greenmachine

If you record in PCM, don't bother with Sony's proprietary format, but upload (with SonicStage), convert to .wav format and compress that lossless with .flac or a similar compression scheme. Use this file for archiving and/or transferring. After that, the backup copy in SonicStage's Library in uncompressed proprietary format can be deleted to free up disc space.

Don't use any version older than 3.2. You can download the latest version (4.3) here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=9586

If you care about fidelity, converting to a lossy format like mp3 should always be the last step, when the mastering is done. Use SonicStage to upload and convert to wav -> edit -> convert to final format.

Recordings in PCM or Hi-SP should sound very good (assuming you record from a high quality source/mic) even after upload to SonicStage. Make sure you upload "as is" (no automatic conversion to a lower bitrate), check the transfer options in SonicStage. These recordings can be converted / decompressed to wav (Windows PCM). After these initial steps you should have high quality wav files and be free to do with it whatever you want with any capable external application (SonicStage no longer required). When recording in Hi-LP you will have a more or less significant quality loss. Use it only if you need the extended recording time. SP mode recordings are legacy mode compressed recordings, about the same quality as Hi-SP, but use up more space and cannot be uploaded with the NH700.

If a MD with MD mode recorded tracks is inserted (or the MD is empty and you're in MD recording mode), the "Format" option does not appear. Use "Erase ->All Erase" instead, which will basically do the same as the "Format" option. Once the MD is empty and you're in Hi-MD recording mode or the disc contains Hi-MD mode recorded tracks, the "Format" option should appear.

Your MZ-NF610 has a line input only which expects strong signals a microphone can only deliver when recording high sound pressure levels. A mic input (built-in preamplifier) will allow you to record quieter sounds at decent levels.

What was the source of the music you fed into SonicStage (Audio CD, live recording, downloaded mp3s)? CDs can be re-ripped directly to mp3. Live recordings on MD would need to go through SonicStage to be converted. Also, upgrade your SonicStage to a more recent version, some restrictions were removed and bugs fixed.

You will need a recorder with mic-in (built-in preamplifier) or an external preamp unless you want to record extremely loud sounds only.

For resizing and other basic editing tasks I use the free but excellent IrfanView.

It will work just fine with the battery box design as described in this thread as well as with plug-in power from the mic-in. There is a way carry out the sf-mod in a way so that the casing doesn't get positive, but the mics would require a reverse voltage (not plug-in power compatible). With the mod, the mics will lose about 5-6 dB of sensitivity, the S/N will remain the same or improve slightly.

A battery box does not pre-amplify, it just supplies power to the mics. If you record relatively quiet sounds like conversation, unamped instruments,... , you will need a preamp to get sufficiently high levels. If you record rock-concert-like levels, battery box to line-in will be sufficient, no preamp necessary.

Analog and digital gear are different. While a digital audio file with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz can reproduce any frequency up to 22.05 kHz with equal intensity, there is nothing above that frequency. Analog gear on the other hand does not have such a steep cutoff - a headphone or loudspeaker that is rated for 22 kHz upper frequency limit will also reproduce 23 or 24 kHz, but with lower intensity (a few dB quieter).

At a sample rate of 44.1 kHz the highest possible frequency would be 22.05 kHz (half the sample rate) or a bit lower. So, what is supposed to be the 22.4 kHz tone is in fact silence.

True, drag and dropped mp3s or other files are not playable on the unit.

With a mono plug you will get a signal in the left channel only. If you record in stereo mode, you will record the signal in the left channel only. If you use the mono recording mode, you will get lower than desired levels because the left channel signal and the right channel silence are mixed together and the average is recorded. If you have a mono to stereo adapter, use it.

The AT is mono, for voice recording, I don't think it would be an improvement. Are you getting distortion with your current setup, what do you like/dislike about it?

The high end is a bit rolled off (dull sound), which you can partially compensate by adjusting the EQ (4khz 1 notch up, 10 khz 2 notches up is usually suggested).

http://minidisc.org/hi-md_faq.html#_q93 The 305 MB figure is for a reformatted 80 min MD, a reformatted 74 min MD will hold about 7-8 % less. You can re-format any standard MD to Hi-MD mode.

I have a R909 and the output level is much higher when using the line out mode as compared to just turning up the volume and disabling the EQ. It does not work for maximizing the volume when listening with headphones though, the sound gets quite distorted with a low impedance load such as headphones.

I have noticed that, when using a level setting of 10/30 or lower at the mic-in, you lower the signal, but not the distortion of the overloaded preamp, which makes the 0-10 range kind of useless. What was your level setting?

The unit has to be in rec pause to be able to switch to manual rec-volume mode. Once you're in manual mode, the level setting can be changed on the fly during recording.

The battery may be exhausted. Try using an AA sized battery in the external case if available. Otherwise replace the gumstick shaped rechargeable with a new one. Read here about to get the best performance out of rechargeables (in this case NiMH). Do not leave the battery in the unit if not in use for a longer period. Deep discharge may cause permanent damage, which I suspect happened here.

For speech LP4 (66kbps) should be sufficient, while for music I'd use LP2 (132kbps) with NetMD, since to be able to use the highest quality mode SP (292kbps ), you would need to do a realtime transfer. With LP4, your mentioned audio books should fit on two MDs. With an mp3 player you wouldn't need all the transcoding.

For pre-polarized condenser mics (the most common type) use battery box + line-in for recording loud sounds which require no pre-amplification. Mic-in (no batt box required) is for recording quieter sounds which need to be pre-amplified to be loud enough. If your mic has very low sensitivity, you may use mic-in for everything.

Try to set the levels higher the next time when recording to get less noise after post-amplification. The less you need to amplify afterwards, the less noise will be amplified along with the signal.