3-249-510-12(1) Portable MiniDisc Recorder Operating Instructions page 11 Recorder Operation _____________________________ page 68 Software Operation ______________________________ “WALKMAN” is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation to represent Headphone Stereo products. 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 Recorder Operations Looking at controls ......................................... 12 Getting started ............................................... 15 Recording an MD right away! ......................... 18 Playing an MD right away! .............................. 21 Various ways of recording .............................. 23 Viewing various information ................................................................
Editing recorded tracks .................................. 33 Before editing ....................................................................................... 33 Labeling recordings (Name) ................................................................ 33 Labeling ......................................................................................... 33 Moving recorded tracks (Move) .......................................................... 34 Dividing a track (Divide) .............................
Power sources ................................................ 53 Battery life ......................................................................................53 Additional information .................................... 54 Precautions ............................................................................................54 Specifications ........................................................................................56 Troubleshooting and explanations .................
Software Operation What is a Net MD? .......................................... 69 Basic Operations ............................................ 70 Basic operational flow using the Net MD ............................................ 70 Providing the required system environment ........................................ 71 System requirements ...................................................................... 71 Installing the software onto your computer .........................................
Other information ........................................... 86 Settings and Precautions .......................................................................86 Settings according to OS ................................................................86 For users with OpenMG Jukebox, SonicStage, or SonicStage Premium installed on their computer ..............................88 Note on hard disk drive space ........................................................
Before using this product This manual explains the recorder operations and the installation and basic use of the supplied SonicStage software. For details on the various operations, refer to the pages indicated below. When using the recorder Recorder Operation (pages 11 to 67) Pages 11 to 67 in this manual explain the use of the Net MD as an ordinary MiniDisc Walkman. Troubleshooting and explanations (page 57) This section shows the troubles you may find while using the recorder, and their solutions.
Checking the supplied accessories AC power adaptor (1) NH-7WMAA Nickel metal Headphones/earphones with a remote control (1) hydride rechargeable battery (1) Dedicated USB cable (1) Recorder Operation Optical cable (1) Battery carrying case (1) CD-ROM (SonicStage Ver. 1.5) (1)* Carrying case with a belt clip (1) (European model only) ∗Do not play a CD-ROM on an audio CD player.
Looking at controls The recorder A B C D E F G Display window GROUP button X (pause) button END SEARCH button MENU button OPEN button VOL +*, – button * VOL + has a tactile dot. H 4-way control key ENTER • N* .,> (search/AMS) x • CANCEL/CHG (stop/cancel/ charge) * N has a tactile dot. 12 I REC (record) • T MARK button J USB connecting jack K Handstrap hole Use the hole to attach your own strap.
The display window of the recorder 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 SOUND LP2.4 1 2 9 q; qa A MONO (monaural) indication B LP mode indication C Sound indications D Disc indication Shows that the disc is rotating for recording or playing an MD. E Level meter Shows the volume of the MD being played or recorded. F Disc name/track name indication Lights up when labeling a disc or a track. G SYNC (synchro-recording) indication H REC indication Lights up while recording.
The headphones/earphones with a remote control 4 5 1 6 2 7 3 8 A Clip B HOLD switch To prevent the buttons from being accidentally operated when you carry the recorder, use this function. C (group) +, – button D Headphones/earphones Can be replaced with optional headphones/earphones. E Volume Control (VOL+, –) Turn to adjust the volume. F NX* (to press): play, pause ∗ NX has a tactile dot. G x (stop) button H .
Getting started Charge the rechargeable battery before using. Even if the rechargeable battery is not charged, you can use the recorder as long as the AC power adaptor is connected. 1 Insert the rechargeable battery Slide OPEN to open the battery compartment lid. Insert the NH-7WMAA rechargeable battery minus end first. Close the lid. E e Using the dry battery Insert one LR6 (size AA) alkaline dry battery (not supplied) instead of the rechargeable battery.
2 Charge the rechargeable battery. to a wall outlet AC power adaptor 4-way control key (x • CANCEL/CHG) to DC IN 3V 1 Connect the AC power adaptor to DC IN 3V. 2 Press x • CANCEL/CHG while the recorder is stopped. “Charge” flashes, e appears in the display, and charging starts. When charging is completed, the battery indication disappears. Full charging of a completely discharged rechargeable battery takes about 2 hours. 3 Disconnect the AC power adaptor.
3 Make connections and unlock the controls. 1 Connect the headphones/earphones 2 Slide HOLD to the opposite direction of with the remote control to i. the arrow (.) to unlock the controls. Connect firmly HOLD To i Connect firmly Battery life For details, refer to “Battery life” (page 53) When recording (Unit: Approx. hours) Batteries SP Stereo LP2 Stereo LP4 Stereo NH-7WMAA nickel metal hydride 6 rechargeable battery 9 10 LR6 (SG) Sony alkaline dry battery 10 14 18.
Recording an MD 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. For other recording operations, see “Various ways of recording” (page 23). 1 Insert an MD. 1 Press OPEN to open the lid. 2 Insert an MD with the label side facing front, and press the lid down to close. Make sure to check the record-protect tab is closed.
2 Make connections. (Insert the cables firmly and completely into the appropriate jacks.) Portable CD player, etc. CD player, MD player, DVD video player, etc. to a wall outlet to a digital (optical) out jack AC power adaptor Optical mini-plug Optical plug Optical cable* to DC IN 3V ∗ See “Optional accessories” (page 56). to LINE IN (OPTICAL) 3 Record an MD. 1 Set the sound source you want to record to pause.
To Press Record from the end of the Press END SEARCH, press N while holding down REC • T MARK1). current contents1) Record over partway through the previous recording1) Press N or press . or > to find the start point of recording, and then press x to stop. Press N while holding down REC • T MARK. Pause Press X2). Press X again to resume recording. Remove the MD Press x and open the lid.3) (The lid does not open while “TOC Edit” flashing in the display.
Playing an MD right away! 1 Insert an MD. 1 Press OPEN to open the lid. 2 Insert an MD with the label side facing front, and press the lid down to close. 2 Play an MD. 1 Press N on the recorder. (Press NX on the remote control.) A short beep sounds in the headphones/ earphones. 4-way control key (N, ., >, x) VOL+, – 2 Press VOL + or – to adjust the volume X on the recorder. (Turn the volume control towards VOL + or – on the remote control.) The volume will be shown in the display.
To Operation on the recorder Operation on the remote control Pause Press X. Press X again to resume play. Press NX. Press NX again to resume play. Cue to the current track or the previous track Press .. Press . repeatedly. Press .. Press . repeatedly. Cue to the next track Press >. Press >. Go backwards or forward while playing Press and hold . or >. Press and hold . or >. Search for a specific Press and hold . or > position while viewing while pausing.
Various ways of recording Display: A/B Viewing various information You can check the remaining time, track number, etc. when recording or during stop. Group-related items appear only when a track with group settings is played and then stopped. MENU 4-way control key (ENTER • N, ., >) 1 2 3 Press MENU. Press . or > repeatedly until “DISP” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. Press . or > repeatedly until the information you want appears in the display, and then press ENTER.
To start/stop recording in sync with the sound source (Synchro-recording) During synchro-recording, the recorder starts and stops recording in sync with the sound source. When recording from digital equipment (such as a CD player), you can omit operating both the recorder and the sound source, and easily make digital recording. You can make synchrorecording only when the optical cable is connected. MENU REC • T MARK 6 7 Press N while pressing REC • T MARK. The recorder stands by for recording.
Long-time recording (MDLP) Select each recording mode according to the recording time that you want. Stereo recording is possible at 2 times (LP2) or 4 times (LP4) the normal (stereo) recording time. Monaural recording at 2 times normal recording time is also possible. MDs recorded in monaural, LP2, or LP4 mode can be played back only on MD players or recorders with monaural, LP2, or LP4 playback mode. MENU 4 Recording Display mode1) window on the recorder Recording time3) SP stereo SP Approx. 80 min.
1 Notes • It is recommended that you use the AC power adaptor for long recordings. • When you record in LP4 mode, momentary noise may be produced on very rare occasions with certain sound sources. This is because of the special digital audio compression technology that enables a recording time 4 times longer than normal. If noise is produced, it is recommended that you record in normal stereo or LP2 mode to obtain better sound quality.
Adding track marks automatically (Auto Time Stamp) Use this feature to add track marks automatically at specified intervals when recording through the analog input connector. This function is convenient for recording long period of time, such as lectures, meetings, etc. 1 While the recorder is recording or in recording pause, press MENU. 2 Press . or > repeatedly “R-SET” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 3 Press . or > repeatedly “TimeMk” appears in the display, and then press ENTER.
Adjusting the recording level manually 7 The sound level is adjusted automatically while recording. If necessary, you can set the recording level manually during both analog and digital recording. While observing the level meter in the display, adjust the recording level by pressing . or >. Set the level so that the maximum input lights up the fifth segment on the level meter. If the sixth segment lights up, lower the level by pressing ..
Various ways of playback Indication: A/B Viewing various information You can check the track or disc name, track number, the elapsed playing time of the current track, the number of the tracks recorded on the MD, the group name, and the total number of tracks in a group. MENU 4-way control key (ENTER • N, ., >, x) 1 2 While playing, press MENU. Press . or > repeatedly until “DISP” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. Each time you press .
Selecting the play mode Indication A/ B1) Play mode 1 Trk/1 A single track is played once. You can select from various play modes such as repeat play, shuffle play, or bookmark play. TrPLAY/ Bookmarked tracks play back in order of their track number. MENU Shuff/SHUF All the tracks are played in random order 1) Group play mode ( 4-way control key (ENTER • N, ., >, x) 1 While the recorder is playing, press MENU. 2 Press .
To play the bookmarked tracks 1 During playback, press MENU. 2 Press . or > repeatedly until “P-MODE” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 3 Press . or > repeatedly until “ TrPLAY” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. “ RepOFF” appears. 4 Select “ RepON” (playing the bookmark play repeatedly) or “ RepOFF”. 5 Press ENTER. The Bookmarked tracks start playing, starting with the smallest track number.
Adjusting the sound quality You can change the preset sound quality and store the results in “SOUND1” or “SOUND2”. 1 2 While playing, press MENU. Press . or > repeatedly until “SOUND” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 3 Press . or > repeatedly until “SET” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 4 Press . or > repeatedly to select “SOUND1” or “SOUND2”, and then press ENTER. The display shows the currently selected “BASS” sound setting. 5 Press .
Editing recorded tracks Before editing You can edit your recordings by adding/ erasing track marks or labeling tracks and MDs. Notes • Premastered MDs cannot be edited. • Close the record-protect tab on the side of the MD before editing. • The recorder is recording editing results while “TOC Edit” is flashing in the display. — Do not move or jog the recorder. — Do not disconnect the power source. — The lid does not open.
4 Press . or > repeatedly until the following item appears in the display, and then press ENTER. When labeling a track “T : Name” When labeling a disc “D : Name” The cursor flashes in the letter input area and the track, group, or disc is ready to be labeled. 6 7 Repeat step 5, and then enter all characters of the label name. Press ENTER for 2 seconds or more. A track or disc is labeled. To return the preceding settings Press x. To cancel labeling Press x for 2 seconds or more.
Example Move track C (track number 3) from the third to the second track. Before moving A B C D A C B D After moving MENU 6 Press ENTER. The track moves to the selected destination track. For example above, “002” appears in the display. To return the preceding settings Press x. To cancel moving Press x for 2 seconds or more. Dividing a track (Divide) You can divide a track with a track mark, creating a new track from the part following the track mark.
Dividing a track directly 1 The track numbers will change as follows: 1 While playing or pausing an MD, press T MARK on the recorder at the point you want to mark. “MK ON” appears in the display, and a track mark is added. The track number will increase by one. 4 1 2 3 Track numbers decrease 4-way control key (.) X T MARK 1 Combining tracks (combine) 2 Notes • You cannot erase a track mark on a track that has been checked-out from your computer.
Note When you erase a track mark between the two consecutive tracks that are assigned into different groups, the second track is re-assigned into the group containing the first track. In addition, if you combine a track that is assigned to a group with a track that is not assigned to a group (two consecutive tracks), the second track takes the same group assignment as the first track. Erasing tracks and a whole disc contents (Erase) You can erase unnecessary tracks or all tracks on a disc.
To erase the whole disc You can quickly erase all the tracks and data of the MD at the same time. Note that once a recording has been erased, you cannot retrieve it. Be sure to check the contents of the disc before you erase it. 1 Play the disc you want to erase to check the contents. 2 3 4 Press x to stop. 5 Press . or > repeatedly until “Erase” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 6 Press . or > repeatedly until “D : Ers” appears in the display, and then press ENTER.
Using the group function You can create a maximum of 99 groups on a disc. What is the group function? Note The group function is provided to allow playback of discs with group settings. The group function is convenient for playback of MDs on which several albums or CD singles have been recorded in MDLP (LP2/LP4) mode.
Recording a track to an existing group You can add a track to an existing group. 1 Press GROUP, and then press . or > until the group you want to add a track to appears in the display. 2 Press N while pressing REC • T MARK. 3 Play the source sound. Newly recorded track is added after the current contents in the group. z • To add a track that is currently playing to a group, stop or pause playing the track first, and then do the procedure from step 2.
Selecting the play mode for group play (Group Play Mode) Editing groups The shuffle play and repeat play function can be used during group play mode. Assigning tracks or groups as a new group (Group Setting) 1 2 With this function, you can assign existing tracks or groups to a new group, and also you can assign a track that currently belongs to no group to an existing group. 3 Press MENU. Press . or > until “P-MODE” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. Press .
5 Notes • You can create a maximum of 99 groups on a disc. 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. • The tracks or groups must be sequential. If the desired tracks or groups are not consecutive, you must move them to make them consecutive before you can assign them (“Moving recorded tracks (Move)”, page 34). MENU 6 Press .
4 Press . or > until “EDIT” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 5 Press . or > until “G : Rls” appears in the display, and press ENTER. “G : Rls?” and “ENTER” appear alternately in the display. 6 Press ENTER. The group setting of the selected group is released. Moving a track in a disc with group setting You can move a track from one group out of the group or to another group. You can also move a track that is not belong to a group into an existing group.
3 Press . or > until “Move” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 4 Press . or > until “T : Move” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. pGP04 5 When moving a track out of a group, skip this step. When moving a track into a different group, press . or > until the destination group appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 6 Press . or > until the number of the destination track (within a group when moving into a different group) appears in the display, and then press ENTER.
5 Press . or > to select the destination point on the disc, and then press ENTER. To return the preceding settings Press x. To cancel moving Press x for 2 seconds or more. To erase a group You can erase tracks in a selected group. Note that once a recording has been erased, you cannot retrieve it. Be sure to check the contents of the group before you erase it. Note 5 Press . or > until “Erase” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 6 Press .
Other operations Useful settings The recorder has many menus with useful functions for recording, playback, editing, etc. The following table shows the menu items that you can select. Category Function What it does Site page General operations Beep on/off Turns the beep sound on or off. page 49 Recording SynchroRecording Simplifies operations during digital recording. page 24 Long-time recording Selects the recording mode (SP, LP2, page 25 LP4, or monaural).
Category Function What it does Editing Moving Changes the order of tracks or groups. page 34 (track) page 43 (group) Erasing Erases tracks, groups, or the entire disc contents. page 37 (track and disc) page 45 (group) Assigning tracks to groups Assigns recorded tracks or groups to a new group. page 41 Releasing a group Releases group settings.
How to use the menu items To set the menu items, do the following procedure. 1 2 3 4 Press MENU to enter the menu. Press . or > to select the item. Press ENTER to enter the selection. Repeat steps 2 and 3. The setting will be entered when you press ENTER at the last. To return the preceding setting Press x. To cancel the operation while setting Press and hold x for 2 seconds or more.
Turning off the beep sound You can turn on/off the beep sound on the recorder and the remote control. 1 2 Enter the menu and select “OPTION” - “BEEP”. Select “OFF”. To turn on the beep sound Select “ON”. Recording without overwriting existing material If you wish to avoid recording over the current contents of an MD, do the following procedure. All new material will then be recorded from the end of the current contents. The recorder is factory set to record over existing material.
Notes • When the power mode is set to “QUICK”, the power remains on within the recorder even when nothing appears in the display. This leads to a shorter battery life. For this reason, it is recommended that you charge the battery daily. • If no recorder operation (including opening or closing of the lid) occurs for an hour, the power in the recorder automatically turn off. For this reason, the next time you start playback or do another operation, the recorder will not respond quickly.
List of menus Menus on the recorder Items listed under “Menu 1” are the selectable items which appear when you press MENU, items listed under “Menu 2” are the selectable items which appear when you select an item in Menu 1, and “Menu 3” are the selectable items which appear when you select an item in Menu 2.
Menu 1 Menu 2 OPTION AVLS Menu 3 OFF (factory setting) y ON BEEP OFF y ON (factory setting) R-Posi FrHere (factory setting) y Fr End Power NORMAL (factory setting) y QUICK
Power sources You can use the recorder on house current or as follows. — a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery NH-7WMAA — an LR6 (size AA) alkaline dry battery It is preferable to use the recorder on house current when recording for a long time. When using a battery, make sure it is a fully charged rechargeable battery or a new alkaline dry battery to prevent operations (e.g., recording and editing) from failing due to insufficient battery power. When playing Batteries (Unit: approx.
Additional information On the headphones/earphones Precautions On safety Do not put any foreign objects in the DC IN 3V jack. On power sources • Use house current, nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery, LR6 (size AA) battery, or car battery. • For use in your house: Do not use any other AC power adaptor since it may cause the recorder to malfunction. Polarity of the plug • Connect the AC power adaptor to an easily accessible AC outlet.
On the MiniDisc cartridge To protect a recorded MD • When carrying or storing the MiniDisc, keep it in its case. • Do not break open the shutter. • Do not place the cartridge where it will be subject to light, extreme temperatures, moisture or dust. • Attach the supplied MD label only in the space designated for it on the disc. Do not stick it on any other disc surface. To record-protect an MD, slide open the tab at the side of the MD. In this position, the MD cannot be recorded.
Power requirements Specifications Audio playing system MiniDisc digital audio system Laser diode properties 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.) Recording and playback time (when using MDW-80) Maximum 160 min. in monaural Maximum 320 min.
Troubleshooting and explanations Troubles and solutions If you find any troubles operating the recorder, follow the steps below. 1 2 Check this section, “Troubles and solutions” (page 57). You may find the solution of your trouble on “Messages” (page 63) as well. Check the information. If you cannot solve the problem after you made checks, 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 17, 19). • 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 19). • The analog recording was made using a connecting cord with an attenuator.
Symptom Cause/Remedy “TrFULL” appears even before the disc has reached the maximum recording time (60, 74, or 80 minutes) and the recording cannot be done. • This is due to the MiniDisc system limitation. When 254 tracks have been recorded on the disc, “TrFULL” appears regardless of the total recorded time. More than 254 tracks cannot be recorded on the disc. , To continue recording, erase unnecessary tracks. The remaining recording time does not increase even after erasing numerous short tracks.
Symptom Cause/Remedy No sound comes through the headphones/ earphones. • The headphones/earphones plug is not firmly connected. , Plug in the plug of the headphones/earphones firmly to the remote control. Plug in the plug of the remote control firmly to i. • The plug is dirty. , Clean the plug. The recorder skips to several tracks ahead or behind when you press . or > on recorder. • The GROUP button has been pressed ( is flashing in the display).
Symptom Cause/Remedy Track marks cannot be erased. • This is due to the MiniDisc system limitations. When the data of a track is fragmented, the track mark of a fragment under 12 seconds long (recorded in SP stereo), 24 seconds long (recorded in LP2 stereo mode or monaural mode), or 48 seconds long (recorded in LP4 stereo mode) cannot be erased. You cannot combine tracks recorded in different recording modes, e.g.
Others 62 Symptom Cause/Remedy The recorder does not work or works poorly. • The rechargeable battery is not charged. , Charge the rechargeable battery. • The volume is low. , Turn up the volume. • No disc is inserted. , Insert a recorded disc. • The HOLD function is turned on (“HOLD” appears in the display when you press an operation button on the recorder). , On the recorder, disable HOLD by sliding the HOLD switch to the opposite direction of the arrow. • The lid is not firmly closed.
Messages If the following error messages flash in the display window, check the chart below. Error message Meaning/Remedy AVLS • AVLS is set to “ON” so that the volume will not increase anymore. , Set AVLS to “OFF” (page 50). FULL • You tried to set the 21st bookmark. , You can set up to 20 bookmarks. Set bookmarks within 20. BLANK • An MD with no recording on it is inserted. BUSY • You tried to operate the recorder while it was accessing the recorded data.
Error message Meaning/Remedy LoBATT • Battery is weak. , Replace the dry battery (page 15). MEMORY • You tried to record with the recorder placed where it receives continuous vibration. , Put the recorder on a stable place, and start recording again. NO CHG • You tried to charge at a place where the temperature is too high. , Charge the battery at a temperature of +5°C (+41°F) to +40°C (+104°F).
Error message Meaning/Remedy Rec ERR • 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. SAVED • You tried to record or edit on a MD with the tab in the recordprotect position. , Slide the tab back (page 55). Saving • The MD player is recording information (sounds) from the memory to the disc.
Explanations 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 an MD right away!” (page 18) to record using digital (optical) input, and “Recording from a TV or a radio (Analog Recording)” (page 26) to record using analog (line) input.
The meaning of “no sound” “No sound” describes a recorder condition in which the input level is about 4.8 mV during analog input or less than –89 dB during optical (digital) input (with 0 dB as full bit (the maximum recordable level for a MiniDisc)). 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 MD by using the analog (line out) connections.
Recording audio data to your computer You can record audio data to your computer from sources such as audio CDs and the Internet (page 76). Audio CDs Internet On the computer Listening You can listen to an audio CD in the CDROM drive of your computer, or audio data in the hard disk drive (page 83).
What is a Net MD? Net MD is a standard that enables the transfer of audio data from a computer to a MiniDisc device. To use this Net MD with your computer requires a software application called “SonicStage”. SonicStage software provides a database for managing audio data in the computer and functions for playing the audio data in various play modes, editing the data, and transferring the results to other devices and hardware connected to the computer.
Basic Operations Basic operational flow using the Net MD The following is the basic steps that you will take following the purchase of your recorder. Through these steps, you will prepare and set up your computer for use of your recorder as a Net MD. Do the following steps, and refer to the indicated pages for details. 1 Providing the required system environment. (page 71) 2 Installing the software onto your computer. (page 72) 3 Connecting the Net MD to your computer.
Providing the required system environment System requirements The following hardware and software are required in order to use the SonicStage software for the Net MD. Computer IBM PC/AT or Compatible • CPU: Pentium II 400 MHz or higher (Pentium III 450 MHz or higher is recommended.) • Hard disk drive space1): 120 MB or more • RAM: 64 MB or higher (128 MB or higher is recommended) Others • CD-ROM drive (capable of digital playback by WDM) • Sound Board • USB port (supports USB 2.
Installing the software onto your computer This section explains the installation of the SonicStage Ver.1.5 software supplied with your Net MD. Before installing the software 1 Make sure to note the following before installing the software. Do not connect the dedicated USB cable before the installation! The SonicStage software may not correctly load or operate if the dedicated USB cable is connected to your computer during the installation.
Installing SonicStage Ver.1.5 1 Turn on your computer and start up Windows. 2 Insert the installation CD-ROM for SonicStage into the CD-ROM drive of your computer. The setup program starts up automatically and the SonicStage Ver.1.5 installation window appears. 3 Click to select [SonicStage 1.5]. To use this software with the Net MD, you must install SonicStage Ver.1.5 and the Net MD driver. Click [SonicStage 1.
4 Follow the displayed instructions. Read the instructions carefully. The installation may take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your system environment (page 95). 5 After the installation is completed, click [Restart] to restart the computer. Make sure to restart your computer only after the installation has completed. Was the installation successful? If any trouble occurs during the installation, see “Troubleshooting” (page 92).
Connecting the Net MD to your computer After the software installation is completed, connect the Net MD to your computer. Refer to the operating instructions of the Net MD as well. 1 Insert a recordable disc into the Net MD. 2 Make the power source and the dedicated USB cable connections with the Net MD and the computer.
Storing audio data to your computer This section explains how to record and store audio data from an audio CD to the hard disk drive of your computer. The procedure in this section is used to record all tracks on an audio CD. To record only specific tracks from a CD, or from other sound sources, see the online help for details (page 84).
Recording audio CDs to the hard disk drive In SonicStage Ver.1.5, the hard disk drive is called the “Music Drive”. The Music Drive manages all audio data stored by SonicStage. 1 Insert the audio CD that you want to record into the CD-ROM drive of your computer. The CD window appears in the display. Note When you record an audio CD from your CD-ROM drive for the first time, the “CD Drive Optimization” dialog box appears when you insert the audio CD.
4 Click select the recording mode. in the middle of the recording window and When recording data in LP2 mode: select ATRAC3 132kbps When recording data in LP4 mode: select ATRAC3 66kbps Click here 5 If the list panel is not displayed, click . List panels appear under the recording window. The contents of the audio CD appear in the left list panel. 6 Click [Record All]. Recording starts. Upon completion, recorded tracks appear in the right list panel. To stop recording Click ([Stop]).
Labeling audio data After recording has completed, you can label the audio data in the Music Drive. Once audio data in the Music Drive is labeled, the label information will be transferred to a disc along with the audio data, allowing you to view the data on your Net MD. 1 Start up SonicStage (page 76) and click (Music Drive). “All Playlists” appears and all the albums stored on the Music Drive appear in the Music Drive window. 2 Double click the desired album name.
Transferring audio data from your computer to the Net MD (Check-out) Audio data stored on the Music Drive can be transferred to your Net MD. This process is called “Check-out”. The number of times a track can be checked out is restricted in this software for the protection of copyrights (page 98). Playlist Checking out audio files to the Net MD This section explains how to check out all audio files in a playlist*.
3 Click in the middle of the display and select the recording mode (page 78). Standard transfer mode: Data are transferred in the format of the original files. Maximum available transfer space: All data are transferred in LP4 mode. SP transfer mode: All data are converted and transferred in normal stereo mode. Select this mode if you listen to checked-out data on equipment that does not support MDLP mode. 4 If the list panel is not displayed, click . A playlist appears in the display.
Notes • Once a check-out (or check-in) has started, do not disconnect the dedicated USB cable or power source until the check-out operation has completed. These actions may damage the data or cause the system to malfunction. • Make sure not to bump the Net MD after check-out has started. If you do, the contents of the recording may not be stored correctly. • Due to the limitations of the MD system, you may not be able to record the full amount of remaining recording time.
Listening to an MD You can listen to an MD on the Net MD while it is connected to your computer. When disconnected from your computer, the Net MD can be used as an ordinary MiniDisc device. For details on Net MD operations, refer to the “Recorder Operations” section. Listening to an MD with the Net MD connected to the computer If you listen to an MD with the Net MD connected to the computer, be sure to listen with the Net MD itself (connecting to the headphones/earphones, speakers, etc.).
Advanced operations Using other functions! Using the SonicStage online help This manual explains only the basic operations of the SonicStage software. However, the software has a host of other functions that allow you to carry out various operations, such as importing audio files from the Internet, classifying and managing audio files, and playing in various play modes. For information and details on the various menus and operations, go to the online help.
Viewing online help The Tabs The left side frame The right side frame Let’s find out how to use the online help first. An explanation on the use of the online help can also be found in the online help. 1 Double click [Overview] in the left-hand frame. 2 Click [About this Help file]. The explanation will appear in the right-hand frame. 3 Read the text. Scroll the display if necessary. Click underlined words to jump to their explanations.
Other information Settings and Precautions Settings according to OS The settings and precautions will differ according to the operating system being used. Check the items that apply to your system. For Windows XP users Restrictions when running the SonicStage software under Windows XP • To install this software, you must log on with a user name with “Computer Administrator”* as an attribute. • You must log on with the user name “Administrators” or “Power Users” to use the SonicStage software.
For Windows Millennium Edition users When using SonicStage under Windows Millennium Edition If you use the “System Restore” function in Windows “System Tools”, audio data managed by SonicStage may become corrupted and rendered unplayable. Before executing the system restoration procedure, you should first back up all audio files and restore them after doing the system restoration procedure. For details about backup procedures, refer to online help. Note Restoring backup data requires access to the Internet.
For users with OpenMG Jukebox, SonicStage, or SonicStage Premium installed on their computer Note Confirm whether any tracks have been checked out from your computer. If tracks have been checked out from OpenMG Jukebox, an earlier version of SonicStage, or SonicStage Premium, it may not be possible to check those tracks back in with SonicStage Ver.1.5. It is recommended to check in the tracks before installing SonicStage Ver.1.5. Check the following contents before installing SonicStage Ver.1.5.
Precautions on the co-existence of SonicStage Ver. 1.5 with OpenMG Jukebox Ver.2.2 or SonicStage Premium • Make sure the OpenMG Jukebox Ver.2.2 icon is not displayed in the task tray. If it is, the Net MD may not be recognized by your computer. • Audio data recorded on the computer are stored in a common file and used by both applications. Therefore, if you delete an audio file (e.g., one album) in one application, it will be deleted in the other software as well.
Uninstalling the SonicStage software To uninstall the SonicStage software, follow the procedures below. For Windows XP users Log on with a user name with “Computer Administrator” as an attribute. Refer to the operating instructions of your computer for details on logging on as an administrator. 1 Click [Start]–[Control Panel]. The “Control Panel” window appears. 2 Double-click [Add/Remove Programs]. The “Add/Remove Programs” dialog box appears. 3 Click [Change or Remove Programs].
2 Double-click [Add/Remove Programs]. The Add/Remove Programs Properties window appears. 3 Click [SonicStage 1.5.XX] in the list of programs for automatic removal, and then click [Add/Remove]. 4 Click [OpenMG Secure Module 3.1]* in the list of programs for automatic removal, and then click [Add/Remove]. Do as instructed by the message and restart the computer. When the computer restarts, the uninstallation will be completed.
Troubleshooting Please do the following steps if you encounter a problem while using the SonicStage software. In case a message appears, it is recommended that you write it down. Step 1: Check the symptoms in this “Troubleshooting” section. A variety of information can also be found in the operating procedures and “Settings and Precautions” (page 86) as well. Step 2: Check the symptoms in the SonicStage 1.5 online help (page 84). Check “Troubleshooting” under “Additional information” in the online help.
Computer • Manufacturer: • Model: • Type: Desktop type / Laptop type Name of operating system: RAM capacity: Hard disk drive (containing SonicStage and audio data) • Capacity of the drive: • Free space: Installed folder containing SonicStage (if other than the default folder)1) • Location of the installed folder: Version of the software (SonicStage Ver.1.
If your computer does not recognize the Net MD • Is the Net MD connected correctly to your computer? — If the Net MD is not firmly connected to the computer, the Net MD will not be recognized by your computer. — Reconnect the dedicated USB cable. If the computer still does not recognize the Net MD, disconnect the Net MD, restart the computer, and connect the dedicated USB cable again. • Is an MD inserted in the Net MD? Check if an MD is inserted in the Net MD.
• If the installation seems to be stopped It may take 30 minutes or more for the installation to complete, depending on your computer or CD-ROM drive. During the installation, watch out for the occurrence of any of the following problems. Problem Cause/Remedy The installation appears to have Check for the appearance of an error message beneath the installation window. stopped before it has completed. t Press the [Tab] key while holding down the [Alt] key.
Information and explanations Net MD FAQ This section introduces frequently asked questions and answers on the Net MD. On the Net MD What is a “Net MD”? Net MD is a specification that allows audio data in a computer to be transferred to a MiniDisc through a USB cable. Till now, MiniDiscs could be used to record only analog sources (through a microphone or analog input) or PCM sources such as CDs. Recording audio files on a computer was impossible.
On Editing Can checked-out tracks be edited on the Net MD? • Things you can do on the Net MD: — Label contents. — Assign or release groups — Move tracks or groups. • Things you cannot do on the Net MD: — Add track marks (divide)/erase track marks (combine). — Delete tracks, groups, or the entire disc contents.
On copyright protection The OpenMG technology* allows you to enjoy digital music, while maintaining the copyrights of its holders. OpenMG Jukebox encrypts audio files in OpenMG format and stores them on the hard disk of your computer to prevent unauthorized distribution. * The copyright protection technology of this software conforms to SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) specifications. This software places some restrictions on recording and playback to protect copyrights.
Restrictions on audio content High-quality digital audio content is widely available through music distribution services on the Internet. To protect the copyrights of its holders from unauthorized distribution, some audio content is distributed with certain restrictions on recording and playback. For example, the playback period or playback count for the data may be limited. In such cases, checking out of the audio contents may not be possible.
Glossary ATRAC3 ATRAC3, which stands for Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding3, is audio compression technology that satisfies the demand for high sound quality and high compression rates. The ATRAC3 compression rate is approximately 10 times higher than that of the Audio CD, resulting an increased data capacity for the media. “Check-In /Check-Out” Check-out is to transfer music files from a personal computer to an external device/media (such as a Network Walkman).
Recording mode (Bit rate) This is a measure of data volume per second. The rate is expressed in bps (bits per second). In SonicStage, the bit rate can be selected for recording an audio CD or converting MP3 and WAV format audio files into ATRAC3 format from among three rates: 132 kbps, 105 kbps or 66 kbps. In the case of 105 kbps, 105,000 bits of information is processed per second. If the bit rate is large, that means a large amount of information is used to play the music.
Index A G Accessories optional 56 supplied 11 ATRAC3 96, 100 Audio CD 68, 77 Auto Time Stamp 26 AVLS 50 G-PROTECTION 67 Group erasing 45 moving 44 play 40 recording 39 releasing 42 setting 41 skip 40 Group Program Play 41 B back up 89 Bookmark add 30 play 31 C CD-ROM 71 Charging 16 Check-in 96, 100 Checking playing position 29 remaining time 23, 29 Check-out 80, 96, 100 Cleaning 55 Combining tracks 36 Connecting 75 analog 26 digital 19 when charging 16 copyright protection 98 D delete (software) 90 De
P W Play mode groups 40 tracks 30 Playlist 80, 100 Windows 2000 91 Windows 98 Second Edition 90 Windows Millennium Edition 90 Windows XP 90 WMA 101 WMT 101 Q Quick mode 49 R Recording adding track marks 26 analog 26 digital 18 from microphone 26 level 28 MDLP mode 25 without overwriting tracks 49 Recording mode (Bit rate) 78, 81, 101 Recording navigation window 77 Relabeling 34 S SDMI 101 SonicStage Premium 72, 88 SonicStage software (earlier version) 72, 88 start (software) 76 Synchro-recording 24 Sy
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