Subject: Re: [linux-audio-user] Minidisk question
From: Frank Barknecht (barknech_AT_ph-cip.uni-koeln.de)
Date: Sat May 18 2002 - 21:05:59 EEST
Lloyd R. Prentice hat gesagt: // Lloyd R. Prentice wrote:
> I bought a Sony minidisk recorder and quality condenser mike and am
> truly impressed with the minute size of the whole package and the
> sound quality that I hear through the headphones.
>
> Now... Sony seems to have crippled this product as a general-purpose
> recording device. It looks to me like the only way I can get sound
> image off the MD into a computer for editing, transcription, or
> other purposes is through the headphone jack. The recorder does have
> a USB port.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1) Does anyone know of Linux software that will let me transfer the
> image from the MD recorder into the computer through the USB port?
>
> 2) Or is analog transfer through the headphone jack my only option?
I found this at http://www.minidisc.org/minidisc_faq.html
13) Enough about recording to MD... can I record from MD unit to my
computer (or another audio device)?
With the proper cables, yes.
[...]
If you're looking to transfer audio from MD to your computer
digitally, you need an MD unit that is capable of digital output
(all current portable MD recorders lack this feature, but most home
MD decks have it)
Also interesting is this FAQ:
6) Since Minidisc is a digital format, isn't there a Minidisc drive
that can be connected to a computer for direct transfers of audio
between PC and MD?
Such a capability would be great! Unfortunately Minidisc was
designed with a so-called "audio/data firewall" that prevents the
ATRAC audio data on MDs from being accessed directly by computer.
This was done to comply with Recording Industry concerns over music
piracy. (The fact that Sony now sells the Digital Relay CRX10U-A2 [a
portable MP3/audio CD player that is fully USB connectable for
seamless audio/data transport to/from PC] is an irony due to the
CD's grandfathered status as a computer peripheral that appeared
before the Home Recording Rights Act [a law that impedes consumer
bit for bit copying of audio content, see SCMS]).
One year after Minidisc appeared, Sony announced MD Data -- it
consisted of a slightly modified Minidisc blank and the MDH-10, an
MD data drive with SCSI interface. This permitted users to use MDs
as a computer data storage format. Unfortunately, due to the
requirement for a firewall, MD Data drives cannot read or write
ATRAC data on Audio MDs.
Despite the built-in firewall, one company does sell a system for
direct computer access to ATRAC audio data.
[...]
The system is intended for audio professionals (radio stations,
etc), and carries a price tag (~US$5000) to match.
As I'm considering a minidisc myself, this is bad news, but a device
with SPDIF would fill my needs and my Audiophile soundcard can ignore
the copy protection bit, AFAIK.
ciao,
-- Frank Barknecht _ ______footils.org__
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