nick34

I seem to have arrived at making a choice between the Sony DS70P and the SP SpSM 17 . I will be recording violin music and close range...several feet. Does anyone have a recommendation about these two mics or another choice? Both are priced about the same.

That helps a lot and thank you. I should have stated that I basically want this device to record live violin music played by myself and others. Someone told me that the Sony models have a poor mic input amplifier and was frequently overloaded (perhaps too sensitive). Can you confirm this? Also, I was perhaps under the misconception that the HiMd recorders took the analog input signal from the mic and converted it to digital form for storage and/or transfer to PC. Is this correct? But apparently you can also record an audio signal (say from the audio output of the PC sound card)....but is it recorded and stored in analog form or digital form? My guess again is that everything that goes onto the MD disc is digital. Right?? Nick

I have read tons of stuff on the internet and the more I read the more I don't understand. Specifically what I need to know is 1. How are files from the PC downloaded into the minidisc? 2. If I donwload a music file do I have to play the music and have the minidisc record or can I just downlead the file into the minidisc? 3. When recording music from a microphone I understand that in the Sony models I can transter this music only once to my PC...is this correct? 4. Can any files be downloaded from the PC to the minidisc or only music files? I am assuming that only music files are allowed. 5. Is there someplace I can go that explains how the device works in plain english? Thanks heaps for your help. I am a technical person but so far have not found the right article that explains how this thing works.