aphexpusher Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) EDIT: lol forgot to mention my QUESTION: what would be my best option for buying a md player on the cheap? do I necessarily need a hi md recorder? would a net md recorder fit my needs? I have tons of minidiscs and none of them are hi mds.... it has been forever since I have visited this forum. figured it would be down honestly. anyways Im getting into field recording and pretty much know nothing about it. I know there are plenty of other ways to record that must be easier but I have a nostalgia for minidisc. When minidiscs were the big thing I could never afford to own one. In fact once I stole one but sold it (really cheap too) quickly because my mother was wondering where the heck I got something like that. anyways... I do not really see myself using it to listen to music but for field recording it might make a little more sense. Im interested in making samples for playing music. anyways thanks for any help. I dont know if there are people that still come here but thought it would be worth a shot.thanks. Edited March 31, 2009 by aphexpusher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hi, yes there are still some Minidisc users left... It depends on what you want to do with your recordings. If you'll be wanting to upload loads to a computer, and edit them, etc. then Hi-MD is probably the best option. There are ways to digitally transfer old style MD recordings to a computer, but that has to be done in real-time and nowhere near as convenient. Non Hi-MD recorders are much cheaper of course.A good place to look for 2nd (or even 1st) hand recorders is of course is eBay. A good starting point for Hi-MD would be the MZ-NH700, and the top of the range would be the MZ-RH1 (M200 = Mac version with a mic). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aphexpusher Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hi, yes there are still some Minidisc users left... It depends on what you want to do with your recordings. If you'll be wanting to upload loads to a computer, and edit them, etc. then Hi-MD is probably the best option. There are ways to digitally transfer old style MD recordings to a computer, but that has to be done in real-time and nowhere near as convenient. Non Hi-MD recorders are much cheaper of course.A good place to look for 2nd (or even 1st) hand recorders is of course is eBay. A good starting point for Hi-MD would be the MZ-NH700, and the top of the range would be the MZ-RH1 (M200 = Mac version with a mic).if I have a hi md recorder will it be able to use the tons of MDs I have around? ir are they worthless now? how does hi md transfer to the pc? is there any lossless or raw option? or am I gonna be forced to use some silly format? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 You can still use your old MDs in the Hi-MD recorders, ie. play them back or record onto them. There are 2 modes for recording on Hi-MD recorders - MD and Hi-MD. MD mode gives you the old compressed formats (apart from mono) - SP, LP2 and LP4. Hi-MD mode uses the newer formats - PCM (lossless), and compressed ATRAC modes - Hi-SP (256kbps) and Hi-LP (64kpbs).Transfer to PC is done via Sonicstage. You can upload Hi-MD mode recordings with any Hi-MD recorder. Only the MZ-RH1 (Mac version = M200) will upload the old style recordings as well as Hi-MD. You'll need to install Sonicstage version 3.4 and upwards as earlier versions (supplied on CD) had more restrictions. You can get a full installer (SS4.0) from the downloads section here. Once in the Sonicstage library you can convert tracks to Wav format for use in other applications, or burning to CD etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aphexpusher Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 You can still use your old MDs in the Hi-MD recorders, ie. play them back or record onto them. There are 2 modes for recording on Hi-MD recorders - MD and Hi-MD. MD mode gives you the old compressed formats (apart from mono) - SP, LP2 and LP4. Hi-MD mode uses the newer formats - PCM (lossless), and compressed ATRAC modes - Hi-SP (256kbps) and Hi-LP (64kpbs).Transfer to PC is done via Sonicstage. You can upload Hi-MD mode recordings with any Hi-MD recorder. Only the MZ-RH1 (Mac version = M200) will upload the old style recordings as well as Hi-MD. You'll need to install Sonicstage version 3.4 and upwards as earlier versions (supplied on CD) had more restrictions. You can get a full installer (SS4.0) from the downloads section here. Once in the Sonicstage library you can convert tracks to Wav format for use in other applications, or burning to CD etc.hey thanx so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 No probs - let us know what you go for, and feel free to ask any more questions about MD transfers etc. I'm sure there'll still be a few of left around for a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aphexpusher Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 cant fidn any hi md recorders for under 100 bucks.. think I might go down the net md route... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 I love my MD for exactly what I use it for--concert recordings and an occasional interview--but it's probably not right for you. Unless you are really desperate to reuse those old discs, NetMD is going to drive you nuts. The only way to get your recordings off them is to plug into the sound card and record in real time (or buy the MZ-RH1 to upload them, which would mean you don't need the NetMD in the first place). Also, if you are making field recordings of quiet sounds, MD units make noise. You have to put the mic far away and hope for the best. There are better ways to make field recordings now: flash recorders with no moving parts that upload via drag-and-drop, without the SonicStage annoyances that killed Minidisc. Look at the Zoom H2 or the Tascam DR07, both under $200. I haven't tried either one, but both get positive user reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aphexpusher Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I love my MD for exactly what I use it for--concert recordings and an occasional interview--but it's probably not right for you. Unless you are really desperate to reuse those old discs, NetMD is going to drive you nuts. The only way to get your recordings off them is to plug into the sound card and record in real time (or buy the MZ-RH1 to upload them, which would mean you don't need the NetMD in the first place). Also, if you are making field recordings of quiet sounds, MD units make noise. You have to put the mic far away and hope for the best. There are better ways to make field recordings now: flash recorders with no moving parts that upload via drag-and-drop, without the SonicStage annoyances that killed Minidisc. Look at the Zoom H2 or the Tascam DR07, both under $200. I haven't tried either one, but both get positive user reviews.hmm the noise issue makes me uncomfortable. well I really want a minidisc player if not for just the fact that I never got to have one when I was young. I dont see myself using it much for listening to music unfortunately... they are much to heavy for that kind of use. I think I will just try to find the cheapest deal possible and just get a hold of a netmd. if anything it should satisfy my desire for a minidisc recorder. as far as field recording I am looking into flash based ones. I dont have much money now but it might be enough to for my minidisc lust lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 hmm the noise issue makes me uncomfortable.Just to make clear, the noise is the mechanical noise of the disc whirring up to speed. So if you are recording, for instance, birdcalls, you might well hear the unit itself as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Just to make clear, the noise is the mechanical noise of the disc whirring up to speed. So if you are recording, for instance, birdcalls, you might well hear the unit itself as well.In any sort of real world use the nois is not heard, only if you have one of the T mics plugged directly into the unit. For me the advantages of MD far outweigh the disadvantages.Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskybob Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Don't know how much a Edirol R09hr costs in your neck of the woods, I moved over to this mainly because of the ease of transfer to my p.c as well as it's overall idiot proof features. What you will also need toi consider is the mics that you are going to be using!!Best of luck with your huntDavid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aphexpusher Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 (edited) ok so if I have say mic with a decent wire length and the minidisc maybe in a sidebag or something I might be ok? and yeah net md is my only option since decent hi md recorders start at like 200 - 300 which I do not have. I figure if I can spend around 100 bucks on mic and then 50 on net md I could have a decent set up or am I being naive?also what net md player would you guys recommend? I remember the one I stole from sam goodie was a sort of yellowish green tint. I wish I never sold that thing. should have just hid it till I ended up moving out. Edited April 4, 2009 by aphexpusher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 ok so if I have say mic with a decent wire length and the minidisc maybe in a sidebag or something I might be ok? and yeah net md is my only option since decent hi md recorders start at like 200 - 300 which I do not have. I figure if I can spend around 100 bucks on mic and then 50 on net md I could have a decent set up or am I being naive?also what net md player would you guys recommend? I remember the one I stole from sam goodie was a sort of yellowish green tint. I wish I never sold that thing. should have just hid it till I ended up moving out.Keep on looking for an NH700 or 800, they can be had relatively cheaply, have Mic inputs and will digitally upload, any Net MD will be likely to have head ribbon problems, and you will lose recordings.Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungerdunger Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Just to make clear, the noise is the mechanical noise of the disc whirring up to speed. So if you are recording, for instance, birdcalls, you might well hear the unit itself as well.That reminds me of the first time I tried recording bird song. I took the MD into our wood about 1.00am and set it to record, so that it would capture the birds when they started singing at dawn.When we played it back we kept hearing what sounded to us like an engine being started and then allowed to die down every couple of minutes, which was spooky as there was no way there could have been an engine within a quarter of a mile. Eventually I realised it was the MD motor. I think I had attached the mike to the same branch as the MD and presumably this helped pick up the sound. Since then I've always made sure they are on separate branches and as far apart as possible, and the problem has gone away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aphexpusher Posted April 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Keep on looking for an NH700 or 800, they can be had relatively cheaply, have Mic inputs and will digitally upload, any Net MD will be likely to have head ribbon problems, and you will lose recordings.Bobwhat are head ribbons? why would this cause recordings to be lost? nh700 or 800 are netmd? original md? what is the biggest difference between netmd and the originals? would hi md recorders ever have head ribbon issues as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soniccodger Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 EDIT: lol forgot to mention my QUESTION: what would be my best option for buying a md player on the cheap? do I necessarily need a hi md recorder? would a net md recorder fit my needs? I have tons of minidiscs and none of them are hi mds.... it has been forever since I have visited this forum. figured it would be down honestly. anyways Im getting into field recording and pretty much know nothing about it. I know there are plenty of other ways to record that must be easier but I have a nostalgia for minidisc. When minidiscs were the big thing I could never afford to own one. In fact once I stole one but sold it (really cheap too) quickly because my mother was wondering where the heck I got something like that. anyways... I do not really see myself using it to listen to music but for field recording it might make a little more sense. Im interested in making samples for playing music. anyways thanks for any help. I dont know if there are people that still come here but thought it would be worth a shot.thanks.I have found that with my SonoPak, field recording is pretty easy. The wearable pack has the mics built in, and holds the MiniDisc recorder, all necessary cords, etc. It's literally a few seconds to set up and start recording. Plus, the stereo mics capture ambient sound well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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