storyteller

Never mind! Starting Sonic Stage first, before plugging in the HiMD solved the problem, as per advice on another post. Bizarre...

Hi all: I've read the pinned items & done a few searches, but didn't find a description of the problem I'm having. I am using Sonic Stage 3.0, and it's working perfectly on my main computer (Windows XP) and, in all ways but one, on my other computer (Windows 98SE). But it's a pretty significant failure, on that second computer: when I plug in my HiMD unit, the disk's contents are utterly and totally opaque to SonicStage--it tells me to "insert a disk." If I try to look at disk properties, it invites me to "initialize" it as a blank. This same disk & unit & files are recognized perfectly by the exact same Sonic Stage installation (from CDROM) on my main computer (the XP one). Also, everything works perfectly with the HiMD as generic USB drive--all files show up on both computers. I should clarify, too, that Sonic Stage in the problem computer (the 98) DOES recognize that a HiMD unit is plugged in--it gives me the option to transfer to and from HiMD when I plug in the unit. What it doesn't recognize is the DISK. Is there some limitation that would cause Sonic Stage on one computer to be hostile to HiMD disks written on by another computer? The audio files are a mix of home recordings in native ATRAC, commercial mp3 files, downloaded internet radio, etc. I'd appreciate any help with this! Greg

Just a follow-up: I ended up finding a reasonable ebay deal ($30 incl. shipping) on the Rm-mc38el...I'll try it for awhile, & if the experience is lacking, I guess I'll resell it and go for the 40... Thanks for all the input! Greg

Yes, my RH910 does the same thing on bookmarks--though I haven't tried it on ATRAC tracks yet, only MP3

Ebay research reveals the following lowest average prices over the past few weeks (including shipping, which on ebay seems to be where sellers hide their profit-taking): the Rm-Mc33EL around $30, the Rm-mc40 $58. Is the "40" worth double the price, in anyone's opinion? Thanks for all the help Greg

On the Sony Direct website (thanks Tiesto for the link) the specific model numbers you mentioned don't seem to come up. There is, though, a "remote commander" that comes with the rh10, for $43. No description, though--is that a good option, and a good price, in your opinion?

I'd be VERY grateful not to go to ebay on this...I just looked at the Dat2Wav website & saw their recommendations as to which drives to get, & was ready to ditch the whole idea at the mere mention of updating firmware and inserting EEPROM chips & whatever, plus the diciness of the ebay auctions ("we have not tested this but why don't you buy it sight unseen anyway"). Let me know if you do indeed have a drive, & what the cost might be. Also, any suggestions you'd have about the power supply issue, if it's an internal drive. Thank you again, Greg

Oops--found lots of external DAT drives by simply searching for 'external...' Can you let me know what sort of paramaters to look for? Does it have to be 4/8? Here's a sample link to the kind I'm seeing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...5772375822&rd=1 Thanks again Greg

[Thanks for the link to the PCMCIA card--it looks like a great solution. One question, though--the CTD8000s I've seen on ebay are internal drives--what do you do about power supply? I do have an old PC (Celeron 300MHz) and could theoretically open it up for its power supply, but that seems unwieldy, and possibly risky. Sorry to need so much guidance on this-- Greg

I didn't see the advantages of having a remote control for my new Hi-MD so I went with the RH-910. Now, too late, I see the value of the remote. However, I've also seen the COST of the remote ($70-100!!!!), and was wondering if anyone had suggestions for alternates, or a cheaper source for buying them. Do the ones for earlier generations of MD work, and if they do, what's the absolute cheapest that will allow me to play and scroll through tracks? Greg P.S. Why does Sony not include the remote only in the North American version?

Could such a drive be used via an external USB enclosure? My main PC is a laptop... Thanks! Greg

Hi all: My next HiMD project is to transfer a bunch of old recordings on DAT to a format that I can use on my HiMD recorder. I'd love to hear any advice you'd have on efficient ways to do this. My constraints are: 1) I have no DAT player anymore, and 2) I don't yet have a decent soundcard for my PC and 3) My PC is an old (500Mhz) laptop. So: I've had the following thoughts: 1) Locate a studio/service that will not charge too much money to simply burn CDs or Audio DVDs of all the DAT recordings? It would probably be 40 or so CDs... Then import the audio from CD to HiMD? Does anyone have any tips on finding such a service (I'm in the Boston area)? 2) Buy a used DAT recorder off ebay, play all the DATS into the HiMD, sell DAT recorder on ebay. 3) Buy a used DAT recorder off ebay, buy cheapest decent USB soundcard (M-Audio Transit?), play all DATS into computer, then transfer to HiMD. 3) Buy used DAT recorder off ebay and a standalone CD recorder (or even DVD recorder, which are for unknown reasons far cheaper(!?) and play all DATS directly into CD recorder? 4) Invent DAT/minidisc combination deck. If anyone has any experience with this, or any opinions on the most viable/affordable path, I'd very much appreciate hearing it. Thanks! Greg

I'm curious as to whether anyone has any experience with Visivox microphones, and specifically one I've seen only on ebay, the Visivox Hammerhead (which promises to be both a tiny T mic and a handheld)? Generally, I'm interested in buying a smallish single-point stereo microphone that could plug directly into the MD unit for quick not-too-picky recording, but also be used more carefully (i.e., with an extension cable/stand mount) when the occasion demands more scrupulous avoidance of motor noise. I'm also hoping for something highly durable when tossed into a backpack(!) I'd also love to hear any opinions about the trade-offs (if any) between the tiniest stereo mics (that just look like single posts), the Reactive Delta, and "T"-shaped mics like the SPSM-1 or 13. The Delta looks like the most rugged design, but might the Delta's chunkier build actually threaten the mic jack itself with breaking, if something bumped the unit)? Are there others I should consider? Thanks! Greg P.S. this is a bit of a re-post, but the discussion to which I appended these questions originally seems not to be active anymore...I apologize if this is improper for the boards (please let me know)

Actually, the odd thing is I already had 3.0 installed (it's what the rh910 shipped with)...the only thing that now seems different is that the right-click context menu now offers "convert format" as an option--!

I've got it! It works! Thanks for all your help. The best results came from converting the files to 128kbps mp3s through dbpoweramp (great program! Though what do I do when the 30 days' free trial of the mp3 encoder is up? Pay? Unthinkable! ) . The Stepvoice worked but it was real-time, which was a pain since these are 30-minute plus programs. Interestingly, I tried converting to ATRAC as well, and ran into the following problems: 1) The conversion produced poorer quality audio (lots of that silvery hissing/buzzing to the sound, don't know what to call it) even at 132kbps ATRAC3 (should I have used ATRACplus? what's the difference?) 2) When I first tried to use the converter tool that came with my HiMD, it refused to change the files to ATRAC because it said it wasn't necessary. I thought this was a bit ironic, that I couldn't convince Sonic Stage to put something into ATRAC, given the complaints in these forums about not having any other option...! 3) When I downloaded the mp3 converter file from Sony's website, it installed fine but insisted that I had to have SonicStage greater than 2.1 installed--so I had to reinstall SonicStage for it to recognize it. Now everything seems to be working fine, and the HiMD continues to seem a great investment. Outside of recording, my main use for it is actually these radio broadcasts--I'm trying to keep at least my passive fluency in Indonesian and French up by listening to these broadcasts while walking back and forth to work. So...thanks!!! What a fantastic community this is in support of the product-- Greg

Thanks for the replies! It hadn't occurred to me to check the bitrate...under File Properties it says Audio Bit Rate 48kbps, and under Audio Sample Rate 22kHz. Are these in the problematic range?

Hi--forgive me if I'm asking something that's already answered or is obvious--I searched the forums but couldn't find anything. My new HiMD (RH910) is working BEAUTIFULLY as a data storage drive, as an MP3 player, everything. I'm new to the minidisc format and had worries but so far it's great. One problem has come up, though. I downloaded some large (30 minutes/12mb) .mp3 files from an internet radio station: they play perfectly through Windows Media Player, and play in Sonic Stage, and transfer without error to the HiMD unit and show up on the playlist...but when I go to play them on the HiMD, it says "CANNOT PLAY" It's never had a problem with any other mp3s, so I'm not sure what's happening or how to fix it. Is there a conversion step because these mp3s were originally meant to be streaming? (I'm just guessing here). Thanks for any help you can offer! Greg P.S. What's the best free stream capture program, to convert streaming audio to mp3s?