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1.
What’s so special about MiniDisc?
MiniDisc is a versatile digital audio recording format with CD-quality sound
output. It uses a special data compression format (Adaptive Transform
Acoustic Coding, or ATRAC), which allows for excellent digital sound quality
and reduced size. Its re-recordability and editing functions also make it
the easiest, unshockable and versatile recording media on the market.
2. How many times can I record on a recordable MD?
Sony claims a blank MD can handle up to 1 million recordings... Time will
tell!
3. Can I record digitally onto a MiniDisc?
You sure can! All MiniDisc recorders have an optical digital input, which
allows digital recording from a different digital format to MD. You’ll need
to get the appropriate connecting cables, depending on the type of recording
you’re doing (see the FAQs below).
4. If I don’t have the equipment to make a digital
recording, will my recordings sound okay?
Provided that you’ve got a clean source signal, analog recordings generally
sound fine and give nearly inaudible differences from digital ones. Note
however that many computer soundcards have noisy analog output stages, so
when recording from a computer digital transfers are recommended (one
exception is the USB based Xitel MD-Port AN1 which runs outside of the PC
chassis and produces good quiet analog output).
5. Can MiniDisc carry MP3’s or other computer music
formats?
ANY sound that can be played through your computer can be recorded on a
MiniDisc. MP3’s, WAV files, beeps and whirs are all included! However,
unless you have a
NetMD unit, MiniDisc is not a drag and drop format.
6. Cool! How do I record from my computer to a
MiniDisc?
The easiest way to do it is with a 1/8th inch to 1/8th inch stereo mini-plug
cable, which we sell in our
Accessories section. Connect one end of this cable to your computer’s
headphone jack, and the other to your MD recorder’s line-in jack. Then, play
the audio file through your music management software while recording on the
MD recorder. This will give you an analog recording, so you’ll lose a little
bit of sound quality in the process (see question 4 above).
7. Can I also make a digital recording from my
computer to a MiniDisc?
You can also make a direct digital recording from your computer to
MiniDisc and lose no sound quality at all. This can be achieved in two ways.
With the first method, you’ll need an upgraded computer sound card that
includes an optical output (such as such as
MAudio’s Dio 2448 and
Delta Dio 2496 cards). Connect your MD recorder to the optical output on
the sound card with a TOSlink to mini-plug optical cable. Play the sound
file through your computer while recording on your MiniDisc unit.
The second (and easier) way to do this is through your computer’s USB port.
You’ll need a Xitel MD-Port
DG-2 or another
USB to MD audio device converter, which will connect your MiniDisc
recorder to the USB port on your computer. Then, begin recoding as above.
No matter how you decide to record, Make sure you turn off all other
computer sounds— your MD recorder will pick up ANY AND ALL sounds that emit
from your computer!
8. Can I record from my MD unit to my computer (or
another audio device)?
Yes, with the proper cables. For a computer, this would mean connecting an
analog cable (an 1/8th inch to 1/8th inch stereo mini-plug cable) between
your MD unit’s line-out to your sound card’s line in (or your computer’s
microphone input). If you’re looking to transfer audio from MD to your
computer digitally, you need an MD unit that is capable of digital output
(all current consumer MD portable recorders lack this feature, but most
professional portables and higher-end home MD decks have it) plus the
correct digital audio cable (usually a TOSlink to TOSlink optical cable).
You may also need an SCMS manager (see questions 16-17 below).
9. How does the “near CD” quality of MiniDisc really
compare to CDs? Can anyone tell the difference?
When the first MiniDisc unit appeared on the market years ago, the
difference between a CD and an MD recording of the same CD was easily
distinguished. However, over the years, ATRAC (the compression technique
employed by MiniDiscs) has improved greatly, and now it requires careful
listening with sensitive ears and expensive equipment to hear any difference
between a CD original and an MD recording.
See The
MiniDisc Community Page’s collected assessments of MD audio quality by
members of the Audio and HiFi press.
10. How do you transfer a CD track to a MiniDisc?
There are a number of ways of doing this, depending on the type of CD player
you have. In general, you’ll need to match the correct cable with the kind
of equipment you’ve got.
* From a Standard Portable CD player, you’ll need a 1/8th inch to 1/8th inch
stereo mini-plug cable. Connect this cable from the CD player’s headphone or
line-out jack to the MD recorder’s line-in jack. If you have a Portable CD
player with a digital optical output, you can make a direct digital copy
from CD to MD. You’ll need a 1/8” inch to 1/8” inch optical mini-plug to
mini-plug cable. Connect this cable from the CD player’s optical output to
the MD recorders optical in jack (which is usually the same as the line-out
jack).
* From a CD component deck or home stereo system, you’ll need one of two
cables. If your home stereo equipment is relatively new AND has a TOSlink
optical output, you’ll need a TOSlink to mini-plug optical cable. Connect
this cable from the home stereo’s TOSlink jack to the MD recorder’s
optical-in jack. This will allow direct digital recording from CD to MD.
If your home stereo equipment doesn’t have a TOSlink optical output, you’ll
need a Stereo RCA to mini-plug cable. Connect the RCA end into an available
RCA output on your stereo receiver, and the mini-plug end into the line-in
of your MD recorder.
11. How about recording from other sources, such as the
radio, LPs, cassettes, etc?
Absolutely! MiniDisc can hold any audio source. Just connect the MD recorder
to the headphone/line-out or other output on your stereo, cassette deck,
etc. Begin recording as above.
12. Can I do live recordings, such as concerts, lectures,
interviews, rehearsals, etc?
You sure can. All portable MiniDisc recorders (except the Sony MZ-R500) have
a microphone input, and have excellent responsiveness. In most cases, the
quality of your live recording will depend on the quality of the microphone
you use. However, if you’re going to be recording live, we recommend
purchasing a recorder that’ll allow you to adjust the recording level on the
fly (i.e., without having to stop the recording). All Sharp MD recorders
have this ability.
13. Can I record digitally from one MiniDisc recorder to
another, or from a MiniDisc to another digital format (like DAT or CD)?
Not very easily— most MiniDisc recorders (except some professional gear and
higher-end home decks) only have an analog output. They are also encoded
with SCMS, which restricts the digital transfer signal.
14. What is SCMS?
SCMS stands for Serial Copy Management System. It’s basically the result of
an agreement between electronics manufacturers and the recording industry to
restrict copyright infringement in the consumer market. SCMS is an actual
digital data stream that is encoded with the digital music track when it’s
transmitted to a MiniDisc. This data restricts digital copies (or clones)
from standard MiniDiscs to any other digital source.
15. But what if I’m doing my own recording, in which the
copyright question doesn’t apply? Can I bypass the SCMS signal?
In some cases, you can. You’ll need a professional MD portable or a higher
end MiniDisc home deck with an optical output, AND a digital format
converter that can strip out the SCMS signal.
Maudio’s CO3 is a great converter box for this purpose.
16. Can all things be done on a portable MiniDisc
recorder that can be done on a larger MiniDisc deck?
Yes, almost all. MiniDisc decks usually have finer editing precision when
dividing tracks (so called “rehearsal modes”), and some have PS/2 keyboard
connectors to make titling easier. Decks may have somewhat better analog
input/output quality (but unlike portables, usually do not have microphone
inputs). When recording digitally from a CD, MD decks and portable recorders
are essentially equivalent. The one major difference is that some home MD
decks have digital output and portables do not.
17. What is MDLP?
MiniDisc Long Play. It’s a new MiniDisc compression technology that allows
significantly more audio recording time on a MiniDisc than previously
possible. MDLP-capable recorders can now fit up to over 5 hours of music on
a single MiniDisc!
The encoding method offers two modes: LP2 and LP4. LP2 will record twice as
much audio (i.e. 148 minutes on a 74 minute disc and 160 minutes on an 80
minute disc); LP4 will record four times as much audio (i.e. 296 minutes on
a 74 minute disc 320 minutes on an 80 minute disc.
18. Will the new MDLP units play back old (“SP” mode)
discs?
Yes.
19. Will the new MDLP units record “old” (SP mode)
tracks?
Yes.
20. Can a MiniDisc recorded in MDLP be played back on
old, non-MDLP hardware?
No. The track will be played back as silence
21. How high quality is the LP mode audio?
LP2 mode is actually quite close to standard ATRAC. LP4 mode has noticeably
diminished highs and lows, but is still suitable for portable applications
and MP3 downloads (which generally aren’t great quality anyway).
22.What
is NetMD?
Net MD is the next generation in MiniDisc technology. It further expands the
MiniDisc format by allowing direct PC-to-MD “drag and drop” transfers
through a USB connection— at fast than real time speeds. For a complete
explanation of Net MD click
here to go to our Net MD FAQ.
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