navsimpson

[edit] MDX-400 replied while I was typing, so I just erased my now reduntant message

The bitrates in ATRAC lossless refer to the lossy part of the file i.e. ATRAC lossless keeps a lossless and lossy version so that when you transfer it to your device, it just throws the lossy version on - though I suppose that will now change with the new series.

There is no way to select ahead of time where imported music will go in Sonicstage. Your best bet is to convert them to mp3s, tag them and then import. -Nav

I have a w600 and the lack of ATRAC support really surprised me too. I did read somewhere that ATRAC requires its own decoding processor and would have added too much bulk to the phone, though I don't know how accurate that statement - everything else Sony makes is quite tiny. I do however, think the interface is definitely more aesthetically pleasing than regular walkmans and I think that the 'Megabass' setting on the EQ actually sounds pretty decent for a phone. And overall, it's really great - as a phone, it has everything and works well and includes a usable camera and something that I can listen to podcasts on. On the music service front, Sony Ericsson are creating one of their own, separate from Connect. I know, I know, makes no sense to me either, but given the direction Sony is taking with today's announcements, maybe things will change. -Nav

Thanks for the help folks. Now, judging from the 200+ views of this thread, I'm guessing some people were hoping I found a solution. Unfortunately, no luck (sorry I let you down) - even using something like mp3repacker to, as the name suggests, 're-pack' the files yielded no results. So, speaking of yielding, I just downloaded dbPowerAMP and transcoded my mp3s to new mp3s. Crappy solution, as it degrades the sound quality of tracks I have no way of replacing. But it does work - Sonicstage now plays those mp3s and, using LAME, the sound quality degredation isn't nearly as bad as I thought. Here's hoping the seemingly new, friendlier face of Sony will resolve those issues so I can keep the things I like and not the things I don't. Thanks again, -Nav

I was just thinking this too. As cool as I think the new s-series is, I hope that SS CP 4.1 isn't just a hack to add features to that series and not address the myriad of bugs and basic usability issues in 4.0 . I assume though that SS 5.0 or whatever it's replaced with aims to become a full fledged media player, since video will probably also be included now. -Nav

There should be a Sony office in Mumbai, no? Can you phone/write them? If not, there may be a bit of a problem - my experience working in a Sony Centre in the UK suggested that international warranties are only 3 months long. Still, you might be able to find a shop that will hack the dates for you. Good luck! -Nav

No codec packs - I actually, very stupidly did once install ffdshow, but it is uninstalled now and the problem pre-existed that. But here is a list of audio codecs installed on my system. Does anyone see anything that might be causing the problem? Is there one I should just remove? Thanks so much, -nav [one more edit] - I just realised that other MP3s play fine, so perhaps it isn't a codec issue?

I downloaded MP3 Tag Tools and deleted all v1 and v2 id3 tags and then re-tagged based upon the filename. Still no luck - most of those mp3's (which, as it says in the comments, were in fact ripped using Real Jukebox) still are silent until you fiddle with the status bar. It's frustrating because all those mp3s work fine in WMP 11 and also, some random songs of the same albums play fine in Sonicstage. Thanks for the suggestion though. Any other thoughts? Anyone? Help! I'm going nuts! -nav

I don't have an A-series, but can't you just plug a regular AC adapter in, without any USB cable involved at all? Nav

Thanks for the suggestion. I did download a couple of tag editors and played around with them, so far to no avail. Is there something specific I'm looking for? Removing all tags? No comments? Really appreciate the help. Nav

You're right, this forum might be a bit biased - and here's my unabashedly biased 2 cents! I chipped in for my ex-girlfriend's Nano and got to play around with it a bit. It definitely didn't sound bad - depending on how sensitive you are to sound quality, it might be just fine. To me, it did sound a little muffled, not as crisp and open as the Sony. But in the end, you have to listen to it yourself. For all the trouble of owning a Sony player - the buggy software and glitch-eriffic surprises - I'm still glad I got one because it sounds crisp and clean. You just have to weigh those things out. Some things to keep in mind if you're thinking of buying: apparently, Sony's got something new up their sleeve for early next year; and also, iPods can play lossless files on the device whereas Sony ones can't. -nav

Alright folks, I'm at my wits' end and I'm really hoping someone can help me out. A few months back, I upgraded to SS 4.0 and this happened: a good chunk of my mp3 collection (that I think I ripped using Real Jukebox) now doesn't play in Sonicstage, *unless* you click on the status bar to fast forward a few seconds into the song. So essentially, you double click on a song, or it shows up on a playlist and while it 'looks' like it's playing i.e. no error message, status bar moving, there is no sound. If you do click on the status bar, then the song kicks in. This is definitely a Sonicstage problem, as the files play perfectly normally in WMP 10/11, Winamp and iTunes. Naturally, when trying to make an MP3 CD or transfer to my NWHD3, these tracks show up but contain no sound. To rectify the problem, I started slowly re-ripping my CDs into ATRAC; however, a number of CDs were those that I ripped from an ex-roommate to replace a bunch of CDs that got stolen from me and I have no way to get those CDs back (either originals or copies). Oddly enough, all my *cough* 'alternatively obtained' songs work fine. I am running XP SP2. I phoned Sony tech support and they were no help. I have fully uninstalled SS 4.0 (deleting registry keys etc as per FAQ), I have reinstalled WMP 10 to try and reinstall the MP3 codec. I've tried everything I know - defragging the drive, moving files and re-importing. But, short of going out and buying these CDs that were stolen from me already once, I'm lost. Any help would be *greatly* appreciated. Thanks, Nav

Hi, When you upgraded to SS 4.0, did you do a 'full uninstall' i.e. delete directories manually, delete registry keys? If not, go here and follow the instructions. It sounds like SS somehow thinks those tracks are already in your database while they aren't showing up. Sorry if this isn't of much help. Nav

Since Sonicstage is just so weird, it might be transcoding your files to 64kbs w/out you knowing. If you go to options and check the transfer options, you'll see if it's forcing converting to 64kbs. Nav

At this point, I'm pretty sure that ebay is your best option. The HD5/H was discontinued a while ago. If you can find one, and you don't mind using Sonicstage/Connect, then the HD5 is a great player. [Edit - Of course, you already know that the HD5 is cool because you already own one! Whoops!] Nav

Letterbox: I think perhaps that formatting your NWHD3 has prevented it from being recognised by Sonicstage. Terribly sorry, but I don't know how to get the original structure/file system back. Perhaps someone else in the forum does? Nav

The method you used certainly sounds right. That's how we used to turn the euro sound cap off at the Sony Centre I worked at and I've definitely experience it working. This might be a dumb suggestion, but are you sure that AVLS is off? Sorry I can't be of more help. Nav

On a couple of technical support calls to Sony (I needed tech support on Sonicstage?! no!) they did seem to drop a couple of hints that 'I could expect to see something soon' regarding the Canadian release of Connect. Seems quite silly on Sony's part to not release it here, as Canada is almost as large a market as California (i.e. bigger than most other places on earth), and Canada has very high broadband and DAP usage. I think the Canadian drought might end with the release of the PS3 though - as I understand it, Connect is going to figure into the PS3/PSP online plans somewhere. Apparently they're late getting it to market because they're figuring out the DRM on PSP videos! pata2001 - Even if Sony did switch to a different codec, it's unlikely they'd allow it to become a universal format (i.e. play on Creative's players etc) so it doesn't seem like it would end up making a lot of difference. If you were to ask most people who use iTunes what format it is, they'd probably say MP3 or just that they don't know. All I mean is I don't know if it's really format that makes or breaks things - I believe it's a business model that actually does things people want to do already, or is so cool that it makes them want to now, even though they didn't before. It's not that format doesn't affect things at all - if everyone has iTunes and you distribute in AAC, you're set - just that I don't think it's the answer for Sony as much as a complete rehaul of their business model and approach to selling content and hardware. Nav [edit] Oh yeah - I agree. The fact that there is no ATRAC VBR seems like an oversight and also well within Sony's capabilities. Does anyone know if it's the ATRAC format itself that limits this?

Go here. And close the nine-thousand programs you have open! You're lucky if Sonicstage installs when you're running absolutely nothing... Good luck, Nav

Sony have now released their Sony Reader and the eBook section of Connect. Of interest to us at this forum, the Sony Reader does play MP3s and AACs, but not ATRAC. Is this a sign that Sony is moving away from ATRAC and over to AACs? If they do, as an observer of Sony, I'll be pleased, as it might be the first step of them getting their stuff together. As an owner of a Network Walkman with gigs of ATRAC files, however, I'll probably be a little annoyed. The new Reader itself though looks very cool. $350 US seems to be to much for it - that's over $400 CDN! - but if the price comes down and the eBook store starts to look less abysmal and empty than it does today (it's grand launch!) then it might really be something to think about. As a seemingly perpetual student, the idea of carrying around all my books in something so svelte sounds sweet! Now all they need to do is, I dunno, actually let you *buy* books and, along with the rest of Connect, release the bloody thing in Canada! Nav

Hey folks, Just saw the MDR710LPs at the Sony Store and had never heard of them before. Has anybody had any experience with these? I have a pair of Sennheiser PX-200s that I use for commuting and, while the isolation is really good, they just don't sound as good as I'd like. Any help would be much appreciated, Nav

Nope, you shouldn't have any problems. As far as I know, even if your battery is old and almost dead, the unit will still run if plugged in. Have fun at the wedding! Nav

Ah, sorry. I've never actually made an ATRAC cd since I don't have anything that might play one. I assumed that an ATRAC cd was just full of ATRAC files that you could copy and import, like I do on the different computers in my home. More stupid Sony DRM that prevents you from doing this I presume? Nav

Sorry guys - I think, as an ex-girlfriend used to say, that my brain fell out of my ass when I posted this. Got confused about what format I was listening to... ATRAC stuff is in fact gapless on the PC too. Apologies. Nav