the transcoding is done however since it seems totally unrealistic for SONY to include 2 DAC (Digital to Analog) engines --one for ATRAC and one for MP3. In all cases of course the final output has to be analog --that's what drives speakers and of course our ears. Cheers -K

Thanks -- interesting app -- will download and try it. Cheers -K

Any operation (apart from a non destructive READ or Bitwise copy) you do to a compressed lossy file will reduce its quality (and make it smaller). -- Some compressed files .ZIP for example are Lossless -- these can be worked on without loss of data or quality. MP3's are of course compressed Lossy files. For example you are probably familiar with jpegs (jpgs) --picture / camera files. Open a Jpeg with say microsoft photo editor or photoshop or whatever. Save the original. Open a copy. Do a small edit on it. Save. Open again and do some more editing. After say 3 or 4 edits compare it with your original file -- you will see the quality of your processed file considerably degraded from the original one. The same with an MP3 file --it's a compressed file so each time you do an operation on it and save you are throwing away more information. If you MUST use MP3's --start with a WAV file -- do all the editing you need FIRST then save as MP3 otherwise you'll get a really horibble sounding file when compared with the original source. I'd also store the mp3 at the highest bit rate possible -- if you've got a large bit rate then the degradation on conversions will be less than with smaller bit rates. If you started with ATRAC3 Lossless then I'd go first to WAV (you won't lose any info) then EDIT then save as mp3. I'm not sure about ATRAC3 lossless direct to mp3 you could try that as an experiment --but ensure the original source is UNCOMPRESSED. ATRAC(lossy) to Mp3 (another lossy format) will result in quite a bit of degradation --even going from ATRAC (lossy) to WAV first and then back to mp3. This could explain the poor quality of MP3 playback on some MD units as it probably has to convert the MP3 to ATRAC in the device before playing / up / downloading. I doubt if the MD unit natively handles MP3 without doing some conversion in the hardware / firmware --so a pure Computer Hack is unlikely to yield a solution. Other devices probably can just read your MP3 without any conversion hence no (more) degradation. I'm not a fan of MP3 so I can't say --however the general principle of degradation of lossy files always applies whether it's pictures, audio or any thing else so always keep the number of conversion operations to an absolute minimum when working with lossy files. Cheers -K

The Atrac3 Lossless format plays directly on the computer via SS 3.4 and produces an Optical Out signal with a decent sound card in the computer. This of course can be connected to the Optical In on legacy units to ensure you get decent SP quality playback on your legacy gear (even if you have to do it realtime). The advantage here is that you can make as many MD's as you like even if you haven't got the CD anymore and you've got all your music stored in lossless format which can be converted to WAV if ATRAC ever disappears. It seems to work better than using the 2X dubbing you get on some shelf / bookshelf units for transferring directly CD's ===> MD's in SP mode. Listening again to some SP mode stuff it definitely sounds better than LP2 (albeit not by much --and in a car LP2 is fine). I'm not always at the computer so it's nice to be able to pop a disk into units I have around the house. Incidentally SP playback on the RH10 is pretty good too. Cheers -K

Thanks -- I was wondering why you could still select the bit rate -- anyway I had it set to the highest (352K) Cheers -K

I'm re-ripping my CD collection again into ATRAC3 Losseless --since SS 3.4 allows conversion of ATRAC3 lossless into WAV (and the other way around) you can get much better use of disk space on the computer. Doesn't seem to be a problem uploading the files either (no DRM issues). I'm not likely to be stuck with an "Unuseable" format since the ATRAC lossless converts to WAV again and this can of course be converted to any other format you like. Pity though the MD player won't play ATRAC 3 lossless directly -- maybe a "3rd Gen" unit might. If only Sony had given us SS 3.4 facilities say 2 years ago. I can't percieve any difference in quality from a CD ripped in WAV to a CD ripped in ATRAC lossless and converted to WAV (the ATRAC lossless was about 50% the size of the WAV file so lots of space savings without quality loss). Perhaps someone with an Oscilloscope or other gear --sound engineers out there -- could do a comparison -- but it certainly passes the "Ear" test. Cheers -K

This thread has about the same value as some of the rediculous safety instructions put on electrical appliances these days. For example how many of you actually read the instructions on a Philips Hairdryer -- this is not B/S -- the instructions actually state " Warning --this product must not be used in the shower. 'Nuf said. Cheers -K

Thanks --downloaded now You're a winner. (BTW am also using Acrobat Reader v 7.01) Cheers -K

Mine's also fine. I bought mine in the UK (and I've applied the volume Hack). Cheers -K

Hi all -- I've been trying to download the service manual for the RH10. I get the ist page and then the computer freezes until I cancel. It stops at 128K or 192K downloaded out of > 2 MB. Is there a problem with downloading (Copyright restrictions etc.) or is this just a temporary glitch. Other downloads (drivers etc) work fine. Cheers -K

You are right --but there is definitely a revision on this unit so it is part of a newer batch compared to the initial production. Cheers -K

Thanks to all --- the volume Hack works even for the latest RH10 -B --the B is the latest version of the RH10. Use this link as it's more up to date than the original method. http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=9752&st=15 I've now got Custom equalisation etc etc. and decent volume. Anybody in London --you can get the Black one's with the very sexy Blue screens which blow any IPOD away even for looks in Tottenham Court Road (London's Electronic Shop capital --load of electronic shops) for around 165 GBP -- a bargain. Just get out of the tube at Tottenham Court Road station and walk up the street -- electronic shops on BOTH sides of the street --non EU visitors can get VAT back and shops will take €'s as well (Euros). Loads of Sony Blue 1GB minidiscs as well. (Visitors from Paris / Brussels using the Eurostar train service to London -- easy walk from Waterloo -- or 5 Mins on the tube). BTW the gumstick battery is the same as used in the earlier but also very sexy unit the MZ R90 (SP only) so if you've an old R90 then you can use the battery as a spare. Thanks again to everyone on this board -- Volume hack and equalisation for R10 great. Cheers -K

Actually it's just my "Cynical Nature" -- this upgrade is really a MUST HAVE. Now Sony thanks for listening for SS features to improve --- how about a decent DECK and a HI-MD car player to complete the picture. Cheers -K

DO upgrade to SS 3.4 -- It's now (almost) a decent product. -- I haven't used SS a huge amount in it's previous versions but this version looks like it's what people have been waiting for. DIGITAL uploding now allowed -- no DRM either(about time too).Other good stuff as well --read the review on the Forum. Get it from the download section. Cheers -K

Hi there Waitrose in Willerby E. Yorkshire (Between Hull and Beverley). I was there again yesterday to buy some food --- they were sold out but the manager says they'll have some more next week and sales have been brisk. (Perhaps they are using them as a "Loss Leader" but I don't care however if I can get them cheaper). Anyway I've now got my ENTIRE CD collection (around 500CD's) copied at LP2 on the 80Min discs --if you use a HIGH QUALITY deck like the MDS JB980 for recording and playback the quality of LP2 is IMHO indisinguishable from SP and is almost as good as the original CD. I always record 2 (and only 2) CD's per disc which makes accessing the collection easy. I NEVER download music from ITUNES or elsewhere -- the quality is pretty abysmal and there are all sorts of hassles if you want to play the music on different devices etc etc. With my minidisc I can just pop it into any machine I care to name and play it. If I'm mad enough I can even create "ATRAC CD's" which is a way of increasing the amount of music you can store on a CD without having to resort to MP3 encoding which I don't like. I'm sure 999 out of 1000 people won't be able to tell if a disc has been recorded at SP or LP2 -- especially if they've been used to listening to MP3's. I use MD Simple Burner for creating the discs --- I don't rip via Sonic Stage which I hardly use any more -- I really don't like being bound by a computer for music. Eventually if a decent deck comes out I'll switch to HI-MD disks --but seriously if a minidisc (standard) gives you 2 1/2 hours of decent quality music just take 2 or 3 discs --more than enough for a typical journey. I actually only use HI-SP for PCM live recording - By using 2 recorders you can get enough time to change discs etc etc --and these days buying a 2nd recorder for this purpose makes sense anyway. If a High quality HI-MD deck appears as well as a HI-MD car radio then my needs may change --but hopefully a HI-MD deck would still at least on PLAY allow Legacy SP/LP2/LP4 PLAYBACK even if it couldn't record these formats. Cheers -K

Ever since the start of the New Year I've been seeing a lot more Minidiscs (blanks) AND RECORDERS in the UK now than I have for some time. I couldn't believe it when I saw a lot of Minidisc Blanks (80 Min TDK coloured one's) in WAITROSE of all places --a Supermarket selling for 6.99 GBP --- approx 10 USD a packet of 10 (I bought 5 packets at that price). I've seen blank minidiscs on sale now also in WH SMITH (large News / bookseller) and even in some of these "Cheap DVD/ Music" stores. Dixons also carries the NEW 1GB discs (at least in 3 stores I visited in the North of England -- Kingston upon Hull, Leeds amd Manchester and had various Minidisc recorder models on display as well. OK I haven't seen the RH1 but they could order it --they had the 900 however. So certainly in the UK there is no sign of an "Iminent Demise" of the format yet. I also hear it on the grapevine that something to look forward to in April / May will possibly appear. Incidentally I had to laugh at this one -- So many people got Ipods for Xmas who couldn't operate them that Selfridges --a well known Central London Store (expensive) is starting "Ipod training" courses at 65 GBP (100 USD approx) PER HOUR and there's a MONTH's waiting list to get on one of these. Why didn't I do something like that -- I suppose that's why there's people like Bill Gates and people like me. Cheers -K

If you are recording from DAB Radio even using the optical out of the DAB radio to optical in on the minidisc I wouldn't bother with recording in PCM as even HI-SP is of better quality than the transmission rates of typical DAB stations --at least in the UK. Even BBC R3 which has one of the the "best" or "least compressed" braodcasting signal runs at 192 / 160 bit rates so you don't gain anything by using PCM. At Hi-SP you'll get over 7 hours on a 1GB disk at perfectly good quality indistinguishable from the original broadcast. Here's the actual bit rates for the BBC --I'm sure other stations will use similar. http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/bbc_bitr...C_DAB_Bit_Rates Cheers -K

There IS a way to copy your files to another computer but this is what you have to do. -- Notice first if you have a music library on the 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) computer that will be TOTALLY replaced so "merge" all your music into a single library before you start --if this means re-ripping so be it. Right so what you do now is 1) Run the Sony SS backup program -- depending on how much you have stored it could take up to 3 hours. I have around 65 GB and it takes around 1 1/2 - 2 hours on a moderately fast computer. --Note you will have to have this storage available -- an external USB drive is the ideal place for this. --Note backing up the music does not cause you to LOSE any music in the ORIGINAL computer -- you can still play, transfer transcode etc etc. 2) plug the external USB drive on to the 2nd computer and now run a "Restore" from SS. You will have to be connected to the internet while SS validates the music DB but only takes a second or two. 3) Repeat on as many computers as you want. --This library can be restored without restriction on to as many computers as you want provide there's no "Purchased downloaded" music. Normal CD's and your own recordings will copy just fine. After restoring you can use the library etc on the new computer(s) just like you did on the original computer (which still works as well). I do this a lot on to a laptop computer --my library is on an external USB hard disk when I'm using the laptop. Works a treat. The only restriction is that you don't have any "Purchased" music --I hate the whole idea of "Downloadable" tracks of lower quality and so full of DRM that you can't play the stuff anywhere you want. My own music library only has my own recordings and stuff ripped from CD's. If your libraries only contain CD "ripped" music and your own stuff not bought frm "ICHOONES" etc the method outlined above will work --and you can copy to your heart's content. (As your stuff is on a USB stick --then when using the SONY SS backup program you'll have to let SS know where the "library" is -- use the settings in SS. The computer just sees the USB stick as another Disk drive). Cheers -K

Why on earth would they replace the MD's by CASSETTES of all things. That really is "Dinosaur" technology now. Whilst I don't like.mp3 im general and find having to use a computer to organise music etc a real turn off (So an Ipod is not for me) I could at least make sense of new units incorporating say a CF card or memory stick for storing music on --but a CASSETTE in 2006. You don't even see people with Tape walkmans any more. HK is usually in advance of Europe in elecytonics so I'm really surprised here. O.T --but why on earth aren't there any CAR radios with HI-MD --they are still being turned out with CD players by droves --who needs to carry around bulky CD's anyway or have to mess around stacking these in a stupid unit in your car boot so if you want to play something else you have to stop and re-load the stacker -- what a stupid solution when a 1GB minidisc could play 7 CD's at almost CD quality. Cheers -K

MD blanks are still really easy to get in the UK -- even Dixon's still has loads (usually) of the older 80 Min (or 74 min) standard discs. Finding cheap Hi-MD discs is more of a problem but using the JB980 deck you won't need any HI-MD discs. Enjoy the deck --- one of the really GREAT pieces of gear which will pass the test of time --- it'll still work when 2 or 3 generations of IPOD's have bit the dust. Happy new year and great listening (on MD of course). Cheers -K

The JB980 is a FANTASTIC deck --even at LP2 it blows a lot of other stuff away and of course Optical IN and OUT --what more could you want. I still have loads of MD's recorded at LP2 and SP which are great as well for the car (Old Kenwood MDLP radio still going strong even though Kenwood no longer make MD products). I'd love a HI-MD deck but the JB980 will still be with me for YEARS yet. I'm not a huge user of the computer for arranging my music and if I do rip from a CD I'll often pop one in while I'm watching TV / going to bed and record to MD in real time anyway. The JB980 allows limited editing using a computer keyboard (without a computer having to be attached) which is nice. I might be old fashioned but I refuse to let a computer anywhere near my Hi_FI equipment --even a laptop. A computer reminds me too much of work so it's banished to my office. I'm not in favour of the "Home Entertainment" centres which have a computer as its central core. To those who think MD is dying -- actually the format for Pro use has never been stronger especially as DAT is finally being killed off. Low end consumer use might have been affected by "Ipoditus" but radio stations, reporters etc etc use minidisc systems in droves and just look at the runaway success of the MZ-M100 (the Pro version of the RH10). Happy new year to everyone Cheers -K