Getting my head back into my minidisc recorder - need advice

[Sequoia]

While I am an audio engineer - I never got too into into the minidisc technology OTHER than that I have owned 2 recorders - the last one was the MZ-M200. I used it to record concerts and a few other random things. I love it - but I just broke it out to record a show at the last minute after about 3 years of not touching it - and I have some questions. I mainly need to refresh my memory of some of the details of what I can do with my audio, and catch up on just how dead this technology may be. Ill number my questions to make it easy.

1. I had bought a bunch of the 1GB discs when I bought this recorder so I could get the highest quality recordings at the longest running time on a disc. I dont remember how much I paid in 2009 for the blanks but it seems I can only find them for REALLY HIGH prices now if I find them at all. Am I missing something or are they just all discontinued and therefore prices of leftovers are sky high?

2. I have a ton of discs - some recorded at the Hi-MD quality this recorder allowed me to get. I need to refresh my memory of the best way to get those files at their highest quality into a realm I can edit, and manipulate. In other words I want to get this audio off the discs and into my Pro Tools system. If my memory is correct - the ONLY way to do that was through the software Sonic Stage right? I have version 4.3 on this old laptop and havent touched it in 3 years and only remember the software being troublesome at best and very archaiac compared to the apple audio production software I am used to dealing with.

Again - my question is - what is the best way to get the audio off these discs at full quality and into a computer so I can manipulate the audio.

Lets just start there - and in the meantime while Im waiting for your answers - I will refamiliarize myself with my unit and maybe (ugh) that software.

Thanks a lot!!

PS - I mentioned being an audio engineer not to brag or anything but just to say that while I am familiar with many things audio (concepts, formats, etc, I am fairly UNFAMILIAR with things specifically related to minidisc (including formats and data manipulation other than the basic purpose I got out of my recorders and I am even less familiar with the product info for instance regarding what happened to the 1GB discs that I cant seem to find for under about 20 per disc (usually higher). That was all.

[PhilippeC]

1. Yes a brand new Hi-MD blank is expensive (around 10 euros or more) but there are not so much customers compare too the the classic second hand MD blanks market. There are much less Hi-MD units on the market, they are also more expensive.

2. SS is the only way to upload from a MD (both Hi-MD and classic) and you have the right unit to do it also. Check Downloads section for last drivers and software. There is a lot of topics about this subject in this forum, specially in the Technical, Tips & Tricks section.