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Minidisc for live recording...

5/16/2003 4:37 AM
Fp	Minidisc for live recording... A few months ago I asked for an inexpensive live recording solution and the Mini Disc was suggested as the one that would best fit my needs... Now, the problem is that I have lost the info on which model is best for this, can somebody refresh my memory on this? (or suggest one!) Thanks, Fp

5/16/2003 9:45 AM
Chris ( CMW amps )	Fp Didn't see or save that thread but I'll ask a friend about his md . He did have some great results recording gigs and piano . I'll know more after next tuesday when he's visiting our wedding . Have a nice weekend ! Chris

5/16/2003 11:50 AM
Stephen Giles	I have been using mini disc for live recording for the past 2 1/2 years, using a Sony RZ91. The only drawback is no facility to change record level on the fly, and no digital output but I'm getting better at guessing the manual record level which you can set on RECORD PAUSE. Forget the auto record level function on loud gigs - which I suppose just about covers everything as the pumping is awful. I just have normal play stereo record on mine, but more recent models have long play stereo so you get 149 minutes or 160 minutes continuous recording. Go for it. Stephen

5/16/2003 11:50 AM

Stephen Giles

I have been using mini disc for live recording for the past 2 1/2 years, using a Sony RZ91. The only drawback is no facility to change record level on the fly, and no digital output but I'm getting better at guessing the manual record level which you can set on RECORD PAUSE. Forget the auto record level function on loud gigs - which I suppose just about covers everything as the pumping is awful. I just have normal play stereo record on mine, but more recent models have long play stereo so you get 149 minutes or 160 minutes continuous recording. Go for it.
Stephen

5/16/2003 11:53 AM
Stephen Giles	I forgot to mention that on some domestic minidisc decks it is possible to increase/decrease recorded level, put in fades and other tricks.

5/16/2003 3:32 PM
Fp	Stephen, The level changing 'on the fly' sounds like a nice feature. I can think of a few ways to 'solve' that problem in the analog realm. (by using a little box with volume pots!). It would still be nice to have though, are there any portable (walkman) models that have it? I won't go the domestic models because I need to be able to carry it around easily. Thanks! Fp

5/27/2003 3:29 AM
Petrol	I hate minidiscs and here's why Despite the fact that they're called Minidisc recorders they're generally a pain in the ass to record with. Not being able to change the level on the fly is a big drawback if you ask me. I've had a Sony MD for three+ years for the same uses you're looking at and have all but given up using it because it's such a pain in the ass. Another very annoying anti-feature is it doesn't "remember" the record level so it has to be set from scratch every time you use it or change disks. If the recording level just had its own buttons or knob that wouldn't be a big deal but you have to go through a tedious menu/scroll process every time. To top things off, the display is not backlit, making it hard to read it and its tiny little level meter. Add these things up, throw in a very dark club, a few beers, and bandmates waiting for you to quit putzing around with that thing and pick up your guitar, and youv'e got a lot of unlistenbly bad recordings. Or just as often, a blank disk. I eventually bought an Aiwa MD off Ebay that had a backlit display. It also supposedly would remember the level setting until you changed it, which would be especially nice for leaving it set up in a practice space or just keeping it at a low enough level to handle a loud band. It turned out to be busted. It would go through the motions but it wouldn't record anything. I now hate minidiscs. It's really a shame. They have so much potential. The format should be ideal for consumer level, on-the-scene recording but, for some reason I can't fathom, no one makes one. How about one with a record level dial? A backlit display? Maybe even LED meters? At least make them visible. Make it about the size of a walkman and give it a few more individual controls instead of so much scrolling crap. There are a couple pro models like that out there made by Marantz and HHB but they list respectively at $1250 and $1600! Why not a consumer grade one for somebody who actually wants to record with it, not listen to Eminem? I thought that's what MP3 players were for. Anway, my points will probably be moot soon. Mini-studios that record to flash cards are getting cheap fast. Just think of the headaches those things will cause after a beer or two, in a dark club, with everybody standing around, waiting for you to go on. PeterF

5/27/2003 3:29 AM

Petrol

I hate minidiscs and here's why

Despite the fact that they're called Minidisc recorders they're generally a pain in the ass to record with. Not being able to change the level on the fly is a big drawback if you ask me. I've had a Sony MD for three+ years for the same uses you're looking at and have all but given up using it because it's such a pain in the ass. Another very annoying anti-feature is it doesn't "remember" the record level so it has to be set from scratch every time you use it or change disks. If the recording level just had its own buttons or knob that wouldn't be a big deal but you have to go through a tedious menu/scroll process every time. To top things off, the display is not backlit, making it hard to read it and its tiny little level meter. Add these things up, throw in a very dark club, a few beers, and bandmates waiting for you to quit putzing around with that thing and pick up your guitar, and youv'e got a lot of unlistenbly bad recordings. Or just as often, a blank disk. I eventually bought an Aiwa MD off Ebay that had a backlit display. It also supposedly would remember the level setting until you changed it, which would be especially nice for leaving it set up in a practice space or just keeping it at a low enough level to handle a loud band. It turned out to be busted. It would go through the motions but it wouldn't record anything. I now hate minidiscs. It's really a shame. They have so much potential. The format should be ideal for consumer level, on-the-scene recording but, for some reason I can't fathom, no one makes one. How about one with a record level dial? A backlit display? Maybe even LED meters? At least make them visible. Make it about the size of a walkman and give it a few more individual controls instead of so much scrolling crap. There are a couple pro models like that out there made by Marantz and HHB but they list respectively at $1250 and $1600! Why not a consumer grade one for somebody who actually wants to record with it, not listen to Eminem? I thought that's what MP3 players were for. Anway, my points will probably be moot soon. Mini-studios that record to flash cards are getting cheap fast. Just think of the headaches those things will cause after a beer or two, in a dark club, with everybody standing around, waiting for you to go on.

PeterF

5/27/2003 5:37 PM
Fp	Those are all excellent points to consider. What I do at this point is carry a Sony cassette deck which is rather bulky and won't allow me to record 'incognito' if so I needed I tried a minidisc this last weekend and it went sort of ok, but it has that problem when you either get a lot of clipping or a very soft recording. I'd think of an 'add on' that would have a stereo potentiometer to dim the input along with a preamp with VU meter in a small enclosure. But you're right, this should be incorporated into a minidisc player. Thanks for your insight! Fp

5/27/2003 5:37 PM

Those are all excellent points to consider.

What I do at this point is carry a Sony cassette deck which is rather bulky and won't allow me to record 'incognito' if so I needed

I tried a minidisc this last weekend and it went sort of ok, but it has that problem when you either get a lot of clipping or a very soft recording.

I'd think of an 'add on' that would have a stereo potentiometer to dim the input along with a preamp with VU meter in a small enclosure. But you're right, this should be incorporated into a minidisc player.

Thanks for your insight!
Fp

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