RE: [Harp-L] Ipod v Minidisc Recording



I think Jazmaan is right here. It's odd that minidisc hasn't caught on as much as it might have, though it's true that Sony haven't helped the cause with their various copy-protect obsessions. However, minidisc is definitely the cheapest way to get very good quality recordings of your playing. Just forget cassettes. With minidisc you get: (1) no hiss (2) no wow or flutter (3) no rewinding/fast-forwarding (4) total editability of your recordings (5) re-usability of your discs an infinite number of times with no deterioration. In the UK a standard 80min. disc costs about a pound. BUT: if you use the most up-to-date format, "HI-MD," you get the following: (1) you can use HI-MD discs (in the UK about £5 each) which have a 1 GB capacity and which can hold about 8 CDs-worth of music at high quality (much better than mp3) or about 45 CDs at a quality comparable to mp3. (2) you can upload your mic recordings to your computer very quickly. If you want to, you can then convert your minidisc files to WAV files and burn them to CD. In the past the Sony software (SonicStage) that you need for HI-MD has, deservedly, had a bad press, not least because it would only allow you to upload your mic recordings ONCE to your computer. However, if you download the latest version of SonicStage (version 3.2) you'll be able to upload your mic recordings as many times as you like! (3)You can also transfer CDs to minidiscs very quickly on your PC. I have about 50 of my favourite CDs copied at very high quality on to five HI-MD discs, and you just wouldn't know the difference berween those recordings and the CD originals.
Finally, if anyone is considering minidisc recording, you should be aware that: (1) the recorder you buy must have a mic input socket. Not all MD "recorders" have a MIC socket! (2) "Net-MD" is not the same as "HI-MD."


Steve

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
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