MDLP - transfer audio files to PC

[uncon]

My firend has an old MDLP and she has the USB cable. She plugs it in and XP says it's recognizing it and then installs drivers and whatnot and them says it's finished.

The problem - no drive letter for the mdlp usb device. Now, I knew it couldn't be this easy if it's Sony.

I've looked all around this forum and I can't find simple directions to transfer files from your mdlp to your computer. I don't know why Sony uses terms like upload/download. I want to transfer the files FROM the mdlp to the computer. That's it.

It say that you can burn a disc using SonicStage - is this the route to go? I mean, aren't the files on the mdlp in digital format anyway. Most usb devices (e.g., cameras) will allow you to plug it into the usb port, xp install some simple drivers, then you have a new drive letter representing the device. Then you navigate their and get the raw files (like jpgs for a camera). No software needed but I fear it's not this simple with this mdlp.

Any help is appreciated!

[greenmachine]

The USB transfer of NetMD portables is restricted to one direction - from PC to MD. You would need Sony's latest model, the MZ-RH1 to upload via USB or you can do a realtime analog transfer out of the headphone output into your soundcard's line-in.

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=7070

[THIS SUCKS]

you can also use hi-md renderer which can be downloaded here. it will transfer the files by an analog cable through the sound card input.

[A440]

Hi-MD Renderer is also a realtime recording, and takes two cables: the USB to control the unit from SonicStage and a line cord (minijack to minijack) from the headphone jack into the computer's line-in (or mic-in).

The advantage is that Hi-MD Renderer can use SonicStage to control the playback, play one track at a time and make a separate file for each track on the disc. If the disc has already been edited into tracks, that can be very useful.

Otherwise, you can just use Audacity, record the whole disc in one recording, and edit it afterward.

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Sony did make NetMD incredibly confusing, and probably killed minidisc in the process. In very fine print, it was made clear that with NetMD units the USB connection was one-way--PC to MD, so you could download music from the computer to use the MD as a player, like an iPod.

iPods don't record (without external gadgets); NetMD minidiscs don't upload. Caveat emptor.