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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: zowie on November 08, 2005, 09:53:58 PM

Title: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: zowie on November 08, 2005, 09:53:58 PM
I think want to pick one or the other of these up as an extra rig, to be used only on rare occassions for super low profile with mics running straight into the deck.  They cost about the same.  I know the pros and cons of each.  Just asking for opinions about which way y'all would go.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 09, 2005, 12:39:59 AM
I GB HIMD discs are still at the $7 price point and are goddamn near impossible to find locally...I have to trek all the way across Atlanta to get them.  Altho I dont know of a local place to get blank DATs other then the same place I get my HIMDs.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: zowie on November 09, 2005, 02:03:40 AM
I just ordered a Hi-MD.  No great financial investment, and they trounce a used stock D7 or D8 in every area (battery life, size, reliability, file uploading, convenience), except PCM record time and arguably sound quality.  Okay, those are both pretty damn important, but I've got those covered with my NJB and laptop rigs (at a tradeoff in size), so I think the MD will be just what I need.  Well, for a while.  ;D

Dunebug, it'd be nice to see a price drop, but you gotta admit $7 per gig for removable media is a pretty fair value compared to compact flash.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 09, 2005, 09:15:17 AM
Ya, its way cheaper then CF but Im used to pay $1 a disc for the 280MB discs at Circuit City.  I wouldnt care much about cost but I use a new disc forevery show so that $7 adds up pretty quick.  I did get a quote from Minidisco.com on 1GB discs and they can do them for ~$5.50 per disc if I order more then 40.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: larrysellers on November 09, 2005, 09:45:52 AM
Ya, its way cheaper then CF but Im used to pay $1 a disc for the 280MB discs at Circuit City.  I wouldnt care much about cost but I use a new disc forevery show so that $7 adds up pretty quick.  I did get a quote from Minidisco.com on 1GB discs and they can do them for ~$5.50 per disc if I order more then 40.

I always thought that was the big advantage of memory based recorder...the ability to upload, archive and format the disc for re-use (ie. no 1-use media). I know some others like to have the media in hand for archive, but I think this option is valid as long as you trust your optical backup. 
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: e1ghtyf1ve on November 09, 2005, 09:48:22 AM
Over the past couple of months, I have compared the audio quality of my M1 with that of my MZ-RH10 for live recording, direct mic-in.  In my opinion, Hi-MD is a great replacement for DAT.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: nickgregory on November 09, 2005, 09:50:05 AM
Over the past couple of months, I have compared the audio quality of my M1 with that of my MZ-RH10 for live recording.  In my opinion, Hi-MD is a great replacement for DAT.

I am curious, what your comparison was based on?  As the MD is a lossy format, I have a hard time seeing how it can be compared to DAT since DAT is lossless
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: zowie on November 09, 2005, 09:56:23 AM
Over the past couple of months, I have compared the audio quality of my M1 with that of my MZ-RH10 for live recording.  In my opinion, Hi-MD is a great replacement for DAT.

I am curious, what your comparison was based on?  As the MD is a lossy format, I have a hard time seeing how it can be compared to DAT since DAT is lossless

Get with the times Nick!

http://www.minidisc.org/hi-md_faq.html
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: larrysellers on November 09, 2005, 09:58:49 AM
Over the past couple of months, I have compared the audio quality of my M1 with that of my MZ-RH10 for live recording.  In my opinion, Hi-MD is a great replacement for DAT.

I am curious, what your comparison was based on?  As the MD is a lossy format, I have a hard time seeing how it can be compared to DAT since DAT is lossless

for Hi-MD, 16-bit PCM is lossless... or are we refering 1 of the various lossy recording options?
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: nickgregory on November 09, 2005, 10:00:07 AM
Over the past couple of months, I have compared the audio quality of my M1 with that of my MZ-RH10 for live recording.  In my opinion, Hi-MD is a great replacement for DAT.

I am curious, what your comparison was based on?  As the MD is a lossy format, I have a hard time seeing how it can be compared to DAT since DAT is lossless

for Hi-MD, 16-bit PCM is lossless... or are we refering 1 of the various lossy recording options?

good to know...though from what I read in teh faq, still time limited....based on max MD size
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: zowie on November 09, 2005, 10:02:39 AM
Over the past couple of months, I have compared the audio quality of my M1 with that of my MZ-RH10 for live recording, direct mic-in.  In my opinion, Hi-MD is a great replacement for DAT.

That's good to hear.  I didn't really think it would compare with the M1, but thought it'd be not much worse than a D8, comparing box to box with no front end.  I once heard a recording done on a friend's HHB portadisc -- compressed SP -- that definitely sounded as good as a stock Sony portable. The HHB's superior preamp and decent converters contributed more than the (then) inferior format took away.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 09, 2005, 10:23:42 AM
Ive got MDs that are 5+ years old and still play just fine.  I dont know what the shelf life is for a MD but so far so good.

The 1GB discs have a bit of a time limit but they can hold up to 2GB which would yeild a 3h10m PCM recording.   I dont know when the 2GB discs will be out...hopefully soon.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 09, 2005, 11:29:11 AM
Ive got MDs that are 5+ years old and still play just fine.  I dont know what the shelf life is for a MD but so far so good.

The 1GB discs have a bit of a time limit but they can hold up to 2GB which would yeild a 3h10m PCM recording.   I dont know when the 2GB discs will be out...hopefully soon.

So what are the drawbacks of a hi-md, when the 2 gb cards come out, they seem to be on par with a dat.

What is the preferred hi-md model?

I think the only draw back to the MZRH-10 (my preferred model) is the disc swap just takes too long.  Longer then the last MD (Sharp MT90) I had.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: melontracks on November 10, 2005, 11:04:58 PM
You should be very happy with your HiMD recorder.  I use a MZ-NH900 to tape shows and it has worked flawlessly.  I use the PCM setting with a HiMD 1 gig disk when I know that the show is going to last less than an hour and a half, and the HiSP setting when at a show that I know is going to go over that without a break (like a Ween show).  On that setting, you can record over 7 hours. That gets you into the whole lossy recording (atrac) debate, but I won't go there.  My ears cannot tell the difference. I use PCM mostly because I don't want to hear people whine about the lossy recording.  Of course, then they start in on the sample rates etc. 

The only downside to MD in my opinion:

1. Takes a long time to swap discs (over a minute sometimes!), as someone else mentioned.

2. I have heard reports that it is very important to keep the deck still when you stop recording, as the player is writing data and creating the table of contents.  If you have a TOC error on a minidisc, you're toast.  Whatever was on that disc is gone.

3. The uploading is fast (even though sonicstage is a p.o.s.!) BUT be careful!  If you interrupt the upload of a show you taped by disconnecting the USB cable or (as happened to me) by doing something to lock up your computer, the track you are uploading will probably be inacessible after you restart, and the file on your computer might be corrupted (read: that track is gone).

Even so, I think the thing is awesome.  To hear some of the stuff I've taped with my MD, search for "melon" on bt.etree.org or thetapersden.com, where I have posted torrents of shows I've taped.

Mel.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: redbook on November 11, 2005, 08:00:05 AM
How is the ADC in those Hi-Md?
Are those corrupted tracks very frequent?
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: madman on November 11, 2005, 08:09:48 AM
I really wish someone other than Sony would make a Hi-MD player.  I plan on getting a new Sharp MD to replace my dinosaur for stealthing purposes.  After I buy an R-1, of course.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 11, 2005, 08:54:25 AM
How is the ADC in those Hi-Md?
Are those corrupted tracks very frequent?

I cant speak for the ADC but the TOC errors are really infrequent.  Ive taped ~300 shows and have had only 2 TOC errors and both were with an older MD so it was recoverable.  I did have a bad disc, or something, happen with my new HIMD.  However I cant really say if it was the player or the disc.  Over all its a pretty solid little box.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: redbook on November 11, 2005, 09:58:18 AM
I'ts good to see the evolution of MD towards lossless formats, but I still don't see why could someone get a MD instead an HD recorder, JB3 is still cheaper and better than MD.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 11, 2005, 10:31:44 AM
I'ts good to see the evolution of MD towards lossless formats, but I still don't see why could someone get a MD instead an HD recorder, JB3 is still cheaper and better than MD.

I like the fact of having removeable media.  If a MD takes a dive on me my whole recorder isnt dead not to mention a NJB3 is huge compared to a MD.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: redbook on November 11, 2005, 10:36:35 AM
I respect your point but I see removable media as a disavantage, as I don't have to buy a disc everytime I want to tape, nor switch between sets or whatever.

But as I said, is good to see MD advance
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: zowie on November 11, 2005, 11:58:11 AM
How is the ADC in those Hi-Md?
Are those corrupted tracks very frequent?

The first thing I'm intending to do when the Hi-MD arrives is compare its ADC to the ADC in the NJB3 by recording line in to both of them from my stereo and then doing a digital transfer of both recordings to CD.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 11, 2005, 12:32:03 PM
How is the ADC in those Hi-Md?
Are those corrupted tracks very frequent?

The first thing I'm intending to do when the Hi-MD arrives is compare its ADC to the ADC in the NJB3 by recording line in to both of them from my stereo and then doing a digital transfer of both recordings to CD.

I never run line in when recording.  Maybe I should try it out.  Ive got DPA 4060s.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: zowie on November 11, 2005, 02:31:35 PM

I never run line in when recording.  Maybe I should try it out.  Ive got DPA 4060s.

The purpose is to compare the two A/D sections, therefore line-in to eliminate the effect of the MD's mic-pre on the comparison (and you can't do a comparison with the pre because the NJB doesn't really have one.)
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 11, 2005, 03:34:58 PM

I never run line in when recording.  Maybe I should try it out.  Ive got DPA 4060s.

The purpose is to compare the two A/D sections, therefore line-in to eliminate the effect of the MD's mic-pre on the comparison (and you can't do a comparison with the pre because the NJB doesn't really have one.)

I get why youre doing that...my comment was more me thinking outloud.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: Cooker on November 11, 2005, 09:33:54 PM
I GB HIMD discs are still at the $7 price point and are goddamn near impossible to find locally...I have to trek all the way across Atlanta to get them.  Altho I dont know of a local place to get blank DATs other then the same place I get my HIMDs.

tape warehouse off of PIB?
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 12, 2005, 12:10:21 AM
I GB HIMD discs are still at the $7 price point and are goddamn near impossible to find locally...I have to trek all the way across Atlanta to get them.  Altho I dont know of a local place to get blank DATs other then the same place I get my HIMDs.

tape warehouse off of PIB?


Frys behind the Gwinnett Place Mall.  They usually keep about 10 or so instock.  What is this Tape Warehouse you speak of?
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: Cooker on November 13, 2005, 10:28:16 AM
tape warehouse is a tape store, they have a huge selection of dat tape, analog tape, pro video tape, etc.

it's off pib, right past tilly mill, i think. in the industrial park on the northbound side of pib. i think it's http://www.tapewarehouse.com

Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: dunebug81 on November 13, 2005, 11:37:06 AM
tape warehouse is a tape store, they have a huge selection of dat tape, analog tape, pro video tape, etc.

it's off pib, right past tilly mill, i think. in the industrial park on the northbound side of pib. i think it's http://www.tapewarehouse.com



Sweet, Ill have to check that place out sometime this week.  I've been looking all over for some audio CD-RWs and best buy is no longer stocking them.
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: nameloc01 on November 15, 2005, 10:21:17 PM
i had used a sony mzr3 for quite some time,and had not one problem with movement during recording nor toc errors on discs.it is also much easier to buy mds often and have removeable media then to have a digital recorder totally crash and end up losing everything on it. i just purchased a new sony hi-md,but it has not seen action yet.the interesting thing is the new mdr has a built in digital equalizer,which for me is very useful as run my recordings straight out of the md into a sony rcdw500 c cd recorder,which burns eq'd versions of my masters.very cool stuff
Title: Re: Hi-MD vs used D8
Post by: zowie on November 16, 2005, 01:11:15 PM
i had used a sony mzr3 for quite some time,and had not one problem with movement during recording nor toc errors on discs.it is also much easier to buy mds often and have removeable media then to have a digital recorder totally crash and end up losing everything on it. i just purchased a new sony hi-md,but it has not seen action yet.the interesting thing is the new mdr has a built in digital equalizer,which for me is very useful as run my recordings straight out of the md into a sony rcdw500 c cd recorder,which burns eq'd versions of my masters.very cool stuff

I never had problems with errors with Sharp MDs, except for one that was defective, but PCM taxes the recorder with like 5 or 6 times the data rate as MD-SP, so as the wall st guys disclaim, "past performance may not be any indication of future performance."

I never had a problem with NJB3 crashing, except for one freeze 25 min into a recording.  That's for over a hundred recordings -- 200-300 hours worth.   And I don't keep everyting on it.  I back up to the computer asap.  Most I'd lose is the evening's show, which is the same thing you'd loose if a minidisc craps out.