himd superior but less compatible than regular md

[wouldvebought]

Does anyone have an insight into why sony doesn't include an optical digital output on the HiMD units?

linear PCM .wav files can only be recorded in the HiMD disc format structure. There are no HiMD capable players with digital output.

So, if you want to avoid sony software altogether and still transfer bit accurate copies of your recording session to another digital medium (hard drive, other optical media) then you are forced to use the regular minidisc format structure. Then you can stick the disc into a cheap old deck that can play out through a digital connection. But then you can't use linearPCM .wav recording, so the quality goes down.

Did sony purposely go cheap on the optical output to force people to use their software to get bit accurate copies out of the himd unit when using the highest quality pcm file format?

Or did they go cheap just to go cheap on this one part?

I would usually say that they just saved money, but the himd units are of such excellent quality, seems silly to save on a little part.

While there is a huge advantage to keeping people hooked on sony software.

But then, that also drives sales away, negating the software userbase gains.

It seems sony didn't want to give TOO much away with himd, and they got greedy and live in a delusion where HiMD can still hold its own against the relentless onslaught of other recorders.

So is their marketing and product strategy department a little touched in the head? Or is there a secret I just can't guess?

Being stuck with linux and refusing to go back to windows for just one device, I am denied recording use of the HiMD using linear PCM .wav with bit accurate copies for further editing.

And that really burns.

P.S. If the hacking effort to access himd file structure without using sony software ever works completely, I wonder could it probably get integrated into the linux kernel as well as being its own project . Wouldn't that be cool? There would be a section of the linux kernel devoted just to minidisc and HiMD file format access. The kernel maintainers would be listing fat32, ntfs, other formats, and HiMD as equal file formats of interest.

Edited July 28, 2008 by wouldvebought

[Strungup]

They did put the optical out on the PCM-D50 , which is what replaced the MD recording portable line for Sony ,

The Optical Out on MD was still under regulations of Copyright Agreements because Sony Had been Sued a long time ago over the Optical out ( MZ-1 was the first MD recorder and it had OPT output as well as input , ......subsequently the powers that were decided the possibility of Copyright Infringement was very great , and Sony was sued over it .

Subsequent models did not have Opt out ............ the SUit covered any of the MD line ( portables , from thence forth ) so .......2007 arrives

A FIeld Recorder does not classify the same as an MD which is a CONSUMER DEVICE , A Field Recorder is considered a PRO device , and there by bypasses some of those regulations , enter the PCM-D1 , and the Subsequent PCM-D50 ( a throwback on the name to the greatest MD's ever made MZ-R50 , MZ-RH1)

a Video ( Not Mine , but a fairly good presentation)

[sfbp]

The Optical Out on MD was still under regulations of Copyright Agreements because Sony Had been Sued a long time ago over the Optical out ( MZ-1 was the first MD recorder and it had OPT output as well as input , ......subsequently the powers that were decided the possibility of Copyright Infringement was very great , and Sony was sued over it .

Subsequent models did not have Opt out ............ the SUit covered any of the MD line ( portables , from thence forth ) so .......2007 arrives

I would be very interested to read any details (who, what, when).

[Strungup]

I would be very interested to read any details (who, what, when).

Look up the "Audio Home Recording Act 1992 " It referred mostly to DAT and computers , but it was part of legal processes that had been at Sony's ankles since 1971 , ongoing constant legal battles , over VCR and Betamax , recording devices . After the AHRA 1992 Sony decided to play safe and accept certain constraints .

I present to you ,

"The Unwinding of Sony "

[sfbp]

Look up the "Audio Home Recording Act 1992 " It referred mostly to DAT and computers , but it was part of legal processes that had been at Sony's ankles since 1971 , ongoing constant legal battles , over VCR and Betamax , recording devices . After the AHRA 1992 Sony decided to play safe and accept certain constraints .

I present to you ,

"The Unwinding of Sony "

Thanks.

I read that as fast as I could, and no reference whatever to MD or digital out except something about Congress' attitude (on the last page).

But the reference to AHRA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Home_Recording_Act

does nicely explain the timing of how SCMS was introduced.

Here is the puzzle though: the DECKS have audio out (well, most of them), but the PORTABLE PLAYERS do not. I absolutely fail to see why Sony decided to protect its a** in one case but not in the other.

Maybe I'm missing something.

This was an interesting read for several other reasons unconnected with MD, thanks again.

[kino170878]

I actually think Sony has executed the perfect strategy. In whatever they do, MD, Hi-MD, Atrac devices, they always strike a balance between providing a quality device and forcing a degree of inconvenience upon the consumer. The pros and cons of all their products are thus perfectly matched. Hi-MD had so much going for it that the balance had to be restored by Sony. This has resulted in the continued dominance of MD over Hi-MD.

[1kyle]

A very nice way of getting Optical Quality output from your MD is to upload the music to a PC or "Net enabled" disc and then use a Squeezebox duet system which has an optical out in the receiver which you can connect to the input of whatever device you like.

I have 3 squeezebox receivers so I can listen in 3 different rooms.

Upload the music as WAV and optionally compress to flac. Squeezebox plays Native flac files as well as WAV and a number of others.

The Audio streaming capability of the Squeezebox duet system is of a very high standard.

Cheers

-K

[Syrius]

Here is the puzzle though: the DECKS have audio out (well, most of them), but the PORTABLE PLAYERS do not. I absolutely fail to see why Sony decided to protect its a** in one case but not in the other.

Maybe I'm missing something.

This was an interesting read for several other reasons unconnected with MD, thanks again.

Portables can be taken out of the country, and into concerts, and generally are easier to move around and contribute to piracy with. Decks, being bigger and requiring house power to run, may have not been as much of a concern for the greedy, bloodthirsty satanic vampires known as the RIAA.