Avrin

The RH1 is just a fast downloader, unlocked uploader, and an unbelievably low-noise LPCM player. Nothing more. If you want to listen to ATRAC-compressed music - go for second, or even first generation Hi-MD units.

So, the graph for MP3@192 in four different modes is finally ready. Left: GREEN - High with smoothing, completely overlapped by RED - High without smoothing BLUE - Normal with smoothing, completely overlapped by YELLOW - Normal without smoothing What we see here: 1. Smoothing has no effect when using a CDDA-accurate drive. 2. High gives you a cutoff @20 kHz, but more treble in the audible range. Right: GREEN - Original track RED - High without smoothing YELLOW - Normal without smoothing Here we see that both encoding modes (High and Normal) give you less treble than the original above 16 kHz, but High gives more accurate treble than Normal in the audible range. I would suggest using High without smoothing for a better listening experience.

I would suggest that, after your computer is fixed, you better install SonicStage 4.2. The only reason to install SonicStage 4.3 is if you are running Windows Vista. If, on the other hand, you have Windows XP or 2000, then install SonicStage 4.2 - it is a much more streamlined and reliable version. The complete list of web installers for SS42 is here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&am...st&p=117507 A list of full installers for European versions of SS42 (and SS43) is here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&am...st&p=117697

Windows Media Format installers from the full download of SonicStage 4.3: http://dl1.aii.co.jp/contents/connect/_dat...staller/wmf.zip http://dl1.aii.co.jp/contents/connect/_dat...aller/wmf95.zip

richyhu, reading the online help for SS can make you blind. For Chris G I repeat it again: DSEE works for playback only. It does not affect CD-ripping or file encoding in any way. And for any non-believers out there I repeat it again: DSEE does work!

The adapter only, not the AA pack. And I can not guarantee that! And what on Earth is a DH710?

That black one is gorgeous! But I already got a blue RH910 for a portable.

The AC adapter and the dry battery case for the MZ-RH10 also work with the MZ-RH910. In fact, they are the same for both models.

An even simpler example will be encoding from a noisy analog source, such as an analog cassete, which mostly has nothing useful above 15 kHz (in case of Normal tape). If you encode over the full 20-20000 Hz range, you'll get a poorer result, than if you set a 15 kHz cutoff.

Very unfortunately, the graphs at the taperssection forum do not load - all I see is four red X'es at the places the graphs should be. But folowing the discussion, I should point out that, according to my graphs above, LP2 actually does have a 16 kHz cutoff when recorded by the RH1, and a 15 kHz cutoff when encoded by SonicStage. This is by design. Thus, any file recorded initially in LP2 may be deemed as MP3-sourced because of these cutoffs and encoding artifacts.

You are absolutely right! Sometimes a lower cutoff might actually mean a better qualty in the remaining range, since there is less information left to encode, and it is less complex. As for the comparison of "Normal" and "High" with and without smoothing, I don't have time to do this right now, but I remember, that "Normal" actually gives no cutoff @192, so the graphs for "Normal" will again be the same for "Smoothing" and "No smoothing", but will have no cutoff.

Well, here we go: GREEN - SS MP3@192 "High" with smoothing, but you'll never see any green, since RED - SS MP3@192 "High" with no smoothing completely coincides with it, and covers it. Both files are exactly the same in size and content. What is really funny is the fact that the graphs are much better in the highest treble range, than those of ATRAC3plus@192, which has a much lower cutoff (about 18 kHz, if I remember it right).

I am sure Madonna deserves a better quality (VBR LAME!!!). As for more bass with "Smoothing" on, I think that this is just a placebo effect. Well, I'll try it right now. Unfortunately I don't have any Madonna CDs, so, probably, the trusty old Paul Desmond's "Take Ten" will do.

Yes, this is a remnant of DRM. Very unfortunately, it is in the hardware.

Feurio! finds CD info (but not cover art), and then uses LAME to encode files. And it gives you more quality and bitrate settings than SS, although not the overwhelming lot of all LAME settings.

Simply speaking, the "High" setting will give more treble (no effect on bass) in MP3 for some bitrates, but the difference will be noticeable only if you have really good ears and equipment. But I would still use "High", and not "Normal", if only the SonicStage MP3 encoder wasn't that bad. I prefer using LAME when I need really good quality MP3s. The difference is noticeable everytime. And there is a lot of programs that serve as a front-end for LAME, to make ripping and encoding easier. One of them, Feurio! CD Manager ( http://www.feurio.com ), though no longer being developed, even has an option to encode non-stop tracks (detected automatically!) as a single track, completely eliminating the annoying gaps when playing MP3s, but still maintaining the ability to switch between non non-stop tracks. Of course, if a CD is completely non-stop, you'll get a single gapless, but non-switchable MP3.

What "High" and "Normal" settings do for ATRAC3plus, is not known. But I know for sure that they actually affect the cut-off frequency of MP3 files ("High" gives a higher cut-off frequency or not cut-off at all for some bitrates). See my old thread here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=15617. But remember that that thread is quite old. For a more current discussion (ATRAC[3[plus]] only, but with graphs) you are welcome here: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&am...st&p=125793

I think this option is designed for older CD-ROMs, which are unable to do accurate CDDA transfers. No need for it on modern drives.

A little bit louder than both my RH1s, but still normal. And the MP3 was recorded while downloading from a computer!

Blue - original CD Green - SP recorded via optical in by a service mode hacked RH910, and uploaded by the RH1 as WAV Why did SONY disable an obvious built-in Type-R in second generation units???

SonicStage is completely different! Version 4.2 in "High" quality mode. Left: Blue - original CD Red - LP2 Yellow - LP4 Right: Blue - original CD Red - Hi-SP Yellow - Hi-LP Looks like SonicStage Hi-SP rocks!

Yes, I do it in this way. BTW, if I do not click Scan, I have a 15 kHz cutoff! Currently testing SonicStage for same bitrates.

Blue - original CD Green - PCM Red - Hi-SP Yellow - Hi-LP Interesting to see that PCM is not completely equal to the original CD in the highest frequency range, and that high-frequency harmonics in Hi-SP and Hi-LP differ between channels, but not between modes.

Actual results of recording and uploading on the RH1. The track used was Paul Desmond's "Take Ten", as usual. Blue - original CD Green - SP, transferred as WAV Red - LP2 Yellow - LP4

I still can not explain your "remove the disc, and then it charges happily" discovery.