MD for microhone recording

[AllanH]

I need a recommendation please

MD to be used for microphone recording. Input signal will usually be digital (both optical and coaxial available), from an external ADC.

Unit should have decent metering, and (preferably) with manual level controls and low noise pre-amps. XLR or 3.5mm jack inputs.

Backlight desirable.

Unit should have optical output (coaxial or optical) as well as line.

USB in/out would be nice.

HHB Portadisc springs to mind. Any others?

I was going to wait for HiMD, but this looks to be delayed and may not give fully flexible digital in/out due to restrictions in SonicStage.

Thanks in advance.

[Christopher]

There are no restrictions in Sonicstage concerning your scenario, as Sonicstage 2.1 will correct any issues in that sense [full PCM flexibility]. I would recommend that you go down that route for best functionality.

What was it exactly that is not flexible in your situation? You can record in linear PCM, upload it to computer and do what you wish with it from there. Buy a ~$30 soundcard with optical out and you should be good, no?

[AllanH]

Whne I first heard of HiMD it seemed just what I was looking for.

Then when I read the Sony website, there seemed to be restrictions to the way that data could be handled. (No uplaoding of .wav files, for example)

I am concerned that with HiMD I may not be able to download home-recorded digital files in PCM quality back to the PC.

I doubt very much that my local salespeople will have any experience of using HiMD themselves, which brings the risk that I buy the product, only to find that it won't do what I want.

Portadisk isn't HiMD, but I need a solution in the near future, so I may give HiMD a miss until it has had time to be launched and the glitches correected.

I already have a sound card with coaxial and optical digital I/O, but it cost rather more then $30 unfortunately! (and isn't much use with many consumer MD units which don't have digital outputs)