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Re: I want a MiniDisc machine, but...

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3/24/1999 12:41 AM

Re: I want a MiniDisc machine, but...

I have a friend with a Sony MD recorder, and he likes it a lot, but he is replacing it, he doesn't know with what yet. So he obviously is not so happy with it that he's not after something else. The recording time is not that long, and the data compression thing is a drawback. Many hard drive systems also use data compression, BTW, including the VS series Rolands. The ADAT option seems pretty good, and with the sort of punch in/out capabilities that Alesis is *supposedly* building into them should be good to go. I've always been used to tape anyway, and re-recording whole passages makes good sense to me anyway, instead of just slipping in three good notes to replace three bad ones. I just like the continuity, I guess I haven't settled well into the almost-21st century technology. As for if the MD will disappear, you never know. One of the most brilliant computer wizzes I know has been telling me that Apple is doomed to die from corporate stupidity and lack of technical expertise, not to mention the technology and marketplace passing them by. He's been telling me this every year Apple's been in business.
Hi

3/31/1999 12:44 AM

Hi:

    I knew that the Zip disk-based VS-840 used data compression but I didn't know that Roland used it in their VS-880 and 1680 as well. (It makes sense because the salesman was telling me a friend had an 880 with the 540Meg HD and never did have to erase anything to make more room... I suspect that the sales literature avoids that point altogether.)

    As for almost-21th century recording techniques, well, the sky's the limit! I guess the "producer" types like the way they can edit out the bad notes, but there are so many things you can do that were never feasible on the old analog cassette multi-track decks!

Steve Ahola

P.S. Does your friend have a multitrack MD deck, or just a stereo deck? Those multitrack MD decks were very tempting when they were considerably cheaper than a HD recorder, but they've been advertising some of the HD machines for under $900! (And with a SM-57 microphone included.) Unless the MD 4 track decks drop in price to maybe $400 (and 8 tracks for $600) I predict that they will become extinct within a few years. But I sure do like the MD 2-channel decks for your home stereo...

    If your friend doesn't need the portability of a self-contained recorder, those computer-based systems look like a real winner! I've been shopping around for a decent sound card with digital I/O's and the Event Gina looks real nice for $500. Hard drives are bigger than ever so that is not a problem anymore but until the LCD displays come down in price you do have to deal with the hum and noise induced by the monitor. (Once you have everything set up to go I guess you could just switch the monitor off and blindly hit the keys to start or stop recording- and hope that a dialog box doesn't pop up that requires a response before proceeding!)

4/1/1999 11:07 PM
Hi	Steve: The MD is a SONY 4-track. The guy plays Chapman Stick and is pretty much just into experimental music with other bizarros, so the lack of long-play recording is an issue. I don't know what else may or may not be an issue. More tracks, I bet. Hi

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