Topic: Hi MD PCM upload-YES!

[cwfen]

According to this link/ diagram, PCM (digital wav.) data recorded on the new Sony HiMD devices CAN be uploaded via high speed usb to the PC... I know there was some dispute over whether this could be done or not, but this seems to clear it up... interesting...

...how about that link! http://www.minidisc.org/hi-md_faq.html#_q101

(edited to keep from being a total idiot...)

[Brian Skalinder]

If memory serves, the question was whether or not PCM WAV data could be transferred digitally from MD to PC under two scenarios:

[1] data fed to the MD via digi-in
[2] data fed to the MD via analog-in

Based on this statement:

"Using Sonicstage, audio data recorded directly to the Hi-MD equipment can be uploaded at high speed to a PC."

The answer is still vague, IMO.  I'm guessing in their misguided attempts to control digital data copying, only data fed to the MD via analog-in may be transferred digitally to PC.

[Sean Gallemore]

skalinder is right, this doesn't prove shit

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I'll stick with my JB3.

2 hour 48k wav file > Firewire > PC = a few minutes. Can't beat that.

MIKE B

[Zaphod]

Then there is this

What new capabilities does Hi-MD equipment provide vs. the existing Minidisc?

Microphone and line input (i.e. analog source) recordings made on Hi-MD equipment can be uploaded at high-speed to Windows PCs via SonicStage (Sony's copyright-protecting audio transfer software).

[pjp]

Then there is this

What new capabilities does Hi-MD equipment provide vs. the existing Minidisc?

Microphone and line input (i.e. analog source) recordings made on Hi-MD equipment can be uploaded at high-speed to Windows PCs via SonicStage (Sony's copyright-protecting audio transfer software).

Hmm, interesting option if I would just want to do analog out from the Nbox, though - could be very nice for stealth situations...still have to worry about disc swaps for longer shows, though.

[cwfen]

Yeah, it is still an interesting option... it is not clear, really, whether or not a digital source can be uploaded... It does say that Copy-protected material can't be uploaded (on the Sony site) and it does seem to indicate that you can upload digital source recordings as long as it's not copy protected... It is probably just the same old SCMS business... 94minute record time for PCM isn't too bad...

[Stumptown Matt]

All the information I have read says that if you record digital you can only upload in real time.  There was a Hi-MD at Sears I looked at yesterday and it did not seem to even have a digital input beyond the USB.

[Brian Skalinder]

All the information I have read says that if you record digital you can only upload in real time.

Real-time or MD > analog > secondary device?

My understanding the Hi-MD works as follows:

Analog-in enables digital-out.
Digital-in allowed analog-out.
But there is no digital-in + digital-out.

[cwfen]

yeah, given the history of Sony and scms/security hang ups, you are probably right, Brian... too bad, seems like interesting technology...

[Roamer]

According to this post :
http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?t=6087
there is now a new tool (not from Sony) to convert the omg files uploaded from HiMD into wav.
It's still alpha work, it's not 100% bit-accurate, but this sound promising for those having HiMD.

[MattD]

The OMG WTF LOL files?

[Roamer]

Or oma files, whatever, I don't have a HiMD myself ...
Follow the link and this one : http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?t=6019

[Brian Skalinder]

there is now a new tool (not from Sony) to convert the omg files uploaded from HiMD into wav.

Clueless about this HiMD business - OMG is the file format HiMD uses to store the audio files when recording analog- or digital-in to the HiMD?

[Roamer]

Allright, I don't have one, but I'll try to explain what I understood (HiMD tapers, feel free to correct me ..). With HiMD, you must use Sonic Stage (from Sony) to download/upload files. But it uses a proprietary file format (omg/oma) that can't be used outside of Sonic Stage. Sony is supposed to provide a patch to let users export files recorded analog. But they haven't released anything yet. One guy has found how to export 1 mn chunk in wav(PCM). Unfortunately, Sony filters API doesn't let you export more (or no one outside Sony knows how it can be done). So this piece of code is exporting small chunks, and trying to do some pattern matching to merge everything into one piece.
But that the first time it's possible to export PCM with HiMD from USB (analog in - digi out). I don't known it it can let export a file recorded digitally, but maybe some HiMD users can experiment with this.
Note:Be sure to have the latest Sonic Stage 2.1 (www.connect.com/download.html) in the first place before trying.