transfer only once?

[travelinbeat]

Hey guys, I know this is an extreme n00b question here, and I'm sorry in advance...

I just won an auction for the MZ-RH10, upgrading me from the non HiMD, MZ-R700. I'm awaiting delivery of the unit, and doing some research on the finer points of the unit. I've just come across the following:

The SonicStage software attempts to thwart music piracy by 'checking in' and 'checking out' music. It keeps track of which tunes have been loaded on your minidisc player, and it won't let you transfer that music anywhere else. Nor will it let you transfer music from your player to another computer. It's a practice that irks many users, who say they shouldn't be prevented from freely transferring their own music to whichever devices and computers they choose. The issue becomes particularly sticky with respect to live recordings. When you make a live recording, for example, Sony allows you only one upload to your computer. You can't upload the recording to multiple computers, or upload more than once. If the software catches you trying to upload more than once, it will delete the file.

-http://wsj.consumersearch.com/electronics/minidisc-player-reviews/fullstory.html

Anyways, I'm wondering what the fix is to this. One of the main appeals of HiMD for me was the USB transfer, and how I could use this to detur sound deterioration across my soundcard. Needless to say, I am quite taken back by this revelation--- does there yet exist a way to bypass the meanness of the wicked old bastards at Sony?

If here is no crack (or whatever) to SoundStage, is there another program which will facilitate the data transfer from the USB?

If not these, is there a way of reconfiguring the unit itself to not "delete the file"?

Thanks in advance,

-Brian

[greenmachine]

Update SonicStage to its latest version, it will remove the restriction.

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=9586

[atrain]

that review was out of date when they published it, to get best use of the hardware & software bookmark this forum & visit often.

[dex Otaku]

The article, while informative, has not been updated to reflect changes to SonicStage.

The check-in/check-out issue is one that I have never encountered in practise. There is currently no limit to the number of times you can copy music from your computer to netMD or HiMD.

Most of the problems that were caused by the old check-in/check-out method no longer exist. Those that do, and are caused directly by DRM, are pretty similar to those experienced with many if not most portables from various companies - you can copy DRM'd tracks to the device, but you can't copy them back to the computer, for instance.

If you keep a library of music on your computer, there's really no reason to worry about the old check-in/check-out method. You can now rip CDs without DRM, for example. Files that you've transcoded from another format - well, keep the original.

The restrictions of DRM can really rear their ugly face if you actually use the Connect store to buy tracks online. If you plan on doing so, expect to experience occasional problems. If you don't, you likely won't.

Finally, the most oft-reported problem with SS's DRM relates to a lot of people's seemingly complete inability to recognise that there is a backup tool specifically for the library, and that this is the only official way to backup the library including DRM'd tracks and liscenses. When a user wishes to reinstall Windows,experiences a hard disc crash, has problems with a virus, &c. it is important to note that since DRM'd tracks in the SS library are keyed to that specific installation of SS on that specific installation of Windows, they will be useless after reinstallation. Oddly perhaps, the one exception to this is with tracks purchased from Connect, which can be re-registered. Any uploads of your own that you haven't exported to WAV though - they'll be lost. The lesson is: use the tools provided [i.e. the built-in backup tool and exporting to WAV to free tracks of DRM completely].

Regardless of what DRM system is in question, there's only one way to ensure the security of your data: to store it without the DRM in the first place, and to never apply DRM.

As far as uploading is concerned, the 1-upload restriction was removed with SS 3.2. Many previous problems with uploads have been resolved in recent versions. A shortlist: removal of the 1-upload restriction; uploading of tracks containing write errors [from impact or vibration during recording] no longer kills the tracks in question; a previously-experienced problem with repeated sections around trackmarks has been resolved [along with a related issue with the combine function]; problems with uploading tracks edited on the recorder appear to have been resolved; combining and splitting tracks no longer requires deleting them from the original media; &c.

In any case, generally speaking, the best way to avoid any problems with your own recordings is to upload them and export them immediately to WAV.

[travelinbeat]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I'm just wondering, everyone keeps talking about SS 3.2, isn't 3.4 the version that will accompany the unit?

My primary concern with check in/out is the limitation on the number of times I'm able to move media from the MD to the computer via the USB cable. I pretty much use my MD exclusively for making live recordings, and as such I forcast no need / very limited need for moving files the other direction.

dex Otaku, from your post I understand the SS 3.2+ has moved the 1-transfer restriction, is this correct? Thanks again, you guys are EXTREMELY helpful!!

[jaylen]

I'm just wondering, everyone keeps talking about SS 3.2, isn't 3.4 the version that will accompany the unit?

3.4 just came out so I think the disc that will come with your unit is an older version. And there's a full installer available now thanks to this site.

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=14137

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=14522

Congrats on your auction win!

[dex Otaku]

I'm just wondering, everyone keeps talking about SS 3.2, isn't 3.4 the version that will accompany the unit?

. . .

dex Otaku, from your post I understand the SS 3.2+ has moved the 1-transfer restriction, is this correct?

3.2 is the version that got rid of the 1-upload restriction. Versions since hold to that.