MZ-N707: Wild recording problem

[JRoot]

I have an MZ-N707 that I have been using quite happily for three years now. I just recently encountered a bizarre recording problem that I hope someone can help me fix.

What happens is that when I record something, I can see from the recording levels and hear from the headphones that the unit is receiving the audio from the source. When I go to playback the audio, however, what I hear is segments from other tracks on the same minidisc. For example, I record "Hey Jude" by the Beatles from the phonograph line out, and when I play it back, I hear "We Got the Beat" by the Go-Gos (track 2 on the disc). This probem has repeated itself from two different sources - a traditional (non-optical) lineout on an iMac and a traditional line out on my phono amp. The problem did not manifest, however, when I recorded with an optical output from my CD player.

Simultaneously, the rec remain readings on this disc have gone completely haywire. I am recording in LP2 and know that I should have approximately 20 minutes left of recording time, yet it currently reads 232:27.

If anyone can shed some light onto either of these two problems, I would be much obliged.

Best regards,

JRoot

[greenmachine]

Did you try to format/erase the disc or use a different disc? The TOC could be damaged for some reason.

[JRoot]

i did not try to erase/reformat the disc - the contents are entirely precious. it's a program/broadcast I put together for my wife to listen to while she was giving birth to our first child. When I tried to add a few additional tracks at the end, this problem occurred. Now it seems that the later added tracks have smuggled themselves onto some of the earlier tracks, I hope not overwriting them in the process!

At this point, I think that the problem is with fragmentation on the disc, not the recording function itself. This disc has undergone a series of fairly heavy edits - moved tracks, deleted tracks, etc.

But this is the first time I have had problems of any kind with my minidisc player/recorder, and it is a very special project that I don't want to be doomed.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

JRoot

[greenmachine]

Wait a minute, i remember having exactly the same problem once when filling up a disc completely (and propably some editing) with my MDS-JE500. It was all messed up and i couldn't help much but to erase the content. After that everything worked fine again. The cause must be filling up the disc completely. After that i always left at least a few seconds free space and didn't have troubles anymore. Can't help you to recover the disc though, sorry.

[JRoot]

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm working to import the data to the computer to try to save what's left for now. I never interface with the computer for audio, so I am learning this stuff on the fly. Is there a good way to import the audio onto my computer - running Windows XP. I just installed that horrid OpenMG and SimpleBurner software, and it doesn't seem to let me upload the stuff.

Thanks again.

JRoot

[greenmachine]

Only HiMD machines can upload, Net-MD can't. You could either use the digital Total Recorder or the analog headphone-out to soundcard line-in realtime method.

Some info can be found here:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=7070

[The Low Volta]

You could either use the digital Total Recorder or the analog headphone-out to soundcard line-in realtime method.

- the digital TR-method requires playback through SS which isn't possible with non-HiMD recordings I believe (correct me if I'm wrong)

- but that doesn't even matter really, as both mentioned methods will of course only record what you can hear... so all audible faults will be present as well

[JRoot]

Ok, so there is no direct upload on net MD. At this point, I am looking to transfer the audio from its current minidisc (which appears to be corrupted until such time as I erase the entire disc) to something else where I might possibly retain MD editing possibilities (adding track marks, moving tracks, etc.).

I looked at the link that greenmachine recommended in terms of uploading the audio, and the real time option would be fine, except that my personal computer - running Windows XP -does not have a line in for the soundcard, it only has a mic in (and the description greenmachine linked explicitly disfavors mic inputs).

I would very much appreciate any recommendations for saving the audio onto a computer and then transferring it back to a minidisc or into software that is compatible with minidisc.

[greenmachine]

I can see only four options:

1) getting a soundcard with line-in for an analog transfer

2) getting a md deck with optical out and a soundcard with optical in for a digital transfer (expensive)

3) copy to any additionaly available recorder (cassette, DAT, whatever) and copying back to MD

4) doing a direct analog transfer between two MD units (headphone/line out to line in)

Volta is right, the total recorder method won't work. In any way, you'll loose sound quality.

[JRoot]

1) getting a soundcard with line-in for an analog transfer

I wouldn't know how to begin to do this, and it sounds like it might be expensive.

2) getting a md deck with optical out and a soundcard with optical in for a digital transfer (expensive)

This is much more investment than I want or need to make at this point. It would definitely accomplish the goal, but to the tune of probably a couple thousand dollars.

3) copy to any additionaly available recorder (cassette, DAT, whatever) and copying back to MD

This is probably what I will end up doing, although my options here are not great. Absent an interface with the computer (we also have a Macintosh that may have a line-in, but from what I know Macintosh and MD are like oil and water), I'm stuck with a superanalog transfer to cassette then transfer back to MD via the HEADPHONE output on the cassette recorder.

4) doing a direct analog transfer between two MD units (headphone/line out to line in)

Only have the one MD unit, so this is out.

Thanks a lot for your time and suggestions. I will let you know what ends up happening.

[The Low Volta]

Absent an interface with the computer (we also have a Macintosh that may have a line-in, but from what I know Macintosh and MD are like oil and water)

saviour... there is only a problem between macs and HiMD as the mac system can't run SonicStage... there is absolutely no problem recording your MD analoguely in realtime into your mac (if it has a line in)

if you do not have any good recording/editing program, you can use Audacity as well, just follow the link (the underlined word audacity ) and pick the mac download

I transfer my g-friends JVC/MDLP interviews to her G4 powerbook using Audacity all the time

Hope this helps!

[rei-gouki]

You say it happened when you added some tracks to the MD with the precious recording? How about removing the additional tracks? Or is that precious as well?

I do recall the manual mentioning something about blanking the MDs once in a while as the tracks get really fragmented after a while. My cousin complained about that to me a few years ago. I gave him the "duh!" speech. I don't know what the writing strategy is for the MD. Looked like a single track like CDs when I read about it. But I think the first set of recordings (before deleting or chopping bits around) should be in a chunk at the beginning of the MD so it shouldn't make a difference if you didn't deleted that set.

[dex Otaku]

1) getting a soundcard with line-in for an analog transfer

I wouldn't know how to begin to do this, and it sounds like it might be expensive.

If you have a computer that can play sound, you already have what you need. Your equipment will, of course, determine the quality of the copy, but even most built-ins nowadays can do a better job than most people's ears could detect any noise in. $20 sound cards now outperform the equipment you'll be copying from.

Whether you decide to go this route really should be based on what you're comfortable with doing, though, not just what your quality expectations are.

Cheers.