Digital transfer to PC - equipment needed?

[harmonika]

Dear all, I'm new here.

I wish to record a stereo signal to an MD and then somehow digitally transfer the file to my PC. I've got S/PDIF connectors in my PC soundcard.

I have seen (www.quietamerican.com) that one might use a SONY JB920.

I wonder if there are other or better options? Perhaps with USB output or such.

Grateful for any thots on this matter!

/Monika

[dex Otaku]

MD decks [home stereo components] usually have optical digital outputs on them. Try looking on eBay for decks.

No[consumer] version of standard MD / netMD supports upload to a computer via USB.

[harmonika]

OK, but what about Hi-MD?

Are there such units that allow USB to PC transfer?

And what about the sound quality of Hi-MD. Is that better than "normal" MD, or just a more space saving compression?

thanks,

Monika :ohmy:

[KevinP]

Hi-MD units can digitally transfer to PC via USB, that is, it's possible though a tad fiddly (for us non-computer types). Check under the Hi-MD forum for details (it's a work-around)...

Hi-MD also offers linear PCM recording along with various compression modes, so yes the quality can be higher than standard MD...

[dex Otaku]

Monica,

HiMD allows for transfer to PC from HiMD formatted discs only. If what you want is to transfer from standard MDs, you either do it from a home deck over SPDIF or by using broadcast-level equipment that costs thousands of dollars. Or by analogue means, in real time.

If what you want is HiMD, then yes, you can do it. There are muliple methods to get around Sony's DRM, just take a look in the HiMD forum under these threads:

First and most importantly:

http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?t=5836

And as to the methods:

http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?t=6087

and

http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?t=5858

There are many threads here discussing the sound quality of HiMD vs. MD. I would suggest using the search facility here to browse around them a bit as many excellent opinions have already been expressed on this matter.

IMO it comes down to three things, though:

1) Unless all you want is a -player only- there is virtually no reason to buy an MD recorder. I say virtually as Sharp's offerings have slightly different features that appeal to some more than others, such as better-placet controls for certain functions.

2) HiMD recorders can be used to record in standard MD mode as well as HiMD mode. I haven't used the standard mode on mine for anything more than test purposes, and I don't expect to ever use MD mode for anything. The extended record and playback lengths with HiMD [and PCM recording] are more than enough to keep me using it for that only.

3) There are arguments that standard-MD's SP mode is slightly better than HiMD's HiSP mode, but with the recordings I've made so far I've found no qualms with the results I've gotten - and I'm pretty fussy.