Need advice from some Minidisc Aficionados

[kVox]

I WAS the owner of a Sony MZ-M100 recorder until it was stolen from my car last Friday evening. Bummer. It worked GREAT for my needs so now I want to replace it. But after looking around the past day or two I'm a bit lost. Since I originally bought it from a friend about a year ago, I never did any real research. However, now that I have to replace it I'm a bit overwhelmed by the number of models available. I have no idea if there's any kind of "standardization" amongst all the letters & numbers. Sony alone seems to have 20 different models. Yikes! There are dozens listed on eBay and other places but I have zero idea about what various units are worth, how well they're made, features, how well they work, and whether they'll be compatible with stuff I've already recorded with the Sony, (although that's not a major criteria). From my experience using it and from what I THINK I can tell looking at all these models listed, my little Sony MZ-M100 was a great little unit for my needs.

The primary use is to record interviews in the field with an easy-to-use, portable unit that provides good to excellent audio quality. Most of the interviews I do are at places like a runaway shelter and other similar locations connected with an organization that helps at risk kids. I edit them at home on my PC so it's just getting a good quality recording that I use the machine for. (I also occasionally record some hand-drumming workshops.)

Any advice?

Thanks.

Kevin

[A440]

Assuming you want to upload recordings to your PC--instead of just recording them in realtime out of the headphone jack--your choices are limited to Hi-MD, which is what your M100 was.

Your M100 was the more expensive Mac-compatible version of the RH10, which is only compatible with Windows PCs. Same unit otherwise. The fancy display was its big draw.

I recommend either the basic, durable MZ-NH700--which takes one AA battery rather than the rechargeable gumstick, useful for field recording since you can replace it easily--or the last and best Hi-MD unit, the RH1, which has more features, faster uploading to computer and better headphone playback (recording is identical in all the Hi-MD units), but might be a tad more delicate.

MD, MDLP and NetMD units (all terms you'll see) do not upload. Those are MZ-R** and MZ-N** units without the H. No Sharp/Panasonic/Aiwa/Kenwood recorders upload either. Don't bother with any of them. That eliminates about 3/4 of the choices.

Hi-MD's all have an H in the model number, and the recorders are NH***, RH*** or M*** (Mac compatible, though the MZ-RH1 is also Mac compatible).

Hi-MD's with a D anywhere in the model number--for Downloader--are just iPod-like music players that play songs downloaded from the computer and do not record.

Here on one gigantic page is all the Hi-MD equipment ever likely to be made. You can also find them individually at the Browser tab at www.minidisc.org .

http://www.minidisc.org/himd_table.html

For interviews, you might also consider the $200 Samson Zoom H2, which is a handheld digital flash recorder with a built-in mic. Instead of SonicStage, it just uses drag-and-drop.

If you haven't uploaded all your old recordings and still want to do so, but decide to switch to flash from now on, you could get a relatively inexpensive MZ-NH600D just for uploading. Mine was $60 back in the day, but they are rarer now. Yes, that D makes it a downloader, but it also uploads Hi-MD recordings.

[Richard]

*Topic moved to Find Your Minidisc section

[BIGHMW]

Assuming you want to upload recordings to your PC--instead of just recording them in realtime out of the headphone jack--your choices are limited to Hi-MD, which is what your M100 was.

Your M100 was the more expensive Mac-compatible version of the RH10, which is only compatible with Windows PCs. Same unit otherwise. The fancy display was its big draw.

I recommend either the basic, durable MZ-NH700--which takes one AA battery rather than the rechargeable gumstick, useful for field recording since you can replace it easily--or the last and best Hi-MD unit, the RH1, which has more features, faster uploading to computer and better headphone playback (recording is identical in all the Hi-MD units), but might be a tad more delicate.

Hi-MD's all have an H in the model number, and the recorders are NH***, RH*** or M*** (Mac compatible, though the MZ-RH1 is also Mac compatible).

Hey, kVox, I do happen to have an MZ-NH700 that would interest you. I already PM'ed you involving perhaps making a deal on one that I am going to unload, as I have plenty of MD/Hi-MD units already and I am in the market to get rid of a few, some I have had for years (mostly legacy- MD-only), so look for them in upcoming days, as I intend to make some much-needed money for some business here at home.