So what's the deal with those small minidisc players that can connect to your PC so you can put mp3s on there? I know they don't just transfer MP3s onto the minidisc player, they have to convert them to something or other so the minidisc player can play it.

So what's the disadvantages of this? Minidiscs are rewriteable, correct? And with the LP modes, you can put more than 80 (up to 320) minutes of audio on there (albeit with some audio degridation).

There are some really cheap ones on the net (currently looking at a Sony MZ-R500PC), and I figure if I can get one for more than $100 less than an iPod (what I really want), why the hell not.

I'm going to be using it just for exercising, really... So I won't need 100 hours of music.

 

Hi...

Minidisc are rewritable, correct. One advantage of the format is that you can rearrange the playing order of the songs. You can even erase those you don't like and add new ones later.

We have a Sony portable recorder and we really like it. It came with OpenMG which is the software that lets you transfer/convert the files for the MD. OpenMG also implements some copy protection in the form of a check-in/check-out procedure. You can make only 3 digital copies (check-out) of your MP3 files. If you have a favorite song and want to copy it to a 4th MD, you have to check-in the file via OpenMG (in other words, erase it from one of your discs via software). Then check-out (copy) the file to the new MD.

One way around this is to uninstall the OpenMG software, erase all its directories and reinstall.

The Sony unit we have can do 32x transfers but only if the recorder is connected to the computer via a USB 2.0 port. USB 1.0/1.1 transfers are made @ 4x or so.

Plus you can only transfer from te computer to the recorder, not backwards.

But the good part(s) is that the media is cheap, easy to carry around, almost undestructable (sp?) and audio quality rivals that of CD (at least in SP mode).

Some recorders can have an external microphone attached so you can record live, say, a concert.

I paid $120 or so for our unit... It didn't came with a remote control but them most of our music is copied via the computer so we have no need for it.

 

Hey, thanks for the great reply! What unit did you get? I'd like to be able to do the 32x transfers (I have usb 2.0). $120 sounds very reasonable!

I don't really care about doing recordings, so a mic-in doesn't really matter to me (cool, but not necessary). All I'm basically going to be doing is putting some songs on there for when I jog or lift. I have an older MP3 player now, but I'm pretty disapointed with the small capacity (only 64M built in).


So bascially, I'd like an LP capable minidisc with the faster record speed 32x... preferably for under $150... Any takers?

 

Sure! No problem!

The unit we got is a Sony MZ-N505, the one that comes in gold. It is an older unit now, but it offers the LP speeds you want.

We bought it last december at Best Buy, paid $119 + tax.

I don't remember now if that one comes with a MIC or LINE-IN input, but they're very handy to have... Especially to record music feeds from services like, say, Musicmatch or the audio feeds that can be heard on most satellite TV feeds.

Here's a link for more info on the 505. Amazon sells it for $99, which is a steal for a MD recorder.

One site you might want to visit is minidisco.org

I'm sure you'll enjoy your MD.