MZ-S1 optical cable trouble

[MiniDiscCoolYay]

Hello all. I have a question about the optical cable necessary to record to the MZ-S1. I just bought an optical cable from Radio Shack and when I tried it on my MZ-S1, it read: "No Signal". It wasn't detecting the cable (according to the user manual). So I returned the cable. Inside the user manual, there are specific model numbers for optical cables made by Sony under "optional accessories". Do I have to get a Sony optical cable for the MZ-S1? Does anyone else have experience with the MZ-S1 and which optical cable works? Thanks.

[MDX-400]

Inside the user manual, there are specific model numbers for optical cables made by Sony under "optional accessories". Do I have to get a Sony optical cable for the MZ-S1? Does anyone else have experience with the MZ-S1 and which optical cable works? Thanks.

No you don't have to get a special cable--every Sony device has these cables listed from MD Walkmans to CD Walkmans to home audio gear. Sony optical cables aren't anything special either, you're actually better off going with another brand.

I'm wondering, when you got the No-Signal indication, what was the other end of the cable connected to? Because if the other device was not on/properly outputting S/PDIF info then it might indicate "No Signal". Note that on *some* devices even the presence of a red light may not mean that there is a carrier signal on the Toslink cable. I know that my soundcard does this for example. The red light on the optical output is always on, I believe, even if the soundcard's S/PDIF is set too "off" in its mixer/control panel.

If it is set to "off" an MD unit (or other digital input device) will indicate there is "No Signal" or that the "DIN" is "Unlocked" despite the fact that you can see red light through the cable. Setting the S/PDIF to on in the mixer/control panel relieves this error and the input device will then get the signal lock.

Did you try the optical cable on more than one optical-output device to see if it wasn't a problem with the optical output on whatever device you were using when you got the "No Signal" error? Did you try starting playback on the digital out device and seeing if the No Signal error went away upon playback start?

[MiniDiscCoolYay]

Here's what I did: I plugged the cable (Toslink) into the portable c.d player (out) and my MZ-S1. I set the synchro recording to "on" on the MZ-S1. I then played the c.d player and waited for recording to begin. The MD player gave me the "NoSig" message after a couple of seconds. I know I set the "R-MODE" to "SP" on my MD player.

As for the S/PDIF, I'm not sure it applies to the c.d player or my MD player. The user manual doesn't mention it from what I can see. I'm not sure what the S/PDIF means. Pardon my noviceness here.

After unplugging the cable on the MZ-S1, playback was fine. However, I did not try the cable using any other devices.

[MDX-400]

Here's what I did: I plugged the cable (Toslink)  into the portable c.d player (out) and my MZ-S1. I set the synchro recording to "on" on the MZ-S1. I then played the c.d player and waited for recording to begin. The MD player gave me the "NoSig" message after a couple of seconds. I know I set the "R-MODE" to "SP" on my MD player.

Hmm that sounds right, do you see the red light coming through the line from the CD player with the toslink plugged into the CD player and it playing? (With the MD player side unplugged so you can look into the cable end). If you're not seeing the red light when it is connected to the CD player then either the CD player's optical out is disabled, turned off or it is not working properly. If you are seeing the light through the cable and you then connect the two and the plugs are properly connected at both ends and you're getting the "No Signal" indication there might be a problem with either unit. To know for sure you should try to test it with another audio device with optical output, if possible.

Since you mention it is a portable CDP you are using, ensure that the optical out jack on the unit is clean and free of any dirt which may be blocking the port. If it is somehow blocked you may try some compressed air to try to clean it.

As for the S/PDIF, I'm not sure it applies to the c.d player or my MD player. The user manual doesn't mention it from what I can see. I'm not sure what the S/PDIF means. Pardon my noviceness here.

That's okay... S/PDIF stands for Sony/Philips Digital InterFace it is the standard "language" of consumer level audio devices in transferring/receiving digital audio information. S/PDIF comes in two "flavours", electrical and optical, also known as coaxial and toslink, respectively. Coaxial is an electrical connection using RCA-jacks/plugs which (when used properly) uses 75-ohm coax. cable to transfer the information. Toslink (which is short for Toshiba-Link because Toshiba invented it) is the same information carried over an optical cable (which is what you often see on MD units and what you are attempting to use) and is converted to/from electrical S/PDIF information on either side of the cable.

[Often times people will refer to coax. as "S/PDIF" and differentiate it from "optical" that way; but really the way I think of it is S/PDIF being the language/protocol and coax. or toslink as the medium that carries it.]

[MiniDiscCoolYay]

I think the problem is that my c.d player (now that I've checked it out) has no optical line out. It just says "out". Maybe that is the problem.

I think you're wrong. S/PDIF is Satan talk.

[MDX-400]

I think the problem is that my c.d player (now that I've checked it out) has no optical line out. It just says "out". Maybe that is the problem.

Yep that'll do it, a regular line out is analog only, you need a player with an optical output.

I think you're wrong. S/PDIF is Satan talk.

hahaha LMAO

[MiniDiscCoolYay]

This can't go on I must inform the law

Can this still be real or some crazy dream

but I feel drawn towards the evil chanting hordes

they seem to mesmerise me...can't avoid their eyes

666 the Number of the Beast

666 the one for you and me