Avrin

Do you need a US version or just an English version? Since Connect has closed, there is no practical difference between them. If you just want a stable version, try the "ultimate" one from here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&am...st&p=141995 But if you still need the official and glitchy US Connect version, you may get it here: http://sonicstage.connect.com/SS-US.zip

Backup keys are only created after the Restore Tool has successfully authenticated with the server. So, there is no way to create them anymore. But, as long as you have no protected files, you should have no problem reinstalling the program when keys are lost or damaged. Just avoid using SonicStage for storing your protected uploads for a long time - unprotect them as soon as you have them on your PC. This may seem really stupid, but all OpenMG files are actually encrypted. Basically, there seem to be three types of encryption: 1. Permanent. Applied by SONY. It can not be removed by the user with any conversion tool. This one is used for files purchased from Connect, Mora, etc. 2. Removable. Applied by older versions of SS (and newer ones, if the corresponding option is selected) to files ripped from CDs. Also applied by all versions to files uploaded from units. This one can be removed by the user using the File Conversion Tool on the same machine. 3. Dummy. Applied by later versions of SS to "unprotected" files. Used to provide compatibility with ATRAC units, which can only play back encrypted content. So, you need your original/reauthenticated keys to play back tracks of types 1 and 2, and to convert tracks of type 2 to type 3. But you also need a set of (some) keys to play back tracks of type 3. You get such a set of keys when the program is installed.

PCM should be the same, since no lossy encoding algorithm is used. But don't forget, that when using optical in, PCM passes through a digital recording level controller, which may, or may not, change the signal. On the other hand, USB PCM is always bit perfect.

The more I look at the connection problem (in official versions 4.2-5.1), the more it seems to me that the authentication server used by the Restore Tool is finally down for good. As promised. So, if you have your keys damaged, the only way to get the program working again is to reinstall it. If your have protected files - you may kiss them goodbye. So, if you are uploading your own reсordings, don't forget to run the File Conversion Tool to remove copy protection from them immediately after uploading.

Music encoded on a PC and transferred via USB actually sounds better than the same music recorded via optical in. This is because internal processors in [Hi]MD units lack the power needed to encode files in full quality. The only exception is the standard SP mode, which can only be created on a unit due to patent restrictions from Dolby, not allowing SONY to create a PC codec for SP ATRAC.

Some users from a Russian forum report that the experimental "ultimate" 4.3 version is even more stable than the original 4.2. I've been using it for several days already, and had no problems whatsoever, except that the System Information Restore Tool can't connect to the Internet for some reason (not that I need it). But installing the full original VAIO version 4.2 again showed that its respective tool is also unable to connect.

And now for some experimental stuff. I have rearranged the installation package for SonicStage 4.3.01, replacing the original patched and glitchy OpenMG 4.7 with a more stable version 5.0, taken from Japanese SonicStage 4.4. This should make actually made SonicStage 4.3.01 a bit more stable. The new installation package works with Windows 2000/XP/Vista. Those who want, may download this "Ultimate" version here. The PxEngine update from the first message is still recommended for modern drives/media. And the skins still work with this version.

Either download WinRar and unpack the file you already have, or try this ZIP file: http://sonicstage.update.sony.net/v4400/JP...r/pa_driver.zip - it contains the latest available drivers.

Here are standalone installation packages for SonicStage 4.2.02 for Windows 2000 and XP (34.49 Mb) and 4.3.01 for Windows Vista (38.13 Mb). Both packages contain original SONY components only, with the original installer and slightly modified scripts. What has been changed, compared to original VAIO versions: System prerequisites (DirectX 9.0c, Windows Media Format 9.0, Windows Media Format 9.5, and Microsoft Data Access Components 2.5) are removed. This allowed to decrease package sizes by ~55 Mb.SONY CONNECT STORE support is no longer installed.SonicStage Security Update and the latest available version of Personal Audio Drivers are now installed automatically. The 4.2.02 package also installs Minidisc Simple Burner 2.0.05 (you may cancel its installation, if you don’t want it).The VAIO support link in the Help menu is replaced with a link to Minidisc Community Forums.Download links: SonicStage 4.2.02 for Windows 2000 and XP SonicStage 4.3.01 for Windows Vista ADDED: Latest PxEngine update for those who have problems burning CDs in SonicStage ADDED: Some nice skins for SonicStage Simple Mode taken from the OpenMG Jukebox 2.2 installation package But those who want the best version currently available - look for it in Post #5.

Welcome to the forums! Looks like you have a laptop with SonicStage, but w/o drivers. Get drivers separately here: http://sonicstage.update.sony.net/v4301/JE...r/pa_driver.zip

You need a remote capable of displaying Japanese and Chinese characters. It must have a "K" at the end of its number, like the RM-MC40ELK. The one supplied with the RH1 outside Japan is not able to display Japanese or Chinese. And you should probably also set address 0113 to 03, for the unit to be able to download Japanese and Chinese titles.

I'm still more or less actively using five of these (dial-up internet, portable CD player, personal cassette player, minidisc and VCR).

Yes, it is. 192 and 352 were added in some 3.X versions of SonicStage. The original (pre-RH1) SonicStage 3.4 already had both. And they are playable by any Hi-MD unit.

Any DVD-Audio player supports MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing), since this compression is mandatory for high resolution audio, according to the DVD-Audio specification (and may optionally be used for lower resolutions).

A player without DVD-Audio support is almost useless for me. I use DVD-Audio for archiving my audio collections. 10-15 CDs easily fit on a single-sided single-layer DVD-blank in their original quality (using MLP). Too bad the format never really took off. It is really great for storing CD-quality music. Imagine the entire "classic" Beatles catalog (14 albums, including two double ones) on a single disc! Playable by any PC (using PowerDVD or WinDVD) or DVD-Audio-compatible set-top.

It IS possible to make a remote with a REC button. All you need is to provide the required resistance between the required contacts of the remote connector. And, if you are good with the soldering iron, you can even modify an existing remote, setting this function to one of its buttons. I don't remember exact resistance values for various remote functions, but there were diagrams somewhere in these forums. And there IS a specific value for the record function.

ATRAC3plus with 96, 128, 160, and 320 kbit/s bitrates is not supported on Hi-MD units. 192 and 352 kbit/s require a more-or-less recent version of SonicStage (3.4 or higher will do).

Smells like a virus. Hi-MD discs are treated like removable drives, and, as such, are susceptible to infections.

The latest version of the engine is here: http://kb.roxio.com/search.aspx?URL=/conte...0GN&PARAMS=

This may seem outrageously stupid, but SONY have removed Plug and Play identifiers for decks from their driver packages some time ago. The actual identifiers that have been removed are USB\VID_054C&PID_0080 and USB\VID_054C&PID_0081. The current NETMDUSB.sys driver file should work with decks, but it won't, because the required identifiers are missing from its INF installation file. You need older drivers. Get them here: http://forums.minidisc.org/downloads/download.php?file=62 - they work with SonicStage and MDS-JE780.

Welcome to the forums! The NW-A808 is a great "old-school" player, so you need SonicStage to transfer music to it. Get SonicStage version 4.2 (unless you are running Vista, in which case you need SonicStage 4.3), e.g., from here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&am...st&p=117697

Don't pay attention to Connect. The store is now closed, and you may remove the option from SonicStage as described in Tweak #3 here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=20002 . And yes, MS Jet support is required for SonicStage. It uses this format for its databases. Simply copying DLLs is not enough. There is an absolutely great tool to check your MS Jet and MDAC installation, which may be dowloaded here: http://forums.minidisc.org/downloads/download.php?file=8 (although I am not sure about its Vista compatibility).

Any recorder, be it a deck or a portable, a professional unit or not, has a level control, which is supposed to change the input signal level. And the word "professional" nowadays is nothing but a marketing hype.

Setting the level to 22 and below decreases the level of recorded music when compared to the original CD. Setting the level to 24 and above increases it. While always 23 keeps the original level. 1411 kbps never appears in the ATRAC conversion drop-down box. And it shouldn't, since there is no such bitrate for ATRAC. 1411 kbps "lives" in the WAV conversion box, and it is the only bitrate there, since Hi-MD only supports 44.1 kHz 16-bit PCM. It seems quite a miracle, but easily explained. Original MDs use simple "bit-by-bit" recording, while Hi-MD units use the PRML technique (Partial Response, Maximum Likelihood), which allows packing bits much closer together, and perfectly reading them after that. The technique actually came from computer hard drives. Here's a nice article on PRML: http://www.storagereview.com/guide2000/ref...m/dataPRML.html

1. The converter should work with SS4.2. 2. You can download SS4.2 by following a link from this message: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showt...st&p=117697 - you don't actualy need any drivers, since you only want to convert files.