1kyle

I'm glad you don't worry about what your Bank uses --- Your Bank archives are probably still backed up on to Old Fashioned Tapes languishing in some fire protected vaults. The whole purpose of Archiving is not that it has to be technologically the most advanced but that it can be easily accessed and READ by any conceivable program in the future -- just look at the current dogs dinner of a mess with all the various DVD formats --to say nothing of the 2 new one's one the horizon -- Blu Ray and the new thing from Toshiba. This reminds me of the story at N.A.S.A when their engineers were asked to come up with a medium which could read and write with an unlimited amounted of storage in Zero G, survive several G's on take off and landing and have to be randomly accessible. Well N.A.S.A spent several 100's of million dollars of hard earned taxpayers money on coming up with something which has never seen the light of day as far as ordinary consumers are concerned. The Russians had a much cheaper and probably neater answer to the problem -- it was called a PAPER and PENCIL. Technology is fine --but it has to be useable and "User Friendl;y". The reason CD's have stuck around so long is that they are relatively small, easy to organise and can be played on a huge variety of different devices in different environments at very high quality. Downloadable "purchaseable" music has basically two FATAL flaws for serious long term use apart from the usually pretty horrible quality on offer compared to a decent CD --- The user HAS to be stuck at a computer both to get the music AND to organise it, and the music has horrendous DRM issues over where and on what equipment you can play it. Compact flash type devices fail on the grounds of User "Organisability" whilst HD's suffer at the moment from lack of decent capacilty and ability to be played EASILY on top end equipment. Things like the Mini Ipod are not designed to be used in top end gear -- just plug one in to say a decent Marantz sound system with a pair of decent speakers costing 2,000 USD a pair -- 'Nuf said. I know most users of this board are likely to be youngish and are into gadgets and gizmos -- that's fine but for music people don't want always want to be tied to computers to organise and play their collections -- currently the only decent portable formats that can also be used on high end separates, and is easily stored and organised are the CD and MD. The MD is a much more convenient size but si unfortunately a bit more limited over the stupid DRM issues -- had the MD been free like the CD it's probable the MD would have replaced the CD ages ago --now it's too late although I still think the format is great. In future some type of HD system will probably be used but of course if you break or lose the device the WHOLE LIBRARY is gone whereas with a MD recorder the most you lose is 1 disk. Cheers -K

Have you tried to listen to Opera on an Ipod Nano with a decent pair of Bose 'phones. 'Ouch. If Minidisc eventually DOES get killed off I could probably live with a DECENT HDD recorder -- but it would have to have RECORDING facilities with AT least an Optical INPUT (preferably an Optical output as well) and a LINE OUT --, have a decent screen and have a hard disk of AT LEAST 80-100GB. I don't forsee much of a future for CF removable media such as microdrives -- the cards are too small and fiddly to make for a decent library system -especially for retrieving archived material and in any case will always cost much more per MB than a cheap blank minidisc. Actually a 1GB microdrive with around 8 hours of recording at HI-SP is about right IMO for portable music. What I also like about a system like Minidisc is that I can select the disks I want to take on a trip --and once the recordings have been ripped / copied to MD I don't need to be anywhere near a computer. All these "Ipoddy" things need you to be at a computer if you want to change the music selection you've stored on the device --I can't be bothered with all of that especially as I like listening at home on DECENT Hi-Fi separates and REFUSE to have a Computer in any room in my house other than an "Office" which I've specifically designated for that purpose. What WOULD be 100% welcome is being able to Drag and drop music files either from or to the device and be able to play these wherever you want and on whatever equipment you so choose. While this is not likely to happen for "purchased music" there is no reason why this can't be implemented for your OWN music. Cheers -K

It's the same marketing ploy that they use in marketing digital cameras -- the MP (nr of mega pixels) is always quoted -- but of course all pixels are NOT equal, A decent professional 6MP DSLR will leave an 8MP point and shoot type of digital camera for dust --but just listen to the sales guys !! If it wasn't so sad it would really be funny. I suppose these are marketed at the same sort of people who willingly sign Store Card credit cards at a whopping 29% INTEREST or those who are suckered in parting with their money to pay say 60 GBP for an "Extended Warranty" for a piece of apparatus only costing 150 GBP. Quote -- A Fool is easily parted from his Money. Cheers -K

As a professional photographer I DO know that you can source microdrives as cheap as the poster suggests --and you can get them with capacities as high as 6GB at the moment (although whether that 6GB would work in the device is a mute point as it would certainly have to use FAT32 rather than the FAT system which has a max file sizeof 2GB). This device would actually be great for me to take on a shoot as I could always use the microdrive as an extra camera card. As for it Replacing MD's --I don't really think so --- labelling and archiving loads of microdrives for playing at home woulds be TOO finicky -- you can get stuff that's just TOO small to handle. Imagine you have say 100 of these 1GB microdrives and you want to play song XXXX --- how in the world do you find which microdrive it's on without either trying every one or using a computer. Labelling MD's externally is relatively simple. The problems of serious use of these small devices will soon become readily apparent once the novelty has worn off --and remember for playing music (or even finding it) you don't want to be stuck on a computer.. I don't think we need to rant here --there's nothing wrong with using some of these devices but they won't replace the MD. I might get one of these myself --but this would certainly be IN ADDITION TO the MD not to replace it. BTW request to original poster (or others) Please post a link to this device and / or post a review. Cheers -K

Great unit --especially with Optical Out Pity no HI-MD -but at least Denon's still in the game. Cheers -K

Try in the menu to change the Disc settings (Disc Mode) to HI-MD mode (on the Minidisc) Cheers -K

Hi another thing I've tried --if you want to copy tracks between computers using the Hi-MD unit itself. Note as before No purchased / DrM'ed music. 1) Ensure SS / SB is NOT running and use the Hi-MD unit in DATA mode. 2) Copy the tracks to the disk as Windows (cut and paste) 3) Plug the Hi-MD unit into computer 2. 4) Import into library. Works a treat. Now if you want to get this music into playable format on the Hi-MD unit. 1) Re-initialize the disk. I.E out of Data mode and start SS. 2) Transfer the tracks to your MD unit. (Haven't yet tried for .WAV or Mic recordings). Incidentally you can also transfer in Net MD LP2 if you want. However you DO need a Hi-MD unit to operate in DATA MODE to do the initial copy. This makes a nice "Sneakernet" type of system if you want to set up tracks on another computer and then copy them to your MD unit or another one without having to carry around some backup CD's / DVD's and restore a library. I often use laptops in different places and being able to burn selected tracks without having to install the whole library(mine is now around 80GB) is fine -- and once I've got the stuff on MD I can delete from the laptop anyway. Cheers -K Added --- .WAV works fine as well -- even if it didn't there'd be nothing to stop you creating a "Virtual CD" with Nero (DriveImage included in the Nero package)and then re-ripping. -K

I've got a couple of WAV files which I made from the Optical output of a JB980 deck which I created from the Optical output of the JBS980 Deck. I've burned these to a DVD asordinary Windows files test1.wav and test2.wav I'll see if I can copy these to computer 2 and post what happens. I haven't got any MIC recordings to test at the moment. Cheers -K

OK you referred to SB which still has this sort of rubbish in it however SS works fine if you take one or two precautions. SS 3.2 WILL allow you to copy NON PURCHASED NON DRM'ED MUSIC. First of all when you set up your SS 3.2 did you switch off or disable the setting Apply Protection to music transferred via CD -- Default is Protection ON although why you's want to DRM your own music is beyond me. Now I've simply with Windows 'Drag 'n Drop' with Windows explorer copied .OMA files between computers and re-imported them into different libraries. If your set up has still got some SS 3.1 protection junk in it what I would do is as follows. Use SS to backup your library. DO THIS FIRST Delete the entire library (from SS). Takes a while depending on how big your library is but stick with it. Uninstall SS completely. Re-install SS 3.2 using the links on this forum -- use the SERVER method to download the Installer program and let it connect to the server to download and install the program. Ensure the "Protection Setting" is OFF. Now restore your library -- You'll have to be connected to the Net for a few minutes while the Restore does it's validation. After your library is restored it will do an automatic "Converting Library Files" -- presumably this is to re-set or switch off protection on any of the tracks that have it. Finally you've now got your "Non Drm'ed" music. You might have to do this procedure on any other computer you've got -- but you can use the same "Backup Library" you made to restore to the other computers. You'll find now you can copy tracks wherever you like -- I've backed mine up to DVD -- Imports and plays fine on 6 different machines --no probs whatsoever. (All this assumes you have NO PURCHASED MUSIC -- "ICHOONES (is for 'Loones') ", CONNECT or whatever -- and have essentially your own recordings and "ripped" CD stuff). Note if you have stuff backed up / copied on to a DVD you don't need to keep it full time on your computer -- when you want to burn a MD just restore the relevant tracks from the DVD to the library (Re-import) --doesn't take long and then transfer to your MD. You can then delete the music again from the computer. OK it's an extra step but it works. I really don't use SB any more now that SS 3.2 has made "Multi-Computer" use OK. Cheers -K

Here's some interesting conclusions about MD / HI-MD from a Professional. http://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/res_audioequip.htm#vi Scroll down throw the article and you'll come to the MD sections. I think a lot of us are in relative agreement here. Cheers -K

Not particularly liking the current owners of CDDB or the direction it's going does anybody have any experience over the quality of info on Freedb -- at least they really do support Open Source and it's genuinely free. Cheers -K

Finally (provided you've installed SS 3.2 and DON'T have any purchased DRM'ed Music) the .OMA files are really Drag'n drop. You don't need the SS backup any more so you can just copy your actual music (.OMA) files to DVD or wherever -- split them up across different disks etc etc. For writing to DVD you can either burn an ISO DVD-ROM with Nero or use some packet writing software like InCD. The disadvantage of burning a DVD-ROM is that you need to burn a whole DVD at once (4.7 / 8.4 GB depending on Single / Dual Layer standard). Using programs like InCD makes your DVD like a "Hard Disk" so this is where the "Drag 'n Drop comes in --use Windows explorer to copy and paste the files to your DVD. This is a much better idea than having to have a whole Backup library on disk and need validation every time you restore it. (I don't need a 70 GB disk backup library any more). You can import these into ANY library on ANY PC without having to delete and recover the whole library. I've now got my whole library archived on to 8 D/L (dual Layer) discs. Note --you still need SS however to burn to MD -- pity they didn't go the whole hog and allow Drag 'n drop direct to MD. Anyway it's a HUGE improvement over what went before --and also makes backups a lot easier. This only works for NON PURCHASED NON DRM'ED Music I never bother with " ICHOONES" or CONNECT music store -- I only use CD's or my own recorded music. Please BEFORE you try this yourselves backup your library on the Old way just in case you get problems on your particular system --note when you set up otions for SS 3.2 you have to switch off the CD protection otherwise you will be "DRM'ED" from accessing your own music. Also as said above this won't work for PURCHASED MUSIC -- another reason not to use those services and get proper CD's instead. Cheers -K

What might be interesting is that there is an ATRAC player out there somewhere Would then the .OMA files created by SS 3.2 (doesn't have the play / transfer restrictions on non purchased music) play in the ATRAC player. If at least playback works then you'd have the start of getting some software to work on Linux. I believe there are some links to the ATRAC codecs somewhere. Cheers -K

You might be able to run it under WINE but you are on your own on this one. It will work on VMWARE (running a Virtual Windows Machine on Linux) Cheers -K

1) NH1 ====> None as far as I can see 2) 2nd Gen stuff No "Native" support of LP2 / LP4 / SP -- whether or not this is important in future generations I don't know but while there are people still using high quality MDLP decks and MDLP or even original SP car radios then this is still important -- especially as there aren't any easily obtainablel replacements in H-MD format for these yet. In fact I think there's only 1 HI-MD shelf unit currently on offer (No Optical Out either) and no HI-MD car units. 3) SS 3.2 STILL has very occasional glitch of preventing access to your files (Track is protected etc etc), but a re-restore fixes this. 4) Drag 'n Drop for .WAV (PCM) files so no messing about / transcoding in SS. Otherwise I'm reasonably happy -- SS 3.2 has fixed most of the real grievances I had with copying MY OWN legally obtained music. Cheers -K

D/L disks work fine as well (8 GB) and DVD-RAM 9.4 GB per double sided discs are also OK --Nero I'd still move the library to it's own Disk partition (you can use Partition Magic or whatever to make a Logical Partition) and then use "Disk Imaging" software to back up that partition --oodles quicker than any other method. You can even remount the backup image if you use NERO or some other "Imaging Software" such as Acronis True Image without having to restore to Disk -- great Idea if it's on a DVD as you can ensure you won't lose it as the DVD will generally be READ ONLY. In fact a good Idea is to split your music up into several manageable Chunks and before importing change the Import Directory so you add it to the relevant "Library" SS 3.2 still treats the whole kybosh as 1 Library but it doesn't really matter as you can just double click in Windows explorer on the appropriate file to Open with SS, Play or do whatever you want with. Finally decent "Drag 'n Drop --but always remember this doesn't work for DRM protected and Purchased Music stuff. Cheers -K

Disk Imaging Software -- a number of options out there but these 3 seem to be the basic contenders 1) Acrinis True Image 2) Powerquest 2002 (Now longer available but you might find an old copy) 3) Norton Ghost. These make actual "Mirror" Images of your Disk partition(s). I find it very useful if I have to restore say Windows without having to re-install everything --but if you have your Music Library on another partition than your Windows partition then you have to Image BOTH partitions -- they will restore without problems -- but ensure the partition containing the library and the one containing the OS (Windows) are restored together. In any case it's always best to keep your OS (Windows) separate from your data etc in any case. Much quicker than SS backup -- a whole Windows partition can be copied / restored in around 10 Mins ( dependsing on the size of course). Acronis True image is probably the easiest http://www.acronis.com Cheers -K

[solved -- Deleted Entire Library (Not the Backup) Uninstalled SS 3.1 Re-installed SS 3.1 again Upgraded to SS 3.2 Restored the library. Not sure why the original problem occurred --anyway it's working now. Cheers -K

Hi everyone was thinking how good SS 3.2 was compared with SS 3.1 until I got a rude awakening. I've got a library (huge approx 80GB - Mostly Classical Music ) I'd made using SS 3.1 -- all from CD's and should therefore be able to copy to MD. Some of these CD's are quite old and the words "Copy Protection" hadn't even been heard of when these CD's were made. Anyway trying to create some LP2 MD's (still use in the Car etc.) I get following error Was trying to copy to an MZ-NH1 in MD mode. Cannot convert the specified track. SonicStage does not support the file format of the track or the track is protected by copyright. Bacchus et Araine, Danse d'Arinae - Sonata in C major, Waldstein, 3rd movement - Een vrouelic wesen; Missa L'Homme arme; Sanctus - Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major; 1st movement - Rhapsody in E flat major - Romeo and Juliet; Romeo seul Legendes; St. Francois d'Assise; La predication aux oiseaux - Le rossignol des lilas - Violin Concerto in D minor; 1st movement - Don Giovanni; Gia la mensa e preparata - The Magic Flute; Der Bogelfanger bin ich ja - O Solitude - The Fairy Queen; Chaconne - Elijah; Aber der Herr sieht es nicht - I though OK I'll be clever --deleted the library and restored from the backup. Still the same error. Uninstalled SS 3.2 -- re-installed SS 3.1 everything Worked thank goodness. So any ideas on what's going on. On another machine I tried a small test with SS 3.2 -- Copied a CD to the library using Atrac3+ @256kbs (I usually use that in my Library as it's fine most purposes) It would copy to MD without problems. Cheers -K

Come on Sony -- Car drivers are a HUGE audience for portable music. Why haven't you come out with a Hi-MD car unit yet. There's loads of NEW CD (ugh) car radios out there even now --who needs to carry around bulky CD's and have all that auto changer crap in your boot anyway and the new Cd players will also play MP3's --- Not that I care about that but it IS a huge market. I'm amazed at people still buying really expensive auto CD changer units -- if you want to change your music you've got to get out of your Car and reload the stuff --sounds a bit like "Dinosaur Technology" to me but there's no accounting for tastes In fact some of the SONY CD car radios will also play ATRAC CD's which I suppose gives some sort of compatability to MD's and Sonic Stage --but why still make it on CD's. My old Kenwood MDLP radio is still chugging along -- but I'd really like a new HI-MD unit -- 2 or 3 1GB minidiscs are much easier to carry around than a whole armful of bulky CD's. Perhaps users of this board could get up a notice to SONY explaining that they are missing out on a very large (and relatively wealthy) section of their potential market --and if you have a decent MD unit in the car you'll probably have at least one unit at home as well. Cheers -K

Not too sure about SS 3.1 --download SS 3.2 seems to allow much more flexibilty --especially with your own recordings. Convert to .WAV and burn to CD should be no problem --Haven't actually done it myself but I've certainly read a lot on the Web that handling your own recordings is simplified now in SS 3.2 Download SS 3.2 from the download section on this Forum. Cheers -K

This must be the first post EVER suggesting native MP3 (what's that anyway as it's all compressed) leads HI-SP for sound quality ---even a set of Vulcan Ears wouldn't come to that conclusion. However the build quality of the NH1 means it will last you for years long after your RH10 has bit the dust and can still play the old formats. I do like of course the OLED but maybe a 3rd gen unit will combine the best of ist and 2nd gen units. Don't worry either about the built in battery of the NH1 --It's easy to change and if you carry a 2nd there's more than enough hours between re-charges. You might also be able to find some good deals on a NH1 as it's not current anymore. Cheers -K

To everybody going for 2nd gen stuff -- I'd skip it and still keep ist gen until 3rd generation comes out with some real improvement. I took my MDS-JB980 to a place which had several top of the line Mission and Acoustic Energy Aelite speakers (talking here of speakers costing over 1200 USD) and ran a test on some music recorded on the unit at LP2 with some music recorded on 2nd gen units at HI-SP. Both my Deck and the portable units were plugged into some decent Marantz Amps so no cheating there either. Music recorded on the JB980 was via Optical out on quality CD player into Optical in on the unit. Music played into the amp was via optical out on the JB980 to optical In. Music on the 2nd gen units was also recorded via Optical IN on the units. The 2nd gen units having no optical out raised a slight problem for fair comparison but 2 tests were done --first was via Line out into Line In on the amp Then another test was done using a computer and SS 3.2 with a decent sound card optical out into the optical in on the amp. Slightly better but not hugely so --and when listening to music I shouldn't always have to use a computer to get the best quality out of it. Guess what the MDS-JB980 at LP2 just blew away the HI-SP stuff. OK I know comparing a top of the range deck with portable gear isn't really fair --but I wasn't even using the top bit rate of the old unit (SP). --With SP the newer units weren't even in the same league. Note I wasn't trying PCM -- this I know would be good on any unit. So if you get a 1st gen piece of gear at least you will have compatability with the older stuff which currently is still outperforming the more modern stuff. I really would like to see what a QUALITY HI-MD deck could do --especially if it could play PCM as well -- but for the moment NOTHING is going to make me part with the JB980. It seems to me that the music industry is going backwards and catering more and more to the 'MP3' crowd. It's really amazing to me that no one has come out with a really good current music system to replace the humble CD yet -- forget SACD it's dying on it's feet. The MD could (and still can) --but some of those bozos over at Sony need to get their act together. Think it's a case of one step forward and three backwards. Cheers -K

I like a lot of classical music including opera etc -- I find if you transfer CD's to MD's at 256 kbs --- indisinguishable from the CD's almost on ANY equipment you'll get between 8 and 9 CD's per 1GB disk and no probs at all with character limits. Even if you have to carry 3 disks with you that's equivalent to 24 classical CD's --so should be PLENTY for almost any sort of trip you are likely to make where you want portable music. If I want "Ipod like" quality I'd drop down to a lower bit rate -- OK for some type of music but for classical you need the highest possible dynamic range and therefore a reasonable bit rate. Acoustic instruments (guitars, violins, 'cellos, flutes, etc etc.) are much less tolerant of "artifacts" in recordings than a lot of "electronic" music. Cheers -K

Pro and semi-pro gear doesn't appear in normal consumer outlets anyway -- for example how many times can someone go to a camera / electronics store and pick up any of the following (professional photography) items 1) A Canon 1D2 or 1Ds2 camera 2) A 70-200 2.8 'L' IS Lens. 3) A 300 MM 2.8 'L' IS lens. The fact that this stuff isn't on sale in "Consumer Stores" doesn't mean 'It's on the Way out'. Far from it -- Photography has never been more in demand. MD is also much too useful a format to let it die out -- OK let the kids play with their Ipods etc etc but fashions change whereas top range Pro stuff always is in demand. The market is most definitely NOT dead. (Maybe smaller and more discerning and also more profitable). Cheers -K