icie

sorry to bump this thread up. However, I just went to JB HiFi this morning and got the crystal Hi-MD's for 4.25 AUD each. So they have at last trickled down to the retail sectors.

It just so happens that I don't update my music selection that much, and when I do, it's major updates on multiple discs. Usually I wait for my battery to run out before I connect it up and use sonicstage whilst charging at the same time. Otherwise, I manually remove the battery and connect up the player via USB and let the USB power the device on its own. Not sure if this is such a good idea, but hey it works.

Please note that as a storage medium, the Hi-MD is a bit slow. Took me half an hour to push 300 MB of data into my RH10. Definitely not a good option if you like to go fast and furious with file copy and hot swapping. Or if you are aching to go home (like I am now).

Unfortunately, BobS, you appear to be correct. I find it curious that a supposedly "high end" unit like the Rh10 cannot support two lines on the remote. Pressing and holding Display button will push you into the menu selections on the remote. It is possible to "scroll" through folders and songs on RH10 with the remote. This is of course, after you have stopped playing a particular song, and before the unit automatically turn off. You may at this time use the "next", "prev", "next folder", "prev folder" selections on your remote to find songs you want. Of course, it's not as funky as using the OLED and scroll wheel, but the function is there.

In the reference page: http://www.minidisco.com/rm-mc35elk.html It is stated that this remote (which comes with RH10) is two-line remote. I have found that this remote should technically be capable of displaying two lines (it does some pretty funky graphical representations of sound schemes), but having only a Japanese manual, I did not know how to configure it to display two lines. Right now it only displays one line with the scrolling song name and time. What should I do to enable it to display two lines (folder + song name)?

With my unit, I can't tell any difference between ATRAC and MP3 playback. Maybe because I use stock earphones or because I listen on the go (with a lot of noises outside). If I connected up with some good headphones I might be able to tell the difference, but right now, no. Then again, all my mp3's are 256 or up. What I HAVE noticed, however is that mp3 playback cuts into battery time quite badly. My Nickel metal hydride seems to last for around 3-4 days (around 5hr playback per day), with a mixture of ATRAC and Mp3...not sure what the official ("ideal") specs are. I have a thing about re-encoding...firstly, I seriously doubt that re-encoding something from one format to another will make the quality better. Secondly, (and this is a purely personal reason) I wouldn't re-encode mp3's in ATRAC unless I really wanted to squeeze maximum time out of my battery.

I am new to the Hi-MD (and indeed MD) format in general, and I have had little experience in doing live recordings. Soon, I will be recording a talk-show like program for a college course. The equipment provided is based on DAT (Digital Audio Tape). Of course it comes with a fairly high quality cardio microphone with leads and adapters. So this question is not about "which microphone to buy". Rather, should I replace the DAT machine and tapes with my Hi-MD unit (MZ-RH10)? I guess the real question here is ease of use and final quality. Main Question: Which is higher quality (for those with experience working with both mediums): DAT, or PCM on HiMD? With DAT, we will have to record from the tape into the editing machines via analogue leads: mini jack to RCA to jack adapters to allow plugging in the cables into the amp for input. If I were to use Hi-MD, it would involve uploading via USB to my laptop, converting into WAV using the inbuilt SonicStage WAV converter, then transferring the files over into the editing machines (Apple G5's). At least that's how I think it will work. I'm kinda going along bit by bit with the Japanese SS 3.0. The only thing which gets me with Hi-MD is the restriction on "only uploading once". A worst-case situation would be accidentally erasing an entire day's worth of recording work with a technical glitch. Another thing which I think gives Hi-MD the advantage is the relatively easy track demarcation. Whereas with DAT there are digital time markers on the tape, the Hi-MD divides recordings into groups and then into tracks within each group. Seems easier to look for things this way rather than copying down track times and synching with beginning time.

Sorry for the confusion. I wasn't ranting about not being able to get Hi-MD's -- I know about minidisc.com.au and all that. It was just during my initial hunt for a quick Hi-MD to get me started, I heard an interesting rumour and wanted to share it. October is a bit late, but it does sound reasonable. I am looking forward to seeing ads on Hi-MD, though I must say I don't hold much hope as the first gen Hi-MD's weren't even promoted all that much.

OK, this is my first post here. (Background) A few weeks ago I received an MZ-RH10 unit, which I had ordered from Yahoo Japan auctions through a deputy service. All up, it cost me around 430 AUD (incl. fees and shipping). I am now crazy over it, my little pet I bring with me everywhere. Enjoying wearing black earphones in the sea of milk-white earbuds. I had not adopted the MD format before due to the lack of MP3 support, extremely restrictive DRM (with limited checkouts or what not before) and earlier on because it required analogue-type recording, of which I am not a big fan. Whenever possible, I try to go full digital. The recent changes to the 2nd Generation HiMD format has meant that there is a bigger motivation for users like me (considered "mainstream") to take up the Hi MD. (Post actual) Japanese edition of MZ-RH10 I received did not come with Hi-MD media bundled. I was looking for it at JB-HiFi (Galeries Victoria, CBD) last week, and they were out of stock. I asked the person "When are the Hi-MD's coming in?", to which she replied "Word from Sony says late May, early June." I was asking about the media, but from her reply, it seemed she was talking about units. I totally agree that Sony could do much more in terms of promotion of MD/Hi-MD in Australia.