Help me find the right MiniDisc recorder

[skippyfetus]

I'm looking for a minidisc recorder with a mini mic input for voice recording. I was just going to buy a small voice recorder that takes a memory stick. That way I could easily transfer the file to my computer for vegas. However, now I'm thinking about getting a minidisc recorder, because it uses the affordable minidiscs that I can label and keep... plus they allow for multitrack recording right?

Anyway, I can't find an affordable MiniDisc recorder with a mic input that allows you to transfer your audio to your PC. Can someone give me a recommendation or point me to the one you use?

[skippyfetus]

Another thing: Those Sony digital voice recorders are starting to look pretty good since they have a mic input and can record straight to a memory stick. They also have a "hold" button so you don't have to worry about stopping the recording... But what format do they record in? MP3 WAV? All it says on the sony site is: "High Quality Sound "New LPEC™ Codec" with extended frequency response ensures excellent recorded sound clarity".

WTF? Is this something I'm going to be able to import into Vegas? The files are meant to be usable on a PC, I just wish I knew what file format it is. Anybody have one of these?

[skippyfetus]

I can't afford this now, but if I decide to do a documentary, this is what I want to record my audio with:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=246635&is=REG

Straight to CD... just pop it in your drive and import it into Vegas... and CD's are cheap!

[magichristopher]

I am also looking for a type of sound recorder that is small enough to fit in the pocket of a groom and records well. I would even consider an MP3 in line recorder if they sound good with compression. Does anyone have experience with something like that? I am more interested in sound quality over portablility and realize that alot of thse units record at 8khz, but was wondering if there is a recommended one. Also what is the least exensive Minidisc recorder with line in capability?

[skippyfetus]

If you don't need to be able to download the audio to your PC, then this would probably work for you:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=223873&is=REG

This thing here is pretty cool, but it's so damn big and expensive:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=291534&is=REG

I'm thinking about getting the Marantz CD recorder. I had B&H email me the lower price and it's only about $670. However, a 4 hour battery is over a hundred bucks. So, that basically makes it an $800 peice of equiptment. I'd like to have one anyway for documentary work, but until then I might just try going for that Sony voice recorder with a 256mb memory stick and lavalier mic and see how that works...

I think I might take this question over to DVinfo, since it's pretty quiet around here... screw you guys, I'm going home ;)

[jbeale]

For recording wedding vows, I have used a Sharp MD-DR7-A (MD recorder) with Audio Technica MT830 lapel mic. This setup works very well for me, I'm very happy with the sound quality. I have an audio sample on my page, scroll to the bottom here:
http://bealecorner.com/trv900/mictest/mictest.html

Unfortunately the DR7 model is no longer sold, but maybe the Sony MZ-N10 would be similar. http://www.minidisco.com/mz-n10.html

The lapel mic was from Sound Professionals, under $100.
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/MT830-SP

I transfer the audio to my PC by playing back the MD in another unit (HHB MDP500) that has USB audio out. I guess the newer MD recorders have "NetMD", maybe you could use that (?not sure). For every kind of info about mindiscs, visit

http://www.minidisc.org/

[TeleDan]

I'm also in the market for a MD recorder but have not found a suitable model. I'd be wary of the Sony MZ-N10. I've seen some user comments on Amazon that it will indeed record but the software will not allow you to download it to a PC. It sounds crazy to me. Could be user error but I'd make sure of this before buying.

Sony is just now coming out with their new line of HD-MD recorders. For starters, they are higher capacity (1 gig). But I've been waiting for them to release a model in the US with mic input capability. I just checked and the new MZNHF800 model is apparently out now. According to the specs it has mic, line, and optical inputs. Also, I think all the HD-MD models have a USB port that allows you to use the device as a general storage device for any kind of computer data.

I just pulled the PDF manual and it it appears you get both automatic and manual record level with level bars. Unfortunately, like most Sony consumer products, the technical specs are pretty much non-existent. It states that with the 1 gig HI-MD media, you can record 90 minutes of PCM stereo. Much more with ATRAC3 compression. Doesn't give sample rates but you could calculate based on media capacity. Looks promising.

-Dan

[TeleDan]

Red flags!

I just read in the product manual of the Sony MZ-NHF800:

"Tracks that have been recorded on a Hi-MD Walkman can be imported to My Library of SonicState on your computer only once"

and in another section:

"The OpenMG technology allows you to enjoy digital music, while maintaining the copyrights of its holders. SonicStage encrypts audio file in OpenMG format and stores them on the hard disk of your computer to prevent unauthorized distribution."

What crap! It assumes that we're all pirates without considering the possibility that you might be recording something something other than music or even music that you own or have license to.

I mentioned that the HI-MD models could be used a general data storage. Now I notice that the manual is careful to say non-audio data. So does this mean that you can't copy audio data files directly via the USB port? You must use their SonicStage software to do this? I don't know but given the above statements, it would seem unlikely that they would leave this backdoor open.

This must be the problem with the NET-MD models that I mentioned in my earlier post.

So does this mean that all current and future Sony MD recorders are useless for our purposes? I'm hoping that someone can tell me that I've got it all wrong.

-Dan

[jbeale]

I like how they call it "Open" Magic Gate, when as far as I can tell, it's purpose is to close out access to your own recordings!

According to this note on the Minidisc.Org user forum
http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?t=5518

you can't yet upload analog recordings from Hi-MD to WAV files on your PC, but Sony is claiming they'll come out with a utility to permit this, sometime this fall.

[Bill_Keen]

For recording wedding vows, I have used a Sharp MD-DR7-A (MD recorder) with Audio Technica MT830 lapel mic. This setup works very well for me, I'm very happy with the sound quality. I have an audio sample on my page, scroll to the bottom here:
http://bealecorner.com/trv900/mictest/mictest.html

Unfortunately the DR7 model is no longer sold....

I have the DR7 also. Take a look at the DR77, supposably an updated DR7. http://www.outwardsound.com/product/minidisc-recorders/418/ - you might find better prices elsewhere.

[jbeale]

Thanks, I didn't know about the DR77. Here's another site that has it: http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?products_id=873

I'm glad that a similar DR7 replacement is available. The new MD recorders on www.minidisco.com all seem to be physically larger. The DR7 and DR77 are well under an inch thick (18 mm = 0.7") which is good for putting in a pocket.

Incidentally, I measured the audio specs on my DR7 (line input, not mic input) and it does pretty well.
http://beale.best.vwh.net/measure/audio/MD-recorders.htm

Freq. resp(40Hz-15kHz) +1.11, -0.84 dB
Noise level: -88.5 dB(A)
Dynamic range: 88.1 dB(A)
THD: 0.0030 %
IMD: 0.039 %
Stereo crosstalk: -88.1 dB

[Pookiehead]

I use both a sony mz-n707 and and iRiver HP. The iRiver is quite pricey..but you should at least check it out. I believe its iriveramerica.com. I don't know if they still sell the sony. Last I was looking for another minidisc recorder, i couldn't find any that record also. That is when I found the iriver..i got my iRiver as a store return from Best Buy.

you may also find the iriver in smaller storage sizes and thus cheaper. I love it and know a lot of people doing weddings now who are using this as backup or another mic source. The sonys are still great, but I ( mac girl) have to import in real time, which kinda sucks.

[skippyfetus]

I went ahead and decided to go with the Marantz PMD670 digital CF audio recorder. It's professional and probably more than I'll ever need. You can buy 8GB CF cards. You could record uncompressed audio for days with one of those. I don't want to buy one of those iriver things because a) I don't know if I'd even be able to get it to work with an XLR mic... they don't provide hardly any information at their website, b) they're an MP3 toy first and a sound recorder second... it can't be very high quality, and c) I just want the Marantz

[Pookiehead]

I don't want to buy one of those iriver things because a) I don't know if I'd even be able to get it to work with an XLR mic... they don't provide hardly any information at their website, b) they're an MP3 toy first and a sound recorder second... it can't be very high quality, and c) I just want the Marantz

I can see you went very big on the recorder!

I think I might agree on it being an .mp3 player first, but the quality is nothing to laugh at. *Plus you get *a considerable amount of space.(40 GB and more). The site doesn't have a lot of info on it because you can download and RTFM.

In any case, regards and best of luck!

[skippyfetus]

Thanks, I'll let you know how it works