[macmanmk]

Is there an easy way to transfer audio DIGITALLY from a portable MiniDisc player to a Mac? I have a B/W G3 and a Pismo PB. Would I have to buy a sound card or is there some USB or FireWire solution? Thanks.

MK

[tr]

there was a long discussion on this subject some time ago, you might want to try to search the forums. but to wrap up all that was said there, yes, there is a way to do this with a USB to digital output (optical) device:
http://www.xitel.com/f_DG1.htm


additional information and a place to buy:
http://www.minidisco.com/minispecs/xitelmdportdg1.html

i believe it works with G3/G4's running OS 9.04 with USB, and the sites above also list a few specific MD recorders that it works with, because it doesn't work with all recorders

tr

[2far]

Actually, the Xitel device can only do the opposite--transfer from Mac to Minidisk. The question seemed to be the other way round.

[tr]

DOH!!! (in my best homer simpson impression)

sorry, totally misread the question, i must have been half asleep...

macmanmk, what portable MD player do you have? the reason i ask is because most players do not have a digital out. (actually, i really don't think any of them do nowadays. The very first sony MD recorder, the MZ-1, had optical out, and i believe there was a sharp model that had it, i think it was the MD-M25, but that was back in 95/96)
if you don't have digital out, then you can't truly get a pure digital to digital signal transfer, as you would need to go through an analog to digital conversion to get it to the computer.

but maybe you don't care, and just want to get your audio into the computer digitally. if that's the case, look here:
http://edirol.plands.com/shop/prod-page.ddp?itemcode=362166&session=17340546& cat=Hard ware

the roland UA-30 is all you would need. it has stereo RCA line in/out, toslink in/out, S/PDIF in/out, even a mic/guitar in, and it connects via USB. i know a lot of people who are doing music recording and such and swear by this device for good digital audio transfer.

tr

[This message has been edited by tr (edited 02-15-2001).]

[2far]

I've read a lot lately about Minidisk Players not having an optical output. While there certainly are many without optical/digital output, it is no problem getting one that has it. It is not something to expect in a portable device (for marketing reasons).

I'm using the Sony MDS-JB920, a fairly recent Minidisk deck, and there are 2 optical and 1 koaxial input, 1 optical and 1 coaxial output, and also the usual analog line in/out.

BTW, I bought my first Minidisk recorder in 1992 or 1993 (not sure if it was the MZ-1).

[tr]

Originally posted by 2far:
I've read a lot lately about Minidisk Players not having an optical output. While there certainly are many without optical/digital output, it is no problem getting one that has it. It is not something to expect in a portable device (for marketing reasons).

BTW, I bought my first Minidisk recorder in 1992 or 1993 (not sure if it was the MZ-1).

As digital outputs (coaxial or optical) are readily available on home decks, why not on portable recorders? I guess the marketing drawback is that manufacturers see the MD format as a 'storage' medium only, rather than a 'transfer' medium (e.g. they think people record songs mainly from CD players, and they probably rarely transfer to MD recorders or to other devices accepting digital input. ) Then there's added cost to the portable recorder, and maybe even added size...2far, do you still have your first MD portable recorder? I just remember how big that thing was!
It even amazes me how 'big' my MZ-R50 from '98 is, compared to the latest offerings from Sony and other manufacturers.

tr