I'm still a little new to the minidisc thing, but am very interested in its potential.

Essentially, I'm looking for a way to take my PC out of the equation in regards to recording my mix practice. The quality of sound on my PC isn't up to snuff and I'd much rather be spinning using my home theater system than my pc speakers (not that they're that bad, I just would rather be using Technics than my Creative speakers).

I looked into getting a stand-alone CD recorder, but those are a little out of my price range and aren't versatile enough for my taste. So instead of that I thought about getting a minidisc player that can record as well as play back, one that I can possibly carry with me and listen, and doesn't take up a bunch of desk space. Do you guys have any recommendation on brands or models? My budget is around 100 USD.

___________________
always in a state of trance

minidisc recordings are great. but I don't think you'll find a minidisc recorder for under $100.00 for what you are looing for... maybe use froogle, ebay. minidisco.com has good minidisc units there, but they aren't cheap. only if the stupid ipods would let you record....

___________________
(O_O)// (^_^)// (@_@)// (X_X)// (-_-)// (._.)// (^-^)//

I even think those iriver and dell dj (& other ipod wannabe's) things let you record.. but not sure which ones though...

___________________
(O_O)// (^_^)// (@_@)// (X_X)// (-_-)// (._.)// (^-^)//

quote:

Originally posted by CRZtoshi only if the stupid ipods would let you record....

No kidding. If this were the case, I wouldn't be asking...

___________________
always in a state of trance

depends.... do you want it for just recording your sets? and also, do you plan on taking the sets you record on it and putting em back on your computer?

because if you plan on using it as an mp3 player aswell... well, dont. i had a minidisc player (a sony one) and idk if theyve updated the software, or if it was just my computer at the time... but the software for putting your mp3s on it slowed my computer to a crawl, and the whole idea of minidiscs having fast transfer time only works if the mp3 or whatever type music file is previously converted to atrac, the kind of files minidiscs use. otherwise, the software has to convert the file before it transfers it, which takes time, and if your pc is moving at a crawl, it takes a lot of time.....

sorry for that rant... i didnt much like my minidisc player....

and to the second gripe, idk about other brands, but with sony you cant transfer music back onto your computer if you record it from elsewhere (unless they decided to change that rule recently)
well... you can, but you have to hook it up through the line in of your computer and just play it, and record it in real-time just as you would if you were playing a live set.... so thats a little redundant now, isnt it?

also, does your mixer have two line-outs? or have you thought of just getting a splitter for your RCA cables?

that way you could record on your computer and still run it through your home theater system....

___________________
huh?

get an iriver. hardware encoding, massive storage, uber-fast transfer. they kick the shit out of an ipod or minidisc.

___________________
MUGGETS

To answer your questions:

quote:

depends.... do you want it for just recording your sets? and also, do you plan on taking the sets you record on it and putting em back on your computer?

I just want to record my practice sessions and have the ability to review them on the go without being tethered to my PC. It's a hassle to set up my computer to record (I use Nero wave studio) and then waste time and a blank CD burning it if I want to listen somewhere besides my computer. I'd also like to get my equipment out of my bedroom and into my living room where I can mix on better sounding equipment.

I don't particularly plan on needing to put my sets back on my PC. I simply want to review my practice sessions. I suppose the only time I would want to move the music from the Minidisc to the PC is if I were recording a demo or a mix CD for a friend.

quote:

because if you plan on using it as an mp3 player aswell... well, dont.

I already own an Ipod. I can currently use that to review mixes on the go, but it requires me to record, encode, and copy. I'm looking for simplicity.

quote:

also, does your mixer have two line-outs?

I own a PCV-275. I can't remember if I have two line outs. If I don't, I figure I'd hook the recorder into my receiver, or jsut use a splitter as you suggest.

quote:

get an iriver. hardware encoding, massive storage, uber-fast transfer. they kick the shit out of an ipod or minidisc.

I'm not looking for something to replace my ipod (I love it, save for the inability to record a line signal), but to complement it. I'll still use the pod for my music listening pleasure, I just want to use the minidisc for my mix practices.

___________________
always in a state of trance

yep, get an MD then, it's very simple. PCV275 does have 2 line outs, one 1/4" and one RCA, just get some 1/4" to RCA jacks and go into your stereo with those, then an RCA to 1/8" jack to go into the MD.

you can record 80,160,or 320 minutes, quality gets worse the higher space you have obviously. 160 isn't too bad though.

for getting back onto the computer (say to burn a demo CD or whatever), you do indeed have to go back in analogue, which sucks, but is manageable. be aware that your sound quality is going to be just as shitty as if you'd recorded directly into your computer, in fact moreso because you've went through the ATRAC compression as well.

___________________
stereoshift.org - Unifying people through musical celebrations; generating a moving and inspirational synergy.

You should have seen the sales they had on around christmas DVD record $180 AU could record your mix+video lol

___________________


Sign this petition!

quote:

Originally posted by Acid John and to the second gripe, idk about other brands, but with sony you cant transfer music back onto your computer if you record it from elsewhere (unless they decided to change that rule recently)

That was a problem with all Minidisc players until the beginning of this year. The HiMD units are out now, and Sony finally figured out that people wanted to buy units for professional recording, so they took off the limitation.

___________________
FLUSHED THE JOHNS!