Old Md Gorped, Need Replacement

[WannaBeJazzer]

Dear Generous People ;-)

I have a Sharp MT290 that will no longer write to the TOC - (Er-Md41) Really blows as I found out while trying to record a rare live performance! I think the unit’s about 2 years old…

I’ve seen posts on how people ‘fixed’ the problem by either moving the head manually, or by doing a 30 minute recording, then all was well, but, didn’t work for me. I’d also be interested if anyone knows of a Service Test for this unit that could re-callibrate the head.

So replacement time (keep this unit for playback). I’ve waded through a lot of posts on new models but find it confusing.

Features I want:

support live recording - don’t care about uploading, this is not my personal mp3 player - but I do want USB transfer of music to go from MD (mic recorded) to PC.

Backwards compatible (edit) my LP2 discs.

A nice bonus feature would be a record buffer - while the unit is in record-pause, it’s storing audio in a FIFO buffer of say, 10 seconds, then when you release the pause, you retain the previous 10 seconds in the new track. (in live recordings seems like I always wish I could have started just a few seconds sooner - miss a bit of the program…)

The ‘on-the-fly’ rec-level adjustability of the Sharp has been nice, but I spend a lot of time in music workshops where there’s verbal instruction - relatively quiet, then music playing - loud volume, so I’m constantly playing with the rec-level. Do the Sony machines handle this well with the auto limiters? I don’t see that listed in the specs for the new units?

Lastly, I’m always leery of cutting edge technology. Is the Hi-MD format really as stable and reliable? a couple hours of LP2 has been working just fine for me...

Anyone have any advice on a new rig for me? I appreciate everyone’s feedback!

Mike in Olympia, WA.

[The Low Volta]

Welcome to MDCF WBJazzer,

support live recording - don’t care about uploading, this is not my personal mp3 player - but I do want USB transfer of music to go from MD (mic recorded) to PC.

if you really want USB-uploading of your own recordings from MD->PC (this way is called uploading, as players without any recording capabilities are called Download-only models and have a D in the name, like NH600D, which you don't want) that limits the choice to Hi-MD, as they are the only type that support this. Net-MD's have an USB-connection but only for PC->MD downloading

VERY BIG WARNING for Mac users: the ONLY software to allow uploading is SonicStage which will NOT work with Mac! (unless under Virtual PC, but then still very slow)

Backwards compatible (edit) my LP2 discs.

Hi-MD players can edit LP2, but I'm not sure if they can do this on discs recorded with an older machine? (for example, you can't edit LP2 tracks downloaded from PC either)

only the first generation of Hi-MD's (NH700, NH800, NH900, NH1) can record in the backwards compatible older formats, 2nd gen can only record in the newer formats...BUT I don't know whether this only refers to SP or also to LP2 (I would guess, only SP, but don't trust me on this one )

another warning: don't expect to use the Hi-MD to upload your old recordings...it won't...only recordings made on 1gig discs or on stadard discs formatted as Hi-MD will be...(there is still the analogue realtime recording possibility to transfer the old recordings to PC)

A nice bonus feature would be a record buffer

I personally have never heard of such a feature on any Hi-MD model, and certainly haven't noticed it on my NH900 (and I know very little of pre-Hi-MD at all, so dunno there)...but, if you use Hi-MD, even on a (reformatted) standard disc, you can record al lot more hours, so I just start to record well before the actual performance starts, and after uploading to PC, just cut off the "intro"...

The ‘on-the-fly’ rec-level adjustability...do the Sony machines handle this well with the auto limiters?

on the fly level adjustment is possible with all Hi-MD models...With the auto limiters I guess you mean AGC (auto gain control, which adjusts the levels automatically)? Only and really only use the AGC when recording speech! To set the manual levels is a bit of a drag (they are reset every time you stop the recording)...but if you have set them a couple of times you can do this in the dark and if you use 'pause' in stead of 'stop', you won't have to do it so often

Lastly, I’m always leery of cutting edge technology.  Is the Hi-MD format really as stable and reliable?  a couple hours of LP2 has been working just fine for me...

hm, completely stable?...nope, as with all new technology. Relatively stable? Yep, I personally haven't had any problems with recording (have recorded about 20 interviews and a couple of lectures/speeches/debates, concerts...). If you stay focussed a bit, relatively little can go wrong: after you record,

- first try the normal digital uploading through SonicStage and convert to wav

- if for any reason this transfer fails, DO NOT TRY this way AGAIN! as this can erase the disc

- you can then use the digital realtime method using TotalRecorder

- or use the analogue realtime method using somthing like Audacity (see the live recording or software/FAQ's for explanations of these procedures)

- after you have at least a back-up version of your recording you could try the 1st method again, but be aware that it only very rarely works, let alone doesn't erase the disc

so this means that even it the worst case scenario, you're still recording it analogue& realtime just as you would have to do always if you don't go for Hi-MD

But even with these precautions, there have been little unrepairable faults... ever so often (really only a couple of times, I haven't had any), small silent glitches appear in the recording which prevent digital uploading... but using the analogue&realtime transfer method, the recording is saved, except for the little bit of silence, which you can edit out, but still it's a bit of info missing

But then again, Hi-MD gives you (even on a reformatted standard disc) a lot more recording time in a much better sound quality (if you forget about backwards comatibility for a moment) so I would say: "if you choose it, use it", I mean at least for recording, use one of the better qualities (Hi-SP or even PCM for concerts and stuf), upload to PC, convert to wav, edit, reimport to SS, download to disc in a backwards compatible format if needed...

and for a concrete suggestion... the NH900 (1st gen) and RH10 (2nd gen) are the most versatile (and quite comparable) recorders... I would suggest one of those, but just look into the minidisc.org equipment browser for further info...

Greetings, Volta

[WannaBeJazzer]

Thanks Volta for your words!

so what's up with the SonicStage? sounds like a restrictive tool? (feel free to point me to another thread if this has already been discussed)

Bummer about not being able to edit my original LP2 discs - maybe I should just look for a non-HiMD unit and keep things simple...

What are you using for PC editing of live recorded stuff? I've used GoldWave in the past, let's me mark tracks on the fly... but I wish it was more like a video editing list where you do assembly (on the fly), or a series of in/out points. Do you use something like that?

what else... Oh, what's 'uncapped'?

Good carma to you~

mike.

[The Low Volta]

so what's up with the SonicStage?  sounds like a restrictive tool?  (feel free to point me to another thread if this has already been discussed)

it is a bit... There have been a lot of complaints about it (see this section of MDCF for a number of issues) but then again, it is much more stable and reliable than it used to be... and as I said, there are also a lot of workarounds for some of the remaining strange things (read the Live Recording and Software/FAQ's for a better understanding...)

Bummer about not being able to edit my original LP2 discs - maybe I should just look for a non-HiMD unit and keep things simple...

but as I said, then you would lose the option of uploading digitally through USB

What are you using for PC editing of live recorded stuff?

I use the free (open source) Audacity, which can be downloaded from the downloads sections here on MDCF. It is quite easy to use, and has visual cut'n'paste or drag'n'drop editing possibilities... as it's free, just try it and remove it if you don't like it...

what else... Oh, what's 'uncapped'?

←

I live in Europe, and 'cause of some law output of portable players has to be limited (or capped) to prevent hearing damage. This is of course not bad in itself, but when one upgrades ones earphones to a more Hi-Fi model, the output voltage can be too low to drive the 'phones properly. Thanks to some smart ppl here on MDCF (and the help of some service manuals) we Europeans are now able to change the regional setting of our players to N-Am or Asia,which aren't "Eurocapped" in any way... so now I can not only use my small and very portable earbuds but also my nice and cosy big sennheiser 'phones when listening in my student lodgings...

greetings, Volta

[WannaBeJazzer]

Hey there Volta!

I got sidetracked, now back in persuit of my replacement unit.

Question: (which you probably answered, but I'm dense!)

If I give my busted sharp mdlp (will play, but won't record) to my son, would I be able to record new LP2 discs for him with a NH900 via SS?

and 2:

using an external dry case seems like a nuciance.. will 2 AA bats power the NH900 internally? (replace rechargable bats with dry cells)?

Oops, I continue!... If the NH900 isn't available, can my same requirements be met with the 910?

regards,

WBJ

[A440]

If I give my busted sharp mdlp (will play, but won't record) to my son, would I be able to record new LP2 discs for him with a NH900 via SS?

←

Yes.

will 2 AA bats power the NH900 internally?  (replace rechargable bats with dry cells)?

←

No, the battery slot of the NH900 takes a flat gumstick, not a round AA. If you want to use just 1 AA get NH700 or NHF800. The bulge in the back is truly not a big deal.

If the NH900 isn't available, can my same requirements be met with the 910?

←

RH910 takes a gumstick. I believe you can transfer via SS with LP2, but you cannot record LP2 directly.

[WannaBeJazzer]

Thanks 'A440' - is that something you picked up from being 1st violin? lol.

I've never had my fingers touch either of the sony's - the 900 or 910. Which jog dial set do you prefer? the circular 'jog' dial on the 900 - it doesn't actually spin in a circular motion, does it?

Do you know if you have to hold 2 buttons simultaneously to go into record mode for either unit?

...wish local stores had these to put the paws on...

Thanks very much, WBJ.

Olympia, WA