I think you do the humble Hi-MD an injustice, and if it is on the way
out then the MZ RH-1 is a superb 'swan-song'.
The MZ RH-1 costs around =A3200 GBP ($400 USD) and for that you get a
recorder which has mic-pres which are worthy of using some of the
lowest self-noise microphones there are with.
As to SonicStage, that's the propriety software from Sony that allows
you to download to your PC. I have to say my experience with it,
version 4, has been on the whole quite good and not suffered any
problems. Apart from one I did try and download something from a disk
recorded on a Net-MD, big mistake! Not only did it not download
anything it refused to download from my Hi-MD machine as well - MZ
RH900. I eventually fixed this by un-installing SonicStage, removing
all references to it in The Registry, not for the faint hearted, and
then reinstalling it. But having made that one mistake I have had no
further problems. This would not have been a problem with the MZ RH-1
as it is the only machine that allows you to download recordings made
on previous machines. But so far for me, 'touch-wood', it works very
well. I record stuff come home connect it to my PC, one which I built,
and transfer the files and SonicStage does the convert to Wav. Open in
my editing package and off I go.
If you look at CF recorders by Fostex or Tascam with decent built in
mic-pres then you will looking at around =A3800 GBP ($1600 USD) and
something which is substantially bulkier as well. There is one recorder
which has got me very interested and that is the Nagra Ares P11+. It is
small has great mic-pres but costs =A31200 GBP ($2400 USD)!! But if I
were to win the lottery I think I would buy one of them. Listening to a
few recordings from Martyn, I am already hooked. Plus it is not that
much bigger than a Hi-MD.
I like the Hi-MD it has good mic amps, is small and fits in the pocket
and you can get out there making decent recordings for a fairly modest
outlay. Which after all is what its all about isn't it?
Phil
--- In aaron s <> wrote:
>
> I would stay away from MD. The disc are unreliable and
> the transfer issues make it a less good choice and I
> believe the technoligy to be on the way out. We have
> two of the Edirol R-09 [one just got back from the
> shop for a bad mic input] and have used the M-Audio
> microtrack both of which are good units. The R-09 mic
> input problem is well discused, the M-Audio has the
> internal battery issue. The Zoom looks good but as a
> musician I have a bad history with their products. I
> would like to hear more on the field use of the Zoom.
> Aaron
>
>
> CHECK OUT www.custommarimba.com
>
> For marimba, mbira, mallets, and hosho.
>
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