The Low Volta

well, I've never used 98 actually but a PC-savvy friend told me it was quite ok... but 2000 or XP would be a lot better of course. I installed and ran 2000 on the portable that came with Me withut any problems, so look around if you can get it... otherwise, hope SS keeps working

^^^ PCM is lossless indeed... but not compressed. To use PCM means using a lot of space to keep a library/archive, while alternatives like flac audiomonkey etc compress the size without ditching any info, so lossless compression... this means that you can keep the full info and ergo library/archive in almost half the space needed

I hope you realize that you can use all types of MD-discs (60/74/80min and 1gb) in the HiMD recorders...cause I think you've been staying away from HiMD for nothing... you could use your older discs (pre-recorded or record them in standard MD or formatted as HiMD) with any HiMD model out there

to remove the DRM you could reconvert the music to exactly the same bitrate...aparently this changes nothing to the sound quality but by doing this in 3.2 (with the DRM checkbox unchecked) you will remove the DRM but please do not take my word for it, I've only picked this up here somewhere...try it with a couple of tracks and transfer them to a friends PC before spending a lot of time/effort recoding

my advice of getting another windows version still stands... Me is such rubbish even the windows pinball freezes your PC if you happen to get at 2nd level (my sister actually enjoys that game and she caused about ten PC crashes before she realized it was that @*$ Me causing it)... my SS (2.0, 2.3 and 3.0) on Me never worked securely let alone fast and I defragged everything almost on a weekly basis (as the PC wouldn't run at all otherwise, it had only 14gb) so believe me, even '98 is better, but try to get 2000 (or XP if the machine can handle it)

check the other news thread and the like here on MDCF... there are HiMD decks and mini systems available (from Sony and Onkyo) but granted, no car-units and the decks aren't fully equipped (no optical out etc)

hey thanks, glad to have helped... but last time I checked, I still was male (although the belly is starting to block some things from view just kidding... but I'm a guy really, just check my personal picture)

here's a link to the SP-BMC-2's and from there you could check all the other SoundPro mics

the recordings will be USB transferable, make sure to upgrade to SS3.2 (can be found here on the forums in the download section) and follow the pinned "gapless burning CD's thread" in the live rec section for upload instructions the Sony mic isn't very good, the AT didn't open in my browser...but check Soundpro's as they have very good stereo omni mics for <$150 (which is already quite a lot for biginner mics)

^^^ normally speaking you should be safe unless you press the save button (with the 1st gen service mode it was pause, don't know what it is with 2nd gen, though that should be mentioned in the thread somewhere) if something doesn't seem right, simply disconnect all power sources (ac-adapter and all batteries) and wait half a minute and just start her up again, you should be in normal mode again without any changes made... this said, service mode can be dangerous so stick to the hack and do not change things as an experiment and realize that MDCF nor I can be held responsible for any faults

give Stringer my regards...while you drag the MD truth out of him and if you see some wonderful do-all recording machine stached away somewhere, feel free to bring me one no really, I think that's a great idea and I look forward to reading about your experiences and the news you heard

sorry for repeating myself... but all you (Hi)MD lovers out there... be sure to post your setup/reasons for using MD in the pre-official announcement petition

^^^ first things first: if possible upgrade your SS to version 3.2 as it offers quite some advantages (like un-DRM'ed/copy-protected ripping of music, unlimited uploads of your own recordings (with HiMD) and more...) and more stability second... a good clean HD and a virus-free setting help as well third... if possible, try to find a windows upgrade (to XP or 2000, hell even 98 is better) as Me was the biggest junk ever produced by Microsoft (and it was confronted with some steep competition ) ...I was forced to use Me for a year and I am so glad I got that horrible thing replaced by XP

hi and welcome to MDCF, just read this thread as it explains your options (and remember...you haven't got a HiMD model, so the only option is realtime transfer)

only PCM recorded on the M-models will be uploaded to Mac (it's not the bitrate, but the surrounding data on the disc probably), the software won't work with other models and not with discs recorded in other models, so it will never work for those discs *correction: seems you can upload PCM recorded on other models (thanks for the info k.) but the fact that PCM->HiSP is strange...are you sure about this (is it really HiSP or does the software just think it is and are you sure you did record in PCM?)

^^^^ the thing about atrac making MP3 sound better is only really applicable to the 2nd gen HiMD's as they have crippled MP3 playback (the higher frequencies are less present) but transcoding from MP3->atrac (or from any lossy codec to another lossy codec) actually leads to less audio quality

have you even read my post?...I never said we shouldn't contact them... I've even started a thread assembling user-experiences so we can send Sony a clear view of a bunch of ppl that like MD's features...but the post I reacted on spoke of semi-spamming every available Sony-emailaddress with this top-heavy borderline-ranting, overemotional and still based on speculation (sorry silence, that's not denial, I really think it's MD's end, but it's a fact that there has been no official announcement yet and the scope of the killoff isn't clear yet) thread and I do really believe that would kill all of MDCF's credebility with Sony... and yes, we have some... not only through kurisu's connections (which I do not want to abuse to vent my anger...if I had any) but also in the suggestions and user opinions spread out on the many pages here... or is it pure coincidence that there were that many pleas for unlimited uploading, MP3 support, un-DRM'ed ripping,... and then all of a sudden they were implemented? just think constructively! But if you want to change Sony's mind by sending them this thread in which you (and many others) are saying you will not buy any more Sony stuff as the managers leading the company can only take stupid decisions? good luck we should send a polite invitation to read our forums and the petition (mentioned in my previous thread) and to start a dialogue with the semi-pro and amateur recording market (i.e. most of us) to work on an alternative (or to keep and improve some semi-pro HiMD models or something) as there is a big void in the available tools when it comes to portable recording but please, if you are angry at Sony, do not disrespect/insult other members and I do understand irate emotional reactions...but admit that that is all they are...take a deep breath and ... think rationally and calmly about what could/should be done... I have been angry at my neighbour as he 'stole' all the broadband bandwidth with porn-downloads and stuff but do you think that it would have been solved (which it is now BTW) if I shoved dog poo through his letterbox (which was my first irate idea ) ...nope, by rationally speaking to him I got him to download porn at night when I couldn't care less but this is taking us a bit off topic...I just hope my earlier reaction is a bit clearer now: so please read it again, calmly

sorry to stop you in your tracks... but that is exactly what we shouldn't do! If that would cause anything to happen, it will more likely cause a sigh of relief at Sony's HQ that they finally got rid of a bunch of speculating/overactive/annoying MD-users than them stopping 1sec to think about keeping MD alive... if Sony comes out with this announcement (it still hasn't you know) it means it that quite some internal meetings/discussions etc. have been held to come to that decision... some email spam won't change their mind, it will only shut even more doors for consumer feedback! just try to be a bit reasonable: lots of ppl still have some equipment and for the others there will be quite some for sale on the net for a couple of years to come (and media just as well) so we can still record for quite some timeit's not as much the question whether they kill the format or not (in the end, almost all formats are limited in time... 128MB MP3-players are even more outdated than MD and I still know ppl who can't afford to upgrade from that) but what other recording/portable AP -options there will be? For listening on the move, a lot of manufacturers are designing and selling alternatives already, but for cheap, portable and still high quality digital recording there are practically none (not counting the M-audio overpriced and not better than MD, even though it offers higher bitrate and stuff-thingy)so let's not spam them with stuff they won't look at...just cause we're angry... let's think constructively!just post what you use MD for in this thread as some sort of petition showing there is a substantial semi-pro recording market out therelet's invite (you know the polite way when you ask someone in stead of forcing him/her) Sony ppl to study this forums for ideas/opinions etc (like the what would you like to see in the 3rd gen HiMD models-thread which could become a 'what would you like to see in the HiMD-replacing alternative'-thread)... if they got to know their (potential) consumers of future products, Sony could perhaps score again with something new & improved (and DRM/proprietary format-less )please ppl, do not morn MD cause you do not like change...morn the loss of some excellent features that at this moment no other device can replace just my humble opinion

Hi simon... please allow me to comment on your statements: he said recorder, that's something else completely than a playerwhy are the 60gb models selling so well then?it's been proven amply by ppl throwing the discs into the wall or driving over themcouldbe, but it's no recorderI paid €20 for 5x1gb so a quick sum gives 30gb for €120 so for €240 (still less than your price) I have got 60gb...KO I thinkyes, but it would be funny to you see me walking around at a QOTSA concert with my laptop to record

when you connect to 3.2 and the titles show correctly, can you play the audio through Sonicstage? (press play in sonicstage with the tracks still in the right column) if so, you should get TotalRecorder ($11 on the net) and record the tracks digitally in realtime as described here under dex's options for paranoid users

now that's funny! I've been in a struggle with some idiotic firm keeping my name on a list without my consent... if only this worked in Belgium!!

the rh10 can put music on MD-formatted standard discs (60/74/80min) but only through the PC->MD connection (not recording by itself, but I guess that's what you want) the rh10 (and other Net/HiMD's that require SS or SB) will nly work under windows...but you could always use Virtual PC and SonicStage on your mac (though it will be slow!) if your only intention is to make MD's from your PC to play in the car, I would look for an older NetMD, as they can be found enormously cheap on ebay and are made by more brands than just Sony I believe (just check the minidisc.org equipment browser hope this helps

I guess Sony, as they have just finished designing the brand new "invisible/unexisting HiMD-model" with no features whatsoever sorry, just some cynicism to vent frustrations

well, recording... and that's all, but it is a lot! indeed, the end of MD is relative (our current setups will last some time and media will be produced) and for all you "listen-only"-MD users out there not really being shocked by this unofficial announcement about the death of the format: I can understand you all, as there are a bunch of good (and crap ) alternatives for portable audio playback...but... at this moment there is not one other decent/affordable portable recording device on the market HiMD combined with SS3.2 gives such possibilities even though drag-n-drop would be even better, but come on: 1gb discs, PCM recording, unlimited uploads, converting to non-DRM'ed wav,... there is no alternative...yet so while I am set for a couple of years, I was asked to advise a university department about decent portable recorders for recording interviews/lectures/and stuff to study, like musical performances... and now this... should I still say HiMD? I'd like to advise an alternative, but there is none! PS: about the petition (not intended to "force Sony on their knees" or anything like that! I do not believe in negative criticism at all, but I do think it could be useful to let Sony and other companies perhaps know that the recording features and some other aspects of (Hi)MD simply are too good to give up) just check and post here

how about unlimited uploading of your own recordings (as opposed to one time only with all earlier versions) and the option to automatically convert the uploaded files to wav with the internalized wav-converter (since version 3.0)