Hi-MD, Bye-MD?

[garcou]

I have been totally devoted to the format since the mid 90's. I'm on my second MDS-J510 deck and my 4th I love the MD format and it served me very well for a decade, but it may be time for me to move on. There is something to be said for having 4gb of instantly accessable music on a player not much bigger than an md disc and can load at about a 3 sec per song transfer rate. I would have to keep over 60 MDs in the car to have the same capacity as one tiny Nano.

If this is the end, I have no regrets. It was a damn good run.

4gb = 4 HI-MD 1gb only! do you know??

[Menthol Moose]

They already do Moose. And this is just one of many to come. MD can't do what these things will do right now. And the technology is just getting up to speed. In 5 years we will look back at MD like we look back at cassettes right now.

I've posted on this twice in this thread already. It's amazing how many people just aren't looking at the future. It looks like me and you and not too many more.

Ah, I knew about those pro level recording devices, but I was thinking something more aimed around the MD pricepoint, yet still has all the bells and whistles of a "mp3" player.

The samsung mp3 player I own does have line in and FM recording, but the quality is um.. rubbish. I suspect alot of other mp3 players on the market arnt much different and have a long way to reach the quality of MD recordings. But its not a technical issue, its one of cost and market and im sure a company will come out soon with a device, that isnt pro level price as featured above

Please correct me if im wrong if there are mp3 players out there that do indeed do, quality line in recordings.

[g52ultra]

I got ahold of one of these Edirols and it's horribly overpriced and just feels and looks cheap. It misses the mark. Aside from being 4 track, it's not even on par with Creative Labs first recorder (digital and analog i/o) of 5 years ago! Comes with 64mb of flash? You will not even be able to record ONE song using all 4 tracks at 24bit/48khz! To do any bit of field work (and if you taking advantage of all 4 tracks) a GIG is about the minimum you would want. CF is getting cheap, but a 1GB hiMD cartridge is cheaper. Yes the concept is here with Flash and microdrive, but nobody has YET to get it right:

So if I wanted a pro solution with Digital and analog I/o and USB upload and download capabilities.

1. Sony HiMD with 1GB cartridge $300. Pocket sized. Rechargeable.

2.Edirol with a 1GB CF card (so that you could actually USE the thing) $530. NOT pocket sized. Not rechargeable.

3. Creative Labs Nomad with 20 GB. Thats over 50 HOURS of nonstop recording in 16bit 48Khz .WAV About as big as an Edirol. The last of them sold for $229. Rechargeable batteries. I got drunk one nite and left it in live record running on batteries overnight and it was still recording at noon the next day.

I agree on the fact that HD or perhaps a 4GB CF card based machine with digital and anaog I/O is the future-and it has been for about 6 years now. There were ones on the market! For pocket recording solution, HiMD is the best solution currently, has a rechargeable battery that LASTS (unlike the Edirol, which takes alkalines)and will be until somebody makes a pocket sized one that has ACCEPTABLE storage capabilities. The technology is there. It has been.

Edited October 4, 2005 by g52ultra

[duancg]

Sorry, I am slow on catching up with all the posts... The news is overwhelming...

I found and started using MD since two years back and really loved it...besides the unique look of my MD unit among the Pods all over the streets, the recording/editting capability is what I like most. Like others said, MD is bad as a portable music player for the 'mass' today. Well, maybe it really IS!!!

Here is my wish list for Sony:

1. Most people said it, admit the DRM junk is the worst thing happened to MD, and get rid of it!

2. Position MD as a portable device for people who love (live) recording/editting of their music/lecture/etc. (and listen to mp3s as well ). There IS a market for that, it is us!

3. Reduce MD models to just a few that do the above job, and do it well.

4. Improve MD models to make them easier to use (upload/download w/o SS, drag&drop, etc.)

5. (Depending on technical possibility) Improve media capacity to 2gb (or even better 4gb) to allow longer live recording time in PCM mode.

Edited October 4, 2005 by duancg

[fredthesecond]

Pants! Well that's just typical!

I bought my first MD recorder only a few months ago and I think it's great. It's definitely dual purpose - for good quality recording line in or mic in with adjustable compression as well as the now more common jukeboxy application, especially with HiMD.

I spent a lot of time researching possible applications and MD, with nice removable media that you can give to other band members and duplicate for them etc. (can't do that with an ipod), was the ideal choice. Bet there's a larger choice of compression protocols than your typical ipod type device too. I mean what else would give you that that multi-faceted value for money? The emphasis with the flash and HD players seems almost purely jukebox with the emphasis on personal and playback rather than communal and play/record. People seem to be content with non swappable media and grotty recording possibilities. Consumers win over quality again!

Maybe I'll go back to my chrome cassettes...

Edited October 4, 2005 by fredthesecond

[dynamicdrew]

Maybe it's time for Minidisc to go? Let's see an UMD portable music device! That way all music can go on UMD's rather than on CD's, which really suck.

So my wish list...

A UMD player with built in FM radio, Line out/in, mic in, and 50 hour battery life with a color screen.

[mmp64]

Maybe it's time for Minidisc to go? Let's see an UMD portable music device! That way all music can go on UMD's rather than on CD's, which really suck.

So my wish list...

A UMD player with built in FM radio, Line out/in, mic in, and 50 hour battery life with a color screen.

UMD player/recorder....

I'd buy that in a second.

[King Ghidora]

I know the Edirol is an early adoption of a technology. When MD first appeared it wasn't recordable at all. The Edirol is just one of several devices I've seen lately. And the price isn't $600. It's around $440. Yes you have to buy a card but the price on those drops every day. This is just one example of what is to come and the price is on the way down.

Then there's this Korg which is $350. No it isn't pocket size but it sure is powerful for an entry level recording device.

And what about the Archos line? Add a pre-amp to a 20 gig hard drive Archos and you have a dynamite setup that will fit in your pocket and doesn't cost much more than a Hi-MD setup.

Then there's the Tascam on this web site. Obviously it won't fit in your pocket but what do we really want, a walkman or a recorder. Look at the power of this machine for less than $700. It's a portable recording studio and it doesn't cost that much.

And we all know there are portable walkman type players coming that will accept a mic. I saw one recently but I can't seem to find the link for it.

If Sony really does get out of the pocket recorder business that will leave a huge gap and someone will fill it quickly. It's a popular item and when combined with the new technologies it will be awesome.

If Sony is getting out of the MD business it's because they see the writing on the wall. Let's face it. A 1 gig disc has advantages. But a 40 gig hard drive has some too. And so does solid state recording. With the incredible popularity of walkman mp3 players there will be a push to build a recording version in the future. I've seen one already as I said. Archos essentially makes one already. I nearly bought an Archos last year but I decided to wait for the built in pre-amp. It will come.

MD's days are numbered IMO. Technology marches on and no amount of nostalgia will stop it. And that is really what we're talking about here.

I expect MD to last a few more years because it really is a wonderful technology. It's just that it's seen it's prime already and the future is coming.

[raintheory]

I know the Edirol is an early adoption of a technology. When MD first appeared it wasn't recordable at all. The Edirol is just one of several devices I've seen lately.

I seem to remember being able to record just fine on my MZ-1 ...

Come to think of it... it still records just fine to this day

[markrags]

M-Audio has introduced the very small handheld Microtracker, that besides SPDIF input and output, provides phantom power and bit rates up to 24/96 at around $350.00. http://www.m-audio.com/index.php? Early testing has shown problems with SPDIF bit rates and voltages on phantom power coming up to spec, although M-audio has been made aware of these issues and has openly asked for feedback on the problems. This strategy is where I feel Sony has been missing the consumer on some of their products. The consumer/pro recording industry is getting smaller and much more competitive.

Best,

Mark R.

Edited October 4, 2005 by markrags

[Pammy]

I had a minidisc player installed in my 2004 Mazda sports car. I love minidiscs and am so saddened to hear that Sony may be bailing on them...

[Alien_Poop]

This is a bit depressing, but alas, all good things do come to an end eventually I suppose. I still plan to squeeze every last bit of life out of my Hi-MD units, as I probably won't opt for any of the HD players for the next few years out of spite.

One day some company will come up with the perfect solution to all our problems, and I hope to see all of you on those boards. Untill then, long live MD.

On the bright side (well... if there is one really), we could get like 1000 cool points for our use of "vintage, outdated" md equiptment. How the ladies will swoon. haha.

[lamewing]

I think that is the real issue. The unwashed masses who think that MP3 is the ultimate in audio quality had no interest in Live Recording...they thought that downloading to their MP3 player WAS recording. To them, the ability of their portable device to use a decent quality stereo microphone was unimportant...as long as they could rip the latest tracks ('borrowed' from a friend, bought from a store...and then returned, or stolen off the net) they were happy.

And folks say I am negative! Guy, just because someone uses a HDD DAP versus a MD unit doesn't mean that they are stealing the music to put on their player. There isn't anything inherently evil with mp3. This just happened to be the format that was used on the P2P networks. It could have eaisly been something else. I also have a HDD unit now and I also own over 900 CD. I have been buying CDs since 1984. The only time I used a P2P network was to test out music for my wedding and to test out Jpop music. Now I don't even have to do that since the iTunes store lets me hear 30 second clips from japanese artists right through iTunes. Of course I have to import the CD (won't touch DRMed/compressed digital downloads) from yesasia.com or cdjapan.com.

Please don't act like those who use HDD units are all unwashed sheep. THAT is the kind of additude I see on the Mac sites when they talk about Windows users.

Oh, that borrowed from a friend thing is interesting. I grew up with cassette and I cannot imagine how many mixes I gave out and collected. The 80's style P2P. I would have done the same with MD, but the only people I have met who use MD are in Korea and Japan. That type of trading was a godsend as it opened me up to so many styles of music I would never have thought to try...or even have access to with my limited teenage funds. The P2P idea wasn't a bad thing and it could have been used for the same thing as swapping cassettes, but the problem came from peoples' GREED. It is one thing to download a song or two of a new band compared to downloading ALL of their albums!!! Also, recently the RIAA admitted that more pirating came (and still comes from) the sale of CDRs. After all the nonsense regarding the P2P networks they admit this...rather funny to hear.

Edited October 4, 2005 by lamewing

[raintheory]

Well, I say everyone that is a registered member donate a few dollars and we combine it all and purchase all of sony's remaining stock of MD equipment. That should last us a bit...

Alternately, we could all donate money to get an advertising campaign going for HiMD

Edited October 4, 2005 by raintheory

[King Ghidora]

M-Audio has introduced the very small handheld Microtracker, that besides SPDIF input and output, provides phantom power and bit rates up to 24/96 at around $350.00. Mark R.

That's the one I saw before. Here's the link I couldn't find earlier. This seems to be a very promising technology.

And yes I spaced on the original MD being recordable. Oops. I was thinking of the original portable, walkman type MD's.

Edited October 4, 2005 by King Ghidora

[bmanalansan]

I fell in love with the MD format in 1997, Okinawa, Japan. When Hi-MD came out, I honestly thought that it will become more popular; so excited then that I even did a countdown at the other MD board.

Currently, I have about 500 MD discs, 1 MD boombox, 2 MD decks, 2 MD book shelves, 6 portables including the old MDH 10 (MD and MD data). 1 Hi-MD portable and was looking forward to the 3Gen. MD.

I am hoping that Sony opens the MD format to all instead of just dropping it.

Just open the ATRAC/MD technology up, Sony.....

[toolowtwo]

I have been reading my way thrugh this thread - not all of it but enough.

I use the MD format. I use the iPod and I even use Aeroplayer on my Palm. I wouldn't be willing to say that any of them is better than the others - they are different.

That said, I wouldn't want to use the player on the Palm as a primary portable music device. For a short flight - it is fine.

I have and use both the MD and the iPod and I like them both. the iPod is certainly easier to use - and very convenient. That said I like the MD, and the "richness" of the sound.

I was going to buy a Hi-MD, really just to have one. Then I noticed that they have vanished from the stores hereabouts, to top it off I saw an ad for the MZ-NF520 at one of the stores here, $75.

I think I will buy one and stick it on the shelf just in case, but I will continue to travel with my iPod, and frankly most of my listening is to the iPod. When I am away for days at a time, the iPod is easier, it is more convenient, and that is the most important factor to most consumers.

Too many here are trying to turn the issue of MD v. iPod into some sort of religious war, that is foolish. The disparaging comments about people who have not chosen MD are also foolish. These are consumer electronics and convenience and ease of use will win out.

As will marketing - and to be honest - Sony have really done a crappy job ( read non-existent) job of trying to market the MD.

I think the MD is going to disappear from the Sony line-up and thatis too bad, but it is Sony's fault, not the poor mis-guided, uninformed consumer.

[wildsound]

But seriously, and I believe I mentioned this in the T-board forum, you'll never buy the perfect electronic gizmo that will last over 10 years, even 5 sometimes, so use what's good NOW. Sony hiMD is the BEST now, in my opinion.

Hmmmm? OK, I agree that electronic gizmos made today, especially MD recorders, are unlikely to last 10 years. But that is not true of all past electronic gizmos. 40 year old Nagra's still work just fine with the occasional CLA and even more occasional replacement of the tape transport parts.

[King Ghidora]

I still have a working 8 track player. Some things were just built to last.

[SonicSpeed]

I still have a working 8 track player. Some things were just built to last.

I've only seen those once...

It's too bad that the MD might be gone soon. If they actually advertised, and made decent recording software, SonicStage was the worst Media player I'd ever had, and I've had alot (WMP, Rhapsody, Rio Music Manager, etc...)

But I don't think that Sony would come out with a UMD recorder, because of possibly game piracy problems...

I had a Sony MZ-NE410, it was one of the coolest items I've had, til it was stolen and then I bought a Rio Nitrus...

Sonic

[mangizmo]

UMD player/recorder....

I'd buy that in a second.

me too....maybe thats what they are moving towards....I cant believe that they will leave a sizeable hole in the market for somebody else to fill.......they will surely replace MD with some kind of recording device wont they ????

[plainsman]

MD has had a great run. It will hold a special place for me for the rest of my life. I will keep using my MD until it just won't work any more. But hey I thought the same thing about my AIWA portable cassette recorder with Dolby. The truth is MD is showing it's age. Technology marches on. It's time to move to the next big thing. MP3 will never be it. Multitrack hard drive based and solid state recording are here NOW. MD won't do what these things will do. I guess there are still people who say we should all be listening to vinyl and they have a point to an extent. But the truth is vinyl is dead. Cassettes are dead. DAT is dead. DCC is dead. CD's are dying. And MD is nearly dead. We just don't need it any more. There are better things available.

They already do Moose. And this is just one of many to come. MD can't do what these things will do right now. And the technology is just getting up to speed. In 5 years we will look back at MD like we look back at cassettes right now.

I've posted on this twice in this thread already. It's amazing how many people just aren't looking at the future. It looks like me and you and not too many more.

ditto here. i bought an ipod photo 60GB 2 months ago and i've filled it with 3000 songs so far. it still has space for another 9000 more. going by my regular usage patterns:

battery life

heavy usage (on and off all day long) i charge once in 2 days.

moderately heavy usage (approx 4 hrs a day) i charge every 4 days.

moderate usage (approx 2 hrs a day - commuting listening) i charge once a week.

the battery life (12-15 hrs depending on backlight frequency) has reached a point where its satisfactory for me (not terrific so they have room for improvement)

sound quality

sound quality wise, nothing to shout about. you can't compare the ipod sound quality to say, a 1-bit auvi sharp. from personal listening experience, a 112kb lp2 on the sharp MD sounds way better than 192kb mp3 on the ipod, especially piano numbers (there's some mysterious ambient ringing which is independent of whichever earphones i use)

but, bottom line, for a full range of music genres the ipod will sound fine.

now imagine if sharp comes out with a 1-bit auvi hard disk based player?

Edited October 4, 2005 by plainsman

[g52ultra]

Hmmmm? OK, I agree that electronic gizmos made today, especially MD recorders, are unlikely to last 10 years. But that is not true of all past electronic gizmos. 40 year old Nagra's still work just fine with the occasional CLA and even more occasional replacement of the tape transport parts.

Not true. I still have a perfectly working MZ-1. 12 and a half years old. Probably the most reliable toy I ever had (the heads in my pro Sony pocket casette recorder wore out sooner). However, these units will get destroyed if you mistakenly plug them in on a 12V adapter. And I'm NOT the "beginner" here!

Edited October 4, 2005 by g52ultra

[Tamino]

When MD was introduced, this medium could be used to store/archive music and reproduce music that sounded in almost CD quality when reproduced using a high quality sereo system ( or very good (not Sony) ear phones). Still I remember the advertisments showing von Karajan with the MZ-R30.

I think Sony has made a misstake when Sony already some years ago abandommed the idea of producing MD as to mobile tool for high quality music recording, reproduction and archiving. The first visible signs was the simplied design of recording inputs and the absence of rcording level controllers, later on mediocre ear phones and the introduction of 2 formats of MDLP were other signs

Another misstake is to present and introduve 3 different variants of the same format (Normal speed ATRAC, MDLP, Hi MD) within the short tine span of 15 years , if a medium is expected to be used for archiving

When the MP3-race started, Sony and other companies felt pushed to meet this threat by introducing MDLP resulting in increased storage capacity but with reduced sound quality. I think that was a misstake because on one side less quality is not in the interest of music lovers, and on the other side MD:s might be too clumpsy or sensitive to rough handling (or just too expensive) to the large group of people that are content with intermediate sound quality adequate for listening the music of the day in noisy environements such as streets, trains or busses.

For daily use on transportation to and from work mobiles or MP3 players with an radio seem to be OK and for that reason it is reaonable to stop development of new md models for that marked.

But for the specialized market of music lovers who want a mobile tool of the kind mentioned above there is probaly still a (sleeping) market

Still I am looking forward to a small new MD recorder with an integrard radiotuner - FM and AM (DAB might be introduced in a future but there are rumors from people that had a chance to compare tell that high quality FM-transmissions sound better than DAB 250 MHz corresponding to MP3 190 Mbits)

Hover, if MD:s are going to dispperar in the shops, I have avoided a potentional problem of not beeing able to listen to my 350 MD:s by bying some extra R90 änd R50 that now are sold very cheap secaon hand. My favorates for life recordings are still MZ-R35 and MZ-R50.

[jjbraunius]

For me what killed the MD format the unwillingness of Sony to push it forward - they put all kinds of limitations on their new designs and music d/load and upload so as to make the technology clumsy and obsolete. I was looking to get one of their new ones and my buddy did until to his utter dismay he found out that he cannot upload recorded music but had to go through the audio inputs. That stopped me from going that route and went HD route instead.

2 years ago I bought an Archos Jukebox hd mp3 player and recorder and haven't looked back on minidisc. My portable minidisc unit then (Sharp) was skipping during recording at loud volumes and it was eating batteries like crazy. I've switched to HD-based recording and I can do at least 4 hrs of sound with my current setup on the rechargeable battery.

As a musician I have many rehearsals and tracking sessions on MD so it doesn't seem like I'll abandon the technology right away, plus I have some music that I listen at home to on MD. I am stocked at the moment with 2 player/recorder decks and one player so for the long run this will stay.

What really ticks me off is the way the MD never really made it as a backup solution until now, or altogether as the de facto portable format. It certainly had the potential but Sony stifled that by what seemed lack of interest in the product. The high prices of the units didn't help much either.

[deeppurple]

Hello everybody First of all sorry for my bad English

This is my first entry here, and unfortunly it seens been at the end of the MD's

I have from 3 and half years an MD JE-470 .Any way , here in Romania a very few people have a MD cause of price witch means all the money that an ordinary guy have in a month. My MD costs in 03.2002 prices , 280 EURO.

I have a lot of MD's witch a saw must be saved. I allready did this, moving my music on CD's. I use MD most of all for radio recordings. Such a petty for MD's becuse for NON PC solutions I consider that this is the best for an amateur! Anyway, these things that now we call TOYS with cards , I KNOW they will be the future because they have not moving parts...Not even HDD solutions...But I'm asking when will be this for HI-FI home users (and for them life-time recordings? ). Well , I taked too much for a beginner...

[RoGeR]

Well...this is depressing news indeed. Sony would really be shooting themselves in the foot, knowing that they have/had a great product only let down by poor marketing and too many restrictions with copy control.

Anyway, as my MD units have been reliable all this while, I reckon I'd still be using MDs for a loong time more....so it really doesnt affect me...although I would miss drooling over the new models.

[indeego]

However when Sony drops MD, it seems it's not today

new NetJuke with normal MD-Slot (no Hi-MD)

[DoctorFong]

Well, Sony didn't do much to cement it's dominance in the portable music arena when Creative released their HD-based mp3 players...Didn't think HD-based music players had much of a future...

Fast-forward to now, and we see the iPod taking sales from every portable music player market there is..

But then again, I'm in Australia...so maybe it was heavily promoted elsewhere...

In any case, Sony now has a couple of hard-drive models which in some respects is superior to the iPod..

Hate to say it, but the MD is probably going to be discontinued, very soon..

I own a MiniDisc myself, and now that it refuses to record and stuff like that...I don't know the alternative to it...(Don't worry folks, for some reason, an OLDER MD was able to record)

Though, if that fails...which technology would I turn to? Price comparison of HD-based music players compared to MDs is really bad, since HD ones are really economical.

Anyway, the good thing I LIKE about MD is that I always have to create a good playlist (due to limited space)...which makes listening to music on MDs VERY pleasurable...With over capacity...I'd probably be too lazy to make a playlist, and so just put everything on shuffle...

Anyway, I do hope they continue with the MD...but it's future, I THINK, is kinda numbered...

[raintheory]

Not true. I still have a perfectly working MZ-1. 12 and a half years old. Probably the most reliable toy I ever had (the heads in my pro Sony pocket casette recorder wore out sooner). However, these units will get destroyed if you mistakenly plug them in on a 12V adapter. And I'm NOT the "beginner" here!

The only thing that doesn't work on my MZ-1 is the battery. Everything else works fine. About same age as yours.

I still use it from time to time, mainly to run an optical output to backup my old SP discs. But I actually used it a couple of weeks ago to record a jam session @ home.

Edited October 4, 2005 by raintheory

[Petter156]

I agree with Flunx here above. The HDD players of today are much more robust than previous models but there´s still a risk of hard-drive failure if you are a very active person. Lifespan? All my MD´s still work fine (except for the only pre-recorded MD I ever bought - a Fatboy Slim album where "bits and peices" of the sound is missing. Never buying pre-recorded MD´s again) and I imagine they´ll work fine for years and years to come. With a hard-drive based player I wouldn´t be so sure.

Oh, that borrowed from a friend thing is interesting. I grew up with cassette and I cannot imagine how many mixes I gave out and collected. The 80's style P2P. I would have done the same with MD, but the only people I have met who use MD are in Korea and Japan. That type of trading was a godsend as it opened me up to so many styles of music I would never have thought to try...

Exactly! Trading would be so cool, and I actually traded/borrowed MD´s with a mate at school just a few years ago. Imagine if a majority of the pupils at your school/your co-workers used minidisc. You could swap discs with so many people and probably get to know a lot of new bands. The possibilities!

Trading/swapping with MP3 players? Oh yeah I guess it´s possible; start up the PC when at home/work (and only through your computer), connect to MSN/a hub-type P2P app, try to remember what song(s) you were interested and try to persuede your mate to search through a gazillion songs on his super-cool IPod and then just wait for the songs to transfer.

Much more of a hassle and not nearly as social as swapping discs.

Damn... now I´m not hoping for the survival of MD, now I want everyone to convert

Edited October 4, 2005 by Petter156

[re:charge]

first my apologies for not really posting much before.

however. news of the MD format's possible demise is quite shocking to me. progression & the evolution of personal audio technology seems to have run a less than smooth path. to me it seems manufacturers are missing out on something big each time they 'skip' to something new. the thing is, dj's still play vynil & CD's are still great for instant 'buy & play'. but i always thought that CD's would become obsolete & that albums, & singles, etc etc would all move to MD format - the end consumer would have best of both worlds - music in large quantity, on a pocket sized unit, to be played on a pocket sized player. most people still like to get out of the house & go shopping, buy music... CD's are just too big in size (small in capacity). they like to have the material product in their hands, read the inlay card & the artwork... why was this not done on a larger scale with MD?

i think we may later see these companies crying wolf over this. you can buy digital for your mp3 player but thats only half the product. if you look at ipods (probably the biggest killer of MD) there is way too much hype over a unit that has appalling battery life & is overpriced in todays market.

[The Low Volta]

sorry for repeating myself... but all you (Hi)MD lovers out there... be sure to post your setup/reasons for using MD in the pre-official announcement petition

[garyc]

(except for the only pre-recorded MD I ever bought - a Fatboy Slim album where "bits and peices" of the sound is missing. Never buying pre-recorded MD´s again)

I have 56 prerecorded MD's (and counting!) They all work fine for me, the bits and pieces you talk of could just be some dirt on the disc surface.

[Snowb1inD]

I'm not going to listen to a shitty MP3s, I do enjoy ATRAC3. That's a real shame Sony has no plans for its dvelopment. Hard Drive players are not the thing I want. You are unable to feel the thing which i call "the album integrity" with those, they suit those, who listen only to a separate songs/singles.

[Dimitri]

I'm not going to listen to a shitty MP3s, I do enjoy ATRAC3. That's a real shame Sony has no plans for its dvelopment. Hard Drive players are not the thing I want. You are unable to feel the thing which i call "the album integrity" with those, they suit those, who listen only to a separate songs/singles.

Wrong. I have around 400 cds on my Vaio pocket and listen to whole albums all the time. Maybe flash players are what you're talking about.

[johnobuttons]

I am a long term fan and user of minidisc. I have owned the first Sony Minidisc, Aiwa and Sharp units, a couple of NetMD units, and recently the MZ-RH10, MZ-NH900. and the MZ-NH600D Hi-MD units.

My use of minidisc is as a musician - I record performances and live music lessons.

I also listen to my MZ-NH600D at work and at the gym in order to avoid losing or damaging the more expensive recording units.

There is a fundamental problem with minidisc for the mass market.

Magneto-optical storage (which is what minidisc is) is a complicated technology.

A qualified minidisc repairman posted that it's a miracle that minidisc works given the alignment, sturdiness, etc.

Magneto-optical storage has gone the way of the dinosaurs for mass storage in computers.

SONY performed a miracle in engineering first MD and then Hi-MD units.

They are not a cheap and easy mass market technology.

When I read Kuritsu's posting on this forum, I reacted with total disbelief.

The light bulb came on when I read a newsstory talking about how flash memory will take over the audio market. Flash memory will soon be available with 8GB capacity and it's price will fall dramatically. All the other audio players are going with flash memory. All the big players are going to flash memory, even Apple with the IPOD nano.

The big question is who will come up with a really good flash memory recorder at a suitable price point with good preamps, volume limiters, etc. etc. So far my impression is that no one has hit a home run in that area yet. But they will. When that happens, I might buy one. In the meantime I'll use the Hi-MD units I have.

In other words, even though I love minidisc, SONY is making the right decision damn it. The thing I will miss the most is the physical minidisc one of the most beautiful storage media ever invented.

[Breepee2]

In other words, even though I love minidisc, SONY is making the right decision damn it.

Sony is making the wrong decision. Sony is stopping MD before all those things you mentioned in your post have been realized. That's plain stupidity.

[muso]

Hi everyone, my first post! yay!

I also use my himd for recording my own music stuff. I have a HD5 machine for mp3 playing now, but a MZ RH10 for recording (best display ever on that!). The recording quality is impeccable, and I have yet to hear many better portable home recording devices for acoustic stuff than minidisc, especially with the linear pcm (and of course the new ability to perform unlimited uploads of your stuff on sonicstage 3.2).

I hope you're right though - a flash recorder with 8 gigs and the same recording quality as my himd (and NO drm!) would be top notch stuff! (I will miss minidisc though, i still have my original albums collection )

Cheers, sorry my post was long!

jon

[Petter156]

I don´t necessarily need to know the exact technical details of MD works (although someday it might be interesting to read up on the matter), all I know is that minidiscs work. The format has worked for over a decade and the disc,s and the units themselves even, have proved to be very sturdy over time.

I have 56 prerecorded MD's (and counting!) They all work fine for me, the bits and pieces you talk of could just be some dirt on the disc surface.

I think I remember trying to clean the actual disc all those years ago, but it might be worth another shot. It´s a great album.