3-266-466-13(1) Portable MiniDisc Recorder Operating Instructions page 10 Recorder Operation _____________________________ page 84 Software Operation ______________________________ “WALKMAN” is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation to represent Headphone Stereo products. is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
WARNING To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. Do not install the appliance in a confined space, such as a bookcase or built-in cabinet. To prevent fire, do not cover the ventilation of the apparatus with news papers, table cloths, curtains, etc. And don’t place lighted candles on the apparatus. To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.
Notice for users On the supplied software • Copyright laws prohibit reproducing the software or the manual accompanying it in whole or in part, or renting the software without the permission of the copyright holder. • In no event will SONY be liable for any financial damage, or loss of profits, including claims made by third parties, arising out of the use of the software supplied with this recorder.
Table of contents About available functions and supplied manuals ............................................................................ 8 Recorder Operation Looking at controls ............................................. 11 Getting started .................................................... 13 Recording a disc right away! .............................. 15 Playing a disc right away! ................................... 19 Using menus ........................................................
Editing recorded tracks ...................................... 40 Before editing ..............................................................................................40 Adding titles (Title) .....................................................................................40 Assigning tracks or groups as a new group (Group Set) .............................43 Releasing a group setting (Group Release) .................................................44 Moving recorded tracks or groups (Move) ....
Software Operation What you can do with MD Simple Burner/ SonicStage ....................................................... 84 Installing ............................................................. 86 Providing the required system environment ...............................................86 Installing the software onto your computer ................................................87 Using MD Simple Burner ..................................... 89 Before using MD Simple Burner ...........................
About available functions and supplied manuals This section explains the functions of this portable MiniDisc recorder and the manuals that have been supplied with it. Please refer to the manual that applies to each use of the recorder. Learning more about Hi-MD “Hi-MD” is a new MiniDisc format with advanced capabilities over the standard MD format. The “What you can do with the Hi-MD Walkman” flyer This flyer explains the major features of Hi-MD Walkman and how it differs with standard MD Walkman.
Using the recorder while it is connected to a computer The supplied SonicStage software allows you to transfer audio data between the recorder and the computer. The supplied MD Simple Burner software allows you to record audio data to the recorder. Audio CDs Internet Music files Software Operation (pages 84 to 108) This section explains the installation and basic operations of the supplied SonicStage/MD Simple Burner software.
Checking the supplied accessories Headphones/earphones (1) Dedicated USB cable (1) Small clamp filters for the AC power adaptor (2) Attach the clamp filters when using the optional AC power adaptor (see page 64 ). Large clamp filter for the optional line cable (1) For details on the use of the clamp filter, refer to “How to use the supplied large clamp filter” supplied with this unit. CD-ROM (SonicStage/MD Simple Burner) (1)* *Do not play a CD-ROM on an audio CD player.
Looking at controls The recorder Recorder Operation A x (stop) • CANCEL button B OPEN switch C Display window D T MARK/REC (+N) button E •NAVI/ MENU button Press lightly to go to the NAVI (navigation) setting mode (page 34). Press for 2 seconds or more to go to the MENU setting mode (page 21). F GROUP button G DC IN 3V jack When you use the optional AC power adaptor, connect it to this jack. H X (pause) button I Jog dial J 5-way control key Operation Function Press NENT 1) play, enter Press towards .
K USB cable connecting jack L LINE IN (OPT) jack M Battery compartment (at the bottom) N HOLD switch Slide the switch in the direction of the arrow to disable the buttons on the recorder. To prevent the buttons from being accidentally operated when you carry the recorder, use this function. O i (headphones/earphones) jack The display window of the recorder 1 2 7 A Character information display Displays the disc and track names, date, error messages, track numbers, etc.
Getting started 1 Insert an alkaline dry battery. 1 Slide OPEN to open the 2 Insert a size-AA alkaline battery compartment lid. 3 Close the lid. dry battery (minus terminal first). e E 2 Make connections and unlock the controls. 1 Connect the headphones/earphones to 2 Slide HOLD to the opposite direction of the arrow (.) on the recorder to unlock the controls. i. HOLD To i When to replace the dry battery You can check the battery condition on the display window of the recorder.
Battery life1) Hi-MD mode (When using a 1GB HiMD disc) (Unit: approx.hours)(JEITA2)) When Linear Hi-SP PCM Hi-LP Recording continuously 2.5 3.5 4.5 Playing continuously 11.0 18.5 21.5 1) When using a new Sony LR6 (size AA) alkaline dry battery (produced in Japan) 2) Measured in accordance with the JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association) standard. Hi-MD mode (When using a 60/74/80minute standard disc) (Unit: approx.
Recording a disc right away! This section explains the basic procedure for making digital recordings using an optical cable connected to a CD player, Digital TV or other digital equipment. Make sure to use the optical cable. 1 Connect the optical cable to the recorder and an external component. (Insert the cables firmly and completely into the appropriate jacks.) CD player, MD player, DVD video player, etc.
2 Insert a recordable disc. 1 Slide OPEN to open the lid. 2 Insert a disc with the label side facing front, and press the lid down to close. Make sure to check the record-protect tab is closed. 3 Confirm the operation mode. This recorder has two operation modes, “Hi-MD mode” and “MD mode”. The operation mode is automatically recognized whenever the disc is inserted. After you insert a disc, check the operation mode on the display window of the recorder.
4 Record a disc. 1 Select and pause the sound source to be recorded. 2 Make sure that disc indication has stopped rotating in the display window on the recorder. PAUSE Make sure that disc indication has stopped. Connected component 3 While the recorder is stopped, press and hold T MARK/REC and press NENT on the recorder. “REC” lights up and recording starts. T MARK/REC 4 Play the source you want to record. If you insert a previously recorded disc, the recording starts after the existing contents.
If the recording does not start • If the power supply is disrupted (i.e. the • Make sure the recorder is not locked (pages battery is removed or becomes exhausted) during a recording or editing operation, or while “DATA SAVE” or “SYSTEM FILE WRITING” appears in the display, then it will not be possible to open the lid until power is restored.
Playing a disc right away! 1 Insert a recorded disc. 1 Slide OPEN to open the lid. 2 Insert a disc with the label side facing front, and press the lid down to close. 2 Play a disc. 1 Press the 5-way control key (NENT) on the recorder. A short beep sounds in the headphones/ earphones when you operate. 5-way control key (NENT, ., >, VOL +, –) 2 Press the 5-way control key towards VOL + or – to adjust the volume on the recorder. The volume will be shown in the display.
To Operation on the recorder Stop Press x. Pause Press X. Press X again to resume play. Turn the jog dial to select a track, and then press NENT to enter. Select a track directly viewing track number or name Find the beginning of the current track Press the 5-way control key towards .. Press the 5-way control key towards . repeatedly until you reach the beginning of the desired track. Find the beginning of the next track Press the 5-way control key towards >.
Using menus How to use the menu items The recorder has many menus with useful functions for recording, playback, editing, etc. To set the menu items, do the following procedure. If you are doing a menu operation for the first time after purchasing the recorder, “Menu Mode” flashes in the display. Before the menu operation, you can set “Menu Mode” to “Simple” (only basic menu items appear) or “Advanced” (all menu items appear).
List of menus The following table shows the menu items that you can select. Menu items can be set with the recorder only. Items listed under “Menu 1” are the selectable items which appear when you enter the menu, and items listed under “Menu 2” are the selectable items which appear when you select an item in Menu 1. It is possible to display all menu items only when “Menu Mode” is set to “Advanced”. Menu items with an asterisk (*) are not displayed when “Menu Mode” is set to “Simple”.
Menu 1 Menu 2 Function Site page Sound Normal Customizes the equalizer mode settings. page 38 Sound EQ Useful* Search* Searches for tracks by track name, group name, page 38 artist name, or album name. REC Set REC Mode Selects the recording mode (PCM, Hi-SP, or Hi-LP for Hi-MD mode/SP, LP2, LP4, or monaural for MD mode). page 27 RECVolume* Manually adjusts the recording level. page 28 Time Mark* Adds track marks automatically in a specific time interval.
Various ways of recording Before recording Selecting the operation mode This recorder has two operation modes, “Hi-MD mode” and “MD mode”. The operation mode is automatically recognized whenever the disc is inserted. After you insert a disc, check the operation mode on the display window of the recorder. “Hi-MD” lights up when the operation mode is Hi-MD and “MD” lights up when the operation mode is MD.
While the recorder is stopped A/B/ Viewing various information C You can check the remaining time, track number, etc. when recording or during stop.
While recording A/B/C A B C Elapsed time Level meter Group number and track number Remaining Group number and time for recording. track number “RecRemain” • Disc name • Group and artist name and name (Hialbum MD)1) name (HiMD)2) • Disc name (MD)1) • Group name (MD)2) Track name 1) Track number appears if the currently selected track is not in a group. 2) The disc name appears when the currently selected track is not in a group.
Selecting the recording mode Select each recording mode according to the recording time that you want. Discs recorded in Hi-MD or MD (MDLP) mode can be played back only on MD players or recorders with Hi-MD or MD (MDLP) playback mode. 5-way control key (NENT) Jog dial NAVI/MENU 1 2 While the recorder is stopped, enter the menu and select “REC Set” “REC Mode”. Turn the jog dial to select the desired recording mode, and then press NENT to enter the selection.
Adjusting the recording level manually The recording level is adjusted automatically while recording. If necessary, you can set the recording level manually during both analog and digital recording. X T MARK/REC Jog dial 5 Press X again to start recording. If your source is an externally connected component, play the source to the beginning of the material to be recorded, and then start recording. To switch back to automatic level control Select “Auto (AGC)” in step 2.
Adding track marks while recording You can add track marks (track number) while recording to divide the material into separate parts, that allow you to go to specific track quickly and easily. T MARK/REC NAVI/MENU Jog dial 5-way control key (NENT) Adding track marks manually While the recorder is recording, press T MARK at the point you want to add a track mark.
Note Using the group function when recording It will not be possible to make a group setting if the tracks, groups and disc name on a disc exceed the maximum number that can be input (in MD mode only). What is the group function? The group function is provided to allow playback of discs with group settings. The group function is convenient for playback of discs on which several albums or CD singles have been recorded.
Recording tracks to an existing group You can add a track to an existing group. Adding a new track at the end of the selected group 1 2 While the recorder is stopped and the group to which you want to add a track is selected, press NENT while pressing T MARK/REC and GROUP. Play the sound source. A new track will be added at the end of the current contents within the group.
Notes • The pause function cannot be turned on or off manually during synchro-recording. • Do not switch the “SYNC REC” setting while recording. Recording may not be done properly. • Even when there is no sound on the sound source, there may be cases when recording does not pause automatically during synchrorecording due to the noise level emitted from the sound source.
Various ways of playback Display window A/B/C Viewing various information You can check the track name, disc name, etc. during playback. 5-way control key (NENT) Jog dial NAVI/MENU 1 2 While playing, enter the menu and select “Display” Turn the jog dial until the information you want appears in the display, and then press NENT to enter the selection. Each turn changes the display as follows.
Note Depending on the group settings, the operating conditions, and the disc settings, you may not be able to select certain indications or the indications may appear differently. Playing tracks in Main play mode 1 z If you want to check the remaining time or the recording position while recording or in stop mode, see “Viewing various information” (page 25). Selecting the play mode You can listen to tracks in various play modes.
Playing tracks in normal mode (Normal Play) 1 2 3 Do step 1 and select “Normal” in step 2 of “Playing tracks in Main play mode” (page 34). When selecting a track out of a group, skip this step. When selecting a track within a group, turn the jog dial until the group that the desired track belongs to appears in the display, and then press NENT to enter. A list of the tracks in the selected group appears in the display.
Listening to tracks of a selected album (Album Play) (in Hi-MD mode only) If the track data includes the album name, you can listen to tracks of a selected album only. 1 2 3 Do step 1 and select “Album” in step 2 of “Playing tracks in Main play mode” (page 34). A list of the albums on the disc appears in alphabetical order. Listening to selected tracks only (Bookmark Play) You can bookmark tracks on a disc and play them only. The sequence of bookmarked tracks cannot be changed.
Playing tracks in Sub play mode/Repeat play By specifying Sub play modes, you can listen to tracks selected in Main play mode in various ways. For example, by selecting “Group” in Main play mode and “Shuffle” in Sub play mode, the recorder will play the tracks in the selected group in random order. 1 2 Enter the menu and select “SubPMode”. Turn the jog dial to select the desired play mode, and then press NENT to enter the selection. Each time you turn the jog dial, A changes as follows.
Searching for a track (Search) You can easily search for a track by track name, group name, artist name, or album name. Artist names and album names can be viewed in the case of discs used in HiMD mode only. 5-way control key (NENT) Jog dial x NAVI/MENU 1 2 Enter the menu and select “Useful” “Search”. Turn the jog dial to select the item you want to use for searching, and then press NENT to enter.
2 Turn the jog dial repeatedly to select the sound mode and then press NENT to enter the selection. To modify and store the sound You can modify the sound and store the results in “Custom1” and “Custom2”. 1 A 2 Level of the each frequency (100Hz - 10 kHz) While the recorder is playing, enter the menu and select “Sound” “Sound EQ” - “Custom1” or “Custom2”. Press the 5-way control key towards . or > to select the frequency. B Each time you turn the jog dial, A changes as follows.
Editing recorded tracks Before editing Adding titles (Title) You can edit your recordings by adding/ erasing track marks or labeling tracks and discs. You can add titles to tracks, groups and discs. You can add artist names and album names to tracks on a disc used in Hi-MD mode. Notes • When you edit the contents of a 1GB Hi-MD disc, use a new alkaline dry battery (battery level indication shows ) or connect the optional AC power adaptor to the recorder.
About the character palette During operations on the recorder, characters can be selected from the character palette in the display. The character palette has the following configuration. Character palette for Hi-MD mode Character palette for MD mode Note If you enter the symbol “//” between the characters in disc names such as “abc//def”, you may be unable to use the group function (in MD mode only). 5-way control key (NENT, .
2 Select one of the following, and then press the jog dial. The buttons used for character input and their functions are listed below. Title Display Functions1) Track name “Track” Group name “Group” To move the cursor 5-way control key in the character up palette. Artist name (to a track)1) “Artist” Album name (to a track)1) “Album” Disc name “Disc” 1) Appears left right down only for discs used in Hi-MD mode. Turn the jog dial (move the cursor to the right or left).
1) Functions of the buttons or the control may differ depending on when the cursor is in the letter input area or in the character palette. 5 6 Repeat step 4, and then enter all characters of the label name. Press NENT for 2 seconds or more. Note When the recording is stopped or the recording moves on to the next track while labeling titles during recording, the input at that point is entered automatically.
3 Notes • When the total number of characters in the titles on a disc exceed the maximum that can be input: —If the disc is being used in Hi-MD mode, you can make a group setting, but cannot add a group name in step 4. —If the disc is being used in MD mode, you cannot make a group setting. • The tracks or groups must be sequential.
3 4 Enter the menu and select “Edit” “ : Release”. “Group Release?” and “PUSH YES:ENTER NO:CANCEL” appear alternately in the display. 1 While playing the track you want to move, enter the menu and select “Edit” - “Move” - “ : Move”. The selected track number appears in the display. Press NENT to release a group. The group setting of the selected group is released. Moving recorded tracks or groups (Move) 2 You can change the order of the recorded tracks or groups.
Moving a track in a disc with group setting 3 You can move a track from one group out of the group or to another group. You can also move a track that does not belong to a group to an existing group. Turn the jog dial until the destination track number appears in the display, and then press NENT to enter the selection. Example: When moving the track to the track number “03” in the second group (GP02).
Erasing tracks and the entire disc (Erase) You can erase unnecessary tracks or all tracks on a disc. When erasing tracks that have been transferred from the computer If you erased tracks that have been transferred from the computer, the transfer authorization of the tracks will be as follows. • If the tracks were transferred in Hi-MD mode, the transfer authorization of the tracks are restored automatically when you insert the disc into the recorder and then connect the recorder to the computer.
3 4 Enter the menu and select “Edit” “Erase” - “ : Erase”. “Group Erase OK?” and “PUSH YES:ENTER NO:CANCEL” appear in the display. If the selected group contains tracks that have been transferred from the computer, “TrkFromPC ERASE OK?” appears in the display. Press NENT to erase the group. The group is erased. To erase the whole disc You can quickly erase all the tracks and data of the disc at the same time. Note that once a recording has been erased, you cannot retrieve it.
Dividing a track (Divide) You can divide a track with a track mark, creating a new track from the part following the track mark. The track numbers will increase as follows. Notes To add track marks while recording (except while synchro-recording) Press T MARK at the point you want to add a track mark. You can use Time Mark to add track marks automatically at specified intervals (except while digital recording) (page 29).
1 2 3 While playing the track with the track mark you want to erase, press X to pause. Find the track mark by pressing the 5way control key towards . slightly. For example, to erase the third track mark, find the beginning of the third track. “00:00” appears in the display. “MARK” appears in the display for a few seconds. Press T MARK to erase the mark. “MARK OFF” appears in the display. The track mark is erased and the two tracks are combined.
5-way control key (NENT) Jog dial x NAVI/MENU 1 2 While the recorder is stopped, enter the menu and select “Edit” “Format”. Turn the jog dial until “YES” appears in the display, and then press NENT to enter the selection. When formatting completes, “NO TRACK” appears in the display if a 1GB Hi-MD disc is inserted in the recorder, or “BLANKDISC” appears if a standard disc in Hi-MD mode is inserted.
Other operations Changing the displayed menu items (Menu Mode) You can specify the display of all items in the menu (Advanced mode) or only basic items (Simple mode). Refer to “List of menus” (page 22) to check the menu items that cannot be displayed. Protecting your hearing (AVLS) The AVLS (Automatic Volume Limiter System) function keeps down the maximum volume to protect your ears.
Turning off the beep sound You can turn off/on the beep sound. 5-way control key (NENT) Jog dial NAVI/MENU 1 2 Storing the settings for individual discs (Disc Memory) The recorder is factory set to automatically store settings for each disc. The recorder automatically stores the settings for a disc and retrieves them whenever the disc is inserted. The following setting can be stored: • Bookmark • “Custom1” and “Custom2” settings of 6-Band Equalizer You can check the setting as follows.
Notes • Settings for up to 64 discs can be stored. Any settings stored afterwards will replace the settings with the lowest frequency of use among the 64. The numbers of discs that can be stored depend on the numbers of tracks recorded on the discs. More tracks recorded per disc means fewer discs can be stored. • If you try to erase the disc information of a disc that have never been stored, “NO DISC MEMORY” appears in the display for a few seconds.
Selecting the disc mode (Disc Mode) When you insert a 60/74/80-minute standard disc (blank) into the recorder, you can use this function to specify use of the disc in Hi-MD mode or MD mode. If you want to use the disc recorded on this unit on another component that does not support Hi-MD, record the disc with “Disc Mode” in the menu set to “MD”. Adjusting the contrast of the display window (Contrast Adjustment) You can adjust the contrast of the display window.
Changing the operational direction of the display When you turn the jog dial clockwise, the display scrolls downward. This is the factory setting. You can change the factory setting to scroll in the opposite direction. 5-way control key (NENT) Jog dial NAVI/MENU 1 2 Enter the menu and select “Option” “Jog Dial”. Turn the jog dial until “Reverse” appears in the display, and then press NENT to enter the selection. To turn the setting to normal Select “Default” in step 2.
Using the recorder with a computer What you can do through connection with a computer Connecting the recorder to your computer To use the recorder connected to a computer, you must install the software from the supplied CD-ROM. For details on the installation procedure, refer to the “Software Operation” section. When you connect the dedicated USB cable directly to the USB connecting jack on the recorder, power (bus power) is supplied from the USB port of the computer.
Computer To the USB port Dedicated USB cable When you unplug the dedicated USB cable from the computer or remove the disc from the recorder Be sure to remove the recorder or the disc as follows. If not, damage to the data may occur. 1 2 3 To the dedicated USB cable connecting jack Make sure that “REC” is not displayed in the display window. Press x on the recorder. “EJECT DISC OK” appears in the display. Depending on the conditions, it may take some time until “EJECT DISC OK” appears in the display.
Storing non-audio data to a disc If you connect the recorder to a computer with a disc in Hi-MD mode inserted, the disc is recognized as storage media by the Windows Explorer, allowing you to store non-audio data such as text data or image data. For the storage space for each disc, refer to the next page. When you insert a disc in Hi-MD mode into the recorder and make connection with the computer, the recorder is recognized as an external device and can be viewed on the Windows Explorer.
The storage space for each disc (formatted with the recorder/the SonicStage software) Disc type Total size Disc management space1)2) Free space 60-minute standard disc 219 MB (229,965,824 bytes) 832 KB (851,968 bytes) 218 MB (229,113,856 bytes) 74-minute standard disc 270 MB (283,312,128 bytes) 832 KB (851,968 bytes) 269 MB (282,460,160 bytes) 80-minute standard disc 291 MB (305,856,512 bytes) 832 KB (851,968 bytes) 290 MB (305,004,544 bytes) Hi-MD disc 964 MB (1,011,613,696 bytes) 832 KB
Additional information Preventing hearing damage Precautions On safety Do not put any foreign objects in the DC IN 3V jack (The AC power adaptor is an optional accessory). On power sources • Use house current or LR6 (size AA) battery. • If you are not going to use this recorder for a long time, be sure to disconnect the power supply. On heat build-up Heat may build up in the recorder if it is used for an extended period of time. This, however, is not a malfunction.
On battery Incorrect battery usage may lead to leakage of battery fluid or bursting battery. To prevent such accidents, observe the following precautions: • Install the + and – poles of the battery correctly. • When the recorder is not to be used for a long time, be sure to remove the battery. • If a battery leak should develop, carefully and thoroughly wipe away battery fluid from the battery compartment before inserting new ones.
Inputs Specifications Audio playing system MiniDisc digital audio system Laser diode properties LINE IN (OPT)1): stereo mini-jack for analog input (minimum input level 49 mV) optical (digital) mini-jack for optical (digital) input Material: GaAlAs Wavelength: λ = 790 nm Emission duration: continuous Laser output: less than 44.6 µW (This output is the value measured at a distance of 200 mm from the lens surface on the optical pick-up block with 7 mm aperture.
Optional accessories AC power adaptor AC-ES3010K (Singapore, Australia and New Zealand models) AC-E30HG (other models) Optical Cable POC-151HG, POC-152HG, POC-MZ1, POC-MZ2, POC-15B, POC-15AB, POCDA12SP Line Cable RK-G129, RK-G136 MDR-series Stereo Headphones/earphones* SRS-series Active Speakers Recordable MDs MDW-series Recordable Hi-MD disc HMD1G Your dealer may not handle some of the above listed accessories. Please ask the dealer for detailed information about the accessories in your country.
Troubleshooting and explanations Troubleshooting If a problem occurs during recorder operation, follow the steps described below before consulting the nearest Sony dealer. If any messages appear, it is recommended to take notes. 1 2 Check to see if the problem is listed in, “Troubleshooting” (page 65). Check “Messages” (page 74) for the problem as well. If after step 1 you still cannot solve the problem, consult your nearest Sony dealer.
Symptom Cause/Remedy Recording cannot be done correctly. • Audio sources may not be securely connected. , Disconnect the audio sources once and connect them again (pages 15 and 26). • There is no digital signal from the portable CD player. , When recording digitally from a portable CD player, use the AC power adaptor and disable the anti-skip function (such as ESP) on the CD player (page 18). • The analog recording was made using a connecting cord with an attenuator.
Symptom Cause/Remedy The total recorded time • This is due to the MiniDisc system limitation (in MD mode only). Normally, recording is done in minimum units of approximately 2 and the remaining time seconds (in SP stereo), 4 seconds (in LP2 stereo mode or on the disc may not total monaural), or 8 seconds (in LP4 stereo mode).
While playing 68 Symptom Cause/Remedy A disc is not played normally. • Repeat play is selected. , Enter the Sub play mode to change back to the normal play (page 37). • Playback mode is changed. , Enter the Main play mode or Sub play mode to change back to the normal play (page 37). A disc is not played from the first track. • Disc playing stopped before it came to the last track. , Press the 5-way control key (NENT) on the recorder for 2 seconds or more to start playing. Playback sound skips.
Symptom Cause/Remedy • There is no R-channel output if the cassette deck or an amplifier is There is no Rconnected with a monaural cord. channel sound , Make sure to use a stereo connecting cord. If, however, the output when connected equipment is monaural, there will be no R-channel playing a track sound output even with a stereo connecting cord. recorded from a cassette deck or through an amplifier, or when listening to sound from a cassette deck or amplifier.
Symptom Cause/Remedy Tracks cannot be combined. • This is due to the MiniDisc system limitations. When the tracks are scattered and the length of each track is short*, you may not be able to combine the tracks. * Combining tracks of the following lengths may not be possible.
While using group function Symptom Cause/Remedy The group function does not operate. • While using a disc without group setting, an attempt was made to select some group-related menu. , Use a disc with group setting. • This is due to the MiniDisc system limitations (in MD mode only). A track cannot be Group information has been written to the area where the disc name is recorded to a new stored. The disc name and track names are recorded in the same area, group.
Symptom Cause/Remedy You cannot transfer tracks that will fill up the remaining recording time on the disc. • The minimum recordable time on a disc is normally 2 seconds in stereo, 4 seconds in LP2 stereo mode, and 8 seconds in LP4 stereo mode. When you transfer a track from your computer, the recorder needs a 2-second (or 4- or 8-second) space for a track even if the track is under 2 seconds (or 4 or 8 seconds) in length.
Symptom Cause/Remedy The recorder does not work or works poorly. • The disc is damaged or does not contain proper recording or editing data. , Reinsert the disc. Rerecord the disc. If the error message still appears, replace it with another disc. • There is a built-in malfunction in the system. • While operating, the recorder received a mechanical shock, too much static, abnormal power voltage caused by lightning, etc. , Restart the operation as follows.
Messages If the following messages flash in the display window, check the chart below. 74 Message Meaning/Remedy AVLS NO VOLUME OPERATION • AVLS is set to “AVLS On” and so the volume cannot rise higher. , Set AVLS to “AVLS Off” (page 52). BLANKDISC • A disc with no recording on it is inserted. BUSY WAIT A MOMENT • The recorder is accessing disc information. • You tried to operate the recorder while it was accessing the recorded data.
Message Meaning/Remedy DISC FULL • Recording may not be done if the remaining recordable time on the disc is 48 seconds or less. , Replace the disc. D-L READY • MD Simple Burner is now ready to record an audio CD to the disc in the recorder using Simple mode (see “Software Operation”). EJECT DISC OK • The recorder has finished communicating with the computer and it is safe to eject the disc from the recorder or disconnect the dedicated USB cable.
Message Meaning/Remedy NO GROUP • You tried to release a group setting with a disc that has no groups. , Insert a disc with group settings. • You selected “ : Erase” with a disc without group setting. , You cannot erase groups with a disc with no groups. NO INPUT SIGNAL • The recorder could not detect digital input signals. , Make sure that the source is connected firmly (page 15). NO NAME • You tried to select “Artist” in the Main play mode with a disc that has no artist name information.
Message Meaning/Remedy READ ERROR • The recorder cannot read the disc information correctly. , Reinsert the disc. REC ERROR • Recording was not correctly done. , Place the recorder at a place with no vibrations and record again. • The disc is soiled with an oil film or finger prints, is scratched, or is not a standard disc. , Try recording again with another disc. SYSTEM FILE WRITING • The recorder is storing information (track start and end position) from the memory to the disk.
Explanations About Hi-MD “Hi-MD” is a new MiniDisc format. Incorporating the new ATRAC3plus audio compression technology, Hi-MD is a new recording format that delivers longer recording times than ordinary MDs. Hi-MD discs can also be used as a computer storage medium for non-audio data such as text and images. For more details on Hi-MD, refer to the supplied flyer “What you can do with the Hi-MD Walkman”. About ATRAC3plus ATRAC3plus is an enhanced version of ATRAC3.
List of the recording time for each disc When using a disc in Hi-MD mode Recording time1) When recording on the recorder Recording Codec/ mode on Bit rate the recorder 1GB Hi-MD disc 80-minute standard disc 74-minute standard disc 60-minute standard disc PCM Linear PCM/ 1.
When using a disc in MD mode Recording time1) When recording on the recorder Recording mode on the recorder Codec/ Bit rate 80-minute standard disc 74-minute 60-minute standard disc standard disc SP ATRAC3/ 292kbps 80 minutes 74 minutes 60 minutes LP2 ATRAC3/ 132kbps 2 hours and 40 minutes 2 hours and 28 minutes 2 hours LP4 ATRAC3/66kbps 5 hours and 20 minutes 4 hours and 56 minutes 4 hours MONO (monaural) Monaural 2 hours and 40 minutes 2 hours and 28 minutes 2 hours Recording time
Note on digital recording This recorder uses the Serial Copy Management System, which allows only first-generation digital copies to be made from premastered software. You can only make copies from a home-recorded disc by using the analog (line out) connections. Premastered software such as CDs or MDs. Microphone, record player, tuner, etc. (with analog output jacks).
Difference between digital (optical) and analog (line) inputs The input jack of this recorder works as both digital and analog input jacks. Connect the recorder to a CD player or a cassette recorder using either digital (optical) input or analog (line) input. To record, see “Recording a disc right away!” (page 15) to record using digital (optical) input, and “Recording from a TV or radio (Analog Recording)” (page 26) to record using analog (line) input.
What you can do with MD Simple Burner/SonicStage What you can do with MD Simple Burner MD Simple Burner allows you to record music tracks from an audio CD in the CD drive of your computer to an MD Walkman, without first recording the music tracks to the computer. MD Walkman Audio CD What you can do with SonicStage SonicStage allows you to import audio data to your computer from music sources such as audio CDs and the Internet, and then transfer the audio data stored in your computer to an MD.
Basic operational flow using an MD Walkman MD Simple Burner SonicStage Providing the required system environment (page 86) Installing the software onto your computer (page 87) Recording music tracks from an audio CD in the CD drive of your computer (page 89) Importing audio data to your computer (page 93) Connecting an MD walkman to your computer (see “Recorder Operation”) Software Operation Connecting an MD walkman to your computer (see “Recorder Operation”) Transferring audio data from your compu
Installing Providing the required system environment System requirements The following system environment is required in order to use the SonicStage/MD Simple Burner software for the MD Walkman. Computer IBM PC/AT or Compatible • CPU: Pentium II 400 MHz or higher (Pentium III 450 MHz or higher is recommended.) • Hard disk drive space: 200 MB or more (1.5 GB or more is recommended) (The amount space will vary according to Windows version and the number of music files stored on the hard disk.
Installing the software onto your computer Before installing the software • Make sure to close any virus-check software, as such software usually demands a large amount of system resources. • When you use the MD Walkman, make sure to install the software with the supplied CDROM. — If OpenMG Jukebox, SonicStage or Net MD Simple Burner is installed already, the previous software will be overwritten by the new version. The new version retains the functions of the older version, but with new functions added.
3 Click [Install SonicStage and MD Simple Burner] and then follow the displayed instructions. Click [Install SonicStage and MD Simple Burner] Read the instructions carefully. Depending on your region, the buttons other than [Install SonicStage and MD Simple Burner] may differ from those in the illustration above. The installation may take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your system environment. Make sure to restart your computer only after the installation is completed.
Using MD Simple Burner Before using MD Simple Burner MD Simple Burner allows you to record music tracks from an audio CD in the CD drive of your computer to the MD Walkman. There are two ways to record from an audio CD. • Simple mode (page 90) You can use MD Walkman operations to record an entire CD or only the first track without launching MD Simple Burner. • Standard mode (page 91) You can launch MD Simple Burner to record using computer operations. Record an entire CD or selected tracks.
Recording using MD Walkman operations (Simple mode) 1 Insert a recordable disc into the MD Walkman and then connect the MD Walkman to the computer. For details about connections, see the “Recorder Operation” section. Do not disconnect the power source or the dedicated USB cable before the transfer has completed. 2 Insert the audio CD that you want to record into the CD drive of your computer. The CDDB registration window appears when you use the CDDB for the first time.
Recording by computer operations (Standard mode) To start MD Simple Burner, click [Start] – [All Programs]* – [MD Simple Burner] – [MD Simple Burner]. ∗ [Programs] in the case of Windows 2000 Professional/Windows Millennium Edition/Windows 98 Second Edition z There are other ways to start up MD Simple Burner as follows: • Double-click the MD Simple Burner icon in the task tray, or right-click and select [Show Standard Mode]. • Double-click the MD Simple Burner shortcut icon on the desktop.
The window for recording selected tracks from an audio CD [CONFIG] Click here to do the following: -Set the CD-ROM drive -View version information for MD Simple Burner -Confirm CD information registered in the CDDB Track information (CD) Artist name Total time of the selected tracks of CD Album Title [Get CD info] Information of an audio CD (album name, track title, etc.) will be reflected in the track list.
Using SonicStage Importing audio data This section explains how to record and store audio data from an audio CD to My Library of SonicStage on the hard disk drive of your computer. You can record or import music from other sources such as the Internet and your computer’s hard disk. Refer to SonicStage Help for details. Notes • Only audio CDs with a mark can be used with SonicStage. • We do not guarantee normal operation in the case of the copy-controlled CDs.
4 If necessary, click to uncheck tracks you do not want to record. If you unchecked a box by mistake, click it again to restore the check. To check all boxes, click . To uncheck all boxes, click . 5 If necessary, change the format and bit rate for audio CD recording. When you click [Format/Bit Rate] on the right side of the screen, “CD Recording Format [My library]” dialog box will appear. The dialog box will ask you to select the format and bit rate for recording the audio CD. 6 Click .
Transferring audio data from your computer to the MD Walkman Audio data stored in My Library of SonicStage can be transferred to your MD Walkman an infinite number of times. Transfer Destination list [Transfer] The My Library list [Transfer Mode] 1 Connect your MD Walkman to the computer. For details about connections, see “Recorder Operation”. Do not disconnect the power source or the dedicated USB cable before the transfer has completed.
4 If necessary, change the transfer mode. As the default setting, tracks in the OpenMG (PCM/ATRAC3/ATRAC3plus) format will be transferred in the same format and bit rate (normal transfer). If the device connected to the computer does not support the above format, the format and bit rate will be converted to those of the device. In some case, this process may take time.
Transferring back audio data from the MD Walkman to your computer Transfer Destination list [Transfer] The My Library list List of tracks on the MD Transferring from the MD Walkman back to your computer Audio data that has been transferred from your computer and stored on the MD can be transferred back to My Library of SonicStage on your computer. 1 Connect your MD Walkman to the computer. For details about connections, see “Recorder Operation”.
To stop transferring Click . Note Tracks transferred to the MD Walkman from another computer cannot be transferred back to My Library on your computer. Importing tracks recorded on a Hi-MD Walkman* to your computer Tracks that have been recorded on a Hi-MD Walkman* can be imported to My Library of SonicStage on your computer only once. ∗ Only tracks recorded in Hi-MD mode 1 Insert recordable disc into the Hi-MD Walkman and connect the device to your computer.
To stop importing Click . Note Notes • You cannot import tracks that were recorded in a Net MD mode to your computer, or tracks that have been recorded on a device that does not support Hi-MD mode. • Before importing tracks recorded on the Hi-MD Walkman to the computer, click [Properties] on the right side of the screen to confirm the status of the [Import Settings] check box (it is checked by default).
Using SonicStage Help SonicStage Help provides further details on how to use SonicStage. SonicStage Help allows you to search easily for information from a list of operations, such as “Importing Tracks” or “Transferring Tracks”, or from large list of keywords, or by typing in words that might lead you to the appropriate explanations. To display SonicStage Help Click [Help] – [SonicStage Help] while SonicStage is running.
Understanding SonicStage Help The right side frame The left side frame 1 Double click [Overview] in the left-side frame. 2 Click [About This Help File]. The explanation will appear in the right-side frame. 3 Read the text. Scroll the display if necessary. Click underlined words to jump to their explanations.
Referring to SonicStage Help Click [Contents] on the left side of the Help window to view a list of items for each operation. Click on any items for details.
Backing up audio data We recommend that you back up your music data as a precaution against hard disk crashes or computer replacement.
Other information Uninstalling SonicStage/MD Simple Burner To uninstall SonicStage/MD Simple Burner, follow the procedures below. 1 Click [Start]–[Control Panel]*. ∗ [Settings]–[Control Panel] in the case of Windows 2000 Professional/Windows Millennium Edition/Windows 98 Second Edition 2 Double-click [Add/Remove Programs]. 3 Click [SonicStage 2.x.xx] or [MD Simple Burner 2.0.xx] in the “Currently Installed Programs” list, and then click [Change and Remove]*.
On copyright protection The OpenMG technology allows you to enjoy digital music, while maintaining the copyrights of its holders. SonicStage encrypts audio files in OpenMG format and stores them on the hard disk of your computer to prevent unauthorized distribution. Restrictions on audio content High-quality digital audio content is widely available through music distribution services on the Internet.
Troubleshooting Please refer to the following steps if you encounter a problem while using SonicStage/MD Simple Burner. 1 Check the symptoms in this “Troubleshooting” section. 2 Check the symptoms in SonicStage Help when you use SonicStage. 3 If the problem cannot be solved after checking the above references. Check the following table and then consult your nearest Sony dealer.
The software cannot be installed onto your computer Problem Cause/Remedy The installation was not successful. You are using an OS that does not support this software. tSee page 86 for more details. All windows applications are not closed. tIf you start the installation while other programs are running, a malfunction may occur. This is especially true for programs that require large amounts of system resources, such as virus-check software. There is not enough hard disk space on your hard disk.
Using a MD Walkman connected to the computer Problem Cause/Remedy Your computer does not recognize the MD Walkman. The MD Walkman is not firmly connected with the supplied dedicated USB cable to the computer. tReconnect the MD Walkman to the computer firmly. tRemove and reconnect the MD Walkman. If the computer still does not recognize the MD Walkman, disconnect the cable, restart the computer, and then make the connection again. A disc is not inserted in the MD Walkman.
Index Numerics G 6-Band Equalizer 38 G-PROTECTION 81 Group erasing 47 moving 46 recording 30 releasing 44 setting 43 A Accessories optional 64 supplied 10 ATRAC3plus 78 AVLS 52 B Battery battery life 14 BEEP 53 Bookmark add 36 play 36 C CD drive 86 CDDB 86, 90 CD-ROM 87 Checking playing position 33 remaining time 25, 33 Cleaning 61 Combining tracks 49 Connecting 89, 90 analog 26 computer 57 digital 15 Contrast 55 Copyright protection 105 D Data storage 59 Disc memory 53 Disc Mode 55 Divide 49 DSP TYP
R W Recording adding track marks 29 analog 26 digital 15 from microphone 26 level 28 mode (Hi-MD/MDLP) 27 Recording mode 90 Recording mode (Bit rate) 94, 98 Relabeling 43 Windows 2000 Professional 86, 91, 93, S Search 38 Simple Mode 90 SonicStage 93 SonicStage Help 100 Start (software) MD Simple Burner 91 SonicStage 93 Synchro-recording 31 System environment 86 System limitations 86 T Time Mark 29 Title 40 Track mark Add (Divide) 49 Erase (Combine) 49 Transferring to the MD Walkman 95 to your computer
Printed in Malaysia * 3 2 6 6 4 6 6 1 3 * (1)