RH1/M200 and a Mac, some things I've learned

[baturjan]

I would like to post things that I have learned about using the RH1/M200 on a Mac. This isn't meant to be exhaustive by any means, but simply some things that were not in the Manauls, or not clearly written in the Manuals, or things that I am constantly needing to remind myself every time I use the minidisc and the Mac.

My Setup

- MacBook

- OS 10.5.5

- Hi-MD Music Transfer version 2.0 for Mac

- Parallels (virtualization software) running Windows XP with Sonic Stage 4.2 and Simple Burner

- Sony MZ-M200 minidisc recorder

Terms in this post:

MT = Sony’s Hi-MD Music Transfer version 2.0

MD = the RH1 or M200 unit

MDMonitor

MDMonitor is a program that is automatically installed, when installing MT. However, MDMonitor does not have to be running on my setup in order for me to use MT. I removed MDMonitor from the Startup Items under Accounts in System Preferences, so MDMonitor never launches when I start the computer.

How/When the MD mounts in the Finder and loads into MT

The MD does not mount in the Finder and appear in MT at the same time. It only appears in one or the other. If MT is not running, then the MD will mount in the Finder. If MT is running, then the MD appears in MT and not in the Finder. I prefer ejecting the disc from the MD (or disconnecting the USB from the Mac), while MT is running because the ejection procedure is simpler.

The procedure for ejecting the disc from the MD or disconnecting the USB cable from the Mac

Procedure #1: If MT is running

- Press Stop on the MD.

- When “Eject OK” appears on the MD, eject the disc from the MD or unplug the USB cable from the Mac not from the MD unit.

Procedure #2: If MT is not running (the MD is mounted in the Finder)

- Press Stop on the MD

- When the MD says “Eject OK”, eject the mounted MD from within OS X’s Finder

- Once the flashing red light on the MD disappears, press Stop on the MD again

- When “Eject OK” appears on the MD, eject the disc from the MD or disconnect the USB cable from the Mac not the MD

If you want to continue to edit recorded tracks on the MD after you’ve “edited” the tracks in MT, then know this:

If you use MT to rename MD recorded tracks, or download tracks to the Mac and upload back to MD, then you can no longer edit those tracks on the MD (i.e., add a track).

In MT you can, however, re-order tracks, move tracks into a different group, rename groups, and still be able to edit those tracks on the MD. Sonic Stage, on the other hand, allows you to continue to edit recorded tracks on the MD even after you have renamed them in Sonic Stage.

Uploading from the MD to the Mac

You can upload PCM, Hi-SP, and Hi-LP recordings to the Mac, which are automatically converted to WAV files. I used Parallels with Windows XP and Sonic Stage to upload all my legacy recording to my Mac.

Downloading from the Mac to the MD

You can download WAV and MP3 files. The manual states, "The type of MP3 supported by this recorder is MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3, transferred by the SonicStage software, with a sampling frequency of 32, 44.1 or 48 kHz."

Parallels, Windows XP, Sonic Stage, Simple Burner (works exactly like it does on a PC, completely bypassing the Mac)

I have set up Parallels to not automatically have Windows connect to the MD. After connecting the MD to the Mac and launching Windows, I manually tell Parallels to connect to the MD. I click on “Hi-MD” which is under the Parallels top menu bar item Devices->USB->Hi-MD. Once I do this, Windows takes over the MD, and the MD disappears from either OS X’s Finder or MT.

Manuals

RH1/M200: http://www.minidisc.org/manuals/sony/Sony_...user_manual.pdf

Hi-MD Music Transfer 2.0: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-doc...amp;region_id=1

[samueldilworth]

Thanks for posting this, baturjan. I use Macs and am likely to get a Sony MZ-RH1 sometime after Christmas.

I have a couple of queries:

1. What does MDMonitor do? Perhaps it somehow permits the MZ-RH1 to mount in Finder and appear in Music Transfer at the same time? Though the behaviour you describe doesn't seem problematic to me.

2. I'd like to double-check that the MZ-RH1 appears as a USB drive if connected to a Mac with no Music Transfer software installed (for data storage/transfer).

From your experience, is it at all sensible to consider using MiniDisc as a portable audio playback format with a Mac (no Windows installed)? If I get the MZ-RH1 primarily for field recording, and also for creating discs of my music, then get a cheap MD player for playback only, perhaps it would work. Not sure whether to go Hi-MD or standard MD for the player.

[baturjan]

1. What does MDMonitor do? Perhaps it somehow permits the MZ-RH1 to mount in Finder and appear in Music Transfer at the same time? Though the behaviour you describe doesn't seem problematic to me.

I'm not sure what MDMonitor does. All I know is that it doesn't have to be running for the MD to mount in the Finder or in Music Transfer. To adequately answer this, you would need to see all that is going on during the instillation of Music Transfer.

2. I'd like to double-check that the MZ-RH1 appears as a USB drive if connected to a Mac with no Music Transfer software installed (for data storage/transfer).

That I don't know because I installed the software before trying to connect the unit to the Mac.

From your experience, is it at all sensible to consider using MiniDisc as a portable audio playback format with a Mac (no Windows installed)? If I get the MZ-RH1 primarily for field recording, and also for creating discs of my music, then get a cheap MD player for playback only, perhaps it would work. Not sure whether to go Hi-MD or standard MD for the player.

You have to decide what's important to you, or at least compare the pros and cons of an MD and another device. For me my M200's recording quality, recording features, and being able to split those recordings on the MD are necessary for what I do. The stunning sound quality of Hi-MD PCM music over my iPod is great too. However, the form factor of my iPod Nano for listening while working out beats the MD. Furthermore, I don't even try listening to audiobooks on my MD (and I do a lot of audiobook listening). That is exclusively done on my Nano. The iPod's features for audiobook listening, and the MD's lack of them, make it a no brainer for me.

[A440]

I wouldn't use my precious RH1 for portable audio--not when you can get a small flash mp3 player. like a Sansa Fuze, for under $100 that holds more, indexes easier and doesn't involve SonicStage. Of course, you'd have to convert your ATRAC files to mp3.

To stay within the MD realm, remember that old MDs won't play the Hi-MD formats you'd be recording on the RH1. So your only choice for a cheap portable is the NH600 (includes line-in recording) or NH600D (no realtime recording), both pretty chunky.

[samueldilworth]

The real reason I'm planning to get the MZ-RH1 is because I want high-quality portable recording. But if ATRAC can sound very good (I've yet to hear it) and the Sony MD players have good DACs and amps, it seems like an opportunity to rethink my portable music player too (currently a worn-out first-gen iPod shuffle, known for its excellent "push-pull" amp and good sound quality). The current iPods don't appeal to me on sound quality (2nd-gen iPod shuffle, iPod classic) or price and form-factor (iPod touch). The nano is probably the most appealing overall.

To stay within the MD realm, remember that old MDs won't play the Hi-MD formats you'd be recording on the RH1. So your only choice for a cheap portable is the NH600 (includes line-in recording) or NH600D (no realtime recording), both pretty chunky.

The manual for the MZ-RH1 says that it can also record standard MiniDiscs in either the Hi-MD or legacy MD format. If I used the latter the resulting discs would work on old non-Hi-MD players, if I understand correctly. However, because I have a Mac it would involve recording in real-time via optical-in, which is really very cumbersome by today's standards.

And then we're down to about an album per disc, like 1995 all over again!

Still, I value quality above quantity and wouldn't mind limiting myself to an album or two on the go (before getting home and having access to more music).

Choices, choices.

Edited December 1, 2008 by HCB

[sfbp]

The RH1 will also create disks in LP2 (and, shudder, LP4 though I am sure you shouldn't) which will play in most units made after 2000 even if not HiMD.

Probably you may still want SonicStage, but someone was explaining just today how to run it under Parallels (I have no idea about Macs, so I am the wrong person to ask). SS will quickly put LP2 (and indeed any other format) onto whatever the destination recorder supports, even one of the super cheap ones.

[THIS SUCKS]

i believe i read mdmonitor has nothing to do with minidisc.