Confused re ATRAC

[zoe25]

Hi,

I have read there are Atrac type R and S and maybe more.

Also on SonicStage 4.3 there is Atrac 3, Atrac advanced lossless etc....

Does anyone know which is the best to use to make a HiMD disc, and which gives the best quality to be played back on a normal MD deck in SP mode?

Thanks

[Avrin]

For Hi-MD - ATRAC3plus 256 kbit/s or 352 kbit/s, created in SonicStage. The latter (352 kbit/s) is simply unbeatable. Of course you may also use LPCM, which has the best quality available, but occupies much more space. Use your ears!

For MD SP the only chance is to record via optical in on an ATRAC Type-R capable portable or a good deck.

Edited March 7, 2008 by Avrin

[carlesraf]

Type R is and advanced version of the original Atrac codec (SP) that only it's involved into recording purposes (on MD and Net-Md machines).

Type R + and enhanced version of Atrac3 (for LP2+LP4) is called Type S (on MD and Net-Md machines).

For a Hi-MD, atrac3plus (at any bitrate) sounds great even at 48kbps..., but in Hi-MD mode you can mix Atrac3plus codec (at any bitrate, but only at 48kbsps from sonicstage) or atrac3 codec (LP2=132bkps , or Lp4=64Kbps ).

Of course you can mix Linear PCM.

[culp4684]

Hi-MD 352 kbps is great and I import almost all my CD's into Sonicstage at that codec. The tradeoff is that you'll be recharging your batteries more often as the higher the bit rate, the more power consumed.

I've actually gone back to using standard SP (292 kbps) more often...

[carlesraf]

On Sonicstage is not posible to create True SP (292kbps) files, cause when you export to MD machine, the software converts outomaticaly into atract3 (at Lp2=132) and then this file is exportet to MD unit like a SP track.

On a Portables and decks, if you want the best quality use SP mode (but this sp mode depend's of the version of atrac that it's envebed into the unit) if you have a unit with type R or S i sounds great.

[zoe25]

On Sonicstage is not posible to create True SP (292kbps) files, cause when you export to MD machine, the software converts outomaticaly into atract3 (at Lp2=132) and then this file is exportet to MD unit like a SP track.

On a Portables and decks, if you want the best quality use SP mode (but this sp mode depend's of the version of atrac that it's envebed into the unit) if you have a unit with type R or S i sounds great.

Thats really interesting so basically don't use sonic stage to make MD SP recordings (so why do they call it SP when its really LP2?)

So which would sound better listening on a portable - MD recorded on a good home deck in SP or a CD ripped with Sonic stage using HiMD Atrac 3plus 256kbps ?

Also is Atrac lossless not meant to be the best???

Thanks again

Zoe

[kino170878]

Thats really interesting so basically don't use sonic stage to make MD SP recordings (so why do they call it SP when its really LP2?)

So which would sound better listening on a portable - MD recorded on a good home deck in SP or a CD ripped with Sonic stage using HiMD Atrac 3plus 256kbps ?

Also is Atrac lossless not meant to be the best???

Thanks again

Zoe

Sounds like you have some old SP equipment. If it's quality you're after, SP is very good indeed. But the 256kbps is way easier to use. For portable use I'd probably go with that. But I am an old school guy, so I still listen to SP on my portable and deck.

[Avrin]

Also is Atrac lossless not meant to be the best???

It is the best. Trouble is, it can be used on a computer only. There is no way to fully transfer it to a portable device, since only the lossy part is transferred.

[bobt]

Thats really interesting so basically don't use sonic stage to make MD SP recordings (so why do they call it SP when its really LP2?)

So which would sound better listening on a portable - MD recorded on a good home deck in SP or a CD ripped with Sonic stage using HiMD Atrac 3plus 256kbps ?

Also is Atrac lossless not meant to be the best???

Thanks again

Zoe

Ho Zoe,

Sound is one thing that is subjective, and objective, the best thing is to try for yourself at differnt bitrates and see what you like best. If you only have SP, your options are rather limited, but you do have some leeway, experiment a bit,

and have fun,

Bob

[zoe25]

Well thanks to everyone I thought the fog had cleared but tonight on trying to transfer mp3s to my portable RH 910 only HiMD mode with various bitrates and MD LP2, MD LP4 and SP appeared as the only options using Sonicstage 4.3.

It seems only the other options are available for CD ripping only.

Anyway why do I need to import it into a "music Library" when the mp3s are already on the HD and just need converting temporarily and transferring?

Is there any other program available that can do it direct?

Also I did a live recording with above unit and transferred it to PC- now I can't edit the ORIGINAL recording on the MD in the RH 910 !!! What is going on ???

Any help........or I'll just go back to SP using my trusty R70 and Hi Fi CD burner

[KJ_Palmer]

It's all to do with DRM policy really - Sony requires that MP3 files are wrapped in it's protective envelope to be playable on their units. And once your own recordings are uploaded to Sonicstage they're registered with that software. You can of course do your editing in Sonicstage and transfer back to disc, but the original rights are gone. I don't know if there are any workarounds - maybe someone else does, but that's the idea, in a nutshell, it seems.