How does that Data Writing work on Hi-MD

[hsl13]

Hi,

When you are recording on a Hi-MD unit, once you finish recording and press stop you get the 'system writing file' message.

I wanted to ask if you are recording something and for whatever reason the unit crashes or switches due to no battery power etc, do you loose the whole recording? or can you still get whatever was recorded before the crash/power failure?

Also if you press pause during a recording it does not do the system writing file but it does create a new track, in this instance say have been recording for a while and you have pressed pause a few times and then your unit crashes/power failure, will all the recording be lost or will you be able to get all the parts that where pause and only the track that was being recorded at the time of the crash/power failure be lost?

Thanks

[Justin42]

In my experience with my wonky NH1 (which I don't use to record anymore), yes, until you get that final "system file writing" your data is at risk. Most units don't crash, though, so you shouldn't have any problems.

I *think* if it knows that it's getting low battery units will shut down gracefully although you can't (and shouldn't!) rely on that. Someone with more bravery than I to test that (or experience) should chime in, though.

[raintheory]

With older units (MD and NetMD), you could recover audio from this type of failure using TOC cloning techniques.

Unfortunately due to encryption, this method does not work with Hi-MD. Sony may have a method, but there is no way (that we know of) that consumers can recover any audio data.

[sallymae_hogsby]

I've definitely lost recordings this way. My AC-adapter can lose its connection if I'm moving the unit, while it's writing to the disc. I now wait until it's done before reaching for it to do any titling.

[hsl13]

I *think* if it knows that it's getting low battery units will shut down gracefully although you can't (and shouldn't!) rely on that. Someone with more bravery than I to test that (or experience) should chime in, though.

So, if the battery is running very low, the Unit knows how much battery power it needs to write the data, so when it reaches that level it will stop recording and use the remaining power to save the data, then it will switch off? Is this correct? can anyone verify if this is what happens?

[A440]

So, if the battery is running very low, the Unit knows how much battery power it needs to write the data, so when it reaches that level it will stop recording and use the remaining power to save the data, then it will switch off?

Yes, that is usually exactly what happens. Try it with your own unit sitting on a shelf and making a non-essential recording.

But you are always taking a risk to depend on that. Different brands of battery may tell the unit different things about how much power they have, leading the unit to expect power that's not there for the final writing. Some batteries have a reserve of power near the end of their capacity, others just stop. The MD unit is pretty sophisticated in judging battery power, but you never know.

Get a high-quality battery and it will outlast the 8-hour capacity of Hi-MD disc at Hi-SP. (I like Duracell Ultra, and have gotten away with a regular Duracell. I have had less luck with Energizer.) Don't bother with the dinky 700 mAh rechargeable battery that may have come with the unit, because it's not enough.

I've never recorded a full disc at Hi-LP, so I couldn't tell you if a Duracell will hold out that long. I also haven't yet tried recording a full disc on one charge of the RH1 battery--perhaps someone has?

"Pause" doesn't save anything. Until you hit Stop and System File Writing is completely finished, you simply don't have a recording.