BP Posted December 4, 2002 Report Share Posted December 4, 2002 Sorry, I'm new to this. I'm looking to use minidisc to tape an outdoor concert for a film I'm making. I'm leaning towards the MZ-R37 (heard good things and like the price.) My question: is this thing obsolete? Will it work with XP? Should I go with the MZ-N707? Any answers will help this new guy. BP :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannn Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 Hey dont be sorry unless youre a ignorant MP3 fan we wont flame you for dumb questions. welcome to the MD community. 1. the R37 is obsolete compared to newer technologies. but this thing is built like a horse. it will outlast any new unit out today. it is a solid built unit that can take a beating and still record and paly fine. i have owned one of these in the past so i am speaking from personal experience. 2. Will it work with XP?? yes ANY R-series recorder will work with any OS that has a digital or analog output. since recording is not software dependant you can record from anysource. 3. The 707 is a good unit. iw ould recomend this. it has all the features youre looking for in the R37 and has the NETMD feature that lets you transfer music faster from the PC->MD(8X, 16X, 32X, depending on quality) Also the 707 has MDLP which lets you records 2x(lp2), 4x(lp4). that 5 hours using the 4x(LP4). the quality degrades a bit. however since you are doing live recordings it shouldn't matter too much. i tried to be as complete as i could in this reply. if you have any questions leftover just ask it here. -dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 One other thing. Some people are mislead by NetMD thinking that it will allow high speed transfers of your music from the MD to your PC. This isn't possible. You must do it in real time, by connecting the line-out of your MD to the line-in on your soundcard and recording it like that. A better soundcard will give better results here as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zephonith Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 Don't worry, everyone was new once too. No need to apologise You'll find that MD is easy to use and you'll be obssessed like the rest of us in no time 8) So are the N707 and the R37 the only units you're considering? I think there are other units better suited to live recording, but I don't really know too much about live recording. I'll leave that for someone else to answer :wink: When the R37 was made, the priorities were a bit different, and so by current standards, it's big, heavy and the battery life is terrible. It doesn't have any of the newer features such as NetMD or MDLP. But it's one of the most durable units made and should last forever. It's still compatible with discs recorded on the newest units (except discs in LP mode) so in that sense, no it's not obsolete. That being said, I don't think you're going to be able to track one down. In that sense, yes it is obsolete. The R37 will work with any computer that has a line out, because you can record from it like you would from a CD player. However, if you're asking whether it's compatible in a NetMD sorta way, no, the R37 won't work with XP because it doesn't support NetMD. From what you've posted so far, it doesn't seem that you'd need NetMD, because it's mainly for people with lots of MP3s. If you're looking for a unit which supports NetMD, I suggest you look through the T station products page because it's easier to tell which units have NetMD (even experienced MD users can't keep track of all the units) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystyler Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 BP, probably the best units for live recording are from Sharp. Try looking at the MD-MT190. It is built like a tank, but not as big as old school R37 era units. Plus it's relatively cheap. Note that it doesn't have NetMD, but is that of use to you? I'd recommend staying away from the R37, it is extremely old and cannot compete with newer units. If you're also going to "upload" via line-in on a soundcard, Sharps have are the better unit to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 I'd take an R37 over an N707 any day.. I mean, the 707 without the battery bump is about 5mm thicker . Add the bump and it's over twice as thick. The battery life isn't terrible, I get 8 hours playback. I love mine.. I probably won't bother get another portable recorder. However, it's still obsolete. If you can snag one on ebay for US$40... How about these sharp models? www.minidisc.org/part_Sharp_MD-MT170+MT180+MT190+MT200.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP Posted December 5, 2002 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 Thanks all for the responses. Here's the problem: I'd go with sharp but really can't find the MD-MT190 in the US. It is listed at superfi.uk. Any difference or problem with European purchase? Also, I've found the R37SP at electroniemall.com for $104. Is that the same as the standard old R37 I hear talked about or is it some remake, reissue or refurb? Thanks again. BP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leland Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 I would question the support from Sharp in the US for any older model, or any European model. I would get an N707 or an N1. I now have an N10, but if I was really interested primarily in live recording, the battery life of the internal Lion battery is weak, so the N1 would be better. I like Sony. They invented the format. I think Sharp is overrated because they make their output amps a little more powerful so some interpret that as better sound. It is a well understood misconception that louder is better. In blind listening tests, this has been proven. The problem is, you also risk your hearing. Sony has limited this and includes a warning with all their units about listening on headphones. I think that is great corporate responsibility (or paranoia, but true) For live recording, Sharp used to have an advantage in live manual recording level adjustment, but in more recent Sony units that has been addressed. Leland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystyler Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 Ah, but the higher output on Sharps also means you can drive more power hungary headphones, and not be stuck with crappy E805s...Sony units can't even drive KSC-35s properly! :shock: Even Sony D66s, designed for portable use, sound better on non-Sony units!! I think the lower powered amps is so they can claim 200hrs+ battery life, rather than any responsiblity on Sony's part. Sharps still have the advantage in live recording (so EASY to use), plus Sony units don't even sync off analog sources...c'mon... Call me one-eyed if you will, but Sony is a no-no. MacOS 7.1 is easier to use than the menus on Sony portables. If Sharp USA is anything like Panasonic Australia, they'll service your unit - I managed to get a unit that was never sold in Australia fixed. If You do decide to go with the Euro MT190, you'll just need to buy a US spec AC adapter. **My $5** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 Thanks all for the responses. Here's the problem: I'd go with sharp but really can't find the MD-MT190 in the US. It is listed at superfi.uk. Any difference or problem with European purchase? Also, I've found the R37SP at electroniemall.com for $104. Is that the same as the standard old R37 I hear talked about or is it some remake, reissue or refurb? Thanks again. BP I'd give that a miss.. US$104 is too much for an R37, even if it is new. The SP model doesn't include the AC adapter but has a battery life of approx. 15 hours. Any of the Sharp MT170/180/190/200 would be good. Try searching for one.. Failing that, theres the N707 or N1(0!) if you can push it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystyler Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 me, me, me! You keep forgeting that the MT170/MT180 have no mic in! You R37ophile, you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leland Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 Mystyler, I do call you one-eyed, but I am one-eyed for Sony, so we are even. The battery bump on the 707 is poor, but the battery life is great and the simplicity of just using AA batteries is also pretty cool. If you are cost sensitive, go with the 707, otherwise, go with the N1. Either way, go with Sony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me Posted December 5, 2002 Report Share Posted December 5, 2002 D'oh! I was certain that only Sony killed their units like that. Meh. Their budget models seem better than any Sony at the moment, and i'm pretty much a sonyphile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postpositivist Posted December 6, 2002 Report Share Posted December 6, 2002 Hi BP, If you can't find a MZ-R37 anywhere, I do have a brand new, never used, never opened R37 in the box that I'd be willing to part with. Literally the same time I bought a R37 for myself I received one as a gift. I put this one in the closet and used the one I received as a gift (which still works). I would echo what others have said about the quality of the R37--it is a tough, reliable unit. Best, Postpositivist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 6, 2002 Report Share Posted December 6, 2002 Hey, Postp, that might be doable. I'm working on a fairly large project and need multiple md's. Check your email when you can. BP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chenj16 Posted December 31, 2002 Report Share Posted December 31, 2002 just a note, the MZ-R37 is a cost-reduced unit, thus it does not have a microphone sensitivity switch, you will probably need a battery module to boost the power of MIC in for loud live recording ps. I own a MZ-R37, very solid build and stylish, I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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