MiniDisc Questions at DVinfo.net

Paul Grove · March 6th, 2005, 01:54 AM

Hi all. just picked up a cheap Sony MiniDisc MZ-R50 recorder on my travels ... can you help me with a couple of questions?

1). The player has "Line Out" ... what (hopefully free!) PC software can I use to access the player and the sound files?

2). I'm shooting a low budget feature later this year ... I will be relying on my XM2's shotgun mic, but was wondering if I could jury rig a mic to a pole and linked into the MD recorder and have it held just off frame ... anyone tried this? Any recommendations as to a good mic to use?

Thanks,

Paul.

Marco Leavitt · March 6th, 2005, 09:30 AM

Is that Hi-MD? If not,you're limited to an analog capture. Audacity is good freeware to use. If it is Hi-MD, there is Sony software as well as a program called Total Recorder that was developed by a hacker and has a number of advantages. Not sure I understand your question about the boom pole. Are you trying to get away with not having a separate boom operator? That would be a very bad idea.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · March 6th, 2005, 10:02 AM

The MZ-R50 is not HD, it's just one of Sony's better Minidisk units. But it's a good one. If you can find one of the higher end remotes, it'll work with this unit. Audacity is quite good, but most any audio recording software will work fine with this unit. It boils down more to the quality of your soundcard than it does to anysoftware you might be using, since it's an analog transfer.

Paul Grove · March 6th, 2005, 10:43 AM

Thanks for the help so far.

Marco - hopefully we will have a boom operator with pole.

Douglas - you mentioned "higher end remotes" - do you mean a mic? Or any other suggestions as to a mic to use with this unit?

Paul.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · March 6th, 2005, 10:52 AM

Any mic will work with this unit, you won't be optimizing the mic to the Minidisc, but rather optimizing the mic to the shooting situation.
There's no "Gerry-rig" to this situation, it's commonly used, and there are tools to do this properly without having to resort to doing it half-a$$.

There are XLR to 3.5 mm adapters available from just about everywhere for very little cost. If the mic needs power, look at a mic that has an internal battery so you don't need a phantom supply. You might even want to look for the Velcro car mount for this unit, and you could mount/affix it to the end of the boom.

Jeff Patnaude · March 7th, 2005, 09:59 AM

We usae several different MD recorders and players here. They work great for live show support, etc..

For recording onto a PC, well, I use a MAC and any audio recording program will do. I have Digidesign interfaces with digital ins and it works fine.

Jeff Patnaude

Marco Leavitt · March 7th, 2005, 10:24 AM

Douglas,
What higher end remotes are you referring to? Is there one that will allow you to start/stop record and see the meter? I would very much like to find something like that. I didn't think they existed.

Jose di Cani · March 9th, 2005, 08:39 AM

line out minidsk to line in soundcard (or mixer if you use a mixer-soundcard setting). he sony minidisk has analog. MIne had spdif output so look at your model for the digital out. If your soundcard has digital connection , use them. My maudio audiophile has spid and analog.

hope that helps

March 6th, 2005, 01:54 AM	#1
Paul Grove Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK Posts: 67	MiniDisc Questions Hi all. just picked up a cheap Sony MiniDisc MZ-R50 recorder on my travels ... can you help me with a couple of questions? 1). The player has "Line Out" ... what (hopefully free!) PC software can I use to access the player and the sound files? 2). I'm shooting a low budget feature later this year ... I will be relying on my XM2's shotgun mic, but was wondering if I could jury rig a mic to a pole and linked into the MD recorder and have it held just off frame ... anyone tried this? Any recommendations as to a good mic to use? Thanks, Paul.

March 6th, 2005, 10:02 AM	#3
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	The MZ-R50 is not HD, it's just one of Sony's better Minidisk units. But it's a good one. If you can find one of the higher end remotes, it'll work with this unit. Audacity is quite good, but most any audio recording software will work fine with this unit. It boils down more to the quality of your soundcard than it does to anysoftware you might be using, since it's an analog transfer. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

March 6th, 2005, 10:52 AM	#5
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Any mic will work with this unit, you won't be optimizing the mic to the Minidisc, but rather optimizing the mic to the shooting situation. There's no "Gerry-rig" to this situation, it's commonly used, and there are tools to do this properly without having to resort to doing it half-a$$. There are XLR to 3.5 mm adapters available from just about everywhere for very little cost. If the mic needs power, look at a mic that has an internal battery so you don't need a phantom supply. You might even want to look for the Velcro car mount for this unit, and you could mount/affix it to the end of the boom. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

March 6th, 2005, 09:30 AM	#2
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Is that Hi-MD? If not,you're limited to an analog capture. Audacity is good freeware to use. If it is Hi-MD, there is Sony software as well as a program called Total Recorder that was developed by a hacker and has a number of advantages. Not sure I understand your question about the boom pole. Are you trying to get away with not having a separate boom operator? That would be a very bad idea.

March 6th, 2005, 10:43 AM	#4
Paul Grove Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK Posts: 67	Thanks for the help so far. Marco - hopefully we will have a boom operator with pole. Douglas - you mentioned "higher end remotes" - do you mean a mic? Or any other suggestions as to a mic to use with this unit? Paul.

March 7th, 2005, 09:59 AM	#6
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	We usae several different MD recorders and players here. They work great for live show support, etc.. For recording onto a PC, well, I use a MAC and any audio recording program will do. I have Digidesign interfaces with digital ins and it works fine. Jeff Patnaude

March 7th, 2005, 10:24 AM	#7
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Douglas, What higher end remotes are you referring to? Is there one that will allow you to start/stop record and see the meter? I would very much like to find something like that. I didn't think they existed.

March 9th, 2005, 08:39 AM	#8
Jose di Cani Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Holland, Europe Posts: 214	line out minidsk to line in soundcard (or mixer if you use a mixer-soundcard setting). he sony minidisk has analog. MIne had spdif output so look at your model for the digital out. If your soundcard has digital connection , use them. My maudio audiophile has spid and analog. hope that helps