Why allow to import at bitrate 192 when you cannot transfer to himd at this rate?

[mark.ayres]

Hi

I just purchased a MZ-NH600 hi-md.

I've spent the last couple of days importing my CDs into sonic stage(3.3) and opted for a bitrate of 192kpbs as it seemed like a reasonable compromise between size and quality.

I then attempted to copy some files to minidisc and was surprised to find that I did not have the option at transferring at this bitrate. The closest options were 256 (which seemed pointless as it's higher than the rate I've encoded) or 132 ATRAC3 - It seems crazy to have to resort to a less effecient ATRAC3 codec. In either case it needs to convert my 192 kbps to another format which takes time and presumably results in more loss than if I'd encoded my cds in that format in the first place.

Am I missing something here or have all my efforts been wasted. Am i going o have to go through the process of importing my CDs again.

I've read a lot of bad stuff about sonic stage and Im starting to wonder if maybe I should have gone for an ipod!?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[pauljones52]

Welcome, HIMDs only support 352, 256, 64 and 48 kb/s ATRAC3PLUS transfer. The other bitrates only work on hard drive players. Dont know why they didnt include a 192 bitrate for minidisc as most people would use this. Im afraid you might have to re rip your cds again! If you download the latest version of sonicstage (3.3), most people find that it is quite stable compared to previous versions, although im sure some people would disagree with this! Make sure when you import the CD, you put recording quality to high as it only takes a little bit longer, especially if you choose 64kb/s which I doubt you will! If you want to use 352, you have to rip the CD to .WAV then transfer the .WAV file by converting it to 352kb/s. for some reason sony didnt include the ability to rip 352 directly from CD. Hope this helps, Matt

[sebastianbf]

if you have a large hard drive you should import CDs as WAV. With a wav file in Sonicstage you have the posibility to convert it to any other bitrate (supported in Himd of course) so you're able to select any quality you want and change quality fo transfered song multiple times. capicci?

[The Low Volta]

try WMA-lossless, all the audio-info of wav, but less space needed and it can be directly imported into SS (unlike flack/wavepack/...)

[culp4684]

Standby...evidently the new 3.4 lets you do this!