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Native MP3 support

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goshen

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Greetings. I am in Australia, and considering purchasing my first MD Recorder. I've read a thousand pages of info, and have just a few remaining questions...

But first; lots of people will say a MD is not right for me - because I want a player; not a recorder; but does the fact that I love the price and robustness of the removable media; the sound quality; and robustness of the player count? I've investigated buying a Flash or HD MP3 player; but time and time again I always keep coming back to the minidisk.

Now it's crunch time.

I've read conflicting reports on how these players / SS handle MP3's; perhaps you can help.

If you are able please answer TRUE OR FALSE TO MY STATEMENTS BELOW:

1) The MZ RH10 and the MZNH700 are both second generation Hi-MD.

2) SS 3.2 work with any generation Hi-MD Recorder?

3) The ads say they the models above offer "Direct Playback of MP3 files". So, I can choose to manage my music collection in WinAMP (heavin forbid?); and use SonicStage to seemlessly TRANSFER (NOT TRANSCODE) these MP3's onto minidisks.

4) Sonic Stage and other MP3 players (ie WinAMP) can share the same music library without 'owning it'; and I'll still be able to use WinAMP to access my MP3 files after I install SS (although I know it can't play anything I convert into ATRAC).

5) Transcoding from MP3 format to ATRAC is BAD; sound quality is poor.

6) Transcoding from FLAC or other lossless formats to ATRAC is not currently possible.

Many thanks for any help.

Regards,

Goshen

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1) The MZ RH10 and the MZNH700 are both second generation Hi-MD.

rh10 is 2nd generation as is the RH710 not nh700 which is a gen one model

2) SS 3.2 work with any generation Hi-MD Recorder?

yes

3) The ads say they the models above offer "Direct Playback of MP3 files". So, I can choose to manage my music collection in WinAMP (heavin forbid?); and use SonicStage to seemlessly TRANSFER (NOT TRANSCODE) these MP3's onto minidisks.

the 2nd gen will transfer mp3s straight over

4) Sonic Stage and other MP3 players (ie WinAMP) can share the same music library without 'owning it'; and I'll still be able to use WinAMP to access my MP3 files after I install SS (although I know it can't play anything I convert into ATRAC).

yes. i'd just import stuff into sonicstage on a per usage basis

5) Transcoding from MP3 format to ATRAC is BAD; sound quality is poor.

depends on the bitrate of the sourcefile. a higher bitrate mp3 will give a better atrac file.

6) Transcoding from FLAC or other lossless formats to ATRAC is not currently possible.

WMA lossless is supported as is wav.

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As a long time user of non Net MD I've just got a Mp3 player (a Zen Micro) and a HiMD NH700. After playing around with both for about two weeks I think think the general concenus that a HIMD is primarily a recorder not a player is very true.

For sound quality it is similar, depends on the source material and the bitrate, though I think I prefer the "sound" of the Zen myself. Still experimenting with the bitrate and EQ options on the HiMD. Its a subjective opinion, and some might prefer the HiMD.

For robustness, the NH700 does not feel well made, being mainly made of thin plastic. The NH1 would obviously be a lot better. That said the first Zen Micro I got was faulty so I returned it. The 2nd unit has been fine.

Robustness of the media is not an issue for me. Since neither the MP3 player ot Mini Disc is my primary store of my music. I have it all on a large external hard disk, which itself backed up to another external hard disk. Of course everything is on the original CD or if its my recording, I usually have made a CD or DVD copy of that aswell. Whats on the MP3 player or HiMD is only what I'm listening to at the moment. If you are away from a PC or your CD's, if travelling for example. Then this would be a different and more important issue.

What I do like about the HiMD is obviously the recording. But also that it has good physical controls. Many MP3 players don't have real buttons. I miss that tactile control. On the NH700 I like that it uses a AA battery. So much easier to recharge and if you get caught out, you can just buy a battery. I dislike the small screen and that titles need to scroll etc. The interface logic on MD's is just plain weird. Not user friendly at all. All Sony's seems to be like this. Sharp MD had the controls and menus more logically arranged.

One of the main reasons I got the MP3 player aswell is that its USB2 and I can use it as portable HD. I regularly need to tranport a GB or so of data. It just takes too long to do this Via USB1.1 (HiMD). Plus a player it has a FM radio and a backlight so I can see whats going on at night. The NH700 doesn't have this. I also dislike that theres no MP3 support on the 1st gen MD. It makes most sense to keep your music libray in the most "open" format you can. Which is MP3.

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Many thanks for the replies. I think just based on the feedback, and the claims that Sony have crippled MP3 playback (I don't want to be constantantly fiddling with EQ settings, that may or may not fix the problem), then the HD or flash based player is for me; oh well perhaps the generation 3 players will be better. Some of you guys should get a job at Sony to make things happen wink.gif

I also dislike that theres no MP3 support on the 1st gen MD. It makes most sense to keep your music libray in the most "open" format you can. Which is MP3.

This is a bummer - just as well I did some research before taking the plunge to buy one. The description on the MZNHF700 I was going to buy clearly states "Compatible with ATRAC3, ATRAC3Plus, MP3 and WAV files". False advertising, or is it just the way you read into the statement; ie it doesn't say "Native"?

It's like my local council with traffic lights, and some bank fees. You just want to go and punch somebody.

Keep it going guys.

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