Which Minidisc to buy? Please Help. at DVinfo.net

Steve Montoto · June 7th, 2003, 12:13 PM

I have read quite a few posts, but all mention models that have been discontinued or are un-available except in japan.

Please include model numbers and purchase locations. I was looking a Sony Net MD on sale at Circuit city for $199 but I would have to have a powered mic.

I was looking for a good MD Player so I could hook up an unpowered Lav mic to it.

Or is there a better suggestion?

Please help.

Thanks,

Steve

Mike Rehmus · June 7th, 2003, 05:54 PM

You don't want to use an unpowered (dynamic) Lavaliere except in especially noisy conditions. An unpowered lav that is fairly good will cost you around $200 or so.

Sony makes a nice $45 lav that will pick up power from the recorder. It also comes with a battery operated supply if your recording device does not have power.

Dany Nativel · June 7th, 2003, 09:43 PM

I don't like all the new NetMD ... cause I don't need the feature (it doesn't allow uploading to PC)

I just picked up an old Sharp MT821 from Ebay for about $120.

For a MD recorder you should look at :
- manual recording level (with a lot of Sony units you will have to stop in order to adjust)
- Line out capability (some will just be able to drive headphones). That can be important if you decide to transfer to PC using analog
- MIC sensitivity : having LOW and HIGH sensitivity can be useful to match different microphones
- Long battery life
- Some people say that Sharp has better mic preamp than Sony (I know it depends of the model).

Some of them :
- Sony N707 (no mic sens, no line out)
- Sharp MT190 (manual level only, line out)
- Sharp DR7 (SWEET unit.. pricey, line out, mic sens also records 30s BEFORE you press RECORD)
- Sharp MT770 (no mic sens)
- Aiwa F80.. old but very functionnal
- Sony R910, N710, N910, N909

Dany

Matt Stahley · June 7th, 2003, 10:06 PM

I have a sony MZR-55 its a few years old but i see them on ebay all the time .It has mic in/mic sens/line out/phones out/ and manual recording level.I've made some very nice recordings on it using both an AT 825 stereo mic plugged directly into mic jack and a ME66 going to a XLR-Pro box into the MD as well.I always use manual reocrd level.

Mike do you know the model # to that sony lav?

Dany Nativel · June 7th, 2003, 10:11 PM

The MZR-55 is sometimes considered by users to be the last good MD recorder made by Sony... solid construction, features and sound quality. It also has independent connectors for headphones and line out (most of the other MDs use the headphone out to output line levels).

Andrew Plona · June 8th, 2003, 12:20 PM

I have a Sharp MD-SR60 (used ebay $80). Solid construction and well laid out buttons. Manual level control only. It records excellent quality but its lack of a true line out hurts. I also have a Sony JE480 deck and its output quality is noticeably better.

Steve Montoto · June 8th, 2003, 02:07 PM

Thank you all for the information. I am looking on ebay right now.

Steve

Kyle Baker · June 9th, 2003, 12:56 AM

I've got 2 MD player/recorders that I bought in Japan in 2002.. They're great, but now that I'm up and stylin with my shiny silver mac, I'm looking at my MD's which are 1/5 of the price of a perfectly good parachute and theres no easy answer how to add my Md's to my sound library... optical in, not out... wtfo...

Mike Rehmus · June 9th, 2003, 01:03 PM

The solution to no line out is to feed a mixer with the earphone signal out. The mixer will bring the level down to line levels and allow you to capture good quality sound.

Another step but if the equipment is handy, not a problem.

Matt Stahley · June 9th, 2003, 04:22 PM

Kyle Ive made excellent transfers plugging a MD line out into the audio in on a mac and recording using Peak DV.

June 7th, 2003, 12:13 PM	#1
Steve Montoto Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 302	Which Minidisc to buy? Please Help. I have read quite a few posts, but all mention models that have been discontinued or are un-available except in japan. Please include model numbers and purchase locations. I was looking a Sony Net MD on sale at Circuit city for $199 but I would have to have a powered mic. I was looking for a good MD Player so I could hook up an unpowered Lav mic to it. Or is there a better suggestion? Please help. Thanks, Steve

June 7th, 2003, 05:54 PM	#2
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	You don't want to use an unpowered (dynamic) Lavaliere except in especially noisy conditions. An unpowered lav that is fairly good will cost you around $200 or so. Sony makes a nice $45 lav that will pick up power from the recorder. It also comes with a battery operated supply if your recording device does not have power. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

June 8th, 2003, 02:07 PM	#7
Steve Montoto Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 302	Thank you all. Thank you all for the information. I am looking on ebay right now. Steve

June 9th, 2003, 01:03 PM	#9
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The solution to no line out is to feed a mixer with the earphone signal out. The mixer will bring the level down to line levels and allow you to capture good quality sound. Another step but if the equipment is handy, not a problem. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

June 7th, 2003, 09:43 PM	#3
Dany Nativel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Odenton, MD Posts: 106	I don't like all the new NetMD ... cause I don't need the feature (it doesn't allow uploading to PC) I just picked up an old Sharp MT821 from Ebay for about $120. For a MD recorder you should look at : - manual recording level (with a lot of Sony units you will have to stop in order to adjust) - Line out capability (some will just be able to drive headphones). That can be important if you decide to transfer to PC using analog - MIC sensitivity : having LOW and HIGH sensitivity can be useful to match different microphones - Long battery life - Some people say that Sharp has better mic preamp than Sony (I know it depends of the model). Some of them : - Sony N707 (no mic sens, no line out) - Sharp MT190 (manual level only, line out) - Sharp DR7 (SWEET unit.. pricey, line out, mic sens also records 30s BEFORE you press RECORD) - Sharp MT770 (no mic sens) - Aiwa F80.. old but very functionnal - Sony R910, N710, N910, N909 Dany

June 7th, 2003, 10:06 PM	#4
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	I have a sony MZR-55 its a few years old but i see them on ebay all the time .It has mic in/mic sens/line out/phones out/ and manual recording level.I've made some very nice recordings on it using both an AT 825 stereo mic plugged directly into mic jack and a ME66 going to a XLR-Pro box into the MD as well.I always use manual reocrd level. Mike do you know the model # to that sony lav?

June 7th, 2003, 10:11 PM	#5
Dany Nativel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Odenton, MD Posts: 106	The MZR-55 is sometimes considered by users to be the last good MD recorder made by Sony... solid construction, features and sound quality. It also has independent connectors for headphones and line out (most of the other MDs use the headphone out to output line levels).

June 8th, 2003, 12:20 PM	#6
Andrew Plona New Boot Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New England Posts: 5	I have a Sharp MD-SR60 (used ebay $80). Solid construction and well laid out buttons. Manual level control only. It records excellent quality but its lack of a true line out hurts. I also have a Sony JE480 deck and its output quality is noticeably better.

June 9th, 2003, 12:56 AM	#8
Kyle Baker New Boot Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: san diego Posts: 22	I've got 2 MD player/recorders that I bought in Japan in 2002.. They're great, but now that I'm up and stylin with my shiny silver mac, I'm looking at my MD's which are 1/5 of the price of a perfectly good parachute and theres no easy answer how to add my Md's to my sound library... optical in, not out... wtfo...

June 9th, 2003, 04:22 PM	#10
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	Kyle Ive made excellent transfers plugging a MD line out into the audio in on a mac and recording using Peak DV.