Hi Graeme, how's things?
28-Feb-98 10:07:02, Graeme Jaye wrote to Gerry Clark
          Subject: Digital recording
 GC>> I've been using a Mini Disk for over a year now and I've found
 GC>> it to be a really useful piece of kit both for domestic use
 GC>> and public  performance.
 GJ> I don't doubt it.  But yours is a specific application and you
 GJ> take the kit with you  .  The original question was posed by
 GJ> someone who wanted a universally portable format so that
 GJ> *anyone* could play his audio recordings - obviously, MD could not
 GJ> be said to fit into that bracket.
 Oops.  That's what I get for not backtracking a thread.  CD seems
 to be the obvious answer then.
 GC>> The compression isn't obtrusive or obvious, even when playing
 GC>> at volume through a large PA.
 GJ> That's a matter of opinion.  You (and your audience) may find it
 GJ> acceptable for the application but I can only say that I looked at
 GJ> MD several years ago with a view to using it as an audio source via
 GJ> an infra-red link.
 GJ> In spite of the fact the IR link was not exactly wideband, blind
 GJ> auditioning of the complete system revealed that there was still an
 GJ> audible difference between the same material sourced from MD and CD.
 Hmm.  I did a blind test between CD and the same source copied onto
 DCC and MD on a really top-notch hi-fi system and couldn't hear any
 difference.  When I put the MD through a 4k rig and played it in a
 club there seemed to me to be a lack of sub-bass but no-one else
 commented.
 GC>> The greatest advantage for me though is the instantaneous
 GC>> response. I work a lot in theatre and the Mini Disk is
 GC>> absolutely ideal for providing sound effects or backing music
 GC>> where split-second timing is essential.
 GJ> Quite.  Horses for course -  and in this case, this is a major
 GJ> advantage for you.  
 GJ> Mind you, I have found that there is still a slight delay from MD
 GJ> and CD which can cause sync problems in my business (AV based
 There's a workaround for the slight pause with my MD player.
 If you set the MD to pause and select your track the response will be
 instantaneous when you hit "Play".
 MD allows you to set your cues with millisecond accuracy and to add,
 delete or move them as necessary.  Mine also has a function which
 automatically pauses the track when it ends so that the next cue is
 ready to play.
 GJ> exhibitions).  Without a doubt the best systems for us rely on solid
 GJ> state stores - they really *are* instantaneous .
 Isn't that a very expensive way to store high quality audio data?
 GC>> I would urge people to buy one.
 GJ> They'll have to hurry then.  I suspect the format will be dropped
 GJ> before too long if the market doesn't pick up soon.  I can't see the
 GJ> manufacturers continuing to support such an expensive device as a
 GJ> loss leader forever.
 It's always a possibility but technology is running at full pelt these
 days and todays fad gadget is tomorrows doorstop.  I try not to panic.
 GC>> Any drop in audio quality due to the compression algorithms is
 GC>> negligable compared to the practical benefits.
 GJ> That rather depends on what you want it for .
 Er...high quality audio output with instantaneous access, flexible
 cueing, super-fast reorganisation of tracks and portability?
 -=> Yours sincerely, Gerry Clark <=-
--- Terminate 3.00/Pro
---------------