edi800

Thanks for all the replies with such good links to reviews! I agree that the new MD is very nice and sleek looking, but as a live recording enthusiast I'm always looking for hardware which will enable me to spend less time setting up (eg. manual gain control!) and transferring recordings. In this regard the Microtrack appears to win hands-down. These are the points which appeal to me the most: 1. You don't have to wait ages for the recording to transfer to your PC (MD: USB1.0, Microtrack: USB 2.0). 2. You don't have to worry about holding the unit steady at the end of the recording ("System file writing" - Aaaargh!). In fact, you don't have to hold the unit steady at all. 3. No moving parts. 4. No 1GB limit for PCM recordings. Of course it looks worse and is made of a quite ugly plastic. But after all we are not some "classic car lovers" but technology people. Looks worse, but records better, so who cares... (or not? ;-) ) But it seems that the Microtrack preamps are comparable to MD if it comes to 16-bit recordings. Also I have a USB 4-battery pack, so I'll be able to power the unit for many hours. The cost of the data media is higher, but I will need only one 2GB card (and I'll transfer the recording immediately eg. to my "the other white DAP ;-) with USB host"). I will post my findings after I get the unit. In different thread of course, because here this seems slightly OT. Best regards, edi800

Hi friends, why do you consider the new MZ-RH1 interesting? It still uses the 1GB disc and the transfer rate is (well) "unsatisfying". I think that this new MD model comes much too late. Should have been here two years ago. I have the MZ-NH900 and MZ-RH10 and have used them many times. And I have frequently had the dreaded "Access error" during download of the recording to PC. But recently I found something like this: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Micr...k2496-main.html This records straight to CF card (eg. 2GB, enough for more than 2 hours of 24bit WAV), and there's no Sonicstage - just files on a filesystem. I'm considering buying this thing and dumping both of my MDs. For me, to record a live show on this Microtrack device and transfer it almost instantly via USB2.0 is much easier and faster than to wait 20 minutes when Sonicstage transfers my PCM recording (not to mention access errors). Additionally, there's no 90 minutes limit on the recording. And you can record in 16 bit and in 24 bit, and also the sampling frequency - 44/48/96 kHz. Sorry Sony, you are too late :-( Do you see any real arguments in favor of the MD now? Please be honest...