The latest (last?) generation of MD recorders can use either the old-style discs (74 or 80-minute jobs) or the Hi-MD 1GB discs. Recordings made on the latter can be uploaded via USB and SonicStage software (make sure you have the latest version!) much faster than real time and can be converted easily to WAV files and burned on to CD (once you've used your usual music-editing sotware to trim it all to perfection). So, you need a recorder that says "Hi-MD" on it somewhere and that also has a red "mic plug-in power" socket to connect your mic to. They don't all have 'em! Mine's a Sony MZ-NH700 and I'm very happy with it except that it's way too easy to accidentally erase the whole disc when you don't mean to! :-(