Sony MZ-N707 digital transfers to PC.

[thinkmd]

I purchased an MZ-N707 as an open-box special at what I thought was a decent price from Sears. Originally, it sold with some accessories. I have only the N707. I don't have any software or a manual, save what I've downloaded from the internet.

I had been wanting to get an MD for quite some time because I heard/read that it would do some decent recording. One reason I picked up the N707 is because it has a microphone-in jack.

Also, the thing is SOOO small, I can take it anywhere. (This is a huge thing for me!)

Here is my primary application: I want to record some friends of mine who play guitar and sing. I want to be able to **DIGITALLY** transfer the MD audio from the MD to my PC. I want to use the highest quality recording mode for the recording. My PC is equipped with an optical IN and an OPTICAL out jack on the motherboard. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN USING THE MD AS A TRANSFER STATION TO PLAY AROUND WITH MP3's!

I don't especially care how long it takes to DIGITALLY transfer **MY** music from the MD to the PC. Realtime is okay with me. Also, I'm not especially hung up on fancy titling, at this point. I just need a way to digitally get audio from the MD to the PC.

From what I've been reading (on minidisc.org and many other websites), it seems to me that much of the software that's out there is geared to PC-->MD transfers, but very little is set up for MD-->PC (DIGITAL!!) transfers.

(Sure, I know I can do analog transfers. But, that defeats the whole purpose of doing digital recording.)

But now, as I'm scrambling to find software for it, I am having MAJOR second thoughts about using it. And, I'm VERY seriously considering taking it back and getting my money back before my "grace period" runs out. If I can't do digital transfers of ***MY*** audio (for which I would, as I understand it, hold any copyrights to), then this has been a waste of money and time to me.

Also, before you reply by saying, "you can get the software from Sony," please know that I've already contacted them.

Could someone PLEASE provide some feedback to the above. Also, can anyone answer the following questions:

1. Is the highest quality recording mode "SP"?

2. Do all Sony and non-Sony portable MD's suffer from what I would call super-silly, restrictive copy-protect schemes?

3. If I went with a non-Sony brand, would I run into the same problem(s)? (Please remember that my motherboard has optical IN and OUT jacks.)

4. Can anyone recommend good-quality, non-Sony portable MD recorder(s) that would do what I want to do?

5. Has anyone written a piece of code that will digitally transfer, over the N707's USB port, the audio data on a MD? If so, ****PLEASE**** provide a link to that program!!

6. Does the OpenMG software allow the MD to PC transfer of SP mode audio, over the USB port?

7. Would this product... http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua1d.html allow me to convert from USB on the MD to optical? (Would any of the products at: http://www.edirol.com allow for USB to digital transfer?)

Comments/suggestions are welcome.

Thanks very much in advance.

[mAjEsTiC]

1. Is the highest quality recording mode "SP"?

yep this is the highest quality recording mode...

2. Do all Sony and non-Sony portable MD's suffer from what I would call super-silly, restrictive copy-protect schemes?

i'm afraid so...but there are ways of getting around these...

3. If I went with a non-Sony brand, would I run into the same problem(s)? (Please remember that my motherboard has optical IN and OUT jacks.)

yes as ur MD unit doesn't have an OPTIC OUT jack so u can't record digitally from the MD -> PC...only the MZ-R1 (first portable MD unit produced by Sony back in 92) and high end decks from Sony sport OPTIC OUT jacks...

4. Can anyone recommend good-quality, non-Sony portable MD recorder(s) that would do what I want to do?

if u want digital uploading then look at either the new Hi-MD's coming out very soon or invest in a high end deck with Optic Outputs...

5. Has anyone written a piece of code that will digitally transfer, over the N707's USB port, the audio data on a MD? If so, ****PLEASE**** provide a link to that program!!

don't think has been done yet i'm afraid...

6. Does the OpenMG software allow the MD to PC transfer of SP mode audio, over the USB port?

unfortunately no...

7. Would this product... http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua1d.html allow me to convert from USB on the MD to optical? (Would any of the products at: http://www.edirol.com allow for USB to digital transfer?)

i don't think they would allow u to utilise the USB port on the unit to upload to the PC digitally...