i really didnt under stand his post like he gave me links but i was confused on whats good and not.
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Portable minidisc recorder for quick +easy live recording?
- Thread starter Mad Subwoofer
- Start date
I'm thinking of retiring my ancient 70's Sony tape deck (which weighs a good 4kg 
-not good to carry after a 4hr rehearsal) and getting a minidisc recorder:
the models I've seen here at reasonable prices are;
Sharp MDMT170S ; £99.99 at Argos
Sony MZR501 ; £99.99 at Richer Sounds
Sony MZR909 ; £149.99 at Richer Sounds
anyone have opinions/experience with these?
the specs listed by the stores don't say whether they even have mic inputs, which is a pain...
the control buttons on these machines are tiny- I suppose I won't be able to stop/start recording with my foot as I do with my cassette machine
- unless these MD's have an optional footswitch?
-not good to carry after a 4hr rehearsal) and getting a minidisc recorder:the models I've seen here at reasonable prices are;
Sharp MDMT170S ; £99.99 at Argos
Sony MZR501 ; £99.99 at Richer Sounds
Sony MZR909 ; £149.99 at Richer Sounds
anyone have opinions/experience with these?
the specs listed by the stores don't say whether they even have mic inputs, which is a pain...
the control buttons on these machines are tiny- I suppose I won't be able to stop/start recording with my foot as I do with my cassette machine
- unless these MD's have an optional footswitch?
my SONY minidisc recorder works great. I DOES have a recording level input. I record my shows all the time and have even released three live CDs taken from the minidisc.
check out
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under minidisc
check out
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under minidisc
judging by the pics it looks like the buttons are difficult enough for bass players' calloused fingers to operate- the same with digital cameras and mobile phones.
I just had a look at the Sharp website and found that the MDMT170S doesn't have a mic input.
bah.
looks like a trip to Tottenham Court Road to check out what MD machines are available in the UK is required.
- Jan 11, 2002
- 3,042
- 10
- Disclosures
- Artist: JAF Basses, Circle K Strings
Hmm...
I got a tabletop mic - anyone else have one like this, just out of curiosity?
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I got a tabletop mic - anyone else have one like this, just out of curiosity?
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mine is the mz-707 I think. The input signal is monitored while recording. I usually use the auto level adjust and it always works well. The manual adjust must be done on pause, I've only used it twice though for adjustments. Normally the auto mode works great.
I own the MZ-N707 as well and really dig it. How did you get your minidisc material transferred to computer>CD for editting and release?
I know I've posted elsewhere here about this, but hey (freebie!)...
I have an Sony-R909 which DOES allow you to adjust the recording level on the fly by rolling the jog dial on the side while recording. It also has a level indicator on the display which gives you some idea of how loud (or not) the signal is. The only pain is that you need to remember to set the Rec Volume to manual while you're in REC PAUSE mode. Otherwise it defaults to automatic level adjustment. It also has a Mic sensitivity switch which is really handy if you're recording a band as opposed to someone talking.
MTR - I'd say ~£150 for this is a bit of a bargain.
I use mine as a scratch pad for recording rehearsals, unplugged sessions, conferences etc. Very handy.
User manual here: http://www.minidisc.org/manuals/sony/sony_mzr909_manual.pdf
General information and a review here: http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-R909.html
EDIT: Sorry, I meant to add that it has a mic input, line input and optical input. It intelligently (!!) figures out which input is in use when you plug in. You get an optical connector cable with the MD. I plug this into the optical out on my soundcard and play CD ripped tracks straight into the MD at LP4 and I can get 5 hours of music on one disc. Neat for going down the gymn or commuting.
EDIT EDIT: I also ought to say that I tried out a friends N1 (? the new Net-MD) and I prefer the front playback controls on the R909.
I have an Sony-R909 which DOES allow you to adjust the recording level on the fly by rolling the jog dial on the side while recording. It also has a level indicator on the display which gives you some idea of how loud (or not) the signal is. The only pain is that you need to remember to set the Rec Volume to manual while you're in REC PAUSE mode. Otherwise it defaults to automatic level adjustment. It also has a Mic sensitivity switch which is really handy if you're recording a band as opposed to someone talking.
MTR - I'd say ~£150 for this is a bit of a bargain.
I use mine as a scratch pad for recording rehearsals, unplugged sessions, conferences etc. Very handy.
User manual here: http://www.minidisc.org/manuals/sony/sony_mzr909_manual.pdf
General information and a review here: http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-R909.html
EDIT: Sorry, I meant to add that it has a mic input, line input and optical input. It intelligently (!!) figures out which input is in use when you plug in. You get an optical connector cable with the MD. I plug this into the optical out on my soundcard and play CD ripped tracks straight into the MD at LP4 and I can get 5 hours of music on one disc. Neat for going down the gymn or commuting.
EDIT EDIT: I also ought to say that I tried out a friends N1 (? the new Net-MD) and I prefer the front playback controls on the R909.
I load in in via Darla interface, using Sound Forge, then edit and master. Pretty basic but it works.
I've recorded using 2 methods, with the little battery powered stereo condensor mic that sony makes. And using 2 AKG c-1000s into a mixer into the minidisc. It has a mic and a line input. It has a USB port for connecting to computer, which I haven't tried out.
I have recorded at high levels, and sometimes it has peaked out on the auto mode. Its not without its limitations.
I'm now looking at the Sharp MDMT-80S.
£99.99 at Dixons.
apparently it's the cheapest MD recorder around with a mic input.
only 3hrs recording on the one AA battery, but I'll be using the AC adaptor mostly.
£99.99 at Dixons.
apparently it's the cheapest MD recorder around with a mic input.
only 3hrs recording on the one AA battery, but I'll be using the AC adaptor mostly.
but does the MZ-R909 have phantom power or do you have to have an external battery box to use when trying to boost the signal while trying to record ?
I'm afraid my understanding of phantom power isn't great. The RZ-909 has a "Mic Sensitivity" setting Lo/Hi which attenuates the signal (probably similar to the +20dB boost you get on computer mic inputs). I have always used it with a powered boundary mic (Audio Technica ATR-97) so my knowledge of how this works with other mics is limited (i.e. none).
Sorry I can't answer the question directly but I hope I've given enough info to be useful.
Sorry I can't answer the question directly but I hope I've given enough info to be useful.
I've just bought a Sharp MDMT80S recorder (£89.95 @ Dixons).
Maplin do a stereo condenser mic for £14.95, so i thought I'd give it a go, rather than shell out £49 upwards for a Sony mic. it has its own AA battery.
hopefully I'll be testing it in a rehearsal next week.
Maplin do a stereo condenser mic for £14.95, so i thought I'd give it a go, rather than shell out £49 upwards for a Sony mic. it has its own AA battery.
hopefully I'll be testing it in a rehearsal next week.
ps. this pic illustrates quite nicely how technology has advanced over the years-
the Sharp MD recorder I've just bought compared with what i've been previously using to record rehearsals with- an ancient battered Sony "cassette-corder", i'd guess dating back to the late 70's-
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the Sharp MD recorder I've just bought compared with what i've been previously using to record rehearsals with- an ancient battered Sony "cassette-corder", i'd guess dating back to the late 70's-
Invalid Link Removed
update on recording rehearsals-
the first attempt last week didn't go very well at all-
the disc kept skipping at loud points
and the Maplin microphone doesn't give much stereo separation, and not much clarity of bass and guitars when placed at about 4ft from the ground.
so this week I got a splitter adapter that allows 2 mono mics to be plugged in, and used 2 old dynamic cassette mics, put on the floor as far apart as the leads allow.
I figured that the disc skipping was due to vibration, I put a piece of foam inside the plastic box I keep the MD recorder in.
result- no skipping this time.
with the 2 mono mics on the floor there's better clarity of the bass and guitar, plus better separation.
only drawback- the vocals are quieter.
the Sharp MDMT80 does have a noisy mic preamp- prominent hiss, but it's tolerable for rehearsal recording.
an external mic preamp so the line input could be used instead would solve this.
the first attempt last week didn't go very well at all-
the disc kept skipping at loud points
and the Maplin microphone doesn't give much stereo separation, and not much clarity of bass and guitars when placed at about 4ft from the ground.so this week I got a splitter adapter that allows 2 mono mics to be plugged in, and used 2 old dynamic cassette mics, put on the floor as far apart as the leads allow.
I figured that the disc skipping was due to vibration, I put a piece of foam inside the plastic box I keep the MD recorder in.
result- no skipping this time.
with the 2 mono mics on the floor there's better clarity of the bass and guitar, plus better separation.
only drawback- the vocals are quieter.
the Sharp MDMT80 does have a noisy mic preamp- prominent hiss, but it's tolerable for rehearsal recording.
an external mic preamp so the line input could be used instead would solve this.
The hiss might not be from the mike preamp. I have a Sharp MT877 and I don't get audible hiss using mikes.
I'm pretty sure it is the Sharp's mic preamp- your Sharp is an older model and I've read on the net about the newer models having hissy mic preamps (hopefully the flipside will be that the TOC error Sharps are reputed to suffer from doesn't occur on the newer models).
I'm not particularly bothered as with a high input signal as in a rehearsal or gig the mic gain can be kept low and the hiss to a minimum.
at any rate, the hiss level is much lower than with my old cassette machine
I'm not particularly bothered as with a high input signal as in a rehearsal or gig the mic gain can be kept low and the hiss to a minimum.
at any rate, the hiss level is much lower than with my old cassette machine
I have nothing to add to this thread.
I just wanted to pop in and say that MiniDisc is friggin incredibly cool, and FANTASTIC for recording rehearsals or live (or recording live concerts where musicians allow it).
I have an old Sony MZ-R30 that I love, it records great and is built like a tank.
MiniDisc rules.
Read all about it at www.minidisc.org if you're interested.
I just wanted to pop in and say that MiniDisc is friggin incredibly cool, and FANTASTIC for recording rehearsals or live (or recording live concerts where musicians allow it).
I have an old Sony MZ-R30 that I love, it records great and is built like a tank.
MiniDisc rules.
Read all about it at www.minidisc.org if you're interested.
