KJ_Palmer

Well, you'll certainly need an MD recorder, as the only way to get stuff on an MD these days is to record your own music collection. Pop into your local Dixons, Richer Sounds or Argos. Something like a Sony MZ-N910, or a Sharp IM-DR410 should be fine for you, whether you want to record from your CD's or your MP3 collection (if you have one). By the way, isn't your friend any help with which MD recorder to get?

Great stuff, let us know how you get on... For better fidelity output, you might be interested in getting an MD recorder with a line out mode, such as the N910. The N710 is fine as it goes, but doesn't have a line out, and is a bit on the quiet side through the headphone out.

It's probably worth a shot, though if you're a very loud rock (etc.) band you'll almost certainly get some distortion. As mentioned, setting the mic sensitivity to low is a must, as will be careful mic placement. Might as well give it a try anyway. If you're serious about mic recording, you'll need a battery box from the likes of sound professionals, possibly one with a built in pre-amp.

Assuming you have a Sony recorder: 1. Set play mode to normal 2. Play the second half of the split track 3. Press pause 4. Press |<< slightly to get back to the beginning of the second track 5. Press T Mark to erase the track mark (Mark Off should be shown). (BTW it's in your manual under Combining tracks...)

Hmm, yes it seems the DR420 may have been discontinued. I bought mine from Richer Sounds about 3 months ago, they only seem to have the DR410 now (which would be fine unless you really need microphone recording). Dixons and Argos don't seem to have DR420's either. I think I've seen them in shops in town (Tottenham Court Road etc.), but not sure, could check in the next day or two. You might have to trawl around a bit. Good luck. Edit: MyMinidisc seem to have DR420's at very good prices. I recommend these people, very fast shippers to the UK... (Browse the Products, Portable Recorders sections)

Such a lot of questions - I'll try to answer some though... I think it's not a problem to put, say 128 kbs MP3's onto NetMD, even with ATRAC conversion (to LP2) there seem to be be many happy customers. The DR420 is indeed a great deal, and would probably sound very close to the other Sharps you mentioned. I'd go for the DR410 (unless you need mic recording) instead, as I hate the 420's cheap remote and short cord earphones. The 410 has a decent length phone cord (sans remote)... If you use NetMD for SP (rather than real-time + optical) yes there's a significant quality hit - basically you'll just get LP2 in SP's clothing if you pardon the mis-quote. Plus the downloading time isn't that great - you may as well use real-time and maximise quality. Old machines usually have old codecs, which may be inferior. However ATRAC encoders haven't changed significantly since about ATRAC Type-R (2001), so you'd be mostly all right with an old recorder. Finally (!), the 1-bit Sharp amp is truly great, but that "digital" amp in the N910 isn't too shabby either (even in the French, er, I mean Euro version), after a good tweak at the custom settings. In fact I bought a blue N910 today and lovely she is too... So why not spoil yourself and get a DR420/420 and N910. I know I did...

Great. You'll find the editing facilities of your deck will be most useful for managing your recordings. Particularly the A-B erase function for editing out adverts and so on. If you need any tips let us know...

Hi bkw. No, of course you're better off with digital recording if that's an option. You don't need an amplifier, which would in the case of analogue result in some degradation. You can just monitor the sound with the level meters and the sound from the headphone jack etc. Just use direct optical out to optical in or line out to line in on the MD deck and recorder. The fewer elements in the signal path (amps etc.) the better.

I don't think so, the tuner remotes in the past have all been "exclusive" to that particular model (or at least a radio-enabled unit - eg. the G750/G755 paradigm). But of course I'd love to be proved wrong!....

Are your original MD's digital dubs (eg. from CDs)? If so, the MD optical out method will fail because of SCMS copyright restrictions (unless you have an SCMS killer). If they're orginal live recordings or analogue dubs you'd be fine with this method. The digital dubbing would require the fewest conversion steps and therefore give you the best quality dubs. You could use the analogue (line out) of the deck to do the dubbing, in fact this might prove to be the best way to do it. You don't need an amplifier - just use line out to line in of your recorder. Any MD recording will take a slight quality hit from the previous generation (ie. your originals), but with good recording practises you shouldn't be able to tell much (if any) difference.

Yes it's a doddle. There's a timer switch (on the deck) that if you set it to "Rec" it records from the connected source (eg. radio) as soon as the timer comes on. Of course the source has to be on itself at the time of recording. You can also set the deck to do timed playbacks if you so wish. You can record several times/programs with electronic timers depending on the recording mode and time left on a disk. It's all very convenient, so have fun with your timer.... :laugh:

A good choice. I have a JB980 and it seems to be pretty near perfect. The timer is basically an electric plug with a clock on it which turns the power on and off at specific times. You can get them from Woolworths, Dixons, Maplins etc., or at Argos. (Click on link). You can get mechanical as well as electronic (digital) timers, which would work OK and are cheaper, but the electronic ones are more accurate (and less noisy and fiddly).

Yes use the line in rec-level control, I really wouldn't use the mic-in to record as you will seriously risk overloading (and damaging) your MD. The recording level on Sharps is usually the same as the forward/back (<< >>) controls, this operates at the same time as you're recording. Just make sure the loudest part of your recordings reach but don't go above 0db and they should sound as loud as any CD discman...

I've only seen them in Hi-Fi Surplus (now Accessories) on Tottenham Court Road in London. They cost about £15 (non LCD), £30 (LCD, non backlit) and £45 (LCD, backlit). Sorry, don't know the serial nos. I guess Sony Centres would have them too, but no idea how much, somewhat more I'd presume...

stevo, yes replacement foam pads for the senns should be quite easily available - I get mine from HMV record stores over here: 6 for £1. I'm certain you could find some too from that or audio shops - they're just regular small foamies you're looking for... I just wouldn't advise you do the superglue thing...

I'd recommend the Sony MDS-JB980 or MDS-JE780 decks (I have the 980). These have all the facilities you require, though are slightly above your budget of £200. They both have the latest version of ATRAC (Type-S), so sound top-notch. They also have external timer recording facilities (you need to buy the timer separately). I've seen both of these for sale in London recently, eg. Sony Centres, and other audio outlets.

Hi. You could try the Sony MDR-EX71SL, simply known as the EX71. Opinions vary, but they provide a good bit of isolation, sound quite good and in my book they're great value for the money. They come with a really handy little stereo extension cord, a little case and bag, and different size earbuds.

1. Yes, the new Hi-MD units will continue to utilise the plug in power type mics. Your investment is safe. 2. Your R50 uses an earlier form of ATRAC, ATRAC Type 4.0 if I'm not mistaken. It will still be virtually indistinguishable from the latest (and best) Type-R. 3. Using compression codecs always introduces artifacts. Using different ones (or the same one more than once) simply compounds artifacts, emphasising them all at once (OK. not a good explanation...). 4. Sorry, pass.

Sorry, heth. Richer Sounds do at least stock some recorders with a mic-in jack. Here are some to look for: Sharp IM-DR420, MD-MT290, MD-MT190/200, MD-MT88/99 Sony N710, N910 But, as I say, please check (physically if possible as RS look like idiots) for a mic-in / plug in power jack. Usually red on the side of the unit. Good luck, sorry about the confusion...

Oh no, I thought that might happen, sorry, I should have warned you. You should take it back immediately! The DR410 is the non-microphone version of the DR420. They (Richer Sounds) should have known that. And don't get the DR400 either - that's even worse. Where do you live, heth? If RS don't have the DR420, then try a Dixons, I saw (in London) even today they have some DR420's. This is the model to get, but please check before buying that it has a microphone input... I also saw that Dixons have the Sony MZ-N910 for £168. This is a bargain - if you can afford one. It's a high end Sony recorder (with mic-in!!!). Sorry, what a nightmare, hope it works out....

... unless you have downloaded the tracks via USB with NetMD - then you have to check then tracks back in to the PC to delete them...

Oh well, maybe I'm just easily pleased (some would say so), but I've always been very happy with my Sony portables. They don't take that much getting used to. The lower-end ones are of course somewhat limited, but not bad... I've had a few Sharps as well, still prefer the Sonys overall, even with various 'issues' that have come up especially recently...

Well, unfortunately this same question has been asked here and elsewhere several times, but no-one has yet come up with a volume boosting hardware/software mod. The volume-capping is an EU regulation, not a UK one, in fact specifically the French have had volume restriction in place for quite a few years. Sony has merely taken the lowest common denominator for all their European models, maybe to save some money. Only current Sony equipment (CD players as well as MDs) seem to be afflicted. If you can somehow exchange your N710 for any Sharp recorder you will get much higher volume levels (2 x 10mW or 8mW), and hopefully be much happier...

Glad to have helped. That mic-input will make all the difference (you'll probably want either the IM-DR420 or MD-MT290 of the newer models). But look out for Richer's deals on older models, they often have plenty of old-but-great models at bargain prices. Sharps have the edge over Sonys in Europe at the moment anyway. And Richer Sounds have a very good return policy, so you should be well covered in any case. Well, let us know how you get on... :smile:

OK, I'm glad you sorted that out. Hopefully you won't be without a recorder for too long. The current Sharp MD recorders are very good, I have the IM-DR420, which I think would be ideal for your needs. The microphone recording facilities for Sharps have always been several steps ahead of Sonys, though the gap may be closing. I really couldn't recommend waiting for the Hi-MD. The microphone-enabled ones (NH700/800/900/1) won't be with us till at least July/August, and probably get pushed towards christmas when we get there... It will of course be worth it when they come, but still there are bound to be loads of copying restrictions even then which may or may not be breakable... My advice: keep your Xitel and get a Sharp...