Topic: Sony MD is dead

[gkatz]

I have had this sony for a few months. it is the MZ-N707 model. it has always had no problems. now after letting it sit/no use for about a month, it wont turn on. with freshly opened batteries, nothing. although the one thing I do notice is that when I tilt the screen I can see the all the letters and stuff when I press the on button.

is it worth taking apart and maybe cleaning it or something?

[sunjan]

Is it worth it?
Well, you can get a working replacement unit on ebay for $25:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220669457707

But if you have free time on your hands and want to tinker, there's no harm trying.
Does it light up when connected to AC with the wall wart?

Either way, if you used it for taping, this is a good cue to move on.
Lossy technology has been dead for years.

[andromedanwarmachine]

Hey gkatz-

I've just realised you were talking about Minidisk!!

Wow, I don't meet alot of people still talking about that format- I'm a bit of a diehard MD user myself and have chewed out nearly 1000 discs since I started using it (over from cassette) back in '96 ahead of a trip to South America I was going on.

You still use that all the time then, yeah?

JimP

[gkatz]

I haven't exactly used it that long, it was just a cheap alternative that I could start out with.

[andromedanwarmachine]

I'll tell you why it appeals to me-

Because there's no technology involved! Or more to the point- No computers and as such the media is stable from the point you eject...

[sunjan]

the media is stable from the point you eject...

So are SD memory cards... 

Seriously. The drawbacks of moving parts while recording are enough to make the scales tip over in favour of solid state recorder. Not to mention lossy compression.
This is a window of opportunity for you to take the leap to newer technology..

[andromedanwarmachine]

yes- you're right...

- although all of that WAS relevant when I started using MD back in '96!!!!!!!!

I've put up a couple of queries about the choice of best recorder to produce files that will ultimately be manipulated on a Mac but have had NO feedback...

anythoughts yourself?

JimP

[earmonger]

Ah, good old MD. The gateway drug for stealth recording...irresistibly small. I was also very fond of my MZ-N707 despite its almost entirely user-unfriendly and anti-intuitive experience. Someday I'll get around to uploading all those discs with the MZ-RH1. But those days are gone...

You don't have to worry about format any more from any decent digital recorder.  No more restrictive proprietary format like MD. New units record in .wav or, to save space, .mp3. You can upload those to a Mac and play with them using any sound-editing program (free Audacity, for instance).

The Sony PCM-M10 is small, solid, easy to use, has incredible battery life and makes excellent recordings. You can find it as low as $199. And just like MD, it has a track-mark button on the unit and on the remote. (It also has a record button on the remote, so you never have to take it out of your pocket--stealthy enough?)

Once I got the PCM-M10, I had to wonder why I put up with MD for so long.

yes- you're right...

- although all of that WAS relevant when I started using MD back in '96!!!!!!!!

I've put up a couple of queries about the choice of best recorder to produce files that will ultimately be manipulated on a Mac but have had NO feedback...

anythoughts yourself?

JimP

[gkatz]

I realize MD is a dying breed. It is super stealthy though.

I really wish I could get an M-10, except I'm a college student and I don't exactly have much money to toss around. maybe someone has a DR-07 or something that I could get for real cheap when I save up some money.

would the new DR-03 be something worthy? any other "voice recorder" type machines that would cut it with with small mics and my church BB? I really want a temporary fix so I can have a memory from my upcoming phish show at mullins. and maybe so I can try to stealth Bob Dylan, also at mullins. I got seats for that just fob/dfc and I really want to try something out. I have some BMC-2's on loan from fmaderdr.

[beatkilla]

I have a Sharp md mt 290 i dont use anymore.I will sell it and include core sound low cost low sensitivity binaurals which run off the plug in power of the md deck,no battery box needed.This is as low profile as you can get.$80 shipped.