Nature Recording

[tony_p]

Hi,

I am currently using a Sharp Net MD mindisc recorder to record the various sounds of nature. However, I understand that Net MD and indeed possibly MD could be on the way out for this type of activity. I am in a bit of a panic as if my current recorder blows up, I am stuck. Alongside this, when back from a day out, I retrieve my recordings by playing the MD in a mindisc stereo (Sony Hi-Fi) and then copy to cassette tape. So a further problem could soon be apparent when the Stereo Hi-Fi packs in.

What advice can anyone give me or what alternatives are out there or are ensuing?

Cheers

Tony

tony_powell@ntlworld.com

[rayzray]

i have started saving music onto DVD in the XP mode; which is PCM lossless. i even use the SP Mode on music i don't really care about (2 hrs of stereo)..

i have 27 MD-DEcks and anticipate them dying someday; so my choice right now is the DVD way.

you method to cassette is not the greatest choice; but if it works for you ; do it.

this WAV crap in PC to me is just a wast of time; until your PC crashes or something like that. it's like a aquerril burrying his nuts and can't find them later????

i am only ranting on MY way of saving music at this point; music is my life and always has been. i go for the gutt feeling and leave "Tech" out of it.

there are other PCM units out there; but expensive; and you can buy a DVD recorder-deck with those RAM dvd's for about $150 USD; which to me is a good investment. (and they also record on regular DVD-r's and RW's). research the (+'s) and (-'s) first and don't get stuck with the wrong recorder.

and;; if one of my many friends; (all two of them) wants a copy; i just burn them one without the SONY BALONEY involved and all the transfer headaches sony invents and spies on us.

oh, any don't get the SONY DVD recorder; get the Panasonic with the RAM DVD's included.

(late edit) oh, i forgot to tell you that i also save music on CD-R's; especially all my DJ'ing MD's are backed up to CD-R ) ((DJ music in Mono, and personal music in stereo)); but am slowly transferring to DVD.

Edited March 11, 2006 by rayzray

[tony_p]

i have started saving music onto DVD in the XP mode; which is PCM lossless. i even use the SP Mode on music i don't really care about (2 hrs of stereo)..

i have 27 MD-DEcks and anticipate them dying someday; so my choice right now is the DVD way.

you method to cassette is not the greatest choice; but if it works for you ; do it.

this WAV crap in PC to me is just a wast of time; until your PC crashes or something like that. it's like a aquerril burrying his nuts and can't find them later????

i am only ranting on MY way of saving music at this point; music is my life and always has been. i go for the gutt feeling and leave "Tech" out of it.

there are other PCM units out there; but expensive; and you can buy a DVD recorder-deck with those RAM dvd's for about $150 USD; which to me is a good investment. (and they also record on regular DVD-r's and RW's). research the (+'s) and (-'s) first and don't get stuck with the wrong recorder.

and;; if one of my many friends; (all two of them) wants a copy; i just burn them one without the SONY BALONEY involved and all the transfer headaches sony invents and spies on us.

oh, any don't get the SONY DVD recorder; get the Panasonic with the RAM DVD's included.

(late edit) oh, i forgot to tell you that i also save music on CD-R's; especially all my DJ'ing MD's are backed up to CD-R ) ((DJ music in Mono, and personal music in stereo)); but am slowly transferring to DVD.

Hi Rayzray,

Sounds good advice but I'm unsure as to what PCM units are?

Also, how would I record in the field, are there portable DVD recorders, i.e. which allow a Mic input and then I assume I would need a DVD Stereo, if so, sounds intriguing. By RAM DVD'S, is that like an equivalent of an actual MD itself.

Sorry to sound stupid.

Tony

[The Low Volta]

welcome to MDCF,

while rayzray's way of avoiding PC's is a good one (well, it works for him so who am I to complain ) another way is HiMD, a higher density MD (from Sony) which allows to transfer recordings -> PC through USB cable.

This format isn't 'here to stay' either (like MD/NetMD), but it could easily bridge the time untill good flash or HD-based alternatives will eventually pop up...

just research this format a bit (in the minidisc.org equipment browser, in the find-your-minidisc section overhere on MDCF, in the product reviews...all links can be found here on these forum's pages, no need for me to repost them)

the best options IMHO are

- 1st gen HiMD: NH700/800/900 as they can sometimes be found pretty cheap (if you can find them) and they offer the same rec capabilities as 2nd gen

- 2nd gen: RH910/10 as they are simply good machines, and the RH10 has a beautiful display as well

- wait for the 3rd gen RH1... it has just been unofficially announced (see the newws section) and promises to become the best HiMD recording unit Sony will ever make

so search around and read enough (as there are also non-recording download -D- and player only -E- models as well, so don't buy without informing yourself first) and feel free to ask further questions after researching

[rayzray]

hi Lo Volta, thanks for the intro:

i myself have two Hi-MD900's and bought them for that reason; UNTIL i realized that theyr were not here to stay; and i have to use the Sony Baloney software.

so i just use and enjoy them for "Listening" ..

He (tony p ) did say he was looking for something else cause Net MD was not here to stay.

so i avoided the Hi-MD cause they are not here to stay and need the sony software;; unless you do PCM in real time; i think.

i LOVE my Hi-MD 900's, but they feel and look like they are ready to break at any moment; where-as a DVD Deck is more durable; and replaceable real cheap.

but, i do bow to your ppost on Hi-MD's ; they are another avenue to storage. i wudda loved to use just the 900's instead; but sony just won't make the MD/Hi-MD experience (user friendly).

sony is like an old hen; IMO. *AND WONLT RELEASE A HI-MD DECK!!!!*

[The Low Volta]

hi rayzray, as you and I did already say: HiMD won't be here to stay... but I kinda live for this day... and taking a portable DVD-recorder into a club for recording? no way... ( )

So my main point is: as there is no real alternative for cheapish recorders outside the (different) MD-technology (flash/HD are still too expensive and untrustworthy IMHO) you could just as well buy into HiMD for the time being (heck you can even reuse all your old discs) and save everything to PC and then to CDR/DVDR (with SS3.4 all DRm-issues are gone and it works a lot smoother now... Sony is really listening to this community!)

if you wait a (couple of) month(s) (april-june = teh predicted launch) for the 3rd gen... it is a real recorder (Sony has listened to us again) and it will easily last you a couple of years. By then I expect the flash-based stuff to be reliable and even to have dropped in price a bit... so there's finally an alternative.

But for now... just pick your weapon of choice and record anything you hear...

[rayzray]

hi rayzray, as you and I did already say: HiMD won't be here to stay... but I kinda live for this day... and taking a portable DVD-recorder into a club for recording? no way... ( )

But for now... just pick your weapon of choice and record anything you hear...

my interpritation of the first post was that he was looking for a format to save/archive his material; no matter what portable unit he used to capture it.

he had mentioned he used to transfer it to cassettes; i assume to save it.

so, that's why i mentioned DVD ;; for to save and archive.

he was looking for another format; not of the MD type;; but another.

Hi-MD is probably good for the moment. a lot of money spent for just temorary though.

DVD will be here for a while; lol's; blue-ray may have it's day;say when?

at least he is getting a lot of info;for to sort out; imagine if Shakespere wudda had a Hi-MD; or even a VCR!!

i myself am using my Hi_MD900's a lot less as time goes by; some of it for to save their lives; and most of it is because DVD'ing is just a lot more funner.

i'd say i'm 30% right and youre 31 % right; and the real answer lies in CHina/Japan.

Edited March 11, 2006 by rayzray

[A440]

Tony P

People are flinging a lot of confusing terms around. You want a nice handheld field recorder. For the moment at least, Hi-MD is exactly what you want.

If you are using NetMD to record nature then any Hi-MD recorder with a mic input--NH700, NHF800, NH900, RH910, RH10--is going to be far more convenient and hi-fi for you. In addition to doing everything the NetMD could do, including playback on all your old discs, Hi-MD

1) records in PCM, which is CD quality and far better than SP

2) uploads to your PC with no quality loss, and can then be transferred for permanent storage to CD, DVD, hard drive, etc.

No more realtime analog recording to transfer from MD.

It won't upload your old discs, though--just new ones recorded in Hi-MD formats. And you won't be able to play back the Hi-MD discs in your minidisc stereo, though you won't need to for transferring.

The one potential downside is the microphone preamp. I've never had a Sharp, but I've gotten the impression that Sharp preamps are a little quieter than the ones in Sony units, and for nature recording that's important. What setup do you use to make your recordings? If you already are using an external preamp, then Hi-MD is better for you in every way. Even using the built-in preamp, it's probably better, because you're getting noise through the analog re-recording process, and with Hi-MD your transfers are digital instead.

Edited March 11, 2006 by A440

[KrazyIvan]

My weapon of choice is my NHF800. As A440 has stated already it can handle PCM recording. I don't do that to often because it really eats up battery power. I guess I could carry around a few AA rechargables but Hi-SP mode offers 256kbps which is pretty good quality and extends battery life quite a bit. The USB, faster than realtime uploads to PC are a real bonus I think.