doc Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Hello everyone,I just placed an order for the Sony Hi-MD recorder, but reading these posts am not sure it is for me. I do a lot of lecturing, and am looking for the following: making high quality recordings of my lectures, archiving/storing my lectures in a preservable manner, and editing/producing/publishing of my lectures (probably into audio CD and MP3 format).Is this the best device for my needs? The only concern I have is the limitation of one upload per track. That would make it seem that the Hi-MD is simply a transfer device and not for storage or other functions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dex Otaku Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 While many people use MD or HiMD for storage, I only use it as intermediary storage as you're saying.Basically, record with it, copy it to your computer, back up to CDR, erase the original, and produce as many CDRs as you like. It is well-suited for this purpose and still less expensive than any other medium currently offering uncompressed [PCM] recording and digital transfer to computers.As for archiving in a preservable manner, the only completely-trusted medium in use by actual archivists is 1/4 open-reel tape. CDR should suit your purposes, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Letson Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 I have a drawer full of original recordings of interviews that I keep around just-in-case, and I don't worry about the stability of the medium. On the other hand, if ease and speed of transfer to a PC is important, Hi-Md still isn't anything like optimal. On the gripping hand, once the recording has been transferred to the computer (I'm not much bothered by analog/real-time for most of my work), you can edit away with the original stowed safely someplace. I've been using standard MD for interviews and musical-notebooking for more than five years with no tech glitches that weren't caused by operator error. Of course, I'll be extremely gratified if Sony ever recognizes what professional users might need and supplies same, but in the meanwhile I don't see any product that works as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topaz Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Hello everyone,I just placed an order for the Sony Hi-MD recorder, but reading these posts am not sure it is for me. I do a lot of lecturing, and am looking for the following: making high quality recordings of my lectures, archiving/storing my lectures in a preservable manner, and editing/producing/publishing of my lectures (probably into audio CD and MP3 format).Is this the best device for my needs? The only concern I have is the limitation of one upload per track. That would make it seem that the Hi-MD is simply a transfer device and not for storage or other functions.←Dear Doc,I think Hi-MD is right up your street - I'm a linguist at a university and I use it very often for lecture and seminar recordings as well as recording material for language teaching and uploading my own-recorded MP3 files on our WebCT service.I agree that the one-time upload is not brilliant, but once you convert your recording to WAV format after the upload, you can go whichever way you wish - Audio CD, WAV CD, MP3, etc. and as many times as you like. And, of course, you still have the original after the upload...MD is very small and convenient - just dump a machine in a small case with a mic sticking out and you should pick up everything fine. If you are already using a mic in your lecture then you'll be OK, but student/seminar attendee questions may cause a little problem.The other big advantage is the time for each disc - I would say Hi-SP is fine for your needs and that's 2hours 20 minutes per 80 minute disc. You may want to see if Hi-LP is OK and then you are up in the 10 hours per 80 minute disc. Then, of course, you have the added option to using 1GB discs - and your recording capability may outrun the charge of a normal battery (a small problem in itself - but then I guess you can use mains).From what I can tell from your needs, with a Hi-MD unit and a decent microphone, you can very easily make your quality recording you need. I'm very happy with mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christoph Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Hello everyone,I just placed an order for the Sony Hi-MD recorder, but reading these posts am not sure it is for me. I do a lot of lecturing, and am looking for the following: making high quality recordings of my lectures, archiving/storing my lectures in a preservable manner, and editing/producing/publishing of my lectures (probably into audio CD and MP3 format).Is this the best device for my needs? The only concern I have is the limitation of one upload per track. That would make it seem that the Hi-MD is simply a transfer device and not for storage or other functions.←Hello, while you can upload only once, you can convert your uploaded recording into *.wav files and as I found out, you can do this unlimited (well, at least twice, I haven't done it more often). Of course the recording through line-out is also still possible, although not very convenient, but it is always good to have a copy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dex Otaku Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Take a glance in the "Essential Hi-MD information/FAQs" forum [subforum to the Hi-MD one]. Especially the document about uploading. While a lot of it may be meaningless since you're not using the stuff yet, it does describe what it takes to get things done.Actually, read as much in there as you can before receiving your unit. The better you inform yourself beforehand, the easier it is to avoid some of the common pitfalls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted February 15, 2005 Report Share Posted February 15, 2005 Welcome to the forums, doc. What unit did you get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc Posted February 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Thanks for all the prompt responses, guys. I ordered the MZ-NH1 unit and am looking forward to using it. I feel much better now that there is a forum like this that addresses our common concerns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elar Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Thanks for all the prompt responses, guys. I ordered the MZ-NH1 unit and am looking forward to using it. I feel much better now that there is a forum like this that addresses our common concerns.←Hi Doc,I am a student recording lectures two+ hours in length. I have recorded 45 MD (5 hour LP) discs worth of lectures over the past year onto a borrowed (and now returned) MD recorder in anticipation of uploading them to my pc (quickly) and then 1) listening to them over Windows Media Player and 2) sharing them in a digital form with other students (by emailing files). To my surprise, I found out that 1) and 2) wasn't doable except by purchasing software for a recorder I no longer had in my possession (6 mos ago Xitel MD port i/o) and slowly (actual recording time) uploading to pc. So I never pursued this, but still desire access for myself and to share with others 200 hours of these lecture recordings. I am about to start Spring term classes and would like to purchase an recorder that would allow me to tape (via microphone) and then upload (quickly, not actual time of the recording) to my pc and listen through Windows Media Player and also email the file to other students to do the same. Which will serve me better, Hi-MD or MD? This is my first post and I am not a technically savvy person in recording, however, I have some access to computer savvy friends, though they don't necessarily have experience in recording with MD or Hi-MD. Thanks, Elar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael1980 Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Any HiMD model will do what you are asking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Letson Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 (edited) I have to say (reluctantly) that for your particular situation (fast upload, ease of use, relatively low quality requirements), a recording MP3 unit might be best. I've used a RipFlash Plus for interviewing with surprisingly good results. And there are other (probably better, more widely available, and better supported) options. Several of my guitar-playing e-friends like the iRiver units, some of which, they insist (to my surprise), have a mike-level input for and external mike. If you didn't need high-speed upload, then I'd absolutely recommend a Sony B-series MD, but those are still limited to analog/real-time transfer. (When oh when will Sony recognize the importance of a loyal and enthusiastic customer base of journalists?) Edited February 18, 2005 by Russell Letson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Hi-MD uploads recordings fast, it's fairly easy to use with Hi-MD renderer and the low quality requirements are there. Am I missing something, Russell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elar Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Any HiMD model will do what you are asking for.←Michael,The previous recordings were made to Hi-MD compatible discs using a older regular MD recorder. If I now purchase a Hi-MD recorder will I be able to take the previously recorded discs created by the older recorder and place them in the new Hi-MD recorder and upload to my pc.?Thank you for your help,Elar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dex Otaku Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 The previous recordings were made to Hi-MD compatible discs using a older regular MD recorder. If I now purchase a Hi-MD recorder will I be able to take the previously recorded discs created by the older recorder and place them in the new Hi-MD recorder and upload to my pc.?No. You can't upload via USB from MD / MDLP discs with any existing consumer equipment. You can copy in realtime via optical SP/DIF using MD / MDLP components decks that support it, but that's still realtime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Letson Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Hi-MD uploads recordings fast, it's fairly easy to use with Hi-MD renderer and the low quality requirements are there. Am I missing something, Russell?←My particular experience has been that SonicStage is cranky and fragile and won't even install on two of the four systems I've tried it on, so I can't bring myself to recommend it, though I know that plenty of others have had no problems. I also like the recording simplicity of a built-in mike for voice recordings, though if Sony does something smart, like a B-series-style HiMD, I'll be on it like a rooster on a June bug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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