How the MD should evolve...

[fishstyc]

Just a question.

Sometimes when I read this forums I still see people defend the medium MD because it is reliable and low cost.

But if I think of what would be the ideal recording device for me, I always wonder why Sony hasn't developed the memory based MD yet. By this I mean, exactly the same thing, but instead of inserting discs, it would work with SD or something.

I only see advantages:

- the device would be WAY smaller

- no moving parts, more reliable and sturdy and power consumption would even drop

- the 2 previous advantages coudl be used to add a larger backlit display => the device could be more user friendly

- VERY reliable media

- MUCH faster media

- SonicStage could work on the card that's in your card reader, you wouldn't need to connect your MD via USB anymore

- the price of the media is no argument anymore, because you can find 1GB for less than 10€ and prices will drop even further

- because of the speed, you wouldn't need as many "discs", because putting something new on it wouldn't take ages

- 1GB wouldn't be the limit anymore

I am just wondering for over a year now, am I the only one who sees it this way?

I am not nostalgic about the format, in fact I use it because it is the only affordable reliable and high quality device, but I am still frustrated that Sony doesn't seem to move it forward in a direction that seems so obvious to me...

What are your opinions? (and should we tell Sony

[greenmachine]

Yeah.

[Strungup]

But the Idea is the MD'ers dont want the MD to "Evolve" we just want it to work . There are inumerable flash rcorders out there now , some VERY good ones at that .

MD is Tangible, Tactile , If I were to ask for an "Evolution" it would be that they go back , rebuild the MZ-1 ( there very first one) And make it HiMD , with a little better editing built in . And tiny balanced TRS inputs with good preamps in them

Optical in/out

Line in/out ( on the same jacks)

The normal Stereo Mic input with plug in Power w/ a three position switch 0db-10db-20db pad

Two TRS Mic inputs with 12 volts phantom power

HiMD

AA Battery pack,instead of that Lithium block (switchable, and voltage set to use rechargables)

I would want it in the SAME big fat body with the weight and all.

[bobt]

But the Idea is the MD'ers dont want the MD to "Evolve" we just want it to work . There are inumerable flash rcorders out there now , some VERY good ones at that .

MD is Tangible, Tactile , If I were to ask for an "Evolution" it would be that they go back , rebuild the MZ-1 ( there very first one) And make it HiMD , with a little better editing built in . And tiny balanced TRS inputs with good preamps in them

Optical in/out

Line in/out ( on the same jacks)

The normal Stereo Mic input with plug in Power w/ a three position switch 0db-10db-20db pad

Two TRS Mic inputs with 12 volts phantom power

HiMD

AA Battery pack,instead of that Lithium block (switchable, and voltage set to use rechargables)

I would want it in the SAME big fat body with the weight and all.

Or Sony could get Qualia to make it in the beautiful bronze body, would be solid as well. I too wouldn't mind it being a little bigger if the right improvements were made along the way. If the move is to go the "professional" user, size doesn't matter, they used to use portable Uher reel to reels for recording. Also, the ability to access full menu items on the unit would be a bonus, maybe a small LCD screen as well as the ULED.

Bob

[Strungup]

Or Sony could get Qualia to make it in the beautiful bronze body, would be solid as well. I too wouldn't mind it being a little bigger if the right improvements were made along the way. If the move is to go the "professional" user, size doesn't matter, they used to use portable Uher reel to reels for recording. Also, the ability to access full menu items on the unit would be a bonus, maybe a small LCD screen as well as the ULED.

Bob

You had to say Bronze , Made me think of all the Lee Nielson tools that were stolen from me when I moved to Japan

I had a Gorgeous collection

[pata2001]

But if I think of what would be the ideal recording device for me, I always wonder why Sony hasn't developed the memory based MD yet. By this I mean, exactly the same thing, but instead of inserting discs, it would work with SD or something.

Sony does have what you said. It's called Memory stick.

[podmed2]

I like to think that 30 years from now, whatever the Electronic Companies offer consumers for music listening, I will be chillin with my MD recording from 1999. And people will look at me and say "what the H is that!"

[bobt]

You had to say Bronze , Made me think of all the Lee Nielson tools that were stolen from me when I moved to Japan

I had a Gorgeous collection

Had a similar problem when I moved to the Caymans, gave the freight forwarder specific instructions, and showhed him how to remove the drawers from my tool boxes to make them more manageable. When I got to customs to clear it all I found every drawer emptied into a huge pile, and stuff missing. Agent was fired soon after, never did get compensation for missing stuff or time to put everything together.

I feel your pain.

Bob

[tekdroid]

- VERY reliable media

- MUCH faster media

- SonicStage could work on the card that's in your card reader, you wouldn't need to connect your MD via USB anymore

personally I trust MiniDisc longevity far more than flash (as long as its stored relatively free from dust). What I dont like about Hi-MD is how it uses FAT instead of UDF, and how sony encrypts everything, tho. Those are two weaknesses that can toss any media longevity arguments out the window (FAT is primitive for optical media like MD, and encryption and data retrieval don't mix unless you're Sony and know the inner workings of the encryption).

With any sense from Sony, any new MD-like recorder will be free from SonicStage, like Sony's PCM-D1. SonicStage is only required to rip CDs and encrypt, really. Why do we need encryption? So Sony can save us from ourselves? Plenty of free apps can rip CDs and transfer. SonicStage is totally unnecessary, especially for a professional / semi-pro recorder that should be copy&paste, drag&drop.

[KirbySaysHi]

My two cents:

First off, I've been using my RH910 for a year and a half now. It makes GREAT recordings. I use it usually for straight-off-the-board recordings (wav) to see how my band(s) played that night. I've also used it infrequently during band rehearsals.

Please keep in mind... that this is my opinion... not fact (!)...

Here's what I think needs improving:

Interface:

How many people buy MDs these days for music listening? I feel that most people that use MDs for listening to music already have their awesome, reliable player. So who buys MDs these days? People who need cheap, reliable recorders. On campus, the ONLY time anyone mentions MDs, are in relation to, "Oh yeah, my friend has one that he uses to record concerts," etc. Therefore, I should be able to press REC + pause, set the input level, and go. While this is a little thing, it's really annoying to have to dive into menus to always set the recording level to manual; could a setting be saved?

While menu diving, when I make a selection, it automatically returns me to the main play screen. What if I want to make another selection? What if I chose the wrong option? Now I need to go back into the menu, which means holding down the search button. Speaking of which, that button is useless to me, as I use it for recording. If I used it for music playback, it might be useful then. But even so, you don't really need a stop button, you can just use the play button as a pause. That would free up room for a dedicated menu button, and still have the search feature.

For the longest time, I hated ipods. I still think they're over-priced, and it really blows that there is so much status associated with them. But you know what? They work really well. But you have to use itunes. I have a 4th gen (before the photo), and i really can't complain, aside from having to use a third party program to get music OFF the ipod (that's a whole other rant). The point of all of this, is that the ipod has a very good user interface, using LESS buttons than an MD. Obviously it's great to have a lot of buttons and not be menu diving... But considering how small everything is, and how often I am menu diving, it would be much easier if the OS were simplified and grouped. Have one main menu, with a settings entry, album, artist, track, etc. No need for two separate button gestures. Use the jog-wheel as a volume control when just playing. Change the pause button to a pause/play button. Use the click of the jog to be the menu/search. Left and right still seek.

Communication:

There have been great advances made regarding computer to MD communications. I lucked out in that when I went to look at MDs, the HI-MD had just come out. Awesome. And now, Sony has finally loosened up on the transferring and conversion processes. However, SonicStage is completely unnecessary. After making a recording, I should be able to access my MD from Explorer (the audio files, not the disk usage part), and drag files off in whatever format I recorded them. Right now, I have to transfer the files to my computer (which usually involves installing SS because I never use it; my computer gets reformatted frequently), THEN SS has to convert them. This entire process takes a good amount of time, time I feel could be shortened if I were just allowed to "do it" without Sony's guiding hand. I'm not an impatient guy, it's just that sometimes another band wants that recording soon, and if I don't have about two hours to devote to waiting for SS to be done.... well...

To Close:

ipods are not the perfect portable music player. Let's just get that out here. Please don't think I'm some Apple fanboy. I really think that the HI-MD concept is great, and that MDs are cool; there are times when I miss putting a physical piece of hardware into something else to play music. BUT. I don't want to manage more than one digital library (for me, itunes right now). With SS I have to do that. Considering that I paid around $240 US for this thing, there are some serious issues: OS/User interaction, the battery-life, physical usability, and computer communication. The biggest one is the OS/User interaction.

Sony, while getting better, needs to realize that they need to be the consumer's friend. Not their master. I have a Sony Vaio computer. It is awesome. Until you try to do anything unrelated to Sony with it. Like install Linux. Or a non-Sony version of Windows (seriously... it doesn't even install). Sony, if you make a great product, people will buy it! You haven't made a great product. Get some people in the shop, get some opinions

I believe almost all of this is moot, considering that it seems Sony is ditching MD. However, maybe someone knows of a way to rewrite the Sony firmware? Anybody? Eh? Maybe Sony wants to release the public specs and let other programs interact with the HI-MD? Eh?

Edited May 29, 2007 by KirbySaysHi

[Levanel]

A decade ago, Sony made available minidisc drives in desktop computers and laptops. I just wish it had caught on before Iomega's Zip drive nudged themselves in the market.

Today, there are still some people who use the legacy MO drives for data retention/reliability and the minidisc is based on the same technology. But it isn't popular anymore and is still quite expensive. That's where Sony did themselves IMHO.

[frigate]

I like the style of the players, I hope there is some sort of evoloution.

[kaiwai]

For me, all I'd like to see; bigger display (like that of mp3 players like ipod/sansa/Zen) and discs.

Believe me, if Sony got a 4gb HI-MD out and sold them for $5, it would simply crush the alternatives - open up the ATRAC format specifications and OpenMG specifications as to allow transfer on alternative platforms as well.

[Sparda]

I really wish they could get Blu-ray into MD, and YES I know Blu-Ray is not MO. As long as it acts the same and is just as reliable I don't care if its MO or not.