Topic: Sony MD Walkman MZ-NH900 - Where's the menu?

[lostockboy]

I have recently acquired a Sony MD Walkman MZ-NH900 and MZ-NH700 which I was hoping to use to record concerts with.  The problem is that no matter what I do, I can not access the menu on either recorder so I can change the recording settings.  I've managed to get the booklets that go with both items but to no avail, any helpers please??

[ilduclo]

use the search here and on Live Music Archive for recordings made with either of those, the tapers may be able to help. Possibly may be some info on the "minidisco" forums, if that still exists. There is also a possibility that there are some reset parameters to restore the recorders to original config. Good luck!

[yug du nord]

try pressing AND holding the menu button.
i've never used those recorders before, but i have used other sony md's.

[yug du nord]

throw an oade mod sbm1 in front of the nh900 and you'll be smokin!!
welcome!!!

[nulldogmas]

I have an NH-900, and can confirm that pressing and holding the NAVI/MENU button should do the trick. (It takes a second or two to respond.)

[lostockboy]

It says that on the instructions but the menu still doesn't appear?

[nulldogmas]

What does happen when you press and hold the MENU button?

[lostockboy]

When I hold the Navi/-Menu button down for a couple of seconds as per instructions Normal and Group appear with Normal flashing.  I've tried numerous combinations to try and get the menu up but to no avail.  I used it to record a concert with using the settings that it is set to but the recording was a disaster so it's pretty much useless to me

[beatkilla]

http://www.minidisc.org/manuals/sony/Sony_MZ-NH900_operation_manual.pdf

I dont have exact answers as i dont have MD anymore but it seems that lightly half pressing the menu button is different than fully pressing and holding the menu button.Also i think  the menu shown is dependent on what mode your in,not a global menu,if in Play mode you get a play menu settings,etc.So i think you need to be in Record mode to get a Record menu?Also There is a Normal menu and ADVANCED menus....i just remember it be very confusing when i had MD also.

[lostockboy]

I've tried all variations of trying to get the menu up but with no success and surely with reading the operating instructions there would be something in there that would make operators aware of any differences in use.   

[beatkilla]

Did you fully read the pdf i linked?Or are you just quessing on which procedures work.Its all spelled out in the pdf if you read it.

[Ozpeter]

If pressing the navi/menu button for a few seconds doesn't work, then device is faulty.  I've just found one in a cupboard that I didn't know I had (!) and there's absolutely no trick to it.  Let's face it, it's pretty antique so it's small wonder if it's not fully functional.

[Life In Rewind]

Isnt there something called a "Hold" or "Lock" button/switch on these things....?

If so, please check!

[lostockboy]

Yes I've downloaded the pdf file and followed the straight forward instructions on how to get the menu up.  I asked the question so when I contacted the seller of the MD I had some sort of back up and when I did contact him he seemed a bit coy over my problem and is saying that he used the MD for different functions hence he didn't need to access the menu but I'm suspecting he's b*********g me.  I got it off Ebay so I'll try and get my money back by saying it's faulty.  Thanks to everybody who replied, it's much appreciated

[Life In Rewind]

Consider it a blessing!

If you're just getting into this...no need to fool with MD...

So many better and affordable options from Tascam, Zoom, etc...

[nulldogmas]

I will second both the "it's broken, send it back" and the "there's no need to be mucking with minidiscs in the year 2014" sentiments.

[ilduclo]

I will 3rd "send it back", but disagree that MD's are not a decent method of getting a recording. I got some great recordings with an old Sharp, and passed it along to another guy who's still using it for decent recordings now
 

[nulldogmas]

I didn't mean that MDs were bad — I used a series of Sharps and Sonys for years and got good recordings out of them. Just that if you're starting from scratch now, there are plenty of other cheap options out there.

[lostockboy]

I use an EdirolR-09HR with a Sony ECM-719 mic usually. After I bought a SP-CMC-8 mic and SP-SPSB-11 battery box to go with the Edirol and having had issues with distortion I tried them with my old Sony MZ-N510 and there was no problem which why I bought the MZ-NH900 as it was a newer model.  But because I can't change the input levels the MD has turned out to be a waste of time as well.  I'm not getting my money back as I have left it to long to make a claim according to Ebay so my only option was to appeal to the sellers better nature which didn't work because as far as he was concerned they worked fine when he auctioned them.  I ended up arguing with him so I'll not be getting my money back 

[earmonger]

The remaining minidisc diehards are here:

http://forums.sonyinsider.com/forum/15-minidisc/

Post a Q and see if someone can help you. You never know.

[F.O.Bean]

I realize that this doesn't help you at all, but why use a dead format that compresses the recordings, when you can get a decent Tascam DR05 or DR07mkii for under $100, that writes uncompressed PCM files? Just add a micro SD card for like $20, and for around $100-$125, you have a rig that will last you a long time! And I could definitely be wrong, but if quality isn't a concern for you, I think that the Tascam decks record to mp3 as well as LPCM files! Can anyone confirm/deny that?

Just thought I would throw that out there since I honestly think you'd be much happier with the Tascam decks