Comments on: MP3 players: the unobvious choice

By: daviding

daviding — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:13:27 +0000

Converting an .OMA file to an .MP3 is a two-stage process for me. I use Sony Sonicstage to transfer the audio files onto my Windows XP computer. When it's put into the library, there's an immediate option to convert from .OMA to .WAV . I then use Total Recorder to encode the audio to MP3. I archive the .OMA files as originals, but I think that the days of Sonicstage are numbered. I'm just moving off in favour of recording on a Marantz PMD-620. I don't have enough experience yet to judge the quality (i.e. direct to MP3 versus decoding and then re-encoding), but having audio recorded just in .OMA is a long-term risk.

By: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:46:34 +0000

Ok, then so, How does one convert a *.OMA file into an *.MP3 one? No one seems to know the true answer. I tried downloading the so-called Hi MD Renderer, which really is called BitDownload and it’s Bittorrent-based, but doesn’t convert anything. Maybe I’m not proceeding well. That would lead me to my next question: What’s the right procedure to do the just-named conversion within the BitDownload context? Although I’d rather take for best an answer to the first question. Most accurate approach appreciated.

By: hearthealth

hearthealth — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:36:47 +0000

Shortly after my my value for money MP3 reviews was finished, came the release to the public of the iPod Touch. A shame, would have loved having a poll on it.

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minidiscs.check4cheap.com » Blog Archive — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 04:26:05 +0000

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By: McCoodle

McCoodle — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:02:42 +0000

If you go look on Head-Fi you will find lots of people getting the best SQ out of iPods and other DAPs. People dismiss DAPs without doing enough research to get the best out of them. Diito you don’t have to use iTunes. I use MediaMonkey for all my devices, creative, samsung, apple. Only with HiMD do I need SonicStage. MD/HiMD are great for recording, the SQ is ok but personally the right MP3 player properly used is at least on a par and probably, better IMO. The HiMD have questionable ergonomics and UI and tiny screens. I/O is too slow, but otherwise its a great format.

Like others I use my HiMD for recording and a range of devices for playback. Its simply a case of use whatever suits the situation, rather than a rabid fanactism to a specific device/technology.

By: genghisbunny

genghisbunny — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:08:36 +0000

Go to http://forums.minidisc.org for really helpful feedback on the MD situation.

Thomas, I use and recommend the Sony MZ-RH10, with a nice backlight and support for 1GB (Hi-MD) disks, external battery support and very good battery life. I’d recommend the Sonys a hundred times over the other brands because the Hi-MD specification is superior to the older MD spec. Check them out at the forums listed above, and happy hunting!

Yes, Hi-MD sound quality slays MP3-players.

By: thomas

thomas — Wed, 30 May 2007 19:55:58 +0000

Hello. I just started getting interested in mini disc recorders (as i will use it for live recordings and analog and digital). My friend, lucky guy, has an compulsive-buying-aunt that gives her useless buys away after a short time. Anyway, he got a Sony mini disc player-recorder and I was really impressed with the sound quality. And while digging the Net to make a smart (or at least informed) buy of a Sony product, I come upon mentions of the Sharps mt77 and mt899. Okay, so MD is not only Sony. Here goes the clicking again…unless some experienced folk could give me his or her advice on the Sony / Sharp case…

Thank you.

By: Steve W.

Steve W. — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:47:04 +0000

Your comment “I don’t store music on my computer” probably explains why your experience with iTunes was frustrating. I DO store music on my computer (well, on an external HD connected to my eMac) and iTunes makes it almost trivial to import music from CDs and download to iPod. I still buy most of my music on CDs (since the genres I listen to aren’t widely available as downloads) and have my entire music collection stored in iTunes. My household currently has 3 iPods and it’s no problem for them to all get their music from the same iTunes library; transfer between iPods just isn’t necessary. I still use my MD recorder for live music but that’s all…

By: md-freak

md-freak — Tue, 29 May 2007 08:50:32 +0000

You can transfer .oma files directly into .mp3 via the HI MD Renderer Freeware. It works well.

By: chobin

chobin — Tue, 29 May 2007 08:29:56 +0000

I perfecly understand your point of view.. as a long time MD user, it took me a while to encourage my brother to buy an mp3 player (samsung YP-Z7 – absolutely not an Ipod!!). Anyway, I recently acquired an Rh1.. and my brother starts to desire again an md player, why? Simple, because of sound quality!! I’m a sort of audiophile, I try not to listen to mp3s so what could be compared do rh1? I go home, I plug it to the main amp with Line out and I got astonishing quality, I go into the car, I do the same with a rude chinese amp.. sounds good! Removeable media for me is a must, not to be always forced to turn on the pc.. and then ther is recording.. live recording but also analog and digital line in recording.. Uploading Cds form the pc it’s not the same.. Anyway.. I can understand your point of view, I also hate Sony’s mood in dealing with md’s matters.. but Md ives me a pleasure in music listening like no other flash player can do.. by now!

By: Stewart Hart

Stewart Hart — Sun, 27 May 2007 01:50:05 +0000

I also use MD for live recordings.
I also get all my recorded music from used CD stores. but have no
problems using & itunes to tranfer music to my ipods or burn CD’s for my
car. The Cd’s I burn for my car using itunes lists the songs & other info
on my car deck which the purchased CD’s don’t.
I use Senuti to transfer music from ipods to itunes
without any problems.
Having related my experience…….I’m for whatever format works for you

By: Mike Rofone

Mike Rofone — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:07:00 +0000

Yay. Yet another person telling me I should get an Ipud.

By: Dave Riley

Dave Riley — Fri, 25 May 2007 01:52:33 +0000

You are correct: you need to be eclectic . Away from the computer my podcast listening is a mp3 player — iRiver — but for recording you cannot beat the HiMD format and in my recent switch to Linux(Ubuntu) I have that complication born of Sony’s stupid, rigid and formal approach to its media software.

If I were a keen listener of music, I mean a addict, I think the MD format is the way to go for listening too as the Mp3 squish is so sterile and almost a second hand way of listening to music.

there’s these other flash style players coming on the market like Edirol which are more flexible and adaptable — but consider that a mini disk player plays disks. It plays media in a sort of hard copy format — a format that lasts and lasts and lasts — even longer and with more durability than a compact disk.