USing MiniDisc LP2 mode versus a MP3 recorder

[accinfo]

I have used minidisc to record concerts with very little problem. I started using the LP2 mode so I wasn't switching discs as often. My brother recently bought a MP3 recorder that holds 5 hours under that format. Is LP2 better the same or worse then the MP3 format? I record Rock concerts mostly.

[Leland]

What bitrate is your brother recording with? That will make a difference in your comparison. Maybe his recorder has tons of storage space, like a Hard Disk or something. I think that LP2 is better than most MP3 recordings, unless the bitrate is very high on the MP3 (over 192). The time you get on a LP2 minidisc should be enough for most concerts.

[Mystyler]

You should also consider the size of the HDD recorder - and the fact that most HDD recorders I've seen have crap battery life, and even crapper recording quality.

I am no fan of LP2, but I hate MP3 with a passion - given the choice between MP3 at 320 or LP2 at 132, I'll take LP2 thank you very much.

[SimonMagus]

I really don't know much about MP3 players, so I'm taking a bit of an educated guess based on what I have heard - but some people have cooed about MP3 players not having any moving parts (solid state). While this might be a bit of an advantage, I wouldn't be putting it through any airport X-ray machines while travelling, if you get my drift. Guess it all comes down to your needs and situation.

Having said that, I think it's also worth considering that there are scads of MP3 codecs out there - and some of them, well, SUCK (I've heard "CD-quality" 128kbps MP3s with little or no stereo channel definition). In comparison, ATRAC seems to me to be much more solid.