Minidisk replacement

I wouldn't bother getting a new MD nowadays

I would suggest you look at the Edirol R-1 - much better nowadays.

If doing weddings I would go for a radio Mic saves hat extra capture and syncing up

Thanks.
I only do family weddings, and there are none in the pipeline. It looks very nice but a bit too expensive. Especially, if you start buying the additional bits.

May be worth sporting the £30 for an estimate.

The estimate and any repair. would be nearly as much as a new Sony Hi Minidisk, on offer at the moment at £79.99. I think it was an MDH700. I can find the 710, suspect that`s the new model.
Another suggestion is an MP3 player. Looking on the web, I can`t find any with a mic in.

Bare in mind that mp3 players do not necessarily produce a high quality recording from a mic input. It would be a good idea to test this capability before you part with any money.

My experience with mp3 is that audio synch is off

Minidisk is spot on

Regards

The Edirol R1 records in 44.1 .wav or in mp3. I wonder if one would lose audio sync with that, since surely that's what MD records in? Does MD lock audio in some way?

Is that on long or short recordings and at 44k sample rate? That could be a problem at times.
Another problem, is the Sony Hi MD deletes the file after you down load it to the pc. I don`t know much about this yet, but if you use the standard minidisk, would it behave the same?

My MZ-NH700 MD with Mic-in

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001ZN772/qid=1121546432/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/026-6415245-5322815

ATRAC conversion to 44.1 .wav, No problem
On Amazon it says mp3, I don't think it is though

My Xclef mp3 recorder is hopeless on synch with DV (Any length)
MD is spot on (4 hours, usually 2 hours+)

UPDATE

This seems cheap?
http://www.digisaurus.co.uk/site/product.asp?section=1&cat=4&sub=7&prod=220

Regards

Thanks John.

The same model in black has £20 off in a local store. I don`t have that much on minidisk that I want to keep. Trouble with moving parts and power saving noise, is a bit off putting. But it is all in one lump.
Where as the MP3 is solid state. Some have line in, but a powered mic. would add to the amount of gear to carry around. So looking and thinking until the fog clears, may be wise at the moment.

Another alternative may be THIS.

Very new and starts shipping in August.

Looks amazing to me so far...

Thanks John.

£230. That`s a bit of a hand full, I used to have a portable tape recorder smaller than that!
But it`s got the connections. Still thinking…top of list HiMD followed by..er..anyone put an mp3 recorder in a windgag and stood in the middle of a field!!!!!!

Is a '1"/4 TRS input' a standard 1"/4 "stereo" jack plug (with Tip/Ring/Sleeve for the HOT, COLD, GND) for a balanced mic input, John?

Any issues when using with "conventional" XLRs?

Is using XLR>TRS convertors OK/a good idea?

Yes - and amazingly, this tiny M-audio machine also has phantom power!

Should be no problem at all.

I hope to get a machine for review in mid August - so I'll let you know.

I was looking at the Ediril R-1, but they still have not sent me one, and now I have seen the link for the M-audio it looks so much better for the same price.

Cool - thanks John. I look forward to that.

Actually - the declared physical SIZE confuses me - the picture makes it look much smaller than 18.7x17.5x5.5cm, and certainly NOT nearly square???

I wonder if you can ride the pots?

And whether the battery is fixed internally ( :( ) or replaceable, and you can get spares ( :) ) ?

Just think: no capturing audio any more!!!

You did not read all the text - it said "Unit Size, BOXED". :p

The actual recorder is smaller. :D

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on one - it looks very interesting.

I guess the battery is internal (8 hours if you don't use phantom) and it comes complete with a mini stereo mic. by the looks of it.

But as it can also be powered by external DC it should not be a problem.

But for decent recording you'll need a larger CF than the 64MB supplied - but at least 1GB and 2GB cards are now well affordable and the 4GB is dropping and the 8GB is available and should be much cheaper soon.

I see they've now changed that unit size to be "not boxed" = 2.25 x 4.13 x 1.13" - much more like it!

Obviously everybody was as confused/unimpressed with that "boxed" size as I was!

Getting back to MD - we've just bought a few Sony MD-RH910 HiMDs.
We need them more for audio interviews that need to be transcribed.

In the old days, this was done on cassette with a full sized cassette transcription machine. (foot controls so as to leave hands free for writing/typing)

The move to MD meant that the cassette transcription was too complicated.

this site

has a freeware PC based transcription based package

This might be of use to some people - either for a transcript from digital video or from an MD

Dave,

The direct link is HERE.

Hi Chaps,

I did a live recording of a wedding service in a church on Sunday. Used a Sennheiser M2 omni (wireless G2) in to my R-1 @192k mp3. The mic was strung up a large candle, clipped to a ribbon around it about 6 feet from the B&G.

Haven't started the edit on this one yet, so can't confirm any sync problems waiting in the wings for me. When I get home tonight, I'll post up a sample of the audio.

I have a 1 gig CF card in the R-1 - could have gone better with the quality to be honest, but wanted to make sure I didn't run out of time, as this is the first time I've used it.

btw - I also used it on another wedding on Sat - not thinking - left it on a table in the Sun in the conservatory I was forced to film from, and it totally conked out. Luckily came back to life literally 20 sec before the service started.

Reds,

Personally I would use 16-bit / 44.1 as a minimum quality.

On a 1GB card, this should give you just over 90-minutes.

2GB cards are now only £100, and this would give you 3-hours at 16/44.1 stereo.

I will next time John - but that didn't advice didn't take my absolute paranoia about messing up in to account as it was my sister's wedding!

Aah - so you broke the golden rule then?

Never video relatives weddings

It comes under the same rule as never teaching your wife to drive :D

Am I right in thinking that WAV will offer better quality recording when compared to MP3?

Yes - WAV is uncompressed.

YES - Much better, as mooblie says, it's uncompressed.

Mooblie/John - Thanks for that.

I am sold on the M-Audio with which I intend to record concerts (from mixing desk output), interviews and audio to sync with my camcorder. John, you recommend 16/44.1 as a minimum quality. I understand that to be CD quality. Given my applications, when (if ever) would I need to record at a higher quality?

Adobe Audition recommends that all editing is done in 32 bit - in which case, if the option is there, you would be better off capturing in 32 bit.

You always get a better quality of edit if the number crunching is done with the highest bit rate material possible.

I would always master at the highest bitrate possible - that would mean 24-bit. the difference between 44.1, 48, 88.2 & 96kHz is just the extension of the frequency response.

You always get some degradation in editingm, so that is why it's best to master at the highest possible quality, even if it's going out at a lower quality.

The exception would be only if going down to 16-bits would extend the recording time if recording at 24-bits meant thet you would run out too soon.

I hope this helps.

Here's a short clip of that audio sample. (192k mp3 on the Edirol R-1 with Sennheiser M2 wireless omni)

Church Clip

On the previous day's wedding, I cocked up a bit - the speaking on the speeches is very low level, and the clapping then drowns them out. I should have switched limiter on I think, and gone for a much higher level with the speaker. Ah well... lessons learned and experience.

The DV Info Net forum, is talking about the IFP790 iRiver as having an external mic. jack, and being able to adjust the input level. I can`t find this info. myself, but sounds interesting.
Another thing is, the Sony RH910 HiMD has the Sonic Stage 3 software that is not limited to one download. I can`t find anything about this on the Sony uk site. It seems this is something new and not compatible with older HiMD models.

After much searching and reading revues, I have found that the iFP790 line in can be switched from line to mic. The level can be set manually.
Can they all do this?
This information is not in the specification list, and a well kept secret. Why would they want to do that?
The Sony RH910 Hi MD has disappeared from the Sony UK site!!!

One revue suggested that MP3 players would break when dropped, but a Minidisk will bounce. I hope this is only one guys idea!

What lapel mics are recommended for use interview recording with the any of the above pieces of audio hardware?

You will find a lot of info. here.

http://www.minidisc.org/

Just bought the Sony MZ–NH700 minidisk recorder to replace the now dead MZ-R700.
First impressions are mixed. Small screen with lots of data, battery cover that feels fragile, and that recording to a Hi MD with a part used battery, may result in it not recording!!!
I can use a normal MD, and record for 2hrs at Hi-SP.
From cold, it records another track without the noise from power save. This is quiet in comparison to the R700.
It`s supplied with a soft bag!!! It could do with a hard case.

Record-pause is difficult to achieve. Having to press T Mark, Play and Pause at the same time. This may require practice, but you can always erase the odd track, because to change to manual record mode you have to be in Rec. Pause. The level can be varied during record with the menu wheel. I don`t remember being able to do this with the R700, but I hope it`s built to last.

Problems came with the Sonic Stage software. Version 2 is old. Version 3.1 will let you download from the Minidisk more than once. However. Version 3.1 would not install on my Edit partition. I think it needs SP2 installed. As it did install on my Net partition. Version 3.2 is available via a net installer, and supposedly cures a bug or two.
I have only played with it a little. Downloaded tracks from the Minidisk can be named, and the name also appears on the disk in the recorder. Tracks can be imported and converted to .wav 44k-16 bit.

Now I need to try it seriously…..

i'll throw this in because noone else has, and because i REALLY want one... how about an Edirol R4? it's still a bit on the expensive side for me since i don't actually have an application for it... :D

mark.

To be honest - under £1000 there are just three I would consider.

Fostex FR-2
M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96
Edirol R-4

All slightly different in what they do.

The Fostex I have, I have got the Edirol R-1 and R-4 on test and the MicroTrack should be coming in a week.

I only settled for the MD because I don’t get paid overtime anymore. I would have preferred solid state, but the iRiver`s arn`t up to it yet.
I this breaks within two years, I will have to look at the options again, by which time prices should have dropped….Hear`s hoping!

Agreed - but the M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96 is up to it and only £350.

You can get the Edirol R-1 for less than £300.

Hi all,
Following your good advice on my "recording a rock band" thread i picked up a second hand minidisk recorder (Sony Net MZ-N710) and am really pleased with the results. One thing which i can't fathom though is it's inability to transfer material recorded on it to the pc via USB. It works from pc to minidisk but not the other way around!!!!!!
I believe this isn't an issue with the Hi MD recorders but can't quite believe that Sony have done this.
Anyone know of a way around this without just sending the sound in via the sound card?
I have transferred it via my camcorder and firewire which worked quite well but still seems to be somewhat missing the point of having a usb port!!
Cheers,
Mike

This may be worth reading ?
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/92.html

John.
The R1 or the M-Audio would have been wonderful. Unfortunately having just replaced the PSU and a 160Gig HDD, the bank manager/wife who is dragging me off to Canada next month, thinks the RH910 at £158 is a bit OTT. I stand NO chance.
The NH700 at about £89 with 5% discount from the Sony shop was considered enough!!!

I was wondering, John, if you'd been sent one of these for review yet?
They don't seem to be available for sale quite yet, but they're beginning to be listed on vendors websites.

Cheers

Mark

Still waiting but expect it any day now.

I am looking at the Edirol R-1 aned R-4 at the moment and will post on all three when I have finished.

If anyone has an R-4 please can they check it and let me know - I have found out that i/p 4 is out of phase to the other 3. Is it just my review unit, or is it on them all?

How can I check John?

Without a phase meter - probably the best way is to record an identical signal on each channel - listen to 1+2 in mono and then listen to 3+4 in mono.

If i/p 4 is out of phase the mono signal should be non-existant or very quiet. It should be very obvious compared to 1+2.

I have now found someone else with an R-4 which has input-4 out-of-phase with the other inputs.

I have communicated this with Edirol.