seek replacement recorder for recording live music recomentdation

[roofrabbit]

My Sony minidisc recorder MZ-R55 is becoming cranky, and I'm looking for a replacement.

I almost exclusively use the minidisc to record "live" music from a large stereo microphone setup, later separate the recording into tracks on the MD, then transfer to my computer for further editing. In the end I will burn about 5 to 50 CDs of the music on my computer.

The main disadvantage of my old recorder is the need to transfer from recorder to computer in real time. Limited battery life and limited recording (80 minutes) is a problem occasionally, as is the difficulty of keeping a fixed recording volume level. Advantages of the old recorder is the alkaline battery attachment and the lighted remote attachment. The LCD screen, tho small, is helpful and the bass boost for playback helps to compensate for the headphones.

Given my use, what is the ideal minidisc recorder for me? Best recorded sound quality, digital transfer to computer, and ability to make CDs without copy protection are most important; the other important things may be inferred from the third paragraph.

BTW, I have already read several threads on this forum about the MZ-RH1 vs. other models but none of these specifically address live recording and computer transfer.

[A440]

Technology has finally caught up with you, or vice versa.

With Hi-MD, introduced in 2004, you need to install Sony's SonicStage software on your PC. Then you connect the Hi-MD unit via USB cable, open a Transfer window in SonicStage, and upload your recordings to your computer. Once they're on the computer, you can convert them to .wav or any other format. Microphone recordings and line-in recordings are both uploadable. No more realtime.

[There is a thread on uploading, pinned under Live Recording, but it's rather out-of-date. SonicStage has grown more reliable and dropped virtually all restrictions. Open SonicStage, connect, upload--it's very straightforward nowadays.]

You'll definitely want to get the MZ-RH1. It is the only unit that will upload your old SP-format recordings from the R-55.

Here's the best price I've seen:

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/...tem/SONY-MZ-RH1

Other Hi-MD units only upload recordings made in newer formats. As you've probably discovered, with Hi-MD you can record in uncompressed PCM as well as the new compressed formats (Hi-SP) and the old MD formats (SP). Uncompressed PCM should be higher-quality than your old SP, and Hi-SP should be almost indistinguishable from it. The new 1GB Hi-MD discs hold 90 minutes of PCM and--hold on to your hat--7 hours and 55 minutes of Hi-SP.

[greenmachine]

If the ability to use AA batteries (whether rechargeable or not) is important to you, the RH1 might not be for you. NH700 and NHF800 use AA's internally, NH900, RH910 and RH10 use 'gumstick' shaped batteries with external AA attachment. Recording quality is said to be very good for all Hi-MD models. Battery life is a non-issue most of the time (several hours). The RH1 is the only model to remember the manual record level setting. All Hi-MD lack a proper bass boost, but there's a workaround: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=13741

[A440]

roofrabbit has been recording for years with an R55. That means there are a lot of SP discs around waiting to be uploaded, and to me that means the RH1.

[ozpeter]

I only use my RH-1 for recording and uploading live concerts (often several a week) and for that it's just perfect. It's everything MD should always have been. In my experience, unless you are talking rock festivals, battery life should be a non-issue for normal concerts. Nine hours of battery (claimed life) should cover the rehearsal as well as the concert!

(and there are always alternative battery power packs such as http://tinyurl.com/mg57h)