Vautex Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hi. I dont own a Hi-Md but was thinking of a NH900 but Im not sure if its worth it with all this SonicStage and DRM crap. So basically I need to know a couple of things.When I convert to Atrac do I have to convert to the bitrate that I want to transfer to the player ie if I want to transfer to the unit in Hi-LP do I have to convert my mp3s into Hi-Lp. If I convert it into Hi-Sp can I still transfer it to the unit quickly in Hi-Lp........I guess Im worried Ill have to transfer it all into different bitrate libraries. For example I may want to convert to Hi-Sp in my library but then transfer to an old MD @ ordinary SP. Can this be done.So if you havent figured yet I want to have the highest quality in my library and have the option of sending a leeser quality to the unit so I only ever have convert once.OK that being said, if I have 128k mp3s, what is the highest quality I should bother converting to, I mean, should I bother converting a 128k mp3 to Hi-Sp when Hi-LP is better quality than 128k mp3 anyway. I hope you know what i mean. In other words you cant make a 128k mp3 sound any better than a 128k mp3 - which is what in Atrac terms.Can I convert mp3 on a particular computer to Atrac files, then do nothing else with the .omg's but copy them to another computer, can I then copy them from the new computer they werent ripped on to my Hi-MD.In fact instead of asking all these what ifs can someone give a clear and concise rundown of the process and its consequences of using sonic stage etc coz I just dont know. It really does seem all a bit too hard to me right now.Thank you so much, I hope you can bear with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 short answer: "no"When I convert to Atrac do I have to convert to the bitrate that I want to transfer to the player no, you can recode songs in your library, but remember each recoding means another lossy compression (bits of info are left out) so each recoding (even if to a higher bitrate, unless to wav/PCM which aren't lossy) means a loss in audio qualityOK that being said, if I have 128k mp3s, what is the highest quality I should bother converting to, I mean, should I bother converting a 128k mp3 to Hi-Sp when Hi-LP is better quality than 128k mp3 anyway.You quote Sony on the Atrac3+ 64bps being better than MP3 128bps...but among users, noone will say that this statement is true... Most ppl use Atrac3 132bps or Hi-SP for listening to music, some still real SP, some Hi-LP (but not that much). If you really have a lot of MP3's it could be wiser to get a 2nd generation Hi-MD (RH710, RH910, RH10) which have MP3-playback (although a bit crippled)I hope you know what i mean. In other words you cant make a 128k mp3 sound any better than a 128k mp3 - which is what in Atrac terms.no, when you convert to wav/pcm it will sound the same, any other conversion will result in quality loss (even though some say it will still sound better with the quality loss than as the original MP3 on a second gen Hi-MD...see the link up higher)Can I convert mp3 on a particular computer to Atrac files, then do nothing else with the .omg's but copy them to another computer, can I then copy them from the new computer they werent ripped on to my Hi-MD.no, Sony is very paranoid about copying music...there is someone who mentioned in succeeding to transfer his library to another PC, but I do not have the link and I don't know whether it really worked (you'll have to search these forums a bit yourself, knowledge requires effort)In fact instead of asking all these what ifs can someone give a clear and concise rundown of the process and its consequences of using sonic stage etc coz I just dont know. It really does seem all a bit too hard to me right now.←no, I wouldn't hope on a complete rundown... that would be a lot to write down (even when being more concise than me, which isn't really hard ) so just search these forums and learn...if you still have questions, ask concrete answers and ppl will try to helpgreetings, VoltaSummary: "no" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vautex Posted June 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Cheers for your reply mate. I understand that each recode is lossy Im just wondering which bitrate to recode 128k mp3s to. I got mixed up on Hi-LP bitrate, sorry.What your telling me is that if I have 1 particular song @ Hi-SP on my puter I can only transfer that song to my unit in Hi-SP. If I want that song on a different disc at a lower bitrate say only 105k then I have to recode my Hi-Sp version altogether.I could understand not being able to send it to the unit at a higher bitrate but I thought you would be able to send it to the unit at a lower bitrate than the file on the computer. Thats seems ludacris to me. Can I have 2 different bitrate versions of 1 mp3 stored in the library?I am leaving for Europe (Italy, France, London, Belgium and a few others) in a few weeks and wanted a new unit before then. I play the didge and wanted a unit for recording mostly, but Im hardly gonna fork out for a seperate player too. I just cant believe what a let down the playback features seem at the moment.I also cant get the 2nd gen units in OZ at the moment and from what Ive read Id hardly want too. Ive put in tons of research, countless hours in fact, into the minidisc format, mostly on live recording and I have totally neglected the software side of things. Im running out of time so please excuse me. Normally I would read through forums for hours before asking questions that have been asked countless times before, but like I say, time is a factor at the moment.Ive got about 11gig of mp3s but I wouldnt dream of playing them all back on my minidisc. Almost $500 ozzie big ones is starting to seem like a waste for a NH900!Thanks for you help people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raintheory Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hey, nice to meet a fellow didge player!! We seem to be few and far between.. How long have you been playing?On topic: - Two great reasons to look into a HiMD recorder..1 - Ability to record in uncompressed PCM.2 - You can upload your recordings done from Mic/Line-in.Personally I hardly ever keep any of my music files (mp3 or otherwise) in my library after I have transferred them to an MD.. Technically you could import an mp3, encode it to HiSP, transfer to HiMD.. delete the HiSP file from library.. import same mp3, encode at 105kb, or whatever & transfer that file to a different disc... There would be no need to re-encode the HiSP file.. Just encode the original again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 I'm sorry if I seemed harsh and hard to understand... I did try to help...I'll try againI understand that each recode is lossy Im just wondering which bitrate to recode 128k mp3s to. I got mixed up on Hi-LP bitrate, sorry.well, even though all recoding is lossy, it still comes down to a space/quality equation... I wouldn't go for Hi-LP though, sounds crappy in my ears, but Atrac3 132bps will be better already and Hi-SP might be overdoing it a bit for recoded MP3 (although they will sound better than the 132bps tracks) If you want to give it a try, you can always download SonicStage and try some conversions, listen through your PC (with 'phones preferably) and make up your mind...it is a personal thing you knowWhat your telling me is that if I have 1 particular song @ Hi-SP on my puter I can only transfer that song to my unit in Hi-SP.no, no...I saidyou can recode songs in your library...while transferring them (look around in the SS-options a bit and get used to the program). I only tried to warn you about the quality loss that comes with that. If you convert all to Hi-SP, and decide to transfer to MD in Hi-LP, it is possible, but then you would have had MP3->Hi-SP->Hi-LP which are 2 lossy steps (not counting the initial wav->MP3)...if you just import the MP3's into the library (as MP3's) then you can set SS so it will ask each time in what bitrate/mode you would like to transfer them and you can set it also that it won't keep these converted tracks on your PC (as they will take up a lot of place otherwise) so I meant to say: "no need to convert them all if you want to transfer in different qualities, just import the entire MP3-library as MP3 and set SS to ask every time" (takes a bit longer to transfer each time, but you don't have to worry about converting yourself and no extra, unnecessary lossy conversion neded... sorry, I just reread my post and this was not clearly explained, I forgot a part! my faultI also cant get the 2nd gen units in OZ at the moment and from what Ive read Id hardly want too.well, haven't seen any 2nd gen here in Belgium either, but no problem. I agree that 1st gen and especially the NH900 are just as good if not better than any of the 2nd gen so I don't think you've done a bad deal... it's just a shame that you have all these MP3's which will suffer a bit in sound quality (but they would so too when played as MP3 on a 2nd gen Hi-MD, so no big deal )Ive put in tons of research, countless hours in fact, into the minidisc format, mostly on live recording and I have totally neglected the software side of things. Im running out of time so please excuse me. Normally I would read through forums for hours before asking questions that have been asked countless times before, but like I say, time is a factor at the moment.well, most important things to do...-download SS3.1, make sure it works (the most secure way is explained in this thread, but it's more work than a normal installation, but it could be worth it)-try some conversions to check out the bitrate you prefer-set the options of SS so that your uploaded recordings will be saved as wav / set the folder to save recordings / that SS asks the bitrate each time before downloading / ...just go through the entire options (isn't that much)-remember that you can only upload recordings once but after you've got them in wav you can do with these un-DRM'ed wavs what you want-get an audio-editing program for your recordings (try the free audacity from the downloads)-learn about totally gapless burning from Dex so you don't ruin your recordings-use Simple Burner for transferring CD->Hi-MD (it's much better than SS! you can get it from the download section too)I could have forgotten something, but this will be good as a software starter I guessAlmost $500 ozzie big ones is starting to seem like a waste for a NH900!believe a fellow NH900 user: it's not! Once you get the hang of recording and learn to work with...ehm...around the SS-software, you'll love it...I am leaving for Europe (Italy, France, London, Belgium and a few others)well, Im pretty sure you'll love (Europe and) Belium too...good food, very good beer (try "Duvel"...much better/stronger than Aussi brew), nice summer festivals (Werchter, Gentse Feesten, Pukkelpop,...), nice clubs (Ancienne Belgique, Vooruit), nice girls and a lot of rain (but you're coming at the right time of the year, not that much right now)greetings, Volta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug80 Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 well, Im pretty sure you'll love (Europe and) Belium too...good food, very good beer (try "Duvel"...much better/stronger than Aussi brew)Or Stella Artois, Palm... WerchterOh yeah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug80 Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 (edited) Oh, let me add a contribution to the topic. I would advice to re-encode MP3's to Hi-SP. From my experience transcoding MP3's to LP2 leads to big quality losses, especially if the MP3 was at a bitrate < 192 kbs. Edited June 8, 2005 by bug80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vautex Posted June 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Cheers for the advice guys. I didnt think you were harsh Volta, in fact I reckon you did a great job of explaining things for me, very clear and concise. Ive done a lot of reading here as I said and you, along with a couple of others give really good answers, you seem to know your stuff.Id like to think its worth getting but I guess my biggest fear is having a problem with my unit when it arrives and not having the time to sort it before going overseas. Its hard to resist a unit with PCM recording features and cheap media though!I may be going to Jazz festival in Belgium to see Van Morrsion and record that. Im also going to a Didgeridoo festival in Switzerland followed closely by an Underworld concert. Plenty of recording opportunities I dont want to miss.Im going to download the software first which should prove to be invaluable advise I reckon. Cheers for that tip. Ill let ya know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vautex Posted June 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Raintheory - I have been playing didge for almost a year now. I live in small unit and so I dont get to play very much. I picked it up very quickly and then plateaued very quickly too. Im hoping that mucking around with recording will help with new ideas and give me more reason to practice. A few of my mates reckon I sound pretty good and keep insisting I at least give recording a go to help me fine tune my playing. Good to have encouragement.Maybe Ill post something soon to give you an idea. Ive had a few guys say Im pretty good for the practice Ive had but I know Ive got a long way to go yet before Im playing like I want too.....its time for bed now..laterKeep didgin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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