Copying files from computer to Minidisc

[kenja]

Hi
For ages I have wanted to copy files direct from my computer onto minidisc but have found it impossible.

What I do is burn the tracks to a CD - which essentially archives them - and then do a separate record operation onto minidisc.

Fortunately I have a minidisc HiFi (happens to be Sony) which will record from a CD at high speed. Recording in real time would be a pain!

I heard that Sony's latest SonicStage software might allow direct copying of minidisc to computer and the reverse but I fear it might only be for use with the relevant Sony players.

Anyhow if anyone can shed light on this matter I would be grateful.

Thanks.....KenJA

[Jacqui]

I record to Mini Disc all the time from my PC, but I think it depends on what outputs you have, on mine I have Digital In/Out
plus Audio in/out, there is nearly always an audio out on most PC usually on the back that's the one you can connect external speakers to, unless you are using a laptop?
I have know some people use the head phone out and connect that to the record in on the Minidisc player, you would have to sort out the appropriate lead for each of these functions, but it's certainly possible as I've done it
What Sony Mini Disc player do you have? they nearly all have record in functions, but I think the MDS 480 was limited in it's functions.
Jacqui

[levi2]

I use Pc to play the midifle which goes thru a yamaha mu50 external sound module which is linked direct to the minidisk recorded flat so no EQ is used on recording. Then i use the EQ on mixer when playing back the minidisk. I havnt done this yet but if i was going to record a mp3 or wav to minidisk i would try the tascam audio/midi interface i have. this is analog and digital but u gotta buy coverter box or summit neva really looked into that yet .

[kenja]

Ahhh I think I probably have not made clear what I want to achieve. I know I can record from analogue outputs or digital outputs to the minidisk (incidentally I have a professional Tascam MD350 rackmounted and a high end Sony JB940 in addition to the Sony HiFi I normally use, the latter incidentally will not take inputs from anything other than the integral CD player).
However I don't really want to have to record in real time but to transfer files much as you would do with an external drive. I am sure I have heard that this can be done using a later version of SonicStage software. The idea is to transfer digitally in a lossless procedure.
Does this make sense??
KenJA

[levi2]

nopes you mean copy over like a mp3 file or render it

[kenja]

I gether that what SonicStage does is allow transfer of a file, be it mp3, PCM or WAV from computer to minidisc and vice versa BUT it removes the file from the machine so that you can never have two files. Surely though, one could copy the file first before transferring it?
Anyway I am going to have to look further into this. I'll report any useful findings as there must be more people than just me interested in doing this.
Cheers...Ken

[kenja]

Well I have finally got hold of Sony's latest SonicStage ver 4.3 but have not tested it yet.

[JohnG]

Yep,
from reading the blurb it would appear that 4.3 can do transfers of ATRAC3 files to MiniDisc.
How escapes me. I'd be interested to know if you eventually solve it.

[kenja]

SonicStage 4.3 now evaluated and YES it DOES transfer files from the computer to the minidisc quickly and in a lossless way to ATRAC format.

However.....Sony have put in some restrictions to how transfers can take place. For instance, you can transfer a file be it wav, mp3 etc to the minidisc and it will place it on the minidisc without any compression loss which would not be the case if you were to transfer by the usual recording method. Transfer back to computer however MUST be to the same computer from which it originated. If you try to transfer a file already on the minidisc from another source or as a recording, it will refuse to transfer it.
Having said that, there should be no need to perform the latter operation as the objective is primarily to transfer quickly and without loss files which have been produced on the computer for gigging use.

I don't know how it does it but it is a shame that there is no recognition of non-copyrighted material.

Now the rub will be for a lot of minidisc owners the fact that said minidisc has to be capable of connecting to the computer by means of a USB cable. It therefore needs to be a NET MD machine.

If anyone has any questions about what else might be done I can try it out practically and find out if you just let me know.

Ken