Newbie to minidisc needs help

[silverclaws]

Hello,I am new to minidisc,so new that I have yet to get one and am slightly confused as to what would suit my needs.What I basically want,is a modern alternative to the old cassete player/recorders,small,versatile and able to record without using a computer,something that I can record music on from a hi fi or other source and there play when I want.Cash is tight being a student and by this the second hand market is where I will be looking.But what to look for,old md,mdlp or md hd?And a player or a recorder/player,will just a player record music from a source?See,I am confused as to what to get,the FAQ I read,am it caused me to come here,newbie.

[bobt]

Hello,I am new to minidisc,so new that I have yet to get one and am slightly confused as to what would suit my needs.What I basically want,is a modern alternative to the old cassete player/recorders,small,versatile and able to record without using a computer,something that I can record music on from a hi fi or other source and there play when I want.Cash is tight being a student and by this the second hand market is where I will be looking.But what to look for,old md,mdlp or md hd?And a player or a recorder/player,will just a player record music from a source?See,I am confused as to what to get,the FAQ I read,am it caused me to come here,newbie.

You will need a unit with a line in, probably your best bet is an NH-700 or 800, these are Hi-MD and once you learn to love them you might use the computer and new version of Sonic Stage and really utilize it,

Good luck,

Bob

[Strungup]

Hello,I am new to minidisc,so new that I have yet to get one and am slightly confused as to what would suit my needs.What I basically want,is a modern alternative to the old cassete player/recorders,small,versatile and able to record without using a computer,something that I can record music on from a hi fi or other source and there play when I want.Cash is tight being a student and by this the second hand market is where I will be looking.But what to look for,old md,mdlp or md hd?And a player or a recorder/player,will just a player record music from a source?See,I am confused as to what to get,the FAQ I read,am it caused me to come here,newbie.

With MD , there are two types . The Player model , which does exactly that "Play " No recording features , the model numbers will give some indication , especially among older units.

Example , MZ-R50 ... MZ-E50 , Which one records? obvious in this case. ( By the way if you find an R50 that is working you will have a nice machine)

When you get to some of the newer( 97 and later) models , then you get to Net MD , the model Numbers will be different MZ-N"" whatever number , the Net MD's arent built as rugged as the models that were built before them. But they give you computer connectivity, And can be found fairly reasonble.

Then comes the HI MD a whole new breed of MD , These can use the new 1 GB discs and record in a newer version of ATRAC . these discs cannot be played on older units .

So as you stated , Tape recorder like functions .... in other words , simple . My favorite at the moment for that Kind of simpleness is my Kenwood DMC-F5R (there is that "R" let's you know it records)

For quality of sound the Sony MZ-R50 , the most dependable MD that was ever made , and very hard to find ( exept from someone who doesnt know the machine)

The newer MD's are menu based , all the controls are hidden in the menu's , so you might not feel comfortable with them .

http://minidisc.org/sony_overview.html ( this link is to an Overview of the history of MD)

http://minidisc.org/very_faq.html (this link is for "Newbies) actually everone should read it

http://minidisc.org/equipment_browser.html ( everything you ever want to know about an MD , Bookmark this one because you will go back to it often while your shopping.

http://minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-R50.html ( My Baby )

http://minidisc.org/part_Kenwood_DMC-F5R.html ( Most Tapelike one , also very likable) mine is just plain pretty

Have fun , and welcome to MD , you wont look back .

[A440]

My recommendation for a starter unit is the MZ-NH700. It's the basic workhorse Hi-MD unit, you can get it new from minidiscaccess, and you can upload recordings you make to your computer.

http://www.minidiscaccess.com/item.html?PRID=1553219

Here's the fuller story, which may help if you want to buy an older and cheaper unit.

It's hard to know whether Sony intentionally made minidisc hard to understand or whether its leaders just have devious minds.

There were three generations of minidisc unit, followed by three generations of Hi-MD.

The very oldest minidisc units were made as replacements for cassette recorders. They recorded in realtime at one speed (SP--74 minutes per 74-minute disc, 80 minutes per 80-minute disc) and had no computer connectivity. Those are the one-digit and two-digit MZ units. like MZ-1 and MZ-R50. Those old units were sturdy. But if you find them now they will be used, and you should look very carefully at their condition before buying one. Get a sharp photograph and look for wear around the buttons. If paint is worn off all around the buttons, the unit has had a lot of use.

74 minutes started to seem short. Enter MDLP, which can double and quadruple the amount of time on a disc: LP2 (148 minutes on a 74 minute disc, etc.) and LP4 (296 minutes on a 74-minute disc, but at very noticeably reduced recording quality). Those are the MZ-Rxxx units. I had an MZ-R700 that was excellent. Again, those units are old--check condition before buying.

Next came the D'oh! realization that since MD files are digital recordings, you could send them over as files from the computer. Welcome to NetMD, Sony's version of iPod-like portable music. You could rip CDs or convert mp3 files digitally to the NetMD via USB cord. My MZ-N707 was still going when I sold it.

By the way, MD players do not play mp3. They play their own compressed format, ATRAC.

You could NOT get files digitally off an MD--not your own recordings, not downloaded songs, nothing. This confused people who saw the USB connection, and left many hating minidisc to this day. However, if you think of it as a cassette recorder, cassettes didn't upload either.

Next: Hi-MD. USB connectivity, of course. Higher-capacity disc: 1 GB--not compatible with the old MD units. (But Hi-MD will play and record on the old 74-minute and 80-minute discs.) New formats: PCM (CD-quality sound, 94 minutes per 1 GB disc),l Hi-SP (nearly 8 hours per 1GB disc, 160 minutes per 80-minute disc) and Hi-LP (34 hours per 1 GB disc, 10 hours and 10 minutes per 80-minute disc, lesser quality of course).

First generation Hi-MD (MZ-NH1 and MZ-NHxxx) recorded in PCM, Hi-SP, Hi-LP, SP, LP2 and LP4--but did not upload the old formats, only the new ones. Second-generation Hi-MD (MZ-RH910 and MZ-RH10) did not record in the old format, but they did play mp3s without conversion. Unfortunately, the mp3 playback sounded bad. There were some dog Hi-MD units--MZ-RH900, MZ-RH10--that developed problems with their buttons not working right.

The newest and probably last Hi-MD unit, the MZ-RH1, gets nearly everything right. It records in new and old formats. It uploads new and old formats (the only unit that does). It plays back mp3 without crippling the sound. And it's not ugly like the other Hi-MD units. But it's expensive.

So the question is: are you going to want to upload your recordings? Or can you live with them stuck on the disc where, if you want them on your computer, you have to record in real time out of the headphone jack?

If you can really live with something that is almost exactly like a cassette recorder, I'd still suggest an MDLP unit rather than the first generation so you can get more recording on each disc. My picks are MZ-R700 and MZ-N707, but other people like others. The MZ-R900 has a big following. And diehards like guitarfxr like the old one-speed MD units.

At http://www.minidisc.org there is a Browser tab with information on all the models. Check carefully when you see a unit for sale. Some (like MZ-N505, MZ-RH710) don't have a microphone input, only a line input--for recording from a stereo or other amplified/powered source, not a microphone. A few models--usually with D for Downloader in the model name--don't record in realtime at all, and are just made to download from the computer.

The MZ-NH600 has a line input, while the confusing MZ-NH600D only has a USB input and does not do realtime recording. Careful with Ebay sellers: some deliberately confuse those two models.

And as guitarfxr said, MZ-Exx are players--some download, but the oldest ones were made to play MDs recorded elsewhere.

[bluecrab]

It sounds like you want a portable??

If so, and IF you decide to so SP/LP only, then I can say I've had pretty good luck with the Sony MZ-R500. It has no mic input, but I do not need that feature. This "basic" model appears regularly on ebay, and some of them are in very good condition. They are cheap enough that you can buy a couple - and they are versatile. You get about 40 hours or more on one AA battery. I am listening to music on one right now (Alan Parsons, "Definitive Collection," recorded only last night in the oft-maligned-but-fine-for-me LP4).

Please do note that the MZ-R500 is not PC-enabled. Again of no consequence to me as I have several standalone decks that record at >1x speed. That is another thing to consider - whether you'll be happy recording at 1x.

Good luck, let us know what you decide!

[silverclaws]

Ok,thankyou kind people for all your advice and information,I now know a bit more and so come to an idea of what I am searching for.So if I may,a further question based on what you have already given me.

What I think I am searching for is a second generation machine,that is MDLP.I intend to record CD's for my own use so require a line in connection so that I may record direct from my 13 year old Technics portable CD player(SL-XP505).A line out would be useful for use in my car.I also need to be able to use an AA battery to power it as I travel quite a bit and mains charging may be difficult.As to remote,a backlit LCD type would be desireable and useful also I could find a use for a mic facility for my college studies.

So basically I need a simple (and tough) unit that will copy CD's,record in LP as well as SP via line in,does not require mains charging,has a microphone facility, a line out for car use and a LCD remote.

Whatever else a particular unit has will take second place to my main interests.Can someone suggest a likely machine?

Something relatively simple will do for now,I do like the latest generation machines,but they will have to wait until I am a little more affluent.

Thankyou.

silverclaws

[Strungup]

Are you saying that your Silver claws , found Bronze instead of gold whilst burrowing in the glittering mythryl mountains????

We can share that feeling .

Practically none of the portables have "Dedicated Line out " they use the headphone port ,the line out was combine in the Headphone jack on later models and is selected in the menus .

Menu-> option-> Audio Out-> Headphone/Line switchable but it isnt a true line out .

The MZ-R900 is cool , is LP , and pre Net MD pretty well built solid metal casing , nice controls . just make sure you get info on how the unit has been treated , how MUCH it has been used

I think the R70 had line out on it seperate from the headphone , I cant remember . good machine as well.

etc

See if you can find an MZ -G755 COOL machine

My R50 is 1997 and still going

Edited June 23, 2007 by Guitarfxr

[Sparda]

The MZ-R909 is really nice too. Has everything you mentioned and the build quality IMO is great.

[A440]

MZ-R909 doesn't take an AA battery in the unit itself--only in an outboard pod. The unit holds (and recharges) a gumstick battery. So in use, it doesn't look quite as cool with the pod attached. MZ-R700 runs on a AA in the unit.

Line out, as accessed through the menus, just turns up the volume to maximum and removes any EQ settings you might have added for headphone playback

[greenmachine]

I have a R909 and the output level is much higher when using the line out mode as compared to just turning up the volume and disabling the EQ. It does not work for maximizing the volume when listening with headphones though, the sound gets quite distorted with a low impedance load such as headphones.

[silverclaws]

A bit long in coming, but I got one, a MZ-R700, and a load of Maxell and high end TDK discs coming.

At the moment I am charging the thing and putting my Technics XL-SP505 back together to use the line out facility to get my music on the machine.

I am a bit impressed with Sony, and so am now watching a Sony cd player, a D-EJ825, purely because of the MD out facility, why not take advantage of a designed and compatible system.

This all works, then I will be moving on my long owned and trusty Technics, I believe this machine was classed as a good one in it's time and there is still interest in them and mine still works, it only got taken apart for a thorough clean with isopropyl alcohol, oh and a hinge repair.

[Strungup]

A bit long in coming, but I got one, a MZ-R700, and a load of Maxell and high end TDK discs coming.

At the moment I am charging the thing and putting my Technics XL-SP505 back together to use the line out facility to get my music on the machine.

I am a bit impressed with Sony, and so am now watching a Sony cd player, a D-EJ825, purely because of the MD out facility, why not take advantage of a designed and compatible system.

This all works, then I will be moving on my long owned and trusty Technics, I believe this machine was classed as a good one in it's time and there is still interest in them and mine still works, it only got taken apart for a thorough clean with isopropyl alcohol, oh and a hinge repair.

I have an E820 CD player , and can testify about the Sound of a portable . The line out and Optical out are very nice , Controls are a bit funky but , it sounds really good.

For ease of control I use my EJ-855 most of the time (Big brother to the 825 ) and its a very solid portable , no complaints.

[silverclaws]

Ok, so I am new to this MD recording, and I have hit a problem, which may not be a problem to everyone else but me, as I am a noob with MD.

The problem is, I am copying a CD from an old portable using the portable's line out.So a digital source through an analog connection.I am using LP4, as it sounds fine to me, but I have patches in the recorded track, which are blank, when this happens, the little moving MD symbol speeds up.What is happening?Fault with me, the machine or my recording method,(CD is clean, but has a few light scratches)?

I did wonder also, I am running the portable CD player on batteries only, not AC power, would this be a likely cause of the blank bits.

Also, an observation, on LP1, the playback I can hear things in music like sampling and background interest where I have never heard them before, so obviously, I am getting a far superior playback of music than I have ever heard.If this is how good these things are, I will stay with MD.

[A440]

It's actually better to record with batteries because the AC power can introduce a hum.

It sounds to me like the problem is with the machine, the disc or the cord. Try recording the same CD to a different disc and see if there are also blank spots, if they're in the same spot, etc.