stweb

I forgot one thing. It would double the recording time if there was a MONO recording option (I always use PCM mode). I guess there must be plenty of people using mono mics.

I've been using my Sony MZ-NH700 Hi-MD in the field for several months now, recording birdcalls. It's an inexpensive recorder and I have been pretty happy with the results. I'm often trying to record fairly low signal levels (using a shotgun mic) and recording in uncompressed format (Linear PCM). The MZ-NH700 is cheap, compact and capable of professional quality recording. Some nags and improvements I would like to see (this list is not intended to be exhaustive and there may some important considerations I missed): - Gain Control: The default is automatic gain (recording level) every time you turn the unit on. It's annoying to have to use the menu and change it every time. I know auto is the best default but it would be nice if the unit remembered your selection. Sometimes I am in a rush to record a bird and don't want to lose time changing the gain control setting. - Mic Input: It would make the unit a bit more bulky but I'd like to see a professional XLR connector for the mic cable. I think this would help to combat noise without magnetic clamps on the cables. Also, the mini jack makes noise if you rotate it at high gain (which can happen when you are holding the mic and cable in one hand and the recorder in the other). XLR at the recorder and the mic would be best. - A positive On/Off switch: Right now I use the hold switch to avoid the unit being turned on accidentally and draining the batteries. I have faced this problem with my handheld GPS twice (when in my backpack it may be bumped in just the right place to turn it on and drain the batteries). This can be a bummer if your miles from anywhere, your batteries are dead and there's nowhere to recharge them. I would feel more comfortable with an old fashioned on/off switch. - Mechanical Noise: The drive mechanism sometimes makes noises loud enough to be picked when the mic is at maximum recording level. I've noticed this with the 1GB Hi-MD. - Transfer Rates: Transfer speeds are slower than playback speeds (I'm using Sonic Stage v3.1 and have USB 2.0) eg a 5 minute track in linear PCM format actually takes longer than 5 minutes to transfer to the PC. - The Open MG format is a waste of time: I transfer the tracks, convert to WAV (same audio quality) and then forget about the Open MG files. Why even try to protect copyright? I expect I'll be using Hi-MD until professional hard disc recorders become more affordable and convenient. It seems Sony has developed minidisc primarily as a consumer audio device but I think they can't win against other technologies like iPod and MP3. Minidisc has been popular for field recording because it's cheap and the units are handy. In the near term I think Sony would do well to focus on the (professional) recording market but in the end they will have to give up when hard disc recorders become cheap and compact - minidisc is too slow and will go the way of audio cassettes. ST.

I am satisfied with my MZ NH-700 and I didn't see any need to spend more for my applications. Re my posting I think it's worth pointing out a few practicalities people need to think about rather than rambling on about technical specs and forgetting about the user between the device and the data. Flash and HDD recorders are way overpriced today. Hi-MD is the way to go. Hi-MD units are no doubt getting better and I suppose alternatives like HDD recorders will become more price competitive. Viva consumerism?

Upgrading my software today. You can get it from Sony although this is a live update program. On the other hand, the simpler installer package on MDCF is a huge download. The MZ NH-700 uses a single AA battery so there's no problem upgrading to a better battery - I just thought it was a bit cheap of Sony to supply a 700mAh battery. Thanks to all for the helpful advice.

I've bought a MZ-NH700 Hi-MD recorder to use for recording bird calls. It's the cheapest Sony Hi-MD that can do the job (microphone input, manual recording level, PCM uncompressed recording mode). It seems to work fine though I have a few nags: 1. ERGONOMICS. It seems to be built for left-handed people with all the sockets on the right hand side of the unit. Unfortunately, the important NAVI/MENU button is there too so it's almost impossible to operate the unit with only one hand. 2. OPERATION. Most of my recording work will be using manual gain. Unfortunately the unit defaults to auto gain every time you stop recording. I have to use the NAVI/MENU button everytime I start recording again to select manual gain. 3. FORMAT. The PCM recording mode writes Open MG format files. They are almost the same as WAV but one has to download a free conversion tool from Sony. This should be on the CD supplied with the unit. 4. TRANSFER. Transfer speeds are quite slow, much slower than transferring a WAV file from a removable USB storage device. 5. BATTERY. The supplied battery is only a 700mAh NiMH rechargeable. I would have liked a battery with a more capacity. I'm sure Sony will resolve some of these little annoyances in second generation and future models. Meanwhile, I think it's the lowest cost high quality digital sound recording device and will do the job.