Shozzer

You could do a test line-in recording and combine the tracks on the MD rather than in Sonic Stage. The upload the single track to Sonic Stage and convert to WAV. I have had no problems with doing this and it may be worth a try (although the prospect of joining 186 tracks wouldn't exactly thrill...)

There seems to be no easy answer here as different people have had different experiences of uploading. I have a 1st generation Hi-Md and not had any problems with combining tracks on the unit before uploading. You might wish to upload all files to the PC and then download them to another MD as a back up. EDIT - as you have uploaded once, don't try again as the computer will erase the tracks on your disc if they exist in My Library. If you have done nothing with the files then you can download them as a backup. If the worse came to the worse you would still have a copy to work with. The only difference between this one and the master copy is that you would not be able to divide or copy the files as they are downloaded from the PC and the MD will nt allow you to do this. You could then try to combine the tracks (on the master copy) and then insert track marks between each song. You can also mark the parts of the recording that are not required (silences etc). To remove track marks press play and then pause. Move to the next track mark and then quickly press the T Mark button. This will remove the track mark. When you have finished, press stop to save the changes. Then press play again and move through to the places where you want to divide and then press T mark to divide. As Dex says, label the tracks before uploading so that you know the right order. In my experience this is a lot easier than other methods of combing and dividing. Hindsight is a wonderful thing - make sure you take the time to think through want you want from the recording before you start to record! A simple check list might work. Hope this helps - happy editing!

I can't say why it is not working for you. The option I mentioned seems to be a one stop shop for uplifting and transferring to WAV rather than having to uplift and then select each track individually for conversion. At least you have found a way of converting to WAV.

It is possible to automatically transfer to WAV when importing. Under the advanced transfer settings tick "save in WAV format when importing". You will then be prompted to enter a location where you want SonicStage to save the file to (I think the default is in My Documents)

Upgrade as greenmachine advises. There is no other software.

Joking aside, everyone has different experiences of using MD as this forum shows only too clearly. I guess the great thing about this site is that we can all share our problems/solutions/workarounds and I am sure that the majority here are sold on the idea of MD. If a better meduim presents itself (I don't believe that an affordable alternative is available yet) then maybe opinion will change. I have to say that I have never had a problem with Sonic Stage in any of the versions that I have used and I love the fantastic recordings that MD can make whether it be by microphone, line-in or download from PC. I have to admit to not taking the trouble of creating a line-in copy of an important recording but have trusted blindly to Sonic Stage - "more fool you" I hear some say. That being the case I don't expect to get any sympathy the first time my recording goes belly up and I lose everything. When there are known problems we should either follow the perceived wisdom or make our own way. So the meduim isn't perfect - what else is in this world? For me, MD is just what I need and with the last few developments of SonicStage it has only got better. Whatever format you choose dave_bass5 I hope it serves you well.

Hi. You are having fun aren't you? I take it that the recording has been completely uplifted from the md to the pc and it was during the WAV conversion that the error has ocurred? If so disconnect the md from the pc and check that the recording on the md is ok. Put the disc to one side (don't try uploading again at this stage). Restart SonicStage and see if the uploaded recording is still in My Library. I would suggest that you follow the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) on this site which gives help in backing up files and upgade to SonicStage 3.4. You will probably want to copy the recording to the PC via your soundcard so that you have at least one copy safe on your PC. You might find that when you open Sonic Stage again you are able to attempt to convert to WAV again. If you do upgrade to 3.4 then do not upload from the md to pc whilst a copy remains in My Library as the computer will erase the recording on the MD!

If you do not have HI MD then you are stuck with maximum compression of LP4. Using 80 minute discs gives the longest playback at 320 minutes.

I much prefer to record lectures without track marks and upload the single file (having titled it on the MD player via Sonic Stage). I then convert to WAV and use Nero to insert track marks (having stripped out the pauses for continuity) and then burn to CD. If I want to listen to the lecture on MD I can always copy the CD (with track marks) back to MD. I find this easier than messing around uploading a number of tracks.

I don't know about other portables but the MZ NH900 has a rehersal mode (see page 71 of the user manual). Press the T Mark button for 2 seconds or more and the MD continually plays for 4 seconds from the track point. The track point can be adjusted using the jog dial. This can also be used in conjunction with the speed control for more accurate placing.

Are there no DRM restrictions with this?

What about a class action against Sony? They don't point these facts out on the box. Even Sainsburys say on their packages of smoked mackrel, "Warning, contains fish".

Seems hardly fair to have a go at MD when you spill the coke over it - especially as the disc still plays! How many other formats would be so resiliant?

I have bad news my friend. You have purchased a Net MD which allows you to download from your PC to MD but not from MD to PC. Only HI-MD models offer the ability to transfer both ways. The only way of getting the recordings into a PC with your MD is to connect to the PC using the headphone socket and line in and play the recordings whilst recording simultaneously - look at the FAQs for more information. If it is any consolation I made the same error when I bought my first MD.

Am I right in saying that there are some soundcards with optical input which (ahem) do not worry about SCMS? I am sure that any recommedations will be greatly received!

You cannot delete tracks that have been downloaded via the computer. These need to be checked back in (note: this will not transfer the actual tracks to the PC).

What about connecting to SonicStage and then when it has read the contents of the desk disconnect and see if that allows the cover to open?

Hi Charlotte. What do you want to do with your recordings when you have finished recording? Do you want to keep them on the MD for self-analysis or do you aim to transfer them to computer to burn to CD? If it is the latter then HI-MD has the advantage of being able to transfer quickly the recording to the PC whereas a minidisc will only allow you to play it back in real time so a recording of half and hour would take half an hour. I mention it because you only have to read this forum to see that many people expect to be able to copy at high speeds to the computer with their MD and are disappointed to find that they cannot.

Does the issue with ATRAC Advanced Lossless still arise in SS3.4? ie when transferring to HI-MD it transcodes the compressed copy in My Library (default bitrate) rather than use the lossless copy which SS uses for PC playback?

Marc please could you clarify: If the tracks were recorded on the computer and then downloaded to MD and then subsequently deleted off the computer, would the MD recognise the fact that they originated from that particular computer?

Audio books AND Dramatisations (BBC 7 is a good source for the latter). I use HI-MD to compile family listening for holiday journeys. I use HI-LP which to my ears is very good anyway, and can cram a lot of choice for the whole family and takes into account the wide age ranges. I use line out and play through an adaptor into the car stereo. I have plenty of material to fill a few Hi-MD discs!

I misunderstood the question , thinking that it was just Hi-MD models. I actually have four: MZ N1, JB980 and 2 x MZ NH900.

I nipped home at lunchtime to record a NetMD into the computer - about four hours long. The benefits that I can see of using Marc's prog is that each track will be copied separately and take their names with them. I can then transfer them into SS and put them onto one Hi-MD. If I copied the disc from MD to MD via line out I would have one track and no titles. Unfortunately with the sound card I have got I cannot copy a second generation md via optical as the copy protection kicks in. An additional advantage is that I don't have to worry about the hard disk continuing to record and using up disk space after the source has finished playing. This is a very useful tool - just the sort of thing I expected from MD when I purchased my first Net MD.

I cannot recall any problems with SS - it seems to work fine for me.

Upgrade to Sonic Stage 3.2 for unlimited uploads (see downloads section of this site). Tick the "Leave the tracks on the disc" box under the Advanced Transfer Settings to leave the tracks on the minidisc after uploading. Also, get a copy of Marc's HI-MD Renderer to convert uploaded digital tracks (ie recorded using the optical in on the md) to WAV & etc. Have fun.