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Saturday April 02, 2005
| MiniDisk -vs- MP3 | General |
A recent Sun blog extolled the praise of the Sony MiniDisk. However, in my opinion, the MiniDisk is no longer a viable technology. I'll explain my thinking and offer reasons why you should consider an alternative - the MP3 player/recorder.
Note that I desire a portable device that can also record. I record some meetings, presentations, and voice dictation/reminders. But I also have the desire to record live concerts and gig band rehearsals in higher-quality stereo (I play the sax). I also like to jog listening to MP3s and/or the FM radio.
The $80.00 Sony ECM-MS907 is a perfect stereo mic for field/live recordings of meetings/presentations/concerts, etc. I've heard the $450.00 Rode NT4 is even better, but that's just too much for my taste.
Given that, here are my thoughts on portable MiniDisk -vs- MP3 devices:
- The MiniDisk will not upload any live recorded content to a PC. You have to capture the analog output of the headphone jack at real-time speeds (a 3 hour recording takes 3 hours)! A tiny MP3 player/recorder can record high-quality content (adjustable up to 256Kbps) and upload it digitally (no loss or added noise) at high-speeds using USB2.
- The MiniDisk has a motor and makes noise that a mic picks up (a low hum) when recording live (unless you can distance the mic from the unit)! An MP3 player is dead silent with no moving parts.
- The MiniDisk has moving parts: a motor, a rotating platter and moving read/write head. It is much more susceptible to wear and breakage and I/O errors than a solid state MP3 player. Think: jogging.
- The MiniDisk is larger and heavier which makes is less attractive for recording a meeting (sitting on the table) or concert (sitting in your pocket), or jogging (arm band).
- The MiniDisk has poorer battery life due to it having to drive a motor. Flash-based MP3 player/recorders last forever.
- The MiniDisk does not have a built-in FM radio. Many gyms offer TV broadcasts on FM frequencies. And MP3 devices have TiVO like features to auto record FM broadcasts.
- The MiniDisk is more expensive and MP3 player/recorders.
- The MiniDisk uses a non-standard audio compression format. An MP3 player/recorder will record in MP3 at up to 256Kbps - extremely high quality. While you might consider the audio quality pretty much equal, a standard format (MP3) is nice for broadcasting / sharing your live MP3 recordings.
- The MiniDisk just came out with 1GB media platters. However, many MP3 players support removable SD cards (at capacities up to 2GB and increasing). Plus, you can share your SD card between your MP3 player, Treo 650 phone, digital camera, etc.
- Lots of audio content is available on the Net in MP3 format, which makes it VERY easy to load and listen on the road (eg: in an airplane, on a treadmill, etc).
April 02, 2005 05:33 AM EST Permalink
In earlier versions (Net-MD), it wasn't possible to upload audio recorded through a Mic. With the introduction of Hi-MD, you can now upload your audio (recorded in uncompressed-pcm/atrac/mp3) through USB. That means no more real-time uploads for mic-recorded audio.
And very recently, Sony released hi-md models which play MP3s natively - so users no longer have to convert their mp3s to Atrac3. And also, you can use the hi-md (1GB) as data-storage for any file - its recognized (in Windows at least) automatically as a external USB storage device.
The format still wraps your audio data with DRM, so it's not completely portable. Another positive for the format is battery-life, with my net-md MD player, I can go for a whole week without recharge (and I play it everyday at work).
And lastly (boy did this get long!) - flash memory is cheap, but last I checked you can't get 1GB sticks for $7 USD (which incidently is the cost of a 1GB hi-md disc ;). Oh and I've read some minidisc fanatics from the early days can still play their minidiscs from the early 90s! So your player may die, but you'll still have your music and recordings. Mindisc tech isn't well known, but the community of users is pretty dedicated, check http://minidisc.org for information on the latest units and specs.
Posted by gregory on April 02, 2005 at 06:44 PM EST #
The newer MiniDisk units allow you to transfer digitally. It's rather convoluted, but it works.
"5. The MiniDisk has poorer battery life due to it having to drive a motor. Flash-based MP3 player/recorders last forever."
That doesn't make sense.
"6. The MiniDisk does not have a built-in FM radio. Many gyms offer TV broadcasts on FM frequencies. And MP3 devices have TiVO like features to auto record FM broadcasts."
I can't remember when I listened to FM. 1996?
"7. The MiniDisk is more expensive and MP3 player/recorders."
Eh, depends. If you get a good MP3 recorder, it's real close pricewise.
"8. The MiniDisk uses a non-standard audio compression format. An MP3 player/recorder will record in MP3 at up to 256Kbps - extremely high quality. While you might consider the audio quality pretty much equal, a standard format (MP3) is nice for broadcasting / sharing your live MP3 recordings."
Again, that doesn't make sense. You said in point 1 that you cannot upload anything to the PC. Who cares if the MiniDisk uses non-standard audio. It's a moot point.
"9. The MiniDisk just came out with 1GB media platters. However, many MP3 players support removable SD cards (at capacities up to 2GB and increasing). Plus, you can share your SD card between your MP3 player, Treo 650 phone, digital camera, etc."
Ok. So? Do I want to listen to music on my digital camera? I never share cards between devices. They have their own card, as the cards are cheap now.
"10. Lots of audio content is available on the Net in MP3 format, which makes it VERY easy to load and listen on the road (eg: in an airplane, on a treadmill, etc)."
You can do that with a MiniDisc as well. It's about the same amount of work to get it on the player.
In all, your "Comparison" is rather Sophomoric. MiniDisc is a good jack of all trades. I still use my Minidisc recorder from 1999. It works great. I use my newer one as well. The device that I do my hard core recording is a Marantz Compact Flash recorder and a Rode NT4. That blows away anything else I've come across (that was priced under $1K). For lesser things, it's minidisc and the sony mic.
Posted by eric dannewitz on April 02, 2005 at 07:03 PM EST #
Posted by Dave Brillhart on April 02, 2005 at 07:57 PM EST #
But I'd be scared to attempt to build my own MD player, while this is way too cool (and minty).
bill.
Posted by bill walker on April 03, 2005 at 08:05 PM EDT #
Then the solid state MP3 players came out (I have a 512Mb iRiver) and I haven't touched the MD since. MP3 is way too convenient - especially if you invest a bit of time ripping you CD collection.
MP3 player pros. : 1. size 2. different recording quality (ie. high for music, low for audio books) 3. convenience - USB mass storage, drag & drop 4. robust (no moving parts)
When I bought my iRiver - 512Mb was the max. - for me 2Gb would be about ideal; I also replaced the firmware right away to support USB Mass Storage and invested in some better headphones (Shure E2c) - which in addition to the awesome quality are the only headphones I've owned that don't fall out when running.
- Rich
Posted by Rich Sharples on April 09, 2005 at 06:52 PM EDT #
Posted by crystal rodis on January 29, 2006 at 03:14 AM EST #
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