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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: sullen on February 24, 2005, 03:59:33 PM

Title: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: sullen on February 24, 2005, 03:59:33 PM

Hi !!!

Probably stupid question but im beyond a newbie.

Today someone gave me a Sony MZ-NF610 "type s" MD recorder......


It has an optical in but no mic jack.

If i get a battbox and mics, will this work??????

Or do they have to have the microphone in?

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: urobouros on February 24, 2005, 05:13:45 PM

The optical in requires a digital signal.  Mics and/or a batt box will give an analog signal.  An analog to digital converter is neccessary to use the optical in.  For your unit, it's mainly for connecting your pc to the md to upload music from your harddrive or the internet. 

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: hexyjones on February 24, 2005, 05:28:43 PM

Is it possible the optical input is also a analog line in...Like the JB3 and other Sony MDs Ive seen...

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: urobouros on February 24, 2005, 05:30:08 PM

My md is both but it says both on the unit and the literature.  It's possible though.

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: bgalizio on February 24, 2005, 05:45:07 PM

Mine is the same as urubouros' MD - it says "Line In (Optical)" on the unit and in the literature.

If you check http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-NF610.html, it says that the input is line/optical, so you would just be using the MD's internal A/D.

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: urobouros on February 24, 2005, 05:49:07 PM

So you're good then, other than the internal adc might suck  :P

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: sullen on February 25, 2005, 08:31:10 AM

Thanx everyone.

That is why i thought it might work b/c when i was reading about the JB3, remembered "optical in, not mic in"

Quote:
" says that the input is line/optical, so you would just be using the MD's internal A/D."

" So you're good then, other than the internal adc might suck  "

Okay forgive my ignorance once again, but what is "A/D" and adc???

Also what type of device would i need for an analog to digital converter, do they make batbox's that do this>?

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: hexyjones on February 25, 2005, 08:47:33 AM

Note : the JB3 mic in is considered to be particularly bad...and deemed "not usable"

The MD mic ins, in general are "useable" - (but perhaps not ideal...)

A/D is "Analog to Digital Converter" - there is one built in to your MD - id say you're safe to use that...

You say you have no mic in, so you are looking at an external pre that will drive the analog line in sufficiently...or external pre with a built in A/D so you can use the optical input on the MD...

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: Humbug on February 25, 2005, 08:56:26 AM

Quote from: sullen on February 24, 2005, 03:59:33 PM

If i get a battbox and mics, will this work??????

Yes, record "Line In".

Thought about type of mics / open or stealth / budget etc? Lots and lots of info on this here site..

Title: Re: Optical in on sony MD.... ?????
Post by: Brian Skalinder on February 25, 2005, 12:12:52 PM

Quote from: sullen on February 25, 2005, 08:31:10 AM

Okay forgive my ignorance once again, but what is "A/D" and adc???

Check out a few of the threads in the Where To Begin (http://taperssection.com/index.php?board=46.0) forum.