DaveH

MZ-NH900; Win XP Pro + SP2; SonicStage 2.0 and 3.0 Following pressure from the IT people at the office because of security issues, I got them to update my laptop to Win XP Service Pack 2 (main aim being to use the local wireless networking). An immediate consequence was that SS 2.0 could no longer import CDs into the library - it gave a "CD read error" message. SS could still read the CD as a player. The rest of SS worked ok (e.g. writing an ATRAC file from the library to the minidisc recorder). Upgraded to SS 3.0 - same CD read error. No other applications running (screensavers disabled etc etc). Removed SP2 - SS 3.0 now can import CDs and works without problems have just found the link to 3.1 - does this suffer from the same thing? very odd.

In response to Dex's post - I agree that it does seem a very odd attitude to take. I doesnt mean that the software product is acceptable. I first of all went to the local Sony Centre (retail outlet here in the UK) where I had bought the player, and buttonholed the manager. He didnt know anything about it and in fact there was no one in the shop who had ever used SonicStage, which was a bit worrying as they had a prominent display of minidisc units. His attitude was the same as Hunt - i.e. we havent had any complaints before so everything is o.k. I do wonder how Sony would fare it they were manufacturing aircraft or cars. On a technical level I couldnt really make any sense of Mr Hunt's comment:- "With no reference point for the music in the Library there is nowhere for the music from the MiniDisc to go hence why it disappears from the MiniDisc and the Library." I mean to say, you can transfer a single track from Library to a blank disc in the MD player so why is the situation asymmetrical? In actual fact, the statement above strikes me on reflection as complete nonsense.

I thought that it might be useful to share this with others. I e-mailed Sony Europe with a gripe about SonicStage deleting tracks on the minidisc when I was trying to upload from the MD to "Library" and without actually putting anything into the library. (MZ-NH900; Hi-MD; SS 2.1 & 2.3; Win XP). I also had problems with SS2.1 not recognising when a CD had been put into the drive. This is fixed in SS2.3. There are several posts from others with similar problems - and some catastrophic losses of original recordings by all accounts. I didnt actually complain about the machine (which I really like) - just the software. Well - Sony replied (which I must say pleasantly surprised me) as follows: ---------- message begins here ------------- Dear Prof Heeley Thank you for your recent enquiry. I am sorry to read that you are experiencing problems with your new Sony MiniDisc and the software supplied with it. In regards to your problems with the software and the deleted album the only reason this could happen is if you did the following. Recorded the album from a CD into the Library Transferred it to the MiniDisc Deleted the album from your library Tried to transfer the tracks back. With no reference point for the music in the Library there is nowhere for the music from the MiniDisc to go hence why it disappears from the MiniDisc and the Library. If this is not what happened please respond with full details and we can try and advise further. When you are recording a few CD's in one sitting sometimes the new CD will not be recognised instantly. The best way to try and overcome this problem is to let the CD in the drive stop spinning completely (if there is a CD in there) and then use the [Eject] button in the SonicStage software. If this does not work you can go into the [Tools] menu and select [Options] then go to the option for the [CD Drive] and perform a CD Drive Check. This will spin up the CD and the software will now recognise it. Another option is to close the software down and open it up again. Sony is aware of the discussion forums and the problems that customers list regarding the SonicStage software. To put this in perspective though only the people who have a problem post things on the forums and Sony have sold well over 22 million MiniDisc recorders worldwide so a very high percentage of customers do not have any problems with the software and it's operation. I hope this information is of some use to you. Finally, if you need to reply to this e-mail, please quote reference 137509844 in the subject field of your e-mail. With Regards David Hunt For and on behalf of Sony United Kingdom Limited ------------------ message ends -------------------- The steps outlined above are exactly what I did - but where does this leave someone with an original recording hope this contributes to understanding what is happening

I have made a disc, Hi-MD ATRAC3 256 kb/s recorded from a CD using SimpleBurner. Recording session went smoothly without problems. When I access the player from Sonicstage, the track icons are only "half coloured" rather than "fully coloured" greenish blue. Sonicstage cannot access these tracks to delete them. Why is this - anyone know? I am using the same laptop that I used for recording, OS, USB port etc. info: Windows XP Pro (no SP2 - can't install it and still use other packages); USB 2.0 direct connection (no hub); administrator priviledges; Sonicstage 2.3 (but same problem occured with 2.1); MZ-NH900; 1 gbyte Sony disc (new). Tracks play o.k. and are correctly titled.

Do you know of any way around having to install SP2? I have upgraded to Sonicstage 2.3 and most of the time it is behaving reasonably - at least better than 2.1. However, I know that SP2 causes one of my main applications (that I use a lot for my work - a bibliographical management system) to hang up and there does not seem to be an upgrade to it, or a work around on the horizon.

The Sony USB cable for the MZ NH900 is exaclty the same as that supplied with my Olympus digital camera. The Olumpus cable also has ferrite cores attached. Assuming that the NH1 uses the same cable as the NH900, a camera dealer might be an alternative source.

Relatively new to MD, but am quite perplexed by the SonicStage software supplied by Sony. Most of the internet fora have a lot of complaints about it. I have an MZ-NH900 (8 weeks old) and have upgraded to SonicStage 2.3 (European) from the early 2.0 supplied. The thing that puzzles me is why it cannot transfer from the MD to my PC (Windows XP Pro WITHOUT SP2!). What is worse, as most users now seem to know, is that it actually deletes the albumn / tracks from the MD (without transferring - goodbye albumn - yes I did make sure the check box was set so that it shouldnt delete). The manual, Sony websites & etc claim that it can transfer and that this is a +ve feature of the Hi-Md format. I was puzzled to read a good review of the NH1 (which I understand is the NH900 with better clothing) where the reviewer claimed to have uploaded live recordings he had made from the recorder to his PC. Is this the issue? Can you upload recordings you make yourself using a mic or "line-in" but NOT what has been downloded to a minidisc? Curiously, my local Sony Centre (who sold me the kit) DONT know anything about SonicStage and it's problems - well - they say they don't - but I wouldnt be surprised. I have complained to the Sony support e-mail address several times but am very surprised that they have not replied (Hm...). Am also puzzled why I cant select alternative compression rates when loading from "Library" to "Hi-MD". e.g. recorded a CD at 256 kbit/s - would have liked to use something better than 48 kbits when I need to crush things onto the end of a disc or to re-work parts of material that has more dialogue than music (e.g. variable adaptive compression for opera) (64?) but it is not an alternative. Reading the technical description published by Sony about ATRAC i would have thought that was possible. Is the only solution to record PCM and then select the compression required for a whole track? Am very surpised that there are not any alternative 3rd party solutions to the software impasse. Of course, like all other users who have got the MD bug I am very impressed by the sound quality and engineering and wouldnt have an MP3 player as alternative - but horrified by the poor software support. p.s. try using Shure "in ear canal" 'phones (E3C) or Stax Electrostatics to really appreciate the recording quality.