Hi-MD ATRAC3 64kbps, SS 3.2, WAV, TR LAME, MP3

[divirtual]

I've been using Total Recorder for some years, transferring audio from MZ-NH1 Net MD to MP3. I recently got a new Thinkpad model that doesn't have "line in" anymore, so I upgraded to a MZ-RH910 to transfer via USB onto Total Recorder (instead of via the "line in" patch cable). On the last transfers, I noticed a few gaps on some recordings -- presumably because I was doing something else on the computer while transferring files -- and it impacted the USB transfer.

Now that Sonic Stage 3.2 uploads without locking up the source Hi-MD files, I feel more comfortable using it. I normally record conference lectures -- i.e. a few days of talk, which can mean between 6 to 40 hours of audio! -- and therefore have been using Hi-MD 64kbps (when I used to used Net MD 66kbps).

Just experimenting this morning, it appears to me that Sonic Stage 3.2 takes the Hi-MD 64kbps file, and transfers it up to an OMA format. As a second step, it will then also create a WAV file.

Question 1: I haven't found a way to create an MP3 file from a Hi-MD 64kbps (presumably ATRAC3 file) directly from Sonic Stage. Is this correct?

Question 2: Is it possible to create the WAV file on Sonic Stage 3.2 without creating the OMA file first? (This is a small annoyance, because it's probably only 2 minutes to do so).

Question 3: I've chosen Hi-MD 64kbps ATRAC3 to record speech, rather an MP3 128kbps , because I don't think that the quality will be much different, and more audio fits on the one minidisc. Does anyone think that it would really make a difference to record to MP3 128kbps, and then downsample to MP3 64kpbs in the future?

To convert from WAV to MP3, I first tried Audacity, but it seems to take a long time to load the WAV file. Using Total Recorder, there's no initial load issue, and converting to MP3 using LAME seems okay (taking 5 to 6 minutes for an hour of audio).

I've been using MP3DirectCut to edit tracks of audio down. I'm accustomed to using it, and find the slider bar and UI to be relatively straightforward. (It's possible the same thing could have been done from Audacity, but I couldn't find the slider bar!)

Sonic Stage 3.2 appears to have resolved the lecture/speech recording upload issues that I've been working around for 3 years! If anyone has any additional suggestions on shortcuts, I would welcome them.

[The Low Volta]

1. indeed, no oma->mp3 with SS... but you could use marcnet's HiMDRenderer (which can be found here) this program does does allow oma->MP3 (just uncheck the autoconvert to wav function in SS and convert the oma's with HiMDRenderer)

2. nope, the oma just is the PC name for an atrac (HiLP etc.) file... SS just imports the file and then converts to wav

3. with HiMD you won't be able to record in MP3 at all, only in the HiMD formats (HiLP, HiSP) and PCM (and with a first gen HiMD also in the older MD formats, but as you have got an RH910 that is not relevant)

hope this helps