What MD/Hi-MD after a Sharp MT190

[Guile]

Hi,

I have just registered on this forum, as most of you, I am a MD lover and very very sad that the production and development has been stoped.

Currently I own and love my Sharp MT190 unit, but I am thinking of buying another before we can't find any anymore.

I have to admit that I am a bit lost in all the different models.

So here is what I would like:

- Very good recording unit (with mic level adjustement, and automatic recording if possible, like on my MT190)

- Solid construction (metal case) as I'd like it to last "for ever".

- MDLP capable (LP2 and LP4) as I have different MDLP live recordings

- Optical line in (that my MT190) is lacking.

-NetMD or Hi-MD would be a plus but not a requirement.

Then low budget (about 100$)

I'd love a RH1 as I am a Mac user, but I can't afford it at 300+...

Thanks for any advices, thought and help.

[A440]

To continue with MD, I strongly suggest you save up and get the MZ-RH1 while it's still around. It's the only unit that will upload all of your old recordings. Otherwise, sooner or later they are going to be useless to you.

For legacy MD, here's the one you want: aluminum body, optical in. On-the-fly level adjustment while recording was one of the last things Sony put into the legacy MD, but I believe this one has it.

http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-N910.html

But it was made in 2003 and it's going to be extremely difficult to find.

Possibly the MZ-N920 from 2004 also fulfills your requirements. Also going to be tough to find.

http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-N920.html

You can look through that equipment browser at other models. I had an MZ-N707, which did not have on-the-fly level adjustment--you had to Pause while recording, and I believe that all Sony models of that date and before--including the whole MZ-R* era--had the same problem. If adjusting the recording level only in Pause doesn't bother you, then there are a lot of other MDLP models: MZ-R900 (metal case), MZ-R700, MZ-N707, etc. But like all the other available legacy models, they are old and are only available used, so you can't know how soon they will wear out.

Under $100 probably isn't realistic for everything you want. Take a look at Ebay--good models either cost more or just aren't there.

[bobt]

You may have to up your ante a bit, but he NH700 or 800 should so anything you need, A440's info is all valid as well

Bob

[A440]

While the MZ-NH700 and MZ-NHF800 (same unit with an FM remote for the NHF) will do Hi-MD recording and uploading, and I have found mine to be pretty tough, I'll just reiterate:

1) They only upload to Windows and

2) They will not upload the old MD recordings. Only the RH1 will do that.

[Guile]

Thank you for these wise advices,

I guess I am going to look for a Sharp MD as I really like the recording level-adjustment that the sharp MDs provide (even on my cheapo MT190)

Maybe a Sharp NetMD then.

I am not really sure I need a Hi-MD technology and I find them really expensive for an outdated technology as now.

But if I see a good deal on a MZ-NH700 I may just grab it.

It is going to be just a second MD after all, as my MT190 works just fine, it's not a metal case and NetMD but...

[Sammyboy]

It might be worth keeping an eye on Ebay for NH700s, I've just bought one off there for £22.50 including postage, a newly-listed 'buy it now' auction! Keep an eye on newly-listed items with low BIN prices (probably listed by someone not realising that some MDs still have quite a bit of value) as well as ones ending soon as you may bag a bargain!

[Superbaldguy]

There was a classic MT831 for sale in the FS section.........

[A5htaroth]

Hey, A440, you say that the RH1 will "upload old MD recordings"...can this be right? It would be a godsend if I could upload directly to pc from md format (ie not Hi-Md)

I listen to a lot of my music on vinyl, and don't believe that Hi-Md short play is any good for recording from this source (comments anyone...?)

Any snap crackle and pop on the vinyl comes out really really harsh on Hi MD -SP, and whilst it is very good on PCM it is a bit of a pain having to keep investing in the high cost 1gb discs.

In contrast, the old MD SP format makes vinyl sound totally natural, and I would love to be able to continue using that as a format to record new vinyl purchases, plus I have loads of old ones I'd like to back up.

G

[raintheory]

Hey, A440, you say that the RH1 will "upload old MD recordings"...can this be right? It would be a godsend if I could upload directly to pc from md format (ie not Hi-Md)

I listen to a lot of my music on vinyl, and don't believe that Hi-Md short play is any good for recording from this source (comments anyone...?)

Any snap crackle and pop on the vinyl comes out really really harsh on Hi MD -SP, and whilst it is very good on PCM it is a bit of a pain having to keep investing in the high cost 1gb discs.

In contrast, the old MD SP format makes vinyl sound totally natural, and I would love to be able to continue using that as a format to record new vinyl purchases, plus I have loads of old ones I'd like to back up.

G

Indeed, the MZ-RH1 will upload "legacy" recordings. Anything recorded in SP/MONO/LP2/LP4, as well as the Hi-MD formats. The only thing it will not upload is tracks that were transferred (NetMD) using SonicStage or OpenMG. Also it will not upload "legacy" discs to Mac at this time, only to PC.

In other words, anything you have recorded with any unit via microphone or line/optical-in can be uploaded to PC with the RH1. It can even upload prerecorded MD, as well as tracks transferred via SimpleBurner.

Edited October 18, 2007 by raintheory