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beb · Jan 21, 2003, 01:25 PM

How do I get the audio out of this:

and into this:

It's a challenge because I just discovered that's there's no microphone input on the iMac. -What is the deal with that anyway?

Is there an OS X driver to access the audio via USB?

CharlesS · Jan 21, 2003, 01:54 PM

Depends on whether your Minidisc player has digital audio out or not. If it does, you should go see if you can find a digital audio adapter for either FireWire or USB as you'll get the best sound quality.

However, if your Minidisc player is crappy like mine and only has analog out, then you might as well just get the Griffin iMic, which is a standard analog audio adapter that plugs into your USB port.

I'm waiting for Apple to put a sound recording feature on the iPod. Think how awesome it wuold be if they did that. The iPod wouldn't be noisy as hell like MD is, it would store more music, have a longer battery life, and would plug directly into the FireWire port on your iMac...

JB72 · Jan 21, 2003, 01:56 PM

Check out some of the PC products at Minidisco. It's a great place for Minidisc stuff in general. They have nice Japanese import stuff too. Actually it's probably a good place to find some iPod accessories too (headphones etc.)

So yes, there is a way. I'm afraid I'm not up on the best current options as I've since been converted to the iPod. But you should be able to find what you need there. If nothing else, email them and they are usually pretty helpful.

Good luck!

beb · Jan 21, 2003, 03:15 PM

Thanks for the info. I think that I'm going to have to go the griffin iMic route.

Damn. Digital MD to analog in/out to just be stored digitally again -lots of wasted time.

JB72 · Jan 21, 2003, 04:08 PM

You shouldn't need to go analog I don't think. Not with stuff like this out there. I'd check all your options before I went to an analog solution.

CharlesS · Jan 21, 2003, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by JB72:
You shouldn't need to go analog I don't think. Not with stuff like this out there. I'd check all your options before I went to an analog solution.

Some MD players (such as mine, for example) don't have digital out ports. When that's the case, you're pretty much SOL with regard to connecting digitally...

JB72 · Jan 21, 2003, 10:48 PM

Hrrmmm...

I would have assumed that model would have digital in/out, especially since it comes with a USB connect and music software, but that doesn't seem to be the case. That's a drag. Well at least the iMic is a good product that will be useful for other stuff as well.

CharlesS · Jan 22, 2003, 01:07 AM

Originally posted by JB72:
I would have assumed that model would have digital in/out, especially since it comes with a USB connect and music software...

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

Mine is the same way - comes with a USB link, for God's sake, but no digital out.

ngrundy · Jan 22, 2003, 01:13 AM

you can thank the "digital (lack of) rights (mis)management" for not having digital out, or just being able to yank the data off the MD over USB.

now all i wish is that sony would get off their

and make a plugin for iTunes so that I could put music onto my MD from the mac.

Hash · Jan 22, 2003, 04:35 AM

You know this problem bothered me for quite long time. The Edirol plug while nice, costs way too much. I tried analog recording from Mac to MD recorder, using standard highquality minijack cable but ended with low quality sound (at least not as good as original MP3). There is also Onkyo's similar USB-optical cable, but that was PC only.

I ended up buying 6 channel PCI sound card for PC, with optical input-output, and Dolby 5.1 sound for half of price of Edirol plug (or even less) and I am going to copy mp3s to my home PC, put the sound card there and record digital sound from PC - and having also great surround for games and DVD.

I didnt find any cheaper solution for mac

but with PC peripherals are so cheap...

willed · Jan 22, 2003, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by ngrundy:

now all i wish is that sony would get off their and make a plugin for iTunes so that I could put music onto my MD from the mac.

Not going to happen really is it now? Sony seems to hate Apple.

jubbly · Jan 22, 2003, 08:58 AM

I bought one of these last week, mainly to transfer MDs digitally to my iPod (I have an eMac, so can already make use of the analogue mic input if I want, but didn't want to lose quality).

It's really good value compared to most digital input devices. One BIG problem however - it supports SCMS. This is the copy protection system built into all MD players/recorders which means you can't make more than 1 digital copy. For example, any MDs that I have recorded digitally from a CD (via optical or coax cables) will not be allowed 'through' the UA-1D to your Mac.

I am yet to find a digital input device that will allow this, but if anyone does, LET ME KNOW!!!

However for recording other stuff (MD recordings of gigs off the radio etc) this thing is the bees knees.

Originally posted by JB72:
You shouldn't need to go analog I don't think. Not with stuff like this out there. I'd check all your options before I went to an analog solution.

Nathan Adams · Jan 22, 2003, 10:15 AM

Originally posted by jubbly:
I bought one of these last week, mainly to transfer MDs digitally to my iPod (I have an eMac, so can already make use of the analogue mic input if I want, but didn't want to lose quality).

It's really good value compared to most digital input devices. One BIG problem however - it supports SCMS. This is the copy protection system built into all MD players/recorders which means you can't make more than 1 digital copy. For example, any MDs that I have recorded digitally from a CD (via optical or coax cables) will not be allowed 'through' the UA-1D to your Mac.

I am yet to find a digital input device that will allow this, but if anyone does, LET ME KNOW!!!

However for recording other stuff (MD recordings of gigs off the radio etc) this thing is the bees knees.

You're right. Since MD is a recording medium that isn't 100% dependant on a PC - it MUST support SCMS. Not Sony's choice I'm afraid (thank the RIAA)

Not since the MZ-R1 (aka. the very first MD walkman) has a consumer MD portable had an optical out. Only professional recorders, and higher end decks have optical out - and even then SCMS comes into play (unless you buy an SCMS stipper).
Your best option is to get an iMic, and a miniplug to miniplug patch cable (with gold plated plugs). If you get a decent enough cable, you'll lose completely negligable quality - it really won't be an issue in the slightest. Then just use your preferred audio recording program.

if you need anymore help, you're welcome on the minidisc t-board. http://www.minidisct.com/forum

beb · Jan 22, 2003, 10:42 AM

As far as I can tell... When I hookup the minidisk player/recorder via the included usb connector to the iMac it can see it via the system profiler on 10.2.3.

Now all we need is for somebody to:

A: Write a driver that will mount the minidisc to the desktop.

B: Take whatever wacked-out format Sony uses to store recorded audio on the minidisc and be able to open it via iTunes or convert it to a QuickTime readable format.

Part A is Apple's job. As for B, heck if I know...

Nathan Adams · Jan 22, 2003, 11:01 AM

beb - MD is NOT a data medium. Audio only. You will never ever find a way to mount a disc.
Music is not stored as 'files' as such. It uses an ATRAC algorithm to 'compress' the amount of information needed to describe the sound wave, and stores this sequentially on the disc. The only thing close to a "file" is the TOC - which is a small section at the start of the disc that stores the track names, and references to where everything is stored (kind of like a FAT)

The USB connector you have is to convert a usb audio out to either an optical out, or miniplug line out (depending on which one you got). It's completely one way.