Legal Digital Copying -- Need 2 Recorders However

[1kyle]

I was getting more and more irritated with the absurd restriction on Copying Minidiscs digitally --especially as I rarely actually load Music permanently to my computers --I have a Network of around 6 Desktops and 2 - 3 laptops --

Before you all think I'm crazy we are running a small photo studio so it's a private LAN. We are primarily photographers so we don't have any high end pro recording gear --as the music end of the business is just for adding sounds etc to DVD's for presentatiuon to customers and stuff for the web.

Now SS makes storing music on a variety of computers really impossible due to the unbelievable hassle of moving music between machines --and if you store it on the LAN then it's no god if you want it on your Laptop to take home as well.

Anyway this method allows you to copy discs digitally as many times as you want. We've got an MZ-NHI and an MZNHF 800 in the studio.

So what you do is as follows --unfortunately it's real time but it works and whilst you can make digital recordings in LP2 / SP / LP4 mode the source disk must be recorded in HI-MD --no probs however if you've got 2 machines.

1) insert the Disc you want to copy from into the NH1

2) select SS to Transfer the relevant tracks you want to copy (BUT DON'T TRANSFER THEM INTO THER COMPUTER)

3) connect an optical cable between your Sound card and the 2nd minidisc recorder -- the disc in the 2nd recorder can be HI-MD or standard (LSP/LP2/LP4)

4) start record on 2nd recorder

5) on the ist recorder use SS to PLAY.

Disc will now be copied digitally track marks and all correctly.

(The 2nd Disk can then be used as a source for a 3rd copy and so on -- note however that this will only work if the Source disk is recorded in HI-MD mode and it's real time of course).

You do need a decent sound card with a proper optical out -- I'm using the latest Audigy 2 from Creative labs but there are loads of decent one's out there

I'm using this method to copy selected groups to LP2 (80 Min discs) for my aging car radio --wish Sony would have a Hi-MD unit and also for copying the odd lecture or two.

For a lot of multiple copies then this method I agree is not very pratical -- making a "Virtual CD" with Nero and then burning with Simple Burner is a better way but if you do that it's an extra A/D and D/A conversion and of course you'll have to edit and add track marks manually.

Cheers

-K

[zerodB]

Bear in mind, that this method involves transcoding. So you don't get a 1:1 copy - instead you're compressing a pre-compressed recording (unless your music is stored in PCM on the 1st disk). Not exactly the best idea if you're concerned about preserving quality.

[1kyle]

Bear in mind, that this method involves transcoding. So you don't get a 1:1 copy - instead you're compressing a pre-compressed recording (unless your music is stored in PCM on the 1st disk). Not exactly the best idea if you're concerned about preserving quality.

←

The loss in quality (at least for generations 1-3) is so small as to be probably undectatble --even when played on a really high quality external system

The NH-1 seems to have a much higher quality amp in it than one would expect from this type of unit --also since I'm using the 2nd recordings in places like cars it's OK.

To get an exact copy one would need some pro gear of course (expensive) but this method is actually a reasonable compromise between cost and quality provided the source recorder is good (and the NH-1 has quality in Spades) and you are using a high quality sound card and it's streets ahead of doing an Analog copy (Line out to Line In).

Actually the more I use the NH1 the more I'm amazed with it -- wish it had a digital out however.

Cheers

-K

Edited January 22, 2005 by 1kyle

[dex Otaku]

The simplest method for doing this as actually as follows:

1) back up your original recording in real time if you're paranoid like me

2) upload the recording using an installation of SS 2.3 to any of the computers

3) use HiMD renderer or Sony's wave converter on those tracks

4) delete or simply forget about the tracks on the originating SS machine

Of course, you can then also:

* edit or copy the tracks as many times as you like, free of DRM, without ever having to worry about using a second recorder or optical cables

* back up the recordings to whatever other media you like without worrying about not being able to use the backups

* convert the WAV files to whatever format you choose, including lossless formats more suitable for archival, which are still accesible and playable by any computer on the network

* re-import them to SS on any machine and write them to netMD or HiMD

* Play them back using any software you like, copying them in realtime via optical link to SP-format discs for use in your car [note that depending on what you use, track marks may or may not work properly]

Keep in mind that all of this is assuming [if you're using Wave Converter] that the recordings you wish to copy are your own, and made using the analogue-in on one of your HiMD recorders.

[1kyle]

The simplest method for doing this as actually as follows:

1) back up your original recording in real time if you're paranoid like me

2) upload the recording using an installation of SS 2.3 to any of the computers

3) use HiMD renderer or Sony's wave converter on those tracks

4) delete or simply forget about the tracks on the originating SS machine

Of course, you can then also:

* edit or copy the tracks as many times as you like, free of DRM, without ever having to worry about using a second recorder or optical cables

* back up the recordings to whatever other media you like without worrying about not being able to use the backups

* convert the WAV files to whatever format you choose, including lossless formats more suitable for archival, which are still accesible and playable by any computer on the network

* re-import them to SS on any machine and write them to netMD or HiMD

* Play them back using any software you like, copying them in realtime via optical link to SP-format discs for use in your car [note that depending on what you use, track marks may or may not work properly]

Keep in mind that all of this is assuming [if you're using Wave Converter] that the recordings you wish to copy are your own, and made using the analogue-in on one of your HiMD recorders.

←

Thanks --also works a treat ---

My main issue was the hassle of using different machines --but you've solved that for me. Great stuff

Cheers

-K

[dex Otaku]

Thanks --also works a treat ---

My main issue was the hassle of using different machines --but you've solved that for me.  Great stuff

Cheers

-K

←

Were you not aware of HiMD's upload ability and the existence of HiMDRenderer and Sony's Wave Converter?

[Asking seriously, not patronisingly]

[1kyle]

Were you not aware of HiMD's upload ability and the existence of HiMDRenderer and Sony's Wave Converter?

[Asking seriously, not patronisingly]

←

Hi there -- the WAV converter was only recently released -- and I've still got some probs with it although this might be due to different XP service packs on the machines --am updating all machines this weekend --and the upload service has issues when you want to move stuff between machines

-- Sony seems really Paranoid about using stuff on Computer B say which originated on Computer A.

Another issue I have which might not be a problem for people is that I like to keep ONLY the WINDOWS O/S itself on drive 'C' and any "User Data" etc I have on other drives either "Partioned Logical Drives" or on a Network shared drive.

Computer disaster and recovery is a whole other topic in itself but I do this so that I can restore the whole O/S from an "Image Copy" file if and when (Windows invariably crashes from time to time) the O/S or even the Disk gets corrupted --15 Min for restore and I don't need to re-install anything. User Data on different disks to the OS means that it can be moved / copied / archived separately from the main OS so if I get a new machine or disk for example no probs.

Now SS keeps some files on the 'C' drive which is why I tend to avoid storing anything using SS. I really try and make my 'C' drive as a "No Go area".

SS keeps some library files on your "C" drive --if it didn't you could store your library on a Network Shared Drive and access it from any machine --but this doesn't work --believe me I've hacked around with this program enough. It seems to know if you are using a different computer somehow.

I do like the "Renderer" program --but have been waiting until it's a bit more stable which it seems to be now.

Anyway I've got my work cut out today -- at least all the machines including the laptops will then be at the same XP service pack level.

Would be great if this stuff could work in Linux --anyone.

As a final aside could Sony at least RELAX the restrictions to allow copies to be done to 1 extra computer such as a Laptop.

Adobe Photoshop --expensive but professional digitial photgraphic and image (graphics / photos) editing program costing around 450 GBP or 700 USD allows you to have 1 extra copy on your laptop as well as your main machine, and even Microsoft Office XP allows the same even though you have to go through that activation B/S twice --it's legal and works.

A lot of people these days have a laptop in addition to a main desktop machine and they shouldn't have to have all the hassle of removing from one computer and then re-loading to the laptop without having to resort to all sorts of "get arounds" and trickery.

Cheers

-K

Edited January 23, 2005 by 1kyle

[Andy]

The NH-1 seems to have a much higher quality amp in it than one would expect from this type of unit  --also since I'm using the 2nd recordings in places like cars it's OK.

If you are doing a pure digital transfer (using the optical cable, or via himd renderer) then the amp won't be used at all (a good thing).