Hi-MD for Pro Audio?

[igor]

Has Hi-MD made it into any pro audio equipment yet (e.g. portable recorders w/ XLR, multitrack recorders like the ones Yamaha and Tascam used to make, rack mount full-size decks, etc.)? Have any pro audio companies annouced that they will be using Hi-MD in future products?

[ozpeter]

Not that I know of. If anyone did, it would be HHB I guess.

"Of course HHB has HiMD high on the agenda. HiMD has still not yet hit the

consumer market, although this is supposedly imminent and SONY have not

released the fine details of the new specification to rainbow book licencees

yet. So a professional HiMD is certainly not going to be available in 2004.

I agree with you that this is an exciting step forward for HiMD provided it

actually delivers what is says it will deliver.

Paul, HHB"

Quote from Paul Isaacs, HHB, June 2004.

Edited August 24, 2005 by ozpeter

[SteveDu]

I really doubt it'll be really a big media hit for the pro audio market.

First of all if it can storage the audio data in multitrack format (which MD-Data used to do, 4 tracks) otherwise it's a wonderful final stereo mix down media for transfering or play in the radio station or showing the clients.

Second of all, it's compressed, let's face it, I wouldn't want to record master onto a compressed format, otherwise I really don't think I need to spend couple thousand on a Mackie 24-track HD recorder and a Digi 002 196HD system with a G5 that can run a data-center service. Archiving the mixdowns I prefer MD to other formats (DAT tapes snap too easily, CDs are frozen pancake in the pocket) and it's portable!

That's all I can think off why I doubt Hi-MD would hit pro audio market and... please, they are just my personal opinion :3

EDIT: Forgot about the out of field thing... YES I would LOVE to see somebody come up with a recorder with XLR inputs and +48V DC power just like the Tascam DAT lol. The Hi-MD would make a great out-in-the-field recorder for most applications.

Edited August 25, 2005 by SteveDu

[MDGB2]

Second of all, it's compressed

Errm.....PCM recording.....

[Christopher]

Yes Steve -- as MDGB2 notes, with Hi-MD you can do completely lossless PCM recording.

[ozpeter]

I'm now told HHB has scrapped plans for a Hi-MD model - there representative was heard to comment at a recent pro audio exhibition that "MD is dead", and that they were debating whether or not to go ahead with a final run of 500 of their pro MD (standard mode) model.

Shame. I guess they are looking to memory cards as the thing of the future for location pro sound recording.

[e1ghtyf1ve]

I'm amazed that HHB, in this marketplace for small independant hardware manufacturers, isn't itself dead. That said, the continual Hi-MD vs. MD confusion highlights Sony's clumsy marketing. Potential customers may be intelligent, but they are snowed by a player only world (iPod). So pro model portable flash and hd recorders sell, even though many machines, with crummy input circuits, are basically junk. With the noise problems, why bother with XLR inputs?

Cheers

[igor]

That said, the continual Hi-MD vs. MD confusion highlights Sony's clumsy marketing.    Potential customers may be intelligent, but they are snowed by a player only world (iPod).

I had no idea that Hi-MD could do uncompressed recording until it slipped out during a conversation I was having with the manager of a Sony Store a few months ago. This ought to be a major selling point for Hi-MD, but I found out about it almost by accident.

... with crummy input circuits, are basically junk.  With the noise problems, why bother with XLR inputs?

I used a Korg D1600 portastudio once and was very unimpressed with the mic preamps, to say the least. You couldn't pass a clean signal (one that wasn't audibly clipping) to the machine even at unity gain. I don't think it was a defect with the machine, I think that they just used really crappy mic amps to cut costs. So I concur with what you say - if they can't put a mic preamp on the machine that's at least as good as the ones on affordable compact mixers (e.g. Mackie, etc.), then I'd prefer not to have them at all.

[ozpeter]

I'm amazed that HHB, in this marketplace for small independant hardware manufacturers, isn't itself dead.

My dealings with HHB go way back to '84 when they had a digital editing suite in a converted garage in north London.

HHB are primarily an equipment supplier (of most major audio brands) who started getting equipment made to their specifications to address requirements they felt were not being properly fulfilled by others. They will keep going quite happily if their own-brand stuff ceases production.

For me, their "Portadrive" hard disc recorder is the most desirable bit of kit on the planet! But Mrs Oz says "no"...