deadmanwalking Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 I am relieved to find a dedicated MD community! Hopefully you can answer my questions. I'm a college student, and I want to record my lectures. I've done a lot of research and the MiniDisc format looks ideal/amazing. I've never used one before, or used much of anything from Sony for that matter. I'm an Apple-fiend, but my iPod can't do everything. MD will let me mark topics, archive directly to my laptop with an optical cable (no software needed right?), random access... a lot of ass kicking.So, I'm looking at the Voice Recorders, I will shell out for the MZ-B100, if this thing will last me for years (I want this to last me into grad school). Also looking at the Electret Condenser microphones, in particular the noise-reduction model.On to the questions:1. I hear rumblings that MD is dead? Is this just silliness? I just don't want to spend $500+ on something that's on its way out...2. Are the Sony Extended Warranties worth it? What exactly does "Accidental Damage Handling" cover? I am also worried because it's contracted out to a third-party in Florida...I'm *this* close to making my purchase. I REALLY appreciate your time/comments. Thank you, lovely MD people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananatree Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 The B100 won't do optical out, actually none of the portables will do optical out.The only way you'd get digital in is to either get:1: A fullsized deck with optical out (hard to get)2: A HiMD unit (easy to get)Sadly, the B100's awesomeness of being a voice-recorder is killed for your uses by not being able to do digital in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 (edited) archive directly to my laptop with an optical cable (no software needed right?)Whoa, slow down! If you mean digital uploading, there is definitely software involved. With Mac, you can only upload PCM recordings (90 mins on a 1GB disc) from the two Mac-compatible models, M100 and M10. It will probably take a while since it's only USB 1.1.PC users have it easier, because we can record and upload compressed formats. But we, too, are saddled with the SonicStage software. Drag and drop is not possible for recordings. MD units work as USB drives for data but not for sound recordings. Those recordings are, unfortunately, encrypted by Sony and have to be decrypted for playback by proprietary Sony software. Which is why the Software topic is the most popular one on this forum: because people have the most problems with the software.The BZ-100 is way obsolete. The only way out of it into your computer is recording the playback in realtime. MD and Mac are really just getting started with the M100 and M10 (same as RH10 and RH910, but with Mac compatibility). You'll pay a premium for it, and for lectures you don't need .wav quality (which eats up disc space). Will MD survive? No one knows yet. The clue will be whether Sony introduces new Hi-MD models this spring. For PC users, Hi-MD is a great format for portable recording. For Mac users, the jury is still out. If you really just want to record lectures, and aren't worried about music or other more complex signals, look into Iriver IFP flash recorders like the IFP-795(512 MB) and 799 (1GB) or IFP 895 and 899. http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/They have a built-in voice mic (and a line-in/mic jack) and almost drag-and-drop capability. They can't mark tracks gaplessly like MD--you have to stop and start recording, which can be done quickly--but they do record in mp3 and have Mac software. You can find the 512 MB models for under $100 on eBay. Then you can send me the $200 you'll save. java script:emoticon('', 'smid_16') Edited January 28, 2007 by A440 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadmanwalking Posted February 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 The BZ-100 is way obsolete. The only way out of it into your computer is recording the playback in realtime. Hmm, thanks! I knew it couldn't have been that easy, lol. Do those iRivers have mic outputs? I could see that being a problem.I guess it isn't a huge deal that it won't upload to my Mac, since most of my studying occurs away from it (you know, distraction and such). Physical copies may be good anyway.In that case, would a Hi-MD be better? Unless it's just plug and play file transfer, I probably wouldn't use the Hi-MD for storage, which is why I was leaning toward regular MD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 (edited) Don't get me wrong: I love my MD. But I use it for music recording, where high fidelity is important. Voice recording is a much less complicated function and can be done with a smaller unit that doesn't have the restrictions and annoyances of minidisc. You don't need to make a PCM recording of a lecture: mp3 will do just fine. Google "digital voice recorder" and you will find a slew of little gadgets--from Olympus, from Sony, etc.--that will do exactly what you want: record through a built-in mic and transfer to your computer, probably through drag-and-drop. MP3 players like the Iriver also let you carry music around or listen to radio, and it's about as big as a thick pack of gum. There are other similar units, like Cowon's iAudio U2, and Creative probably makes a Muvo or something with a voice recorder. I'm familiar with the Iriver, and I know it has its own built-in mic as well as an input that can be switched from line (unamplified) to mic (amplified with preamp). Other little mp3 units may have built-in mics but only a Line-in for an external source. A mic is too weak for line-in, but they may also have a mic-in setting--you'd have to read the specs carefully. With a NetMD, you'll end up with a stack of minidiscs that are essentially your end copies, unless you want to play them back and record them out of the headphone jack. If that's the most convenient way for you to access the recordings, then NetMD is ideal, and the prices are very low now. Actually, you don't even need NetMD since there's no Mac software for it. You could go back to the MZ-R700 or MZ-R900 if you found one in good shape. (Look at the Browser tab on the http://www.minidisc.org homepage for all the models. You would want at mininum a MDLP recorder, none of the early two-digit units like R55.) The good thing with minidisc recording is that you can watch levels as you record and know that it's getting recorded, and you can push the Track button to instantly mark (without any gap) places that you want to hop to quickly. But think of it as a cassette recorder rather than any pipeline to your computer. With a Mac, you won't be able to download music files to minidisc either. The Hi-MD M10 and M100 will upload big PCM files to your Mac. It may take up to 1/3 of the length of the actual recording for the upload to go through via USB 1.1. All the Hi-MD models do offer more recording capacity per disc than NetMD. But for a Mac user, the other Hi-MD models are still essentially like a cassette. Feel free to join us minidisc diehards. I just think there are better devices for your needs. Edited February 14, 2006 by A440 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadmanwalking Posted February 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 (edited) The good thing with minidisc recording is that you can watch levels as you record and know that it's getting recorded, and you can push the Track button to instantly mark (without any gap) places that you want to hop to quickly. But think of it as a cassette recorder rather than any pipeline to your computer. With a Mac, you won't be able to download music files to minidisc either. Thanks for all your help! You guys know your stuff.I hear you -- my inner geek is definitely drawn to MiniDisc.Supposing I find one in new condition, what kind of lifespan is typical for an MDLP recorder (treated well)? Are they pretty reliable, mechanically? More so than an iPod, I would suspect. Edited February 14, 2006 by dead man walking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrain Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 if you are intent on md then give himd a serious thought.what's your budget anyway deadman? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadmanwalking Posted February 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 if you are intent on md then give himd a serious thought.what's your budget anyway deadman?$300 or so, +media, +microphone if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrain Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=mz-m10...e&lmode=unknownsony mz-m10 himd with digital upload to mac & sony t-mic will fit into that budget nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadmanwalking Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Hey mates,I took a "gamble" and ordered a brand-new MZ-B100, with media and external microphone. Although "obsolete", it should satisfy my purposes perfectly... I was considering a DVR, but after doing some more research from your advice, they also fail miserably in terms of Mac transfers. More than that, the Sony DVRs are also rather old.The physical copies will store in my paper notebooks nicely, and I will just record them through my laptop microphone with Quicktime, when I need to. If MiniDisc is still around in a few years (I certainly hope so), maybe I'll splurge on a deck.Can't wait... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadmanwalking Posted February 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 Got my B100 today! I have to say, this is a beautiful unit. I really hope MD gets that much needed lifeblood this Spring -- when are those announcements expected, anyway? What's the event? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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