My MZR30 has a very good automatic level control and also a sensitivity switch. If I put the switch in the low position the auto level control works perfectly for almost any acoustic recording situation. The only thing it can't cope with is a loud amplified band.

Newer decks don't have that switch: an unfortunate cost saving.

One thing to mention with MD recording levels - you can afford to set the level quite low. With tape that is bad news as the sound is lost in the tape hiss, but you don't get hiss on an MD. Also if you go a little over the top on tape it doesn't sound too bad - just a little compressed and muddy - but digital recording is horrid when overloaded.

Anahata