Mini disc recorder

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Rusty K

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From my computer speaker jack to my mini disc recorder I'm able to transfer wave files just fine. How is this different from burning a CD and using CD writing software? Isn't my mini disc recorder encoding the analog siginal to digital?

Rusty K
 
You are actualy sending out an Analog signal to the minidisc. (Headphones and speaker out puts are analog)This is no different than recording to a cassette or stand alone CD recorder.

The minidisc has internal A/D converters (Analog to Digital) to store the music as digital data.

A CD burner connected to your computer via some com port or serial port would keep the music in a digital form. (In theory this should keep the signal purer and introduce less noise and distortion.)If you are getting good results this way, dont worry about it.... You have to convert the data to analog anyway to amplify the music and hear it over speakers at some time.

Dom Franco
 
Some of the portable mini disc recorders, and most of the rack and component-type units support optical or digital lines in (and out), so if your sound card supported optical or digital outputs, you could make a digital copy without having to have an analog step in the middle.
 
O.K., my mini disc recorder does have optical in and outs. Does this mean I could directly transfer from my Mini disc to a regular CD without CD writing software?

In other words, If I had a soundcard that had optical outs, could I go from my computer to my mini disc then to a CD burner?

Thanks again,
Rusty K
 
It does, although why not just burn straight to CD? I'm assuming here that you either have no CD-writing software, or are using one of the component CD burners like the Phillips unit.

Some mini discs and sound cards have a digital line in\out, which is a coaxial-type line, not an optical (fiber-optic) line - so just be wary of the difference. The easy way to tell is that (on the rack unit MD recorders at least) the optical connection has a weird looking squeare plug, and the coaxial digital i/o is an RCA socket that is generally orange (as distinct from red/white for analog audio and yellow for video)

I'm not sure which sound cards have the required digital outputs - I don't actually own a high end sound card (yet), although the SoundBlaster Live 128, which is a reasonable card for games 'n' stuff (and hasn't been too bad doing audio recording) does have some sort of digital output. Looking at it, it would appear to be a coaxial type, except with a 3.5mm (1/8") jack instead of the more common RCA type sockets.

Cheers
 
You are correct, I don't have CD writing software. Just another expense I was trying to avoid if I already had the gear to get the job done. My Mini disc recorder is definately optical ins/outs.

Gaffa, you seemed to emply that I could just go directly to burn without the CD writing software. I didn't think that was possible.

No I don't have a CD burner yet, hell I don't even have product yet but I want my ducks in a row when I do.

I've been told that my present sound card (that came with the system) sucks for recording. So far it sounds ok to my newbie ears but I know I'll eventually want to upgrade.

Thanks everyone for your help,what a great resource this site is!

Rusty K
 
Rusty,

I wasn't implying that you don't need the CD-burning software. You do if you are using a computer based CDR, but if you are using something like the Phillips 2-in-1 CD player/recorder unit (this is not a computer based component, but a shelf system component), then I don't think you would need any software. I have to admit though that my experience with these CD copying units is pretty limited
 
Hey Gaffa,

I've been looking for the Phillips and haven't found anything yet. Can you direct me.

Thanks, Rusty
 
rusty,

i've had a philips cd recorder for about a year now. it is a good piece of gear for someone who wants an alternative to using a computer based cd-writer. i've recorded over 200 cd's since last year 50 in one setting and all of them have been flawless....i must warn you that the blank cd's are a bit more expensive than those you use for a computer based writer, but it's a cost i'm willing to deal with for now. eventually i will move to a cd writer, but i just wanted something i could patch in to "my" recording setup easily make sure you get what works for you.

best buy and places of that nature usually sell them in the 400-600 dollar range...check on-line also.
 
Look at the Tascam CD-RW5000. It's $699.00 and you can use the cheap CD blanks. One touch recording. Flawless sound reproduction. No SCMS. Can't beat the ease of use.
Analog in/outs: XLR and RCA.
Digital in/outs: AES/EBU, optical and SPIDF.

[This message has been edited by hixmix (edited 03-14-2000).]
 
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