Minidisc.org is devoted primarily to Minidisc equipment and accessories. However, a considerable number of visitors are under the misconception that Minidisc equipment can be used for recording live audio material and subsequently uploading this audio easily onto a computer. This is unfortunately not the case; Sony has steadfastly refused to provide an easy computer upload path for Minidisc audio, despite considerable customer interest in having such a capability. (If this strikes you as an absurd state of affairs for a product from a technology company such as Sony, do consider writing them at [email protected]).
Since this site's primary goal is to help users, it behooves us to present information on alternative equipment that does in fact provide easy audio uploading to PC.
All equipment listed in this section:
If you know of any such equipment that we don't list in our tables, please let us know!.
Sadly, although these uploaders sometimes offer prodigious recording capacity and sophisticated interfaces, their recording features can be quite primitive. Every MD recorder with MIC or LINE inputs has recording level meters, a way of adjusting the recording level, and a way of editing the recording to trim unwanted material at the beginning and end. On many of the devices here such features are glaringly absent. When selecting a unit, be careful to acertain whether it really possesses the features you assume it does. Double-check by looking in the manual.
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Aiwa MM-FX500 | portable MP3 player/recorder Intro: 2/2000 | MSRP: ¥40,000 Availability: | In: LINE. Out: headphones. DATA: Parallel Port | 64 x 89.9 x 18.7mm, 77.5g (w/o batt) | ||||||
Features: First ever portable MP3 recorder.
Links:
Specs: 5mW+5mW headphone output, SNR: > 85dB Reviews:
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Apple iPod | Hard disk MP3 Player/Recorder Intro: 5/2003 | US$300-US$500 Availability: | In: line(?). Out: headphone/line. Data: USB 2.0, Firewire | 4.1" x 2.4" x 0.62", 5.6 oz | ||||||
Description (3rd Generation model):
Included Accessories: Earbuds, AC adapter, 4-to-6 pin Firewire adapter, dock connector to Firewire cable. 15GB and 30GB models: Docking stand. Links:
Specifications: headphone amp: 30mW+30mW rms Reviews:
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Archos Ondio | Portable Flash Memory MP3 Player/Recorder Intro: 12/2002 | MSRP: US$140 Availability: | In: LINE. Out: headphones/LINE. Data: USB (Mini B). DC IN: 4.5V(?) | 81 x 47 x 25mm, 60g | ||||
Features:
Links:
User Comments: I had an Ondio but returned it. Yes, it had very basic level meters but the build quality of the unit I had was poor. Getting a miniplug to sit in the line-in jack properly was near impossible. -Anonymous Optional Accessories: Archos sells a US$50 external microphone and preamp designed to connect to the unit's LINE input. Specs: SNR: > 90dB, headphone amp: 100mW. Reviews: User Manual: Ondio
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Archos Jukebox Recorder 20 | Portable Hard Disk MP3 Player/Recorder Intro: 1/2000 | MSRP: US$280 Availability: | In: LINE, digital (coax). Out: headphones, digital (coax). Data: USB. DC IN: 9V | 115 x 83 x 34mm, 350g | ||||
Features:
User Comments:
Included Accessories:
Links:
Optional Accessories: Archos sells a US$50 external microphone and preamp designed to connect to the unit's LINE input. Specs: SNR: > 90dB, headphone amp: 100mW. Reviews: User Manual: Jukebox Recorder 20
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Archos Jukebox FM Recorder 20 | Portable Hard Disk MP3 Player/Recorder w/built-in FM tuner Intro: 12/2002 | MSRP: US$290 Availability: | In: LINE. Out: headphones/LINE. Data: USB. DC IN: 9V(?) | 113 x 79 x 30mm, 290g | ||||
Features:
User Comments: Second generation of original Archos Jukebox 20 with several improvments:
Included Accessories:
Links: Optional Accessories: Archos sells a US$50 external microphone and preamp designed to connect to the unit's LINE input. Specs: SNR: > 90dB, headphone amp: 100mW. Reviews: User Manual: Jukebox FM Recorder 20
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Picture | Name | Desc | Price | Connectors | Dimensions |
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Denon DN-F20R | Professional solid-state recorder Intro: 9/2000 | Street: $1200 Availability: | In: line/mic (XLR&RCA). Out: line (RCA), headphones (1/4" phone jack) | 208 x 42 x 161, 1.0Kg (w/o batt) | |
Features:
Links: Specs: Headphone amp: 12mW+12mW Reviews: User Manual: DN-F20R |
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Marantz PMD670 | Professional solid-state recorder Intro: 5/2003 | Est: US$850 Availability: | In: mic (XLR), line (RCA), digital (coax/RCA). Out: line (RCA), digital (coax/RCA), headphones. Data: USB, Remote control (2.5mm jack) | ||
Features:
Links:
Reviews: |
Picture | Name | Desc | Price | Connectors | Dimensions | |||||
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Mayah Flashman | Professional solid-state recorder Intro: 11/2002 | US$1700 Availability: | In: mic (XLR-mono, 3.5mm-stereo), line (3.5mm stereo), digital (3.5mm coax). Out: line (3.5mm stereo), digital (3.5mm coax), headphones. Data: RS232 | 127 x 53 x 147, 605g (715g w/batt and CF card) | ||||||
Features:
Links:
Specs: Headphone amp: 60mW+60mW, SNR: >94dB (PCM) Reviews: User Manual: Flashman
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(2067x2067) | Maycom Handheld | Portable MP3 recorder Intro: 1/2003 | US$1145 Availability: | Portable: In: 2x balanced mic/line, internal electret. Out: 2x unbalanced line, headphones (3.5mm jack). Data: USB 1.1
Dock: In: 2x XLR balanced mic/line. Out: line (3.5mm jack), headphones (3.5mm jack). Data: USB 1.1 | Portable: 178 x 64 x 30mm, 300g
Dock: 160 x 120 x 44mm, 280g | ||
Features:
Links:
Specs: SNR: >80dB, Crosstalk: <-80dB, Harm. Distortion: < 0.005% Reviews: User Manual: Handheld
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HD version Flash memory version | Neuros Digital Audio Computer | Portable MP3 recorder Intro: 4/2003 | US$400 (HD), US$250 (Flash) Availability: | In: line. Out: headphones. Data: USB 1.1. Antenna: 2.5mm RF connector. DC IN: 9V | 134 x 78 x 33mm, 266g (HD) 106 x 63 x 33mm, 164g (Flash) | |||||
Features:
Links:
Specs: Headphone amp: 30mW+30mW RMS Reviews:
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Nomad Jukebox 3 | Hard Disk based MP3 player, MP3/PCM recorder Intro: 8/2002 | ``OPEN'' Availability: | In: LINE/optical. Out: LINE X 2 (front/rear), Headphones, Data: USB, IR, IEEE1394 | 123 x 130 x 35mm, 289g w/o batt. | ||||||
Features: Hard Disk based recorder. Compatability: Windows-only.
Updates: A reader reports that some form of gain control is available in more recent firmware updates (he surmises that the gain control is done digitally, i.e. there is no analog preamp prior to the A/D stage). An excerpt from the text file that goes with the latest JB3 firmware ( 1.32.02) reads: You can now record audio with a microphone (available separately) by directly connecting it to your player. Your player supports microphone recording with dynamic microphones and self-powered condenser microphones. If the audio that you want to record is relatively soft, your player can help boost the volume of the recording by as much as 48 dB. Links:
Specs: SNR: <=98dB (LINE), <=96dB (Headphone), headphone amp: 100mW Reviews: User Manual: Jukebox 3
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Nomad Jukebox | Hard Disk based MP3 player/PCM recorder Intro: 8/2000 | ``OPEN'' Availability: | In: LINE. Out: LINE X 2 (front/rear), Headphones, Data: USB | |||||
Features: Hard Disk based recorder. PC/Mac compatible.
Variants: Jukebox C appears to be 6GB price reduced version. Records in WAV/PCM format as original Jukebox does. Links:
Specs: SNR: >90dB Reviews: User Manuals: Jukebox, JukeboxC
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Orban Sountainer | Portable solid-state MP3 recorder Intro: 4/2001 | Est: US$500 Availability: | In: mic, line. Out: line/headphones. Data: USB | 62 x 110 x 24, 140g | |||||||||
Features:
Links:
Reviews: User Manual: Sountainer
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RipFlash RipFlash Plus RipFlash DX RipFlash Pro RipFlash Trio | PoGo Ripflash | Flash Memory Audio Recorders Intro: 4/2002 | $100-$260 Availability: | In: Line (Trio: line, mic). Out: headphones | ~2.32" x 3.30" x .37", ~1-2oz |
Features: Pogo Products line of RipFlash units are flash memory based MP3 players that also have various recording capabilities. All units can record in [at least] 128kbps stereo. Units connect via USB cable but do not appear on desktop as a storage volume. Rather, special (Windows-only) software must be used for audio file transfer to/from the device. Units do not appear to have recording level controls (neither manual nor automatic), nor do they seem to have recording indicators that show whether an audio signal is present. Variants:
User Comments: Input sensitivity on RipFlash TRIO microphone jack is somewhat low. Links:
Optional Accessories: Archos sells a US$50 external microphone and preamp that can be connected to the unit's LINE input. Reviews: User Manuals: RipFlash, RipFlash PLUS, RipFlash DX, RipFlash PRO, RipFlash TRIO |
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Courtesy: IGN (1024x768) Courtesy: IGN | iRiver iHP-100 | Portable Hard disk MP3/PCM Player/Recorder Intro: 7/2003 | MSRP: US$400 Availability: | In: line/optical. Out: headphones, optical. Data: USB 2.0. DC IN: 5.0V, 2A | 60w x 19d x 105h mm, 160g w/batt | |||||
Features:
Links:
User Comments: This device is what many have been wishing for in the realm of fully computer-integrated portable recording gear. The unit is tiny and well built with many thoughtful design touches. The recording interface is intuitive and the remote has dedicated controls for each of the recording settings (file type, encoding bitrate, recording level). In fact the remote is the nicest I've seen on any unit and its display is amazing. Computer connection is exactly as it should be; no drivers or software are necessary, it simply appears as a USB hard drive on PC & Mac systems, making transfers quick and easy. Playback battery life is rated at "up to 16 hours", however real-world recording battery life is only about 2.5 hours. The only other recording hiccups are a limit on the length of single recordings (795MB/78minutes in PCM mode, 195MB or 5hours in MP3 mode) and that recording levels can only be changed when the unit is paused (like older Sony MD recorders). In my experience the most PCM audio I have been able to squeeze into a single file is 73 minutes, at which point the unit goes into REC-PAUSE mode and waits for a key press to start recording into a new file. -Mat Morgan Specs:
Reviews: User Manual: iHP-100
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