Topic: Transferring MD's: Need advice

[Popmarter]

Hi, I want to transfer my minidiscsmasters, but I need some opinions on what is best to do.

I have a Sony MDS-JE640 deck which plays all masters (mono/LP2) and has optical out. So that is go to start, I guess.

But what to use next? I prefer to end up with all masters in 24bit/96khz.

I prefer to record it outside of the pc (which is old, slow etc.). For this I can use a Behringer ultramatch pro src 2496 / edirol r44 digi in. / SD mix pre-d (?) / Iriver h120 (digi-in).

Hope to hear,

[page]

Hi, I want to transfer my minidiscsmasters, but I need some opinions on what is best to do.

I have a Sony MDS-JE640 deck which plays all masters (mono/LP2) and has optical out. So that is go to start, I guess.

But what to use next? I prefer to end up with all masters in 24bit/96khz.

All of your MDs will end up as 16/44.1 unless you do D>A>D which sort of defeats the point of a higher sample/bitrate.

I prefer to record it outside of the pc (which is old, slow etc.). For this I can use a Behringer ultramatch pro src 2496 / edirol r44 digi in. / SD mix pre-d (?) / Iriver h120 (digi-in).

The simple method that guarantees no resampling is MD (optical) > H120. My H120 has been sort of wonky with recording lately so I've been finishing up my transfers with a usbpre2>722 which brings me to your alternative of the MD (optical) > behringer > r-44. I don't know if the behringer resamples all the time or of it's just when you select a different sample rate than the incoming signal, that would be something to look up.

[earmonger]

If you have a whole lot of MDs you might try to get your hands on the MZ-RH1 or MZ-M200 (same thing). It will directly upload files from the minidiscs with Sony's SonicStage  (PC software) which you can then convert to .wav with SonicStage.

Unfortunately the MZ-RH1 is insanely expensive from the few places that still have new ones. You might try trolling eBay or Craigslist or see if someone in MD land can lend you one or help you upload.

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

[Popmarter]

If you have a whole lot of MDs you might try to get your hands on the MZ-RH1 or MZ-M200 (same thing). It will directly upload files from the minidiscs with Sony's SonicStage  (PC software) which you can then convert to .wav with SonicStage.

Unfortunately the MZ-RH1 is insanely expensive from the few places that still have new ones. You might try trolling eBay or Craigslist or see if someone in MD land can lend you one or help you upload.

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

Thanks for pointing at this. Seems like te 'best' technical solution, but i have not been able to find one for sale yet. not sure if i want at all, as i was not planning on spending money on this. probably never use it again anyway.

[Popmarter]

Hi, I want to transfer my minidiscsmasters, but I need some opinions on what is best to do.

I have a Sony MDS-JE640 deck which plays all masters (mono/LP2) and has optical out. So that is go to start, I guess.

But what to use next? I prefer to end up with all masters in 24bit/96khz.

All of your MDs will end up as 16/44.1 unless you do D>A>D which sort of defeats the point of a higher sample/bitrate.

I prefer to record it outside of the pc (which is old, slow etc.). For this I can use a Behringer ultramatch pro src 2496 / edirol r44 digi in. / SD mix pre-d (?) / Iriver h120 (digi-in).

The simple method that guarantees no resampling is MD (optical) > H120. My H120 has been sort of wonky with recording lately so I've been finishing up my transfers with a usbpre2>722 which brings me to your alternative of the MD (optical) > behringer > r-44. I don't know if the behringer resamples all the time or of it's just when you select a different sample rate than the incoming signal, that would be something to look up.

hi page, hmm, it is interesting to see now that the iriver records it to 16bit/44khz, which gives me the idea it does a resample (as the source is ATRAC). If that is true, would there be any difference to a resample done by a Behringer Ultramatch? (which also picks 16bit/44khz automaticly when connected to my MD optical out). Its all digital anyway?

As pointed out by Earmonger would the 'best' way to be a transfer through USB with a different/hard to find/expensive MD-player. As far as I know the file than ends 
on your harddisc as 'original source'.

pff, not sure what i am looking for now...probably some explaination/confirmation that the Iriver does not resample. Not that I do not trust your answer btw, I just do not get it full

[page]

hi page, hmm, it is interesting to see now that the iriver records it to 16bit/44khz, which gives me the idea it does a resample (as the source is ATRAC). If that is true, would there be any difference to a resample done by a Behringer Ultramatch? (which also picks 16bit/44khz automaticly when connected to my MD optical out). Its all digital anyway?

While at a low-level technical area it's true that it resamples when it does the format conversion, that's occuring in the MD unit, not the recorder. Thats just part of the decoding process and will have to occur somewhere to get PCM out of it.

Now, it would be preferable, but not required to avoid pointless digital resampling (such as the R-4 does on the incoming digital data) down stream at the recorder or interface stage.

As pointed out by Earmonger would the 'best' way to be a transfer through USB with a different/hard to find/expensive MD-player. As far as I know the file than ends 
on your harddisc as 'original source'.

pff, not sure what i am looking for now...probably some explaination/confirmation that the Iriver does not resample. Not that I do not trust your answer btw, I just do not get it full

See above. That should clarify things a bit. The iriver won't resample based on earlier tests here (assuming a rockbox'ed iriver), but I don't know about the behringer.

One thing to consider, you can do the conversion from ATRAC on your PC via the upload or you can let the hardware do it. Either way it has a conversion. I gave up trying to find a unit that would do the upload and settled for just optical out, figured that was "the cost of doing business" with minidiscs since, like you, I wasn't going to visit this again anyway.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

hi page, hmm, it is interesting to see now that the iriver records it to 16bit/44khz, which gives me the idea it does a resample (as the source is ATRAC). If that is true, would there be any difference to a resample done by a Behringer Ultramatch? (which also picks 16bit/44khz automaticly when connected to my MD optical out). Its all digital anyway?

Based on my limited knowledge of MD...  The MD Player with Optical out is doing the Resampling and outputting PCM 16/44.  The iRiver would only be recording this signal... 

As pointed out by Earmonger would the 'best' way to be a transfer through USB with a different/hard to find/expensive MD-player. As far as I know the file than ends 
on your harddisc as 'original source'.

Earmonger is "more" correct, that a USB Transfer would be best.  I assume this kind of Transfer would allow you to Transfer the Raw ATRAC file to your PC for later processing (to PCM or whatever).

But there is nothing "incorrect" about either method.  Running your MDs out via the Optical into your iRiver will "good enough" for our purposes here...  I don't think there is anything to be gained by finding a way to Transfer the ATRAC Files via USB... 

I would also avoid any devices placed between the player and recorder.  There's really no reason for it...  Bag the Behringer...

Terry

[Popmarter]

Thanks guys! Very helpful reactions and I am convinced to go optical > Rockboxed Iriver.