jonnykontroletti wrote:
> Hello everyone!
> I am new to this forum and new to recording. I have heard many good
> things about the HHB MDP 500 Portadisc and wanted to know what you
> thought about this device. Currently there is a Portadisc listed on
> Ebay (1392045558) and I am thinking about bidding on it. How much
> would you say is it worth?
It's worth it's list price and more as far as I'm concerned. I bought
one by preordering when they were first announced. Mine is out of the
first shipment to arrive in the US. I've used it through two recording
seasons, field recording frogcalls. Excellent recorder. Deserves the
title of the finest portable minidisc recorder. This is a recorder that
can handle the best nature recording mics in a worthwhile manner. Just
works well. Those that get them mostly don't turn loose of them.
Note this is a recordist's field recorder. Large feature list for
recording. Playback options are fairly simple by comparison, except for
all the output options. I hardly use the disk editing, I mostly record
on new disks and keep them. And playback is mostly just to transfer to
computer, I use it's optical digital output for that. Note that all
output modes are realtime, no high speed transfers, not even via the USB
connection. Just like any other recorder, DAT, Cassette, reel to reel
and so on in that.
The only items in the auction that did not come originally with the
Portadisc are the case and the mic. I don't know much about the mic, but
kind of expect it's more for music than nature recording. A Pelican 1450
case, which is what HHb supplies in their reporter's kit version is
$68.75 here (though it lists for the price he's saying):
http://www.all-pelican-cases-4-less.com/detail_pelican_1450.html
Could probably get it less off ebay with a little watching.
The Portadisc also came with a shoulder strap and a fabric case. Neither
are shown in the auction. Both are kind of ho hum, not worth much to my
mind. I made a new strap for mine that's much nicer. Still have not made
a new case. I also did not see mention of the 2nd battery holder it came
with. Came with one set of 8 NIMH AA batteries, and two holders. I keep
the 2nd one full of a 2nd set of batteries. You get about 3 1/2 hours
record time. There are higher capacity NIMH AA's available now than what
came with mine.
It's more what you will have to bid to get it. The auction will almost
certainly be decided in the last minute so you have to think it out in
advance. I'd not be too surprised to see it go for nearly list price for
the Portadisc. Maybe more. But you never know on ebay auctions. He's
right, these are very rare to see on ebay.
Note depending on the ROM in it you might have to have HHb update it.
There were a couple ROM versions that had problems. HHb has not been
charging for this, though I don't know on a used one. (Mine, with a ROM
older than anybody's has never had problems)
Walt
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