Death of MiniDisc

[ObrenMasic]

I have been a fan of MD since it apeared here in Sweden in 97, a Sharp MS200, and STILL (2008) the yardstick by which I judge all portable recorders.

Since then I have spent a lot on the format, as well as working through 4 portable and a stationary modell.

But now I am begining to worry! How long before Sony cancels the format?

There havent been a new modell since the RH1 that arived in 2006. I can live with that. Its a fine machine and a worthy succesor to the MS200, BUT... STILL...

And what about all thosew recordings?

Or will Sony keep the line slowly trickling to support the few and enthusiastic?

Anybody who knows anything???

[kino170878]

Sony don't like to admit defeat. They took years to officially announce that DAT was gone for good. I would imagine the same for minidisc. Until then there is ebay, other online stores and Japan where MD still has a presence.

Edited April 8, 2008 by kino170878

[Syrius]

Minidisc will die when every single little unit stops working. If I can still record and upload using my Nh900 or RH1, the format is still alive for me.

[bobzilli]

Minidisc will die when every single little unit stops working. If I can still record and upload using my Nh900 or RH1, the format is still alive for me.

I dread the possible day when discs and machines are no longer attainable but I figure thats a long way off. I don't worry about it

[ZosoIV]

Like I've said before, there are still cylinder players and records from the late 19th/early 20th century that still work. Same goes for 78's, wire recorders, 8-track tapes, and so on. People still collect and listen to those, so MD at least has some chance of retaining users/hobbyists long after it is completely forgotten by the general consumer.

[theblueraja]

You need to define what you mean by "dead." In my opinion, and living in the USA, minidisc was never ALIVE to begin with. Its a format that never "took off" really. So as far as what's popular, of course it is dead. If you mean any new units/accessories available, then MD died a couple years ago. But as others have already mentioned, MD is alive as long as YOU use it. I've stockpiled many units and discs and plan to use MD for many years to come. And yes, there is still plenty on Ebay.

Because of the scarcity of HiMD, I've decided to make all my discs now in LP2 format, which opens doors for many more units that I can get and use. I refuse to go SP due to extreme limited capacity, and LP2 happens to be the same bitrate as the 132k that I used with HiMD anyway.

Stock up on batteries, units and discs and you can still be using MD for the next 15 years easily. Oh, and keep an old laptop or PC around with Sonic Stage... I figure that's not going to work with the next Windows version after Vista, but you never know since there may be hackers helping us out in the end

Edited April 17, 2008 by theblueraja

[bobzilli]

When I think about any anxiety associated with this issue I think the fear of not finding discs, units, batteries etc is compounded by the wonder if a new technology that sounds as good or better will come along (it ain't MP3!) and we will all want to unload the MDs and have to start over with our collections.

The sound of digital will surely improve and even now SHM-CD is making noise in Japan. I have several of these disc and they DO sound better than CD but I'm not going to cart 26 dollar CDs back and forth to my car etc. My IPOD touch sounds like crap through my car stereo. My MD sounds very good in the same stereo and great as a stand alone with headphones (Shure E5).

I have a decent investment in MD, around 100 discs, a home player and three portables. People like Blue Raja and Guitar FXR and others have many more than me and I figure have other types of digital players as well. I guess if you are happy with the sound ( I am) and don't find having to hunt for discs etc in the years to come (not so happy), its a good format to stick with.

Edited April 18, 2008 by SourMilkMoon

[raintheory]

The way I see it, MiniDisc is like the Linux of DAPs/Portable Recorders... Sure there are the big names like iPod and all, but they are akin to Windows and Mac.. The majority of people may use iPods and stuff like that, but there is a dedicated group of MiniDisc users (and linux users) that care about quality and are willing to go that extra mile to get things working the way they want, and they make out in the long run.

MiniDisc won't be dead to me until I can no longer find a functional unit and/or discs. Sure I may get a flah-based recorder, but part of my motivation for this is to reduce the wear on my MiniDisc units so they last longer.

Edited April 18, 2008 by raintheory

[theblueraja]

The way I see it, MiniDisc is like the Linux of DAPs/Portable Recorders...

Awesome analogy.

[bobzilli]

yep, i agree, great analogy

[BIGHMW]

Agreed.

[1kyle]

Vinyl is still alive and kicking (in fact I've NEVER seen so many adverts for USB Vinyl disc players making it easy to transfer old Vinyl to computers).

I'm sure MD will certainly survive for a good few years yet. MD blanks are relatively easy to get hold of and problems with standard MP3 players - such as what do you do with your old music when you want to get a new one, recording format transcoding problems etc etc will ensure that MD will not disappear in the near future. Of course the original stupidity of DRM and lack of easy music transfer hobbled the MD format which made universal adoptation impossible --had it had an open format MD's could have replaced CD's many years ago.

However in spite of all that and the dropping of ATRAC by sony the sound quality of MD still beats most solid state music players hands down and the sheer convenience of just inserting a new disk into the player beats hands down re-arranging music on a solid stae device - especially when it's full.

And BTW if you use some type of VM software you can run an old version of Windows XP for DONKEYS YEARS after the OS is no longer supported so you can continue to use SS for as long into the future as you want to.

I have an old HP plotter at home which actually only works on Windows 98. It won't run on Windows NT 4 or XP and certainly not on Vista.

I run Windows 98 as a Guest OS on Vista when I need to use the plotter. Works fine.

There's no way I could even FIND a new plotter like the one I'm using for anything like a reasonable price. How many new engineering projects even understand what a blueprint is anyway. However the plotter works fine and I'll continue to use it for as long as I need to.

You can do the same with MD's.

-K

Edited April 20, 2008 by 1kyle

[Ral-Clan]

The way I see it, MiniDisc is like the Linux of DAPs/Portable Recorders...

Awesome analogy.

As much as I like minidisc, I think this is a totally inappropriate analogy. Linux has always been about being open-source & in the control of the users. Minidisc has always been a closely-guarded, closed source technology, controlled by one large corporation that didn't really listen to its customers.

Linux has been about existing on as many types of host devices as possible (PPC, x86, Sun, Mac, etc. etc.) while Minidisc has been a proprietary format that only can work on specific hardware and nothing else.

So I really think Linux and MD are almost polar opposites from a philosophical standpoint.

Edited April 21, 2008 by Ral-Clan

[raintheory]

I was mainly using popularity as a standpoint for comparison. And a select user base.

I agree that in regards to proprietary formats and licensing, open-source, etc.. they are very very different.

[bobzilli]

Details, details...

[oroadfc]

I was looking for a new mp3 player to replace my hi-md minidisc

you know what?

I can't find a current flash-based mp3 player that

1) takes an aa battery (vital for portability / travelling + decent play time)

2) has a line-in function for an external mic (i record stuff)

3) has > 1GB storage (i'd like a bit more storage)

basically nothing better than my md out there for what I want it to do

There were some models in the past that could do better but they've all been discontinued, it seems mp3 player manufacturers are kicking out all other considerations apart from miniaturisation

[Strungup]

MD wont die , LP's arent dying , they are being recycled

so are CD's ,.... yep RECYCLED .... CD's ---------> to --------> LP's

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/05/t...TC-0D6B48984890

"And now you know........the REST of the Story "

Edited May 8, 2008 by Guitarfxr

[THIS SUCKS]

that is the coolest idea i've heard in a long time..

[LonelyMachines]

Minidisc will die when every single little unit stops working. If I can still record and upload using my Nh900 or RH1, the format is still alive for me.

Kinda like the "heat death" theory for the end of the universe.

The question is, "what constitutes 'dead'?" You can place markers along the way at several points in history and say, "that's when MD died." For some folks, it's back in the mid-to-late 1990's, when prerecorded discs were discontinued by domestic music labels. For others, it might be when units stopped showing up in American stores. I was tempted to make the claim when I could no longer find blanks locally.

Then Hi-MD was announced. That appears to have been the last gasp, but as long as I've got one or two working units, and the media is still available online, I'm covered.

...which brings up an odd head-scratcher: if it weren't for internet commerce, where WOULD MD be these days?

[bobzilli]

I have no issue getting discs both new and used these days. I guess we all want to know when the well will run dry. I figure another 10 years before they become scarce, anyone have an opinion on this?

[Strungup]

Kinda like the "heat death" theory for the end of the universe.

The question is, "what constitutes 'dead'?" You can place markers along the way at several points in history and say, "that's when MD died." For some folks, it's back in the mid-to-late 1990's, when prerecorded discs were discontinued by domestic music labels. For others, it might be when units stopped showing up in American stores. I was tempted to make the claim when I could no longer find blanks locally.

Then Hi-MD was announced. That appears to have been the last gasp, but as long as I've got one or two working units, and the media is still available online, I'm covered.

...which brings up an odd head-scratcher: if it weren't for internet commerce, where WOULD MD be these days?

well put .

For each individual , it would mean when the desire to reach for something else as your walking out the door takes hold , and halfway down the street you stop , and wax nostalgic while looking at the device in your hand , thinking back to what you used to do .

A lot like Love , ......... when the feeling is gone , and the attachment is gone , for whatever the reasons we may conjure , You stand at a crossroad , and have a choice to make .

[bobzilli]

I'll be standing there with a box of MD's in on hand and a stack of broken units in the other. I hope I don't see that day. This weekend I traveled an hour each way to drop off and pic up my AIWA tabletop unit (see icon) from repair. I seem to be fixing or having fixed one or the other every few months. The good ones (older models) are wearing out and the newer ones are not built well to start with. Its a race with the clock I'm afraid

[John1951]

I'm reasonably optimistic, and whilst the format is obviously in decline, I think that the discs etc will continue to be available from more specialist retailers. The bigger issue will be whether or not, several years from now it is possible to either buy new units or get the older ones repaired, but again I suspect that a few specialist firms will attempt to service that need.

John

[reefbeef]

I have been in love with MD since the R90 days....I still think it's the best sounding live recording device and the only option for stealth recording.

BUT! As soon as I can record in .wav or linear PCM on my iPhone....my RH1 and NH1 may be used a lot less.