Topic: Moving recordings from unit to computer - Best way .

[linv5800]

Hey everyone ,
   Im new here but not to recording . Well not too new . lol.
What is the best way to transfer my recordings from my Sony MZ-N1 Mini-Disc recorder
to my computer . With the included Sony Software , you can transfer
from the computer to the Mini-Disc but not the other way around .
So i've been using the Line-in on my sound card and the headphone
output on the sony to do it . There is an optical out ont the Sony and
a optical in on my motherboard , But never seem to have any luck that way
and im not sure why .
  Does anyone here have any suggestions on a better way to do this or
should i figure out the optical way to do it . Seems that would be the best way .
  Ive been asking alot of questions here lately , some silly im sure , but i am
forever greatful and appreciative for all the info i've been getting . Thank you all .

[faninor]

I think your recorder only has an optical input, not output. To get a better transfer than you're doing currently, you would need different hardware. A full-size Minidisc deck with optical outputs (this is a good resource to find models fitting your needs: http://www.minidisc.org/equipment_browser.html) or you need a Sony MZ-RH1 or MZ-M200 (which are the only way to transfer faster than real-time playback). Or find someone with the equipment who would do it for you.

[John Willett]

Most portable MiniDisk recorders did not have a digital out - only analogue.

I bought a second-hand Sony Pro Broadcast machine with digital outs to do my transfers.

Otherwise it's a case of having to output in analogue and do another A/D conversion.

[earmonger]

If you have a lot of recordings and are willing to go to some expense to save time, the MZ-RH1 or MZ-M200--it's the same unit, MZ-M200 is packaged with a Sony mic--will digitally upload the recordings to the infamous SonicStage.

It's the only unit that does this. And it's costly, probably over $300, and hard to find. But depending on how many MDs you want to transfer, it might be worth considering.

The uploads will be encrypted to play only on that particular computer. But you can then, also in SonicStage, take the copy protection off the recordings and convert them to .mp3 or .wav--which I would suggest doing, since the ATRAC (.oma) format is on the way to extinction.

By the way, there are even limitations on the uploading capability of the MZ-RH1. If your MDs were music downloaded from the computer, then they are not going anywhere. But I assume you're talking about live recordings that originated on the MZ-N1 in SP, LP2 or LP4 format, and those should upload.

Sony's atonement for the sins of MD is the PCM-M10. I almost forgive them. Almost.

[page]

A full-size Minidisc deck with optical outputs (this is a good resource to find models fitting your needs: http://www.minidisc.org/equipment_browser.html)

In my experience, the cheapest one with an optical out has been the MDS-JE500, I got mine off of ebay for about $50 plus shipping a year ago. For some reason I swear it doesn't have a coax spdif connector, just optical. Haven't looked at the back in a long time.

[12milluz]

Shamless plug: I have a unit in the yard sale that is a mini disc rack unit that has optical out. If you do have optical in on your motherboard, this would work.

[faninor]

A full-size Minidisc deck with optical outputs (this is a good resource to find models fitting your needs: http://www.minidisc.org/equipment_browser.html)

In my experience, the cheapest one with an optical out has been the MDS-JE500, I got mine off of ebay for about $50 plus shipping a year ago. For some reason I swear it doesn't have a coax spdif connector, just optical. Haven't looked at the back in a long time.

I used to have... I think an MDS-JE530. The digital ins/outs were optical, no coax if I recall. I paid somewhere around $350 in 2004, sold it just before moving to California in 2007 for not too much less.

This year I got an MZ-M200 to transfer a ton of discs that I couldn't get to before I had sold the JE530. I do like how quick it is, but they are not built to last. The thing died on me with only 15 MDs remaining to transfer. It was still under warranty so I sent it to Sony... it's been in their hands for 48 days. When I initially contacted them their phone support told me there would be a 10-15 day turnaround time.

Two weeks after they receive it I got a call from the technician working on it who says he can't find anything wrong with it. No idea what he was checking because the thing cannot read from or write to discs.

I'll be calling them for about the 15th time tomorrow morning to make sure they don't send the replacement while I'm out of state visiting family for the holidays.

[andromedanwarmachine]

Hi Linv5800,

This is a quandry I have been in myself for a while having an almost 800 strong MD media count and recently confronting Mac based (rather than S/P DIF signal path based real-time) post-production.

You have three (or mabey really only two) choices-

As you have recorded digitally and desire a PC transfer, you should be trying for a digital transfer.

From what I can see of your N1, it has a docking station with USB connectivity. You really want to use this if you can. I have an HHB machine which will appear as a desktop item on my Mac and I can import from there without any proprietary software requirements- albeit in realtime. This arrangement is down to the wonderful compatibility of HHB professional gear but Sony stuff doesn't tend to work like that and it is likely you will have to confront the Sonicstage software interface.
I have a Sony RH1 with which I record Linear PCM uncompressed to and to transfer to computer I have no choice but to use Sonicstage to rip a CD of what has been recorded- faster than realtime; and from there on I have the information. I haven't had any real problems with this but I've only done it a few times. The whole thing froze up when the Laptop/Sonicstage software didn't like the media choice within the CD drive which was odd and you should perhaps be aware of that.

The second option is as quoted to find a cheap deck which will offer S/P DIF O/P. You should try for the electrical connection rather than optical if your soundcard has it. This might be the best outcome as you won't need Sonicstage.

And the third is to drop back into analog and go in unbalanced- which would be selling yourself a little short I think...

JimP

[faninor]

From what I can see of your N1, it has a docking station with USB connectivity. You really want to use this if you can.

You can't, the only thing the USB connection is good for is transferring music from a computer to the minidisc to use the thing as a portable player. It can transfer back, but only to the same computer the music originally came from. (How does it do this? Pretty sure Sonic Stage would leave an ATRAC copy on the computer, it seems pretty pointless and a waste of space.) If you recorded from an analog source the only way to do a purely digital transfer is with different hardware.

[andromedanwarmachine]

oh right... sorry-

well in that case a charity shop or eBay should reveal a domestic deck with the appropriate O/Ps.

I pick them up myself every now and again for about £30 when I see them...

JimP