Killroy

What a day!!! First, after years of feeling like a looser on that matter, a stock I was holding finally superseded the price I'd acquired it for. And then, while still thinking what to do with the earnings now, Kurisu's broadcast about this new HiMD-unit dropped into my mailbox... I begin to believe, that really nothing in this world happens by accident and without a reason... Cheers - Killroy.

Glad, that you managed it that way! Although not very probable, it is of course possible that the disc has a physical defect indeed, so you might bring it back to the place of purchase and ask for replacement. May also be the case, that your recorder's laser drops out sometimes, which - in best case - is just because of dust that covers the lens... Cheers - Killroy.

Oops, I missed that - sorry! Perhaps you've got a friend who owns a HiMD-unit other than the NH600D, or you ask a friendly merchant if he was ready to format your disc with one of his HiMD-units for sale. If neither is an option for you, maybe you'll find a member here who is located close to you so you can send her/him the disc. (I myself would like to help you, but if you're not located in the EU like me, I fear that shipping costs will exceed the value of a new disc). Cheers - Killroy.

Hello, Most frequently this error comes from an incompletely written TOC (aka "System File") and it has been repeatedly reported here, that SonicStage often fails to format a such damaged disc. Usually, the MD-unit itself "invites" you to format the disc after inserting it, but only if it is not connected to the computer through USB at this time. Alternatively, you may try to do a manual format through the unit's menus. Cheers - Killroy.

Hello, thank you too, Dex, for this really scientific analysis! I want to add an experience of myself to this topic that perhaps might be interesting too: Whenever I use my MZ-NH600 for recording of FM Radio broadcasts, it always seems strange to me that my unit never ever automatically inserts any trackmark - not even into continguous recordings of >2hrs in length. Could this be, because the radio program never contains any section of sufficient silence that woud trigger a trackmark? This does not seem much probable to me. Or could it be the 19 kHz pilote-tone that continuously comes along with FM stereo broadcasts (at least here in Europe)? If the second is the reason, would it be feasable for live recordists to add a similar and unnoticeable hi-frequency signal to the (analogue) input and completely avoid auto trackmarks that way? Cheers - Killroy.

Hello, Possibly, your TV has some setting options for the digital output signal within it's on-screen menus, like many DVD-players/recorders do. If so, set it to PCM, 16 bit and 48kHz, which is the only format that MD-units can recognize. Any (default) setting like "Bitstream", "Dolby Digital", "AC3", "DTS" etc. will lead to the symptoms you described and can only be decoded by home-cinema devices. Cheers - Killroy.

Is SonicStage or MD Simple Burner running at the time you connect your NH600? This applications lock the device in a way so tha Windows can't "see" it! MD Simple Burner by default installs itself as self-launching at Windows startup, for example... Cheers - Killroy.

Even if it existed, I'd strongly recommend NOT to use such an option ever. What, if SonicStage messes the upload but succeeds deleting the source "automatically" - a source like a live recording that you cannot repeat for example? Better you upload, check if it worked OK, export to WAV, preferrably on different media, and THEN delete the source from the disc if you want to... Cheers - Killroy.

Hello, this is not totally clear to me: Tracks recorded with a HiMD device could be uploaded to SonicStage ever since, regardless if they were made from the analogue or digital input. But only analogue recordings could be saved as WAV then (except with Mark's famous HiMD Renderer). So does it mean that in Version 3.4 both types of recordings can be converted to WAV after uploading? Would be great for me since I sometimes record tracks from my DVD-recorder's optical digital output! Cheers - Killroy.

Hi, not necessary to uninstall dbPowerAmp - it has a configuration menu where you can disable this tooltip informations if they bother you (Start -> All Programs -> dbPoweramp Music Converter -> Configuration -> dMC Configuration): [attachmentid=1324] Cheers - Killroy.

Even if HiMD units supported USB 2.0, it would be without any benefit since the maximum read/write speeds of the magneto-optical MiniDisc media don't even utilize full USB 1.1 bandwith. European MD-units usually come without some accessoires like remote control, AC adapter, optical cable etc., and the EU-model's maximum output power is limited due to a French law. And all that for an even higher price because of extended warranty obligations, which are almost useless if you are an non-European resident... Cheers - Killroy.

Hi, old small devices like analog photo cameras or portable cassette tape players that are not used and/or usable any more will be precious sources for spare parts like this. Also, any watchmaker or optician close by will surely be able to help you out. Cheers - Killroy.

Fantasy, right! Remember, that the magneto-optical MDs need to be simultaneously accessible from both sides by the optical laser pick-up/writer and the magnet. Thus, a MD-unit with two read/write head pairs would require a new type of disc with two access areas and sliders, and this would make the units incompatible with the current format of the disc shells... Cheers - Killroy.

Hi, best way will be to simply try it out! You should start with connecting the adapter to line-in and make a test recording. If you cannot achieve a sufficient recording level there, then switch to mic-in with mic sensitivity set to "low". If this is still too quiet, switch to "high" sensitivity. Cheers - Killroy.

You are of course totally right on this, and thus my advice to operate at a recording level as high as possible to avoid this side effect as good as possible. Adding high-frequency gain with the MD-unit's equalizer at recording time may also help a little to compensate Dolby's treble cut. In some cases, I achieved very good results with this methodology when I digitally recorded some of my vinyl albums - with the side effect of efficient noise reduction. However, as already stated, it's worth a try! Btw: glad to see you back here in MDCF in your "old mood"! Cheers - Killroy.