What kind of minidisc recorder?

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: JudyB
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 11:10 AM

We've been using our Edirol R-1 in high-quality MP3 mode to record, and I'm pretty sure I've gotten over 4 hours on a set of rechargeable batteries, and I know you can put over 11 hours of music on a 1 GB card. I'm not sure about card speed (some of them say, others don't), but I did buy one that was recommended by the manufacturer and it's worked great!

The built-in mics work very well if you're facing the recorder, and do a credible job of picking up people off to a side and a little behind - I was surprised.

We're not looking for CD-quality (though I think it could do that in WAV format - but I'd want something easier to use with my big mics and board - it's more prosumer than pro) - our goal was easy to use and good enough that we'd get the words and tune clearly.

I put the R-1 at the edge of the circle, turn it on and forget it for the next 3-4 hours. When we get home, I use a card reader to transfer the file to my computer (just takes a couple of minutes), then use CoolEdit Pro to find and copy any parts we want to pull out. Piece of cake!

Let me know if you have any specific questions - I'll see if I have some answers.

JudyB

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 06:43 AM

Fabulous thread! I've been meaning to upgrade from crappy old cassettes for a long time, I have learnt a lot here.
                        Cheers from sunny Hull.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 28 Sep 05 - 10:52 AM

Thanks a lot for all this info, people. (I would have commented earlier, but I've been having some problems getting in to the 'cat.) I used a Marantz (the old reel-to-reel portables) years ago - it was standard BBC kit for 'street' interviewing. Didn't occur to me that they might be doing a minidisc, but anything above the 200 UK pound mark is a bit beyond my budget anyway.

Good idea about the tripod.

siân

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From:
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 04:43 PM

Guest, DB,
Sorry about that, I must have lost my cookie somewhere.

The Jog-dial, is basically like a joy-stick with 5 positions.

Left = Reverse
Right = Fast Fwd
Up = Pause
Down = Stop
Right in the Centre = Play

I thought your 909 is like my 707 and has a USB port at the Right side - Top Corner?

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 11:15 AM

"you don't need a post-grad qualification in IT to operate it - as you do with a MD recorder"
"I have rarely managed to record anything on it"
Then put it back in the box, and send it to me...

"hacked" the iPod"
Hacked or not, the iPod sucks!

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 09:50 AM

Don't know if this has neen mentioned (I've gone through the recent posts, but not the 2004 & earlier) but . . .

I've read an article recently about some techs who have "hacked" the iPod - the models with the 20-gig hard drives and added a mic jack. None of this crippleware nonsense about not being able to transfer the recording digitally afterward. Such an operation would void the warranty, of course, but imagine the possibilities . . .

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:53 AM

Dear Guest,

If only it were so simple! My Sony MZ-R909 does have a 'record' slidey thing on the front but it also has something called a 'jog-dial' on the side which, as far as I can ascertain, requires the operator to stand on his/her head whilst navigating some sort of 'decision-tree' (whatever that is!) which would put the Minotaur's maze at Knossos to shame! Needless to say I have rarely managed to record anything on it - except the odd occasion when there's been an 'R' in the month and I have got the permission of the session organiser to mount the 'decision-tree' on the wall so that I can consult it at regular intervals and 'phone-a-friend' when I get stuck.
And, to add insult to injury, the damn thing hasn't got a USB port on it so that I can transfer what recordings I do manage to make to CD! Perhaps later models are more 'user-friendly'(?)

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:40 AM

We've been using the " Roland/Edirol. Their R-1 WAV/MP3 Recorder..." at a number of open sessions and festivals in the past two months and it performs extremely well. It can run for hours on its batteries. It's two stereo mics work well if they focus on a performer; you'll want external mics if you want to cover a wider area and that is possible. It records to flashcards which can be readily replaced and uploaded into computers. The recorder is compact, about the size of a cigarette pack, and appears to be pretty rugged. My wife JudyB knows more about its technical specs but I think it's vastly superior to what we've worked with before. It is expensive.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:33 AM

Mini-discs don't need any major training. It operates like a cassette recorder.

I set the speed, then it stays there or I could have left all the settings alone.

Like a cassette recorder, you have RECORD, PLAY, FAST-FWD, and REWIND along with Volume Up or Down.

What could be simpler.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:22 AM

In case you didn't know, those solid state memory cards come in different writing speeds (at different prices of course). For cameras, this can affect performance, but I don't know if it would come into play for audio work. Ensure you get the right speed cards.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 05:56 AM

I use an Olympus DM-20 digital voice recorder with a Sony stereo mic on a table-top tripod (from Maplin). I'm sure that audio buffs are curling up and dying at this but it works just fine for my purposes. The recorder gives over 4 hours of recording, in stereo mode, and the only criticism that I have concerns the fact that memory is built-in, rather than in the form of SD cards, as with previous models. The DM-20 can be connected to a computer via a USB cable. Files are in WMA form and can be burnt to CD. One big advantage, from my point of view, is that you don't need a post-grad qualification in IT to operate it - as you do with a MD recorder! For any consumer electronics marketing people out there - I'll trade slightly lower quality for ease-of-use any time!

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: treewind
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 04:02 AM

Edirol was expensive last I looked (but I haven't checked this new product out) and the Marantz recorders are also expensive but professional grade, though I've read some reviews by audio pros who didn't think much of it.

Definitely a step up in price ftom a minidisc. Noise-free solid state is definitely the way things are going, and if it will plug into a computer and simply look like an external removable disk drive, like cameras do, that's a big selling point.

(none of this "playback only" nonsense with Net MD, please...)

Anahata

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Bardford
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:58 AM

A quick search finds price around US $500 for the Marantz portable.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Bardford
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:35 AM

Then, there is this gizmo which has features aplenty, including XLR input, and uses compact flash. I couldn't find a price, however.

Marantz PMD 660 Portable Solid State Recorder

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 10:59 PM

Any of your valued opinions would be appreciated concerning the new recorder being offered by Roland/Edirol. Their R-1 WAV/MP3 Recorder sounds sweet and I like that it has USB2 connectivity. The battery options are 2 AAs or a wall wort AC adapter. There are no noise issues because it's solid state design records to a compact flash card.

more here about R-1 specs

Does anyone own/use one of these recorders? Are they truly the cool new tool to buy? Does the hefty $400 price tag make you shy away? Does the 2.5 hours of recording time and/or 5.5 hours of playback make this a poor choice compared to the MD players?

Inquiring minds need some guidance. Brothers and sisters can you spare an opinion?

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 08:39 PM

Sian
I use an old Sharp MD-SR60 minidisc r4corder with a Jessops SDX-400 stereo mic designed for a video recorder. About £30.
The results are excellent and, so far, no problems. There is no handling noise, which one often gets with handheld mics.
I try to use my mic on a small table-top tripod, again from Jessops, about £5.
Suggest you investigate mics designed for video us, as they can usually be found cheaper than those for audio. In the ususl surroundings of a folk club, singaround or concert the extranous audience noise will disguise any percieved deficiencies in the mic.
Colyn.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 08:12 AM

I've got a Sony MZ-NH700 (High density) and think it's great. I thought the Sony microphones were a rip off but found a dealer on Ebay who made his own (stereo) mics for about 25-33% that Sony wanted and it works fine.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: treewind
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 07:36 AM

According to the MD community's data page on the MZ-NH1 that looks like a very fine machine and not a bad price either. Sort of thing I'd get if my MZ-R30 ever breaks. I particularly like that it has a mic sensitivity switch, a feature that was dropped from many recent models. I always use it in the less sensitive position and the auto level control rarely kicks in

The Sony mic isn't bad, but you can buy a small electret mic for less than £30 in cheap electronics shops, and they work well enough for most purposes - i.e. surprisingly good sound. If I really wanted much better I wouldn't be using minidisc!

Anahata

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 07:14 AM

Mike info
Giok

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 06:50 AM

I've been generally advised to get a good mic, as this will be used for trac (www.trac-cymru.org) work as well as my own amusement. I'm OK with technology but when it comes to specifics I trust other people to point me and my charge-card in the right direction. That's just the sort of recommendation I need so, thanks, Giok. I'll look for that mic ...

siân

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 06:38 AM

I have one of these Sian and I think it's smashing,used in conjunction with a Sony ECM-MS907 Microphone I get outstanding results. The microphone is expensive, and a cheaper one would do for lectures but not for sessions.
Giok

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 06:30 AM

I'm thinking of getting a minidisc recorder in the very near future and am looking at the Sony MZ-NH1 which I should be able to get for around 125 UKpounds. Any thoughts on this machine? I see that Sharps and Panasonics are mentioned above, but I wouldn't know enough to make an educated decision. I also would need a fairly decent mic for recording sessions and lectures.

All input greatfully received,

siân

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 05:02 PM

"weight of luggage is a factor"

I know.. that's my point.. a good HD mini-disc player and 2 HD Mini-discs with 45 hours of music EACH I'll bet you weighs I'd guss about as much as a portable CD player with NO Cds....

A great option!

:-)

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From:
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 04:56 PM

Shepherdlass, I believe it is covered early in the thread. However, note that you CAN purchase a Preamp for your microphone that will work with the Line-In of your machine. Small and compact. See the information at http://www.minidisc-canada.com/. Look under Microphone Accessories.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 04:50 PM

Oh, Clinton, I will be going on public transport- where the weight of luggage is a factor.

Actually I am just trying to avoid taking X number of CDs along. Dark comes early these days and when I can no longer watch the landscape panorama going by my window each day I will be doing a lot of sketching, etc, while listening to music. I will be taking some songs to learn and some just to listen to. With headphones/earplug, I'll be happy as can be.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 04:12 PM

Actually, according to the email I just got from Minidisco, it's more like 45 hours...

:-)

and at $6.78 a disc, would it hurt so much to have 2?

LOL

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 03:24 PM

Thanks, guys. Clinton, 43 hours might do. :)

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: shepherdlass
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 03:16 PM

This may have been pointed out already - haven't read the whole thread as I'm in a rush - but I thought I should cover it in case no-one else had.

If you're going to record with a mic, please don't make the mistake I did: I failed to check whether the MZ N510 had a mic socket - it only has a line in, which is great for transferring recorded music but doesn't give any kind of pre-amp boost for less powerful inputs. Therefore anything recorded with a mic sounds more than a bit distant. Other than that, it's a great bit of kit, lightweight and very reliable. Just make sure you get the full specs before buying!!!

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 02:46 PM

Hi-Density Mini-disc players can get 43 hours of music on one HD disc...

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 01:57 PM

How many hours of music can I put on a minidisc, Giok?

I have a friend who has a tech store, primarily featuring Sony. I know they sell minidiscs. Do I need a speacial feature on an MD?

Thank you.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 01:05 PM

Minidisc Ebbie IMHO
Giok

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 12:58 PM

I am one of those people who 'has problems' with gadgetry. I can learn simple functions beautifully though!

This weekend I'm embarking on a 30 day train trip. I don't want to take along a stack of CDs but I do want music. I'm told that iPod is the way to go, with MP3 that I 'rip' off the CDRom, and that it will hold all the music from my current collection of CDs that I could possibly want.

Is this how I want to go? Any further advice?

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 09:56 AM

I'll happily take it off yer hands John C.!

:-)

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: John C.
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 05:35 AM

Reading this thread I am struck by the thought that the world really is divided into those who can operate gadgets and those who have problems (I fall into the last category).
I had to smile at one of the contributions above in which we are informed that the Sony MD recorder is easy and merely requires mastering a 24 branch decision tree (with subsections). I could probably just about cope with 5 options: 'on', 'off', 'record', 'stop recording', 'transfer files to computer' - I can't even imagine why you might need (at least) 19 more!

Subject: RE: Looking For A Good Tape recorder
From:
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 05:28 PM

Hi,
I'm looking to purchase a good quality tape recorder. I need a dual speed tape recorder with both 3.75 and 7.50 speeds. I can be contacted on 0412 367 059 or the email address is [e-mail].

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 06:39 AM

Hey Clinton, go and have a drink, man. What happened, your Christmas shopping getting you down? I have a right to use my crappy experience to tell people that Sony makes products for twelve year olds -- we were asked for our advice. That was my advice. Am I supposed to be a shill for Sony?

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: MaineDog
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 05:22 PM

So who is going to build the recording gear of the future, if not the 12-yera-old nerds of today? I was a 12 year old nerd once, and it led to a 37 year engineering career.
MD

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From:
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 04:43 PM

ConcertinaChap
Um, all the Sony MiniDiscs I have used or owned, are set to start recording AFTER the end of the last track. You CAN set it to start wherever it happens to be (like right in the middle of a track), but that's not usually desired. HOWEVER, you might drop the unit, and it is mis-aligned so it tries to start recording at Track 1. If you notice that it is starting at Track 1, you should NOT press STOP! Take OUT the Battery. It will keep it from writing a new Table of Content and thereby losing whatever else was on the disk.

DebC,
the newer model to the R700 is the N707. It is identical to the R700 but with the Group capability. Same inputs, Mic & Line/Optical In.

John C (any relation to Deb? 8-)
I found the MiniDisc machines fairly easy to operate. Except for the Jog-Wheel thingie, it is the same as a Tape Recorder. In some ways it reminds me of the oldest tape recorder I had, a Sanyo with the T shift lever.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 04:25 PM

PM sent John C.!

:-)

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: John C.
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 04:14 PM

I bought a Sony MD recorder a couple of years ago and soon discovered that you needed a degree in computer science just to switch it on. After failing to record several things I consigned it to a drawer where it languishes still. Needless to say I will not be buying any more Sony equipment - ease of use is my no. 1 requirement for electronic/digital gear.
As a sort of stop-gap, until something better comes along, I tried using an Olympus voice recorder with the Sony ECM-MS907 microphone that I bought to go with the MD recorder (that just has an on/off switch which even I can operate!). The recorder takes a 64 Mb SD card which can hold 22 hours of recordings (!). It is also possible to download the files onto a hard disk, via a USB cable, and convert them to WAV files. Obviously the quality isn't brilliant but, by coincidence, a friend recently leant me some reel-to-reel tapes that he made on a Ferguson recorder back in the 60s - the quality is at least as good as that (much better than I thought I had any right to expect).
At least now I have a personal record of some of the great singing that I have heard during 2004.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: 12string growler
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 03:03 PM

Woolworth's (Big W) or any of the Superstores like Tesco, Asda(part of walmart), Morrisons, etc also stock em with multi-way dc power jacks.

Chris

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: DebC
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 02:57 PM

Thanks, Chris. Didn't know that Tandy was no more.

Deb

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: 12string growler
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 02:22 PM

DebC
"Visiting a TANDY Store", Sorry to tell you that Tandy stopped trading in the UK around 3 or 4 years ago and sold their shops to Carphone Warehouse. You could try MAPLIN's, CURRY's, DIXONS, POUNDSTRETCHER's etc all nationwide chains. You could also try the first street market you come across. They will sell you the same gear with a different lable but cheeper. Expect to pay £3 to £5.

Chris

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: DebC
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 12:22 PM

This has been a great thread.

My Sony MZ-R700 died when I was in the UK last year. Apparently (and I got this from the minidisc.org site) you need to use an AC adapter for the country you are in rather than use an adapter plug to convert the voltage.

I looked into getting mine fixed, but it would have cost more than the unit was worth, So I researched the newer models. A mic input was essential, which the R700 had. With the exception of the Sony NZ-900, the later models dropped the mic input.

So on the recommendation of a friend, I went to Ebay and bid on and won a Sony MZ-R50 that is in perfect condition. It really is a nice machine and you can bet that I'll be visiting a Tandy store when I am in the UK in '05 and purchasing a 6 volt adapter for use in Britain.

BTW-the stereo mic I use is a ECM-ds 70

Deb Cowan

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 12:05 PM

That MDP500 looks the biz, anybody got a spare $1400?
Giok

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 11:01 AM

"End Search"

Mine defaults to beginning recordings from the 'end' already...   As a matter of fact, I think that's the default to all of them now... if you don't want it to do that, you have to turn that feature off...   And well, given how inexpencive the discs are... if you don't want to record over something, use a new disc...

Data
Well, the new HD modles will carry data... but as to editing, maybe have a look around -Here-

"it has an interface only a tecchie could love"
So put it back in it's box, and mail it to me, techophobe... oh... wait... you already took it back... so what now? Yer just here to bitch and suck and whine and moan all over this thread? Get stuffed

Here's a quarter... make a phone call to someone who cares, and have them come and build you a bridge so you can get the f#ck over it!

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 08:57 AM

There is a gotcha you hould know about on many (maybe all?) Sony MD recorders. There is a little button called End Search that you are supposed to press before you do any recording on a disk that already has something on it that you want to keep. If you don't, you run the risk of over-recording the material that was already there. The minidisk communtiy site has some sad sob-stories from people who have overwritten the only recording of their daughter's wedding and the like. Other makers apparently manage without this button.

Chris

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: treewind
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 08:22 AM

SCSI MD data drives for PCs (or Mac) did exist once but they're long dead now.

You couldn't read audio data with them anyway - all you could do was start/stop record and play on audio disks. With data MDs they were like Iomega Zip and Jaz but slower and more expensive. Bit of a dead duck really.

Anahata

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 08:02 AM

Like most of these things, it has an interface only a tecchie could love. We are twenty years into the human-centred design movement, and these people still have no idea. Not everyone is a twelve year old nerd.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: What kind of minidisc recorder?
From: MaineDog
Date: 21 Dec 04 - 08:43 PM

I'm looking for a mini-disk data drive that interfaces to a computer, via scsi or ide, and allows us to edit the actual data on the minidisk.
Any ideas?
MD