[Trombone-l] iPod as audio recorder [Was: Advice on MinidiskRecorders]

[George Carr]

Two different things: sampling frequency and storage format.  MD can
sample at high frequencies (including, for recent models, 48kHz, which
is indeed better than CD) but always stores the recorded information
in a slightly compressed format, called ATRAC.  I have used minidisc
for years, including live recordings and recording from CD, and have
never noticed any quality difference between the formats, but some
purists believe that any file compression hurts the sound. (Kind of
like the vinyl-CD debate, in a way - you have to agree that a CD
doesn't contain the sound waves between the sample frequencies, but
CDs still sound awfully good).

Lots of info on the recording modes and file formats here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc

George

On 10/19/06, james meador <jamesmeador at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Okay, Jeff and Wayne, but when I researched what features my MD has, I found
> this tidbit of information on the Sony Net MD website.  Does this mean my
> unit CAN record CD quality, or am I misunderstanding this?  By the way, the
> model I have is a Sony Net MD Walkman MZ-NF810.
>
> Q:   Can I make a digital recording from a source that has a sampling
> frequency of 48 kHz?
>
> A:   Yes. The Net MD has a built-in sampling rate converter that will
> automatically adjust 32-, 44.1- or 48-kHz sampling frequencies to the Net
> MD's sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz.