Azureal

It's such a sweet machine, too bad Sony crippled it with the LIP4 battery, a non standard USB connection and no way to charge it without the dock! It was my first HiMD device and if I had known how nearly useless it would be ten years on, I would have save my $420 dollars!

If you are using any of the MDLP modes like LP2 or LP4, the MZ-N1 may not sound as good on playback because it does not have the Type-S DSP for improved MDLP playback. The MZ-RH1 does have a Type-S DSP and can make a significant difference in the playback of some MDLP encoded recordings. Are you playing through the headphone output in headphone mode? The RH1 has a digital amplifier versus the analogue amplifier in the N1, this could also account for the difference in sound as well as what settings you have for bass/treble settings. I would expect an SP recording played back from both units using the "Line-out" setting turned on, into an amplifier, to sound very similar. However, every unit I have has a unique sound style, so who knows!

Other than running XP in a VM inside Parallels or Fusion, maybe VirtualBox, I don't know that there is much you can do. Oh, and there is also BootCamp, but that's definitely more invasive to your Mac OS environment. We have some other Mac OS users around the forums who may weigh in with other options.

Google is your friend, I did a search on the exact error string you posted and got over 100,000 hits. This problem is not specific to Sony machines, it is related to the system not recognizing that there is a hard drive installed and part of the boot order in the BIOS setup is set to boot from the network. The machine is trying to boot from the network and loading network drivers then it's complaining that it cannot find an Ethernet connection. One sample post from a Compaq user. You need to confirm that your new drive is compatible and properly connected and then validate that it is recognized by the system BIOS. Most machines on boot will display a brief message on the screen like "Press F2 to enter setup". This is where you'll go to validate the recognition of the new drive. You may have better luck getting further assistance on some boards which specialize in VAIO laptop users support or user groups. A couple of my favorite laptop forums are: http://www.notebookforums.com/ http://forum.notebookreview.com/ Good luck!

That's a pretty good price for a LIP-8. I didn't look to see if it included shipping but even five bucks for shipping would still make it a deal. I have bought a couple of the aftermarket LIP-8s over the years for my R50 machines, I am almost sure I paid a little more that that ...

I am considering divesting in all players/recorders which cannot be run from an AA battery directly or via a sidecar battery compartment. That excludes the RH1 which is really like a mini-deck and I never run it from battery anyway.

Looks like Sony pretty much crippled this unit by not including an HDMI input which seems crazy since they marketed this as a High Definition television/PC. Typical Sony Style... Sony-VGC-LT35E This Amazon.com description is from Sony from way back when it was being sold new. It seems pretty clear that your only options for video input are a coaxial cable television connection or S-Video. It looks like you may be able to use it as a small TV or if the BD player still works use it to watch movies. None of the other I/O options will give you a way to get HD video onto the screen.

I believe if you intend to only format disks using Hi-MD and never use any standard MD formatted disks you can use this version of SonicStage. Windows 7 does recognize a Hi-MD formatted disc as a Mass Storage Device and SonicStage will rip and copy files to that storage medium.

Me too PhilippeC! Simple, solid and of good quality. The clear factor is just fun too.

You should download the SonicStage Ultimate v4.3 from the downloads section of the forums here, You can also find the required 64 bit NetMD drivers in a separate download in the same downloads area. If you are having crash issues your situation may require additional diagnosis. I suggest you completely uninstall all MD related software and drivers before re-installing the Ultimate v4.3 from the forums.

Yes, Hi-MD is seen as a Windows Mass Storage Device and has a driver which kicks in when you insert a Hi-MD formatted disk.

That's a cool article, it is amazing how much impact Sony has had on consumer electronics over the decades.

I agree with PhilippeC, I use standard 80 minute MD in Hi-MD mode. I have dozen or so Hi-MD 1GB disks and never use them. However, I still prefer real-time optically recorded ATRAC SP, 80 minutes per disk baby, never sounded better to my old ears! I picked these up on Amazon.com with free shipping recently, The Sonys were $16.50 USD per ten pack and the Victors were $17.50. Not a terrible deal these days at all. Like I really needed 40 more blanks!

Hey guys, nice to see you back over here after such a long time.

MDietrich, I could your stuff all day long and not get bored! Great topic and great conversation ...

We had another member ask this question just after you. See this post for explicit details: You need to have a little patience because the thread is long but all of the details are there ...

I suggest you get on eBay and start looking for used JE500 units, they were not the cheapest units in their time but they were also not the top of the line. You should be able to find one for a good price. The browser suggests that the S37 was a similar unit. It is not at all necessary to re post your original note after a response ...

vilic, Please start with this thread, it is long but explicit details are contained within: If that is not enough, search the forums (upper right of forum page) for "windows 64bit" and you'll find many additional discussions which have taken place over the last several years between many people in the community on this and related topics. Good luck!

hey bluecrab, I recall reading an awesome article explaining the amazing engineering feat on Sony's part as it related to forward compatibility when playing newer versions of ATRAC on older decoders. I think the article may have been on minidisc.org. If I can remember (I suffer that same malady!) I'll try to find it. It was very interesting.

Thanks Stephen, Very interesting, it seems that the AK4524-TP is a combined ADC/DAC chip although in the JB930 and JB940 Sony chose to only use the ADC portion of the chip and combine it with an additional discrete DAC part. In the JB980 however, it is the single part is used with both ADC and DAC in service. I suspect to reduce cost. There are no Current Pulse drivers in the output section. The JB980 has the addition of the USB controller and firmware which added to the cost of production.

Hey guys, as an Electronic and Computer Engineer, this topic fascinates me so did a little digging in the browser and on the web. Here are some notes and details for several units being discussed. Let's also remember that the quality of sound is and always will be subjective and unique to every listener! :-) JB930 ATRAC Type-R CXD2656R ADC AK4524-TP The 4524 ADC is a 56 pin dual inline chip DAC CXD8735N-TP Current Pulse drivers 2 x CXA8042AS (one per channel) Same current pulse parts as the JA333ES The 8042 parts are 28 pin through hole inline parts and also used with a different DAC in the JA333ES. Finding any good details on this part seems nearly impossible but it looks to be a driver part which converts the differential analog voltage output of the DAC into a current pulse signal. This combination of a DAC chip and the Current Pulse driver chips is used together in many high end pieces of Sony gear which explains the statement that they have a "Current Pulse D/A", the true DAC is the 2656 part. The outputs of the 8042 chips are then run through an Op-Amp matrix and finally output from the units. JB940 ATRAC Type-R CXD2662R ADC AK4524-TP DAC CXD9556AQ Same DAC as JA333ES The 9556 DAC is an 80 pin quad flat pack. The browser states that the JA333ES (and presumably the JB940 since it has the same DAC) are Current Pulse drive. In fact, examining the schematics for all three machines, the 940 contains no current pulse drivers such as the CXA8042AS chips which are in the 930 and the 333. Clearly the 9556 DAC has a differential voltage output as used on the 940. The differential voltage DAC output runs directly into the Op-Amp array and is output from the unit without any conversion to current pulse for the 940. According to a previous on a similar topic has some additional detail. JA333ES ATRAC Type-R CXD2656R ADC AK5383 DAC CXD9556AQ Current Pulse drivers 2 x CXA8042AS (one per channel) In all cases, the Op-Amp output stage of the circuits shape the noise floor, dynamic range and frequency response of the output. I suspect the JA333ES is superior in every way to the JB units because all circuits are isolated on seperate circuit boards with different power supplies. My original intention for doing this research was to ask the question "What about the JB940?". I discovered however that punkrockaddict's statement that the pulse current output stage of the 930 produces a superior analog signal is likely very true and based on the fact that 930's DAC -> Output section is nearly the same as the JA333ES. I understand Stephen's point regarding the fact that each of these units as well as probably all have a direct digital signal from the ATRAC decoder to the Optical and Coaxial digital outputs. I know for a fact that the DAC and other circuits in my Marantz SR18 receiver which, admitedly is now a dozen years old, converts the digital stream from all three of my MD decks with amazing grace. I would like to think it performs the task better than a few Sony chips worth 50USD retail but who knows. A side note, the JB980 has no service manual in the browser so I could not check. The browser does state that it has the same ATRAC DSP chip as the D400 and is of the same era, I wonder if the ADC/DAC in the 980 is of lower cost/quality as is the one documented in the D400 service manual, it is in the schematic as a combined device for both input and output. I still love my 940 and my D400!

Those look great Mr. Brian. If I were half as organized as you I wouldn't have dozens of discs around with no labels at all!

That's great news tinner! I personally find SonicStage to be a very usable program for managing my library of music. Many others here do as well. I think you'll like it.

There was a time years ago, before I found sources of various higher quality MD blanks that I bought half a dozen of those clear Memorex discs in the clear plastic box. I got them at a computer store named Micro Center and they were all I could purchase locally at the time maybe around 2000 or 2001. The best thing about these discs was the reusable box! As you have noticed, these disks seem to be a lower quality. I don't use them any longer, maybe some day if its all I have left, I'll bring them back out.

Sorry for the multiple posts, I tested again with another computer which has the drivers already installed and also has regular USB 2.0 ports. With no battery and no disk the unit was recognized and said "No Disk" on the display as well as "HiMD". It did not show as a Mass Storage device in Windows Explorer. I inserted an album recorded using NetMD LP2 on an 80 minute standard MD and it recognized it without issue. Opening SonicStage allowed me to view the contents of the disk. All of this without a battery in the unit and sourcing power from a standard USB 2.0 port. Placing a battery in the unit started the charging process, although it was fully charged from being plugged in on the other machine. I suggest you run a few tests and if you cannot get it to work, you should contact the seller and find out what they are going to do for you ...