I got one after being intrigued by them for a while but Ive got a slight problem, I bought it at a car boot and didnt notice that the unit lacks all of the controls until later and of course it came with no accessories, it is a Grundig MD-P1 thats a bit banged up, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me if it can use any minidisc remote or if it has to be a matching one and is there anyone local to me (stevenage) that could test it before I buy bits for it?

Thanks in adavance.

Have a look at

http://www.audiotstation.com/f...owthread.php?t=16889

2nd post down...

Most likely it'll be a bespoke R/C unit. Does it look anything like these? I mention these units as the Grundig may be a clone...if so, you may be able to pick up a R/C unit from eBay or similar...

http://www.minidisc.org/part_Casio_XG-3.html

http://www.minidisc.org/part_Audiophase_MDP-1.html

my opinion

don't  bother with any unit that isn't HiMD

This was the last format of the minidisc - and meant you could get more data on the disc

1. What is "Hi-MD"?

   Introduced by Sony in January 2004, Hi-MD is a nearly complete revamping of the original Minidisc system. The most significant change is the introduction of Hi-MD media, which includes a new 1GB blank in the existing MD form-factor and a reformatting of existing MD media that doubles its capacity to 305MB. In addition, several important and long wished-for Minidisc capabilities have been incorporated into Hi-MD equipment.

2. What new capabilities does Hi-MD equipment provide vs. the existing Minidisc?

   • Hi-MD equipment can record audio to Hi-MD media in uncompressed PCM (16bits/44.1khz, i.e. CD format) as well as in Sony's ATRAC3plus encoding at 256kbps ("Hi-SP") and 64kbps ("Hi-LP").
   • Hi-MD recorders can be used directly as USB connected data drives on any PC supporting USB storage devices (no additional drivers needed).
   • Microphone and line input (i.e. analog source) recordings made on Hi-MD equipment can be uploaded at high-speed to Windows PCs via SonicStage (Sony's copyright-protecting audio transfer software).

3. What is Hi-MD media?

   There are two Hi-MD media formats: a new 1GB magneto-optical medium based upon DWDD ("Domain Wall Displacement Detection") technology, and the original Minidisc magneto-optical medium (60', 74' and 80') reformatted to double its capacity. The Sony 1GB Hi-MD disk is the first commercial use of DWDD technology (as of January, 2004).

HTH

Indeed the HiMD was the last format and hold much more data.

but I wouldn't recommend it very much.

for couple of reasons:

First, Portable HiMD is only made by Sony.

Sound quality is not that great and there are some restrictions on world versions like reduced output limit (2.8mW) and no real custom Equalizers on most units (except US and Japan models) unless you hack it.

Second, HiMD format is not that stable/reliable in terms of hardware. there are some flaws, one of them is when saving or editing. you can lose a whole 6 hours disc of precious data forever because of this flaw, and believe me it is very upsetting  so you want to shoot someone at sony.

But I do recommend the previous MDLP format which is more stable then HiMD. The sound quality of Sharp units is more then awesome and they are much more reliable. they are considered as the best Mini discs available, most other brands are OEM made by sharp.

Yes it is indeed a clone, Im having trouble though finding a control unit of the grundig or any of its clones so would anyone know if it can use one not originally intended to be used with the grundig or one of its fellow clones?

Sega,

Can you please post a picture of the unit?

It is most likely that it's a sharp OEM but to verify that we need a picture.

good top end mini dsc players/recorders are the next collectables.

Indeed there are very nice MD's out there like this unique Sharp MD MD-MT66 (MT866 World version):

first point isn't really a deal breaker

sound quality is actually better than maybe you remember - but you're welcome to opinion - I haven't noticed anything lacking - and I can't see any other opinion on the web to back your claim. You do know you can record PCM to hi MD don't you?

I have the Sony NH1 - which is 5mW + 5mW

My NH1 also has preset EQ's - which I leave flat - coz the response is perfect for my NF monitors


second point (?) - surely that is user error? I have not hasd any issues in the 9 hour marathon recording sessions I use

I always want to shoot Sony and the damn proprietry conectors/hardware/software- but they do make damn attractive kit

they are 3rd to Apple and Microsoft in the annoying devils own company awards

thanks for your 2peneth

I Am pretty expert on mini discs and I still collect them second to Walkmans.

Now don't get me wrong I love minidiscs, I have almost 50 minidiscs including HiMD units like: MZ-RH10 x4 and MZ-RH1 (the last HiMD). My favorite HIMD is the MZ-RH10 the Japanese model and I always use it for its huge library capacity.

Two of my rare Sony HiMD Recorders MZ-RH10 Japanese versions 

Everything I said is available on minidisc.org to read unfortunately part of the info was consumed by sony's forum Sony Insider and most of the hacks and claims about the format has been erased from the web. I have some screen shots of the Minidisc.org forum about this info, but I can present to you some of the info on the net.

Here you can find about the limitations and hacking info:  

http://forums.sonyinsider.com/...seller-buyfromjapan/

http://www.minidisc.org/mzr700_to_mzr900.html

http://www.sharoma.com/minidisc/hacking.htm

You do know you can record PCM to hi MD don't you?

Sound quality is very important even if you record with PCM. the main reason MD's and HiMD's are using the ATRAC is because of copyright management therefore it is impossible to get the best out of them. 

I have the Sony NH1 - which is 5mW + 5mW

My NH1 also has preset EQ's - which I leave flat - coz the response is perfect for my NF monitors

You should have 2 user customisable settings for the NH1 you probably have the tourist world version.

second point (?) - surely that is user error? I have not hasd any issues in the 9 hour marathon recording sessions I use

I assure you it is not the case here!

Now, please don't try it, but try editing this long 9 hour session you have and it is very likely it will say 'disc error' and it's gone forever...

Here is about the reliability of HiMD:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/g...rdists/message/28861

There is more but I will add it later as I have to run..

To Be continued....

2 things

How do you become a "pretty expert" (sic) on minidisc?

You now admit you do use himd - you've confused me - if it's so bad why use it?

my background

I've had my units for less than 6 months - bought purely due to curiosity

They passed me by first time around - as I had no interest in digital media
I also didn't understand the tech - to me it was just "miniture cd's" - I realise this is not true.

I do not use the editing feature to it's full extent - I just record digital radio "wholesale" - track mark all the tunes - and delete the news segments

I am into hifi - and the NH1's I have destroy the ipod in terms of sound quality
and the practical appeal - and the mixdisc asthetic I love

unfortunatley no one has minidisc players anymore (and I don't thnk anyone bought himd players)  - so I'm gonna have to buy a bunch so I can send them to my mates with the discs I make

Rh1's are ridicously expensive on ebay still - they fetch north of 240 quid

whilst you can still buy NH1's from 80 quid - and rubbish display, no fwd/rwind on the unit notwithstanding - they are a great unit - and the remote is pretty cool (not that I use it)

i was an early adopter of MD and still advocate them.  its a shame they didnt take off as they had so much going for them, it was the cost that killed it/stopped it from going mainstream unfortunately.

great gear though, still use one over mp3 player any day.

I used my MD for the same purpose Claret Badger, to record underground radio shows with t-marks at the breaks. DAT was just too expensive at the time.

@Claret Badger

OK, 

When I first saw the MZ1 - Sony's first Minidisc I was really in to it, it was love from first site for me  . Back then in 1991 I was working in a Hi-Fi store in NYC and I had the chance to get all the info: like brochures, press release documents, promotions etc. I had access to all this awesome technology. After the technology became more mature, I bought my first MD the MZ-R30, few years later my mother in law bought me a Sharp recorder, the excellent MD-MT821.

It was my first Sharp unit and I loved it, especially it's warm and excellent sound, better than the Sony cold sound. Then in 1995 I bought the upgraded format MDLP version the MZ-R750, sound was terrible. Since then I bought only Sharp players like the excellent NetMD MD-MT899. After that the HiMD format came in and I bought the MZ-RH10.

As I said, I Love the HiMD format very much because it hold's 36 Hours of very good sound but it is not excellent and warm sound like the Sharp's. Unfortunately Sharp never made HiMD players so I keep the Sony units and I use them when I travel for few days.

Most people underestimate this format because it is too bulky compared to Flash players/mp3 but the MD/HiMD sound is very superior.

Because MZ-RH1 is the last and latest recorder it is still expensive. the MZ-NH1 still has limits compare to the RH10 and RH1. but in Japan you can get them for $250 and up.

Here is another link about the lost recording:  

http://forums.sonyinsider.com/...-rh1-recording-lost/

Cheers,

TheLion

Are you are buying to listen to, or collect? Etheir way Sony's best model was MZ-RH1 HiMD, would get any HiMD, their the best sounding as fars as MD goes this model does linear PCM. The first generation minidisc's player/recorders, the codec scheme used was not that great as far as sound quailty, good really only to collect.

I will take one as soon as I can as Ive got to use the camera to show another forum my HiFi Stack, it is identical to the audiophase mdp-1 unit in appearence with the only visable difference being the manufacturer name if thats any help.

OK, I see...
It's a Sharp OEM: the MD-S50 from 1996. slightly different but it's the same unit internally.
Any accessories from 1996 and up to 1998 compatible like these models: Sharp MD-S25, MD-S70 and Kenwood DM-C3, Pioneer PMD-P1.
Kenwood DMC-G5 and MD-ST60 also could be compatible with it.

Check here for more options: http://www.minidisc.org/part_Players_Sharp.html

I have read that the Sharps sounded better than some MDLP Sonys

but as the himd was limited to sony walkman - and one Onkyo minisystem - i'd say it was a sweeping statement to say MDLP was "totally" better than himd

As I said i know shite from shinola - and the NH1 sounds top banana

Thanks, Ill keep an eye out for remotes off one of those units

For the time being Ive put a bid on a cheap Sony player, another thing that made me wonder is with mini discs do you need a recorder model to put music onto the discs or can you do it with a player connected to a PC?

Know what you mean Claret. My Sharp MD MS 702 sounds extremely good (analogue recording is almost indecently fab) with a good set of cans. I've used any number of Sony portables (MD, Tape and CD) made from 2000 onwards and their sound in comparison is often anemic, as if it's been deliberately knobbled making you have to use the MegaBass and other sound "enhancements" (which in turn make it all overblown). It's only recently with the advent of their MP3 players that they've gone back to designing good sounding portables (I have an S and an X series).

@Claret Badger

Since I owns both formats, I can compare between them and hear the difference.
I didn't said it is totally better, I said the Sony HiMD have some limitations and restrictions. The Sharp sounds warmer (IMO anyway) therefore I recommend Sharp units over the Sony.
Moreover, most people are too biased when they hear the name Sony but in real life Sony always give less for your money than the competition.

@Sega

In MD (the one you have) and MDLP format you need to have a MD Recorder in order to put music on them.
In NetMD and HiMD you can record and use a PC with SonicStage the dedicated Sony Software.

@Nak D.

100% true

I still havent been able to find a remote but I will keep looking, in the mean time Ive just bought on ebay a cheap Sony unit to do the job for now.

TheLion, you couldnt tell me if the Sony MZ-E501 can use the SonicStage software?

Its just the one on its way to me has 4 discs with it and they all look to be recordables

why would you not buy a recorder?

I didnt know what it was as I dont know Minidisc players, incidently I also bit on a recorder for a seperates system but I lost out on the bid.

Dear Sega,

The MZ-E501 is only a player hence you can not use the Sonic Stage software.

Basically the SS is only for playback on your PC and you can transfer songs to and from your PC. The software can read the content of the discs and play them back.

You need a nice Minidisc recorder to do all your recordings and editing.

I wouldn't recommend to use MiniDisc Players because sometimes you will want to edit them while you are listening to music like dividing tracks or take out long silence parts you can't do that with players. The benefit of most players is the sound options they provide like the Sharp "Auvi" series they are Dolby Surround Players with over 70 customisable sound features: 5 Band Equalizer and 7 Dolby DSP they are fully customisable. Like the Legendary MD-DS8.

or Like the ST880

Good luck finding a good MiniDisc Recorder.

Thanks, I will start looking for one

I still say go with one of the top of the line himd sony recorders - which use the 6v batteries

NH1 or RH1 - you can pick them up with a bunch of disks (and normaly the original box) for around 100-200 quid

these have none of the problems that Lion mentioned - not that I have experienced.

They both have the HD digital amp - which I should imagine is good as the Sharps
plus they don't have pointless EQ's - something I have no time for - I leave mine on "flat"
Plus they represent the final and ultimate development of a medium that deserves more of  a look in.

1gb disc = 90mins PCM recording - perfect VINYL rips

i'm not an expert - just someone who uses one everyday

hth

Id love to go for something like an RH1 but I really cant afford one, Ill just have to make do with a cheaper one for now if I can find one and invest in a better recorder later when things pick up.

A 1GB disc would be handy though for backing stuff up

I don't know as much about these things as Lion i'll admit - as I'm new to this format.

but the NH1 would be better bet than the the RH1 as this is too expensive at the moment

I bought 3 NH1's this year all for under 80 pounds in UK - all in mint condition.

My advice is to shop around and be patient - too many people asking for 150+ and it's a buyers market when it comes to minidisc at the moment

And as you say the 1gb discs (although these ARE hard to find) are particulary useful

I have been so impressed with the performance of these little delights - and the design of the metal bodies Sony NH1/RH1 is so much classier than the other makes.

Sony always were ahead of the game in the general "handling" aesthetic - you know what I mean?

You handled a metal bodied Sony cassette walkman back in the day - and you always thought - "damn - I want one"

(and I hate them as a manufacturer - not a fanboy. But they make some DAMN nice kit which no one can deny)

some of my rubbish

Claret, know what you mean about Sony design. They did ooze "I gotta get me one of those" aesthetics, the TCD-D3 Portable DAT being a prime example. In fact that model seemed to hark back to a better time, when Sony really knew had to make stuff (like their beautifully made SW radios). They went off the boil at some point in the 1990's and have only just got back to some semblance of quality in the last decade (X series MP3 players etc are fantastic). The only really consistently high quality product I know of was their TV's.

yeh - but even the "Bravia" range was suseptable to faults

I went to Panasonic when it came to buying TV's - they (Matsushita) just seemed to be on point with TV's - and when they bought up the Pioneer Kuros division - well it was a no brainer for me to buy a "cheap" plasma


Sony dropped the ball back in the early 90's no doubt

I switched from a Sony WM602 to a Panasonic RQ S75 - I tried the DC2 and the DD9 - and couldn't justify the expense - and the Panny had super human bass

I cant agree more over Sony's quality dropping, I bought a CD player of theirs a while back, while the battery life was wierdly long lived the sound and build on it was poo, I had a cheapo brand player that sounded miles better and Ive got an old Goodmans that will proberly out last it, even their consoles are built badly, Ive lost count of how many failed PS2's and PS3's and Ive got machines from 20 years ago or more still happliey going.

i've had 3 failed PS3's in the last 12 months

all replaced under warranty thank god

 - and like you say - my SNES, N64 and Gamecube will never break

Well Ive just won a seperates Hifi recorder so hopefully that will do the job and it also means I can run what I record through the speakers before I take a player out with me.

I have avoided buying a full size deck due to there never being a Himd version.

Although - this unit tempted me
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-M...;hash=item460716e518

 - end of the day - it's fun to buy this stuff just for a "play" - some items you get burnt on - some you really appreciate or can just flip on ebay and make a profit

Pesonally I just wanted to try out some supposed "redundant" equipment - and have really enjoyed the minidisc.

I have also been buying DAT gear - another "past it" medium - but sounds fantastic

the gear is far more "fragile" when compared to MD though.

I was enjoing boomboxes until the prices went through the roof for seemingly common gear - I still can't fathom why some boxes have gone north of 75 quid

I will proberly invest in a HiMD recorder later down the line but they are just more than I can afford at the moment (the joys of being under 25 in the current economic climate), I miss the days when used electronics were cheap.

you're lucky you're not my age

by the time you hit 40 you just miss days

You're preaching to the converted. Amen, brother.

I might have to do a review of the MZ-NH1

doesn't seem to get much love - and I think it's a far better built unit than the RH1 (now I have one to compare)

They seem to use the same amps and codec
just the flash OLED screen on the RH1 makes it seem more attractive

And why isn't there a OPTICAL OUT on these - I believe there was on the first MD unit

I have an MZ-R30 and an MZ-30

more like the good old minidisk days