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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Best MiniDisc?

X-Daniel_Boswell
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Apr 25, 2003, 5:33 PM

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Best MiniDisc?	Can't Post

After reading your responses I have decided to go with a MD recorder for my audio recording for event videography (mostly weddings)
Which is the best? (price, quality..etc)

X-Mike_C
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Apr 25, 2003, 6:01 PM

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Re: Best MiniDisc?	Can't Post

There are a lot of Sony users here, I think mostly because they are readily available at local retailers.
But, I have found that the best MD around, bar none, is the Sharp MD-SR60.
They can be tough to come by, but if you keep an eye on ebay, there are usually some there every month. I got my first 2 for about $80 bucks, but the last auction I won, it went for $132. But its a steal even at that price.
Whatever brand you get, make sure it has a mic input.

: After reading your responses I have decided to go with a MD recorder for my audio recording for event videography (mostly weddings)
: Which is the best? (price, quality..etc)

X-Gregory_Lee
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Apr 25, 2003, 8:53 PM

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Re: Best MiniDisc? [In reply to]	Can't Post

The problem is most MD walkmans do not have optical out; only optical in or line/mic out. So there may be some quality loss thru the analog line.
Most DATs have optical out though.

X-Joel_Peregrine
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Apr 25, 2003, 11:05 PM

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Re: Best MiniDisc? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi,
In terms of audio quality there really isn't any noticeable difference, especially for an application like wedding videography which is relatively undemanding. The newer Sony N707 can record in MDLP mode, which is a long play stereo recording mode, but for wedding work with a mono lav that mode isn't necessary. The Sony models with mic inputs I've seen for sale on ebay are the MZ-R70, R90, R700, R900, and N707. The N707 is avilable retail now also. You really can't go wrong with any of these. Sharp MD recorders also have a very good reputation, but aren't as widely available...
Joel

: After reading your responses I have decided to go with a MD recorder for my audio recording for event videography (mostly weddings)
: Which is the best? (price, quality..etc)

X-Brian_M
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Apr 26, 2003, 7:24 AM

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Difference between Sonys [In reply to]	Can't Post

There is a difference in quality between the newer Sony MZ-N707 and the older Sony MZ-R70. The difference is in the record level. If using minidisc recorder to record the DJ's amp at close range (using manual volume level), the MZ-N707 handles the higher decibals better. I can't use the older MZ-R70 for this purpose because if the level records too low the quality is bad and if the level is slightly too high, it really distorts. DJ's change their volumes during the course of the reception and you can't be there to monitor the record level at all times. The newer MZ-N707 recordings just sound better to me when the day is through.
I never used a Sharp minidisc and the reason is because they were significantly bigger than the Sonys. I use the Sony in the grooms pocket and I wanted the smallest recorder out there.
The top Sony is going to run you around $220 if purchased from a retailer and maybe $180 if you get it on-line from like B&H Photo. It's worth the extra $$ to get the top model. There IS a DIFFERENCE. If you've ever noticed with other Sony products, they charge more for their better stuff. They don't just make up prices. Just like our video packages (-: There's a reason DVD is more expensive than VHS.
Brian M
Video by Moak

X-Brian_M
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Apr 26, 2003, 7:40 AM

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Don't worry about Optical out [In reply to]	Can't Post

One may have to be a dog to hear the difference in this case. (-:
This is why. The audio being recorded on a mini-disc is optical. Un-powered microphones do not create hiss or noise. The hiss or noise you sometimes hear on an analog recording is from the magnetic tape moving across playback heads. When a wire is connected to the headphone out jack (since there is no optical out) does not create any noise either. Ever listen to a CD player with headphones? Hear any hiss? This is the same thing. That pure digital sound is then trasfered through the wire to another digital recorder (the hard drive). There is no noticable loss of sound quality. DAT is better than minidisc because it's not as compressed and it handles more digital info happening at once like rock songs with heavy bass.
VHS to DVD - there will be noticable analog to digital noise.
mini-disc to CD - nothing happening there to create quality loss.
(unless using a 10,000 foot wire between the too and then maybe you need a transformer signal boost like phone lines have across the country).
So why do they bother to make optical jacks on some home units?
Who knows? They also put on headphone packaging "Digital Ready".
Not trying to sound like Cliff Claven of Cheers.
Just adding a little background knowledge I picked up.
brian M
Video by Moak

X-Dazz
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Apr 26, 2003, 8:14 AM

Post #7 of 7 (991 views)
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Re: Don't worry about Optical out [In reply to]	Can't Post

If recording from minidisc to or from a PC with optical
I think you will find the audio might sound the same but, it will transfer track numbers and names if that data is there.
Not really useful for weddings but if you are going to use the MD for personal audio, I think this is where it makes the difference.
I`m not 100% sure, but I think thats how it works.
Daryl.

: One may have to be a dog to hear the difference in this case. (-:
: This is why. The audio being recorded on a mini-disc is optical. Un-powered microphones do not create hiss or noise. The hiss or noise you sometimes hear on an analog recording is from the magnetic tape moving across playback heads. When a wire is connected to the headphone out jack (since there is no optical out) does not create any noise either. Ever listen to a CD player with headphones? Hear any hiss? This is the same thing. That pure digital sound is then trasfered through the wire to another digital recorder (the hard drive). There is no noticable loss of sound quality. DAT is better than minidisc because it's not as compressed and it handles more digital info happening at once like rock songs with heavy bass.
: VHS to DVD - there will be noticable analog to digital noise.
: mini-disc to CD - nothing happening there to create quality loss.
: (unless using a 10,000 foot wire between the too and then maybe you need a transformer signal boost like phone lines have across the country).
: So why do they bother to make optical jacks on some home units?
: Who knows? They also put on headphone packaging "Digital Ready".
: Not trying to sound like Cliff Claven of Cheers.
: Just adding a little background knowledge I picked up.
: brian M
: Video by Moak