The Low Volta

hm, if you record on MD, your casettes as they are playing... I would say that in this case the casettedeck is the playback device (and has volume maxed out) and the MD records therefore is the redorder... greetings, Volta

Welcome to MDCF WBJazzer, if you really want USB-uploading of your own recordings from MD->PC (this way is called uploading, as players without any recording capabilities are called Download-only models and have a D in the name, like NH600D, which you don't want) that limits the choice to Hi-MD, as they are the only type that support this. Net-MD's have an USB-connection but only for PC->MD downloading VERY BIG WARNING for Mac users: the ONLY software to allow uploading is SonicStage which will NOT work with Mac! (unless under Virtual PC, but then still very slow) Hi-MD players can edit LP2, but I'm not sure if they can do this on discs recorded with an older machine? (for example, you can't edit LP2 tracks downloaded from PC either) only the first generation of Hi-MD's (NH700, NH800, NH900, NH1) can record in the backwards compatible older formats, 2nd gen can only record in the newer formats...BUT I don't know whether this only refers to SP or also to LP2 (I would guess, only SP, but don't trust me on this one ) another warning: don't expect to use the Hi-MD to upload your old recordings...it won't...only recordings made on 1gig discs or on stadard discs formatted as Hi-MD will be...(there is still the analogue realtime recording possibility to transfer the old recordings to PC) I personally have never heard of such a feature on any Hi-MD model, and certainly haven't noticed it on my NH900 (and I know very little of pre-Hi-MD at all, so dunno there)...but, if you use Hi-MD, even on a (reformatted) standard disc, you can record al lot more hours, so I just start to record well before the actual performance starts, and after uploading to PC, just cut off the "intro"... on the fly level adjustment is possible with all Hi-MD models...With the auto limiters I guess you mean AGC (auto gain control, which adjusts the levels automatically)? Only and really only use the AGC when recording speech! To set the manual levels is a bit of a drag (they are reset every time you stop the recording)...but if you have set them a couple of times you can do this in the dark and if you use 'pause' in stead of 'stop', you won't have to do it so often hm, completely stable?...nope, as with all new technology. Relatively stable? Yep, I personally haven't had any problems with recording (have recorded about 20 interviews and a couple of lectures/speeches/debates, concerts...). If you stay focussed a bit, relatively little can go wrong: after you record, - first try the normal digital uploading through SonicStage and convert to wav - if for any reason this transfer fails, DO NOT TRY this way AGAIN! as this can erase the disc - you can then use the digital realtime method using TotalRecorder - or use the analogue realtime method using somthing like Audacity (see the live recording or software/FAQ's for explanations of these procedures) - after you have at least a back-up version of your recording you could try the 1st method again, but be aware that it only very rarely works, let alone doesn't erase the disc so this means that even it the worst case scenario, you're still recording it analogue& realtime just as you would have to do always if you don't go for Hi-MD But even with these precautions, there have been little unrepairable faults... ever so often (really only a couple of times, I haven't had any), small silent glitches appear in the recording which prevent digital uploading... but using the analogue&realtime transfer method, the recording is saved, except for the little bit of silence, which you can edit out, but still it's a bit of info missing But then again, Hi-MD gives you (even on a reformatted standard disc) a lot more recording time in a much better sound quality (if you forget about backwards comatibility for a moment) so I would say: "if you choose it, use it", I mean at least for recording, use one of the better qualities (Hi-SP or even PCM for concerts and stuf), upload to PC, convert to wav, edit, reimport to SS, download to disc in a backwards compatible format if needed... and for a concrete suggestion... the NH900 (1st gen) and RH10 (2nd gen) are the most versatile (and quite comparable) recorders... I would suggest one of those, but just look into the minidisc.org equipment browser for further info... Greetings, Volta

indeed, it says line out, in exactly the same style as the first gens...therefore I think it actually is just a prototype model or something...'cause if you look at the first pic in Ishiyoshi's pictorial, you'll see that the headphone symbol remains, but the text has disappeared... hope this clears things up, Volta BTW: so it lacks a dedicated/combined line out, but you can emulate a line out as Atrain already mentioned

welcome to MDCF Matty, yes, your RH910 should be recognized by Macs (tested it with OS9 & OSX, not so sure about prior OSs) as a data drive...but as you say, only as a data drive, so no (playable) music transfers (unless you use Virtual PC)... hope this helps, Volta

clip the mic underneath with the front just sticking out...yes, it tends to suffer from fabric rubbing (againts the sides of the mic) background noises, but already less than when the front of the mic rubs against something directly...it is always a bit of a search...my only really practical suggestion for tomorrow is...tonight, try as many setups as possible in fornt of your stereo (hifi)...see what works and what produces a lot of noise...and, if it is your first time out recording stealth, expect very little of the result...then it can only come out better than expected AND make sure you pic a method that doesn't need you to focus on the mic all the time...as the recording will probably not be perfect this first time, make sure you enjoy the concert yourself, as you are there!

well, I'm in Belgium and the situation is quite similar here... I'm also well past the teen stage, but if the recording comes out really good, I don't really mind looking like an early-midlife-crisised-turd for an evening (I mean, take a look at my avatar/personal pic...and that was just for fun ) it could work, even though it could look very funny with a couple of buttons undone and a mic sticking out ...if the mic has a clip, why not wear a shirt with a collar with big(ish) points... until inside, hide the mic(s) underneath the shirt...once in, clip it(/them each) underneath a point of the collar (only a part of the clip will be visible, the rest is hidden underneath the collar) a bit off topic: is it only one mic? stereo? if you are serious about taping music, search these forums a bit for (cheap) binaural/stereo mics that consist of two mic-elements, which you can separate a couple of inches so you get a much nicer stereo picture

have posted my idea for stealth mics here yes, I know I've posted it already (and also a refence to it in another thread), but this thread is so funny, I'd like it to come back to life with a new post...so sorry for the double posting, but it serves a good cause greetings, Volta

I just had an idea for covert mics, I already posted it here, so I won't double post, but check it out and feel free to suggest improvements... Greetings, Volta

I have been thinking about a way to disguise mics, while keeping them in a good place for recording... I came up with a MIC-CAP (don't know if it exists already, and I won't be patenting myself ) I will post my production-scetch... [attachmentid=317] the idea is that two buttons are adapted to hold the mic-elements. Therefore I thought of the foam earpads on cheap headphones (you can buy sets of replacement pads real cheap)... just cut the middle of the metal plate of the button and fold the flaps in so they can hold the mic-element; replace the pin with a strong metal wire, bended so it sticks through the foam/front of the cap (to hold the button and mic in place) and cover the now damaged button-front with the foam padding...if you find some foam covers with tiny holes, you can paint something on them to make 'em look more like buttons, otherwise, I don't really know how to make them look 'natural' (you can always put some extra buttons on the cap to make the mic-ones stand out less) beware...this is only been tested in my mind...as I don't have any stereo mics yet... so try at your own risk! (and let me know if it works , or if you have any better ideas/recommendations to improve this one ) greetings, Volta

audacity is a free open source audio editing program to which you can add plugins (as you need them, also for free) and that matches the capacities of a lot of the payware audio editors (like the ones you mention above)... if you have already got one (that works well for you), nevermind audacity...if you haven't, just try it first, before you shell out big bucks for a marketed one

hm, with OLED the text is glowing green/blue on a black background, with LCD the text is black/grey on a green/blue background...so nope, an OLED without the light is just NO-LED ( aw cheesy pun, sorry) and not a normal LCD just check out Ishiiyoshi's RH10 pictorial then you see that it really is nowhere near a normal LCD... it is much more beautifull ...but according to some, not very visible in direct/bright sunlight...actually someone who owns and uses an RH10 like Ishiiyoshi or MrSoul would be much better placed to answer this (you could always PM them with a short direct question) if you have fallen in love with the OLED (I know I almost did ) or just like the specs or the look of the RH10 better, you could always import one from japan (see this thread) or buy another LCD-remote that works with the RH10 (just search these forums a bit, there have been a lot of discussions on this subject recently...AND check availability and price first of the remote you like, as they can be expensive little buggers!!) greetings, Volta

indeed directly into PC...you could also use Audacity (downloadable for free, see download section) but eosid...don't double post so much! you already asked this question in an existing thread, but made a typo in R900 (typed RH900, which confused me) ... before I could react, you created a new thread and just as I was about to write an answer, I noticed yet another new thread (this one) by you on this topic... please don't do that... if the question is directly related to an existing topic, post it there. Otherwise, start one (and only one) new thread! greetings, Volta

it's not as much the problem that they would be covered by a thin fabric (windsocks are a sort of foamy fabric too) but that the slightest movement of the fabric against the mic will be recorded as quite a loud and most certainly annoying sound...just give it a test at home, and see if you can keep the noise down (I really don't think so...remember that you can't always stand really still at a concert) I also wouldn't place a mic any lower than shoulder height... unless you can be 100% sure that there won't be any obstacle in front of you (like sitting down in a steep theatre) 'cause any obstacle (and especially those soft and cushioned humans) will muffle the sound and too much of this will render the entire recording unlistenable... just try it at a concert, bend through your knees untill you're at the height you'd like the mic to be. I bet you wouldn't want to listen to the concert from there, and remember...even the best mics can only record the sound that is there... so if it sounds crap to your ears, it will most likely sound crap on the recording (yes I know that there are exceptions to this, as mics can be low sensitivity, which will respond better to very loud sounds than our ears; and that you can use Bass Roll-Off with mics to remove the lowest frequencies, but then you irreversibly destroy a part of the sound and a batt-box with B R-O would be one other box to hide,...) so, I definitely would recommend against covering a mic with fabric and placing it at chest level... try something like clipping them to your collar, hat/cap or glasses or something... greetings, Volta

the way I and a lot of other NH900 users go about it (especially for stealth recording) is to set the recording-settings (manual volume,...) when in rec-pause in a place where you can see the display on the recorder (I find it ok most of the time, make sure you've set the contrast high enough in the menu!). Then just leave it in Rec-Pause (with hold on on the recorder and remote) and just unpause when you need to start recording. Besides, after bit of taping, the button sequence to get the manual settings are well known to your fingers and you can do this in the dark When in stealth situations, the LCD (lit) remote really comes in handy, as you dont have to take out the entire recorder to check levels and time left etc... and as you can put the light on permanently, you don't even have to fiddle with buttons just to see something... So, just have a good look, I know the OLED looks great, but it has been mentioned that it's very hard to see in bright light, and with the RH10 you don't have a second LCD (on the remote) when you can't see the display. I compared the models thoroughly, and I will stick with the NH900...if only it had an OLED on the recorder greetings, Volta

If you recorded on the RH10 you could upload digitally through USB. And just to check, do you actually mean RH900? I only know the RH910 (2nd gen Hi-MD, no line out) or the NH900 (1st gen Hi-MD, line out-mode through menus). Still if it was recorded on an Hi-MD-formatted disc, you can upload digitally through SS or record realtime digitally using the TotalRecorder way (see the pinned threads in the software/FAQ's-section) Hi-MD has better options than recording analogue to PC, this should only be the last option, even after the TotalRecorder way, when some - not always very stable - software has ruined a faster digital upload... Greetings, Volta

A little update, I stumbled upon some cheaply priced MX350's (€7) and later on some normally priced MX450's (€15) and couldn't resist 'em. First a warning, if you have the choice, indeed avoid the 500 or 550's... The volume control even tangled when I just tried to get them out of their pack in the shop (yes, I had asked first if I could see them, befor I started to open a pack ) About the 350/450's: - both of them are definitly an upgrade from the sony stock'buds (even though the 350's only just, but they are value for money) - the highs are brilliantly crisp (with both models) but the sharpness with the 350's is almost painfull...some eq'ing is recommendable (see also the next point) - this still holds true, though especially with the 450's it's nothing a bit of eq'ing can't solve. The 350's lack of bass is a bit more serious, for example, to get anywhere near the bass experience of their bigger brother Senn HD497 they need the 100Hz and the 250Hz to be raised 6db's above the rest at least (with my NH900) - the 350's come in the asymmetric neck-strap style, the 450's with a symmetrical cord. This mostly depends on taste and habit, but I welcome the oldschool symmetry that doesn't pull the 'buds out of my ears when wearing anything with the slightest hint of a collar - both models are a bit big. I don't really have any problems, even with the foamy things, but my girlfriend can't get them in without hurting Well, I haven't tested that much other 'buds, but I'm especially pleased with the 450's! So, if you want a better listening experience than with the sony-stock'buds, but don't want to spend a lot... go for the Senn's. Get the 450's if you can find them, if you can't find 'em grab some 350's for cheap. If you want not just an improvement but something close to perfection, be prepared to spend some real money and have a look at the setups of some of the biggest audiophiles here on MDCF... Greetings, Volta

I use an NH900 but have also looked into the RH10 when it first appeared. Indeed, the two points you mention are the biggest differences...but there are a few things to consider when making a choice: - if you have a lot of MP3's and you want to keep 'em as MP3's get a RH10, as it can play MP3 (as they are, without conversion) but... the sound of MP3 isn't as good as Atrac (on the RH10) - if you have to record at night (or otherwise in the dark) the OLED of the RH10 is very nice, but it can be hard to read in bright sunlight but... the NH900 has a lit LCD-remote so you can use it in the dark as well AND unless you get a Japanese version (imported) of the RH10, you won't get aN LCD-remote (or a charging cradle, which if of laser importance) - if you use older MD-material, the 1st gen (NH900) are fully backwards compatible (can record in real SP) while the 2nd gen (RH10) can only use the fake-SP from SS after serious consideration, I decided the NH900 was a very good model, the only thing really nice about the RH10 for me was the OLED display, but I really didn't think it was worth the money (especially as I could only get the accessory-crippled European version, or would have to pay a lot for an import)

nope, only the (not so good sounding) fake-SP downloaded through SS transfer? As in downloading from SS (or SB)? Nope, same fake-SP as with Hi-MD BUT they can (just as the 1st gen Hi-MDs) record through line in(/mic in) in real SP greetings, Volta

nope... only SS & SB (does SimpleBurner work? then you could create CD-images of a number of tracks and import through SB)

indeed, so to get it clear: - if you use Hi-Md, see my previous post - if you don't (but use Net-MD or MD, but in that last case, you wouldn't use SS) refer to Ivan's first post greetings, Volta

if you intend to edit your own recordings, just upload them to SS and save them as wav (available in SS 3.x) and open them with Audacity... no problem at all

please read and post according to the rules (above the software/FAQ frame)

yes, this could be helpfull... and it reminded me of another post in which someone was trying to upload MD-recordings and he also mentioned the 61%, so that's why I ask "MD or Hi-MD mode?" *edit: I'm sorry...just looked it up, the other thread mentioned 35% but still, please answer the question as it is nice to rule out one possibility

I use a omnidirectional mono clip-on mic from Sony (ECM-C10), and that works pretty ok (suits my needs, which are basically interviewing and recording lectures, so close to yours) but not really high quality and only really worth it if you can buy it cheap, I guess definitly use mic in and experiment a bit with the options (AGC or manual level control, high/low sensitivity,...) oh and yes, don't try to record live music with this mic...really sounds ridiculous and BAD

yes you can upload PCM recordings with the NH1 and yes ou can and should use SS3.1 (or the latest version of SS at the time you get your player)