A dream machine for making mixes
Written: Nov 06 '05
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Pros: The most versatile and easy to edit recording format
Cons: Limited availability of minidiscs
The Bottom Line: Solid construction, reliable performance, easy to use, versatile recording capabilities--this is a dream machine for the recording enthusiast.
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| bananaleaf's Full Review: Sony MDS-JB940 Mini Disc Player |
I bought this MD recorder, my first MD equipment, in November 2001. I have been thoroughly delighted with this machine.
I like to make DJ-mixed compilations, meaning that I use 2 separate CD players and a DJ mixer to interlace the songs, starting one before I finish the other. I plan my mixes ahead of time, choosing when to start the next CD down to the half second, as well as choosing the volume level setting ahead of time (I adjust the volume on the DJ mixer). Because of recording this way, once I start, I cannot make a mistake until the mix is over. In trying to start the next CD at precisely correct time, and not forgetting to pause the previous one on one of my decks (which is a pain to program), sometimes I don't get to set the new track on the MD just right.
But with this MD recorder, that's no trouble. At any time, either just after I finish recording or sometime in the future, I can go back and adjust where I want the new track number to start, down to 1/86 of a second, if I'm using standard speed recording, or 1/2 that in LP2 or 1/4 that in LP4. It's two-step process, first dividing the track the changeover point is in, then combining the two portions that belong together, but it is easy and quick to do, once you get the hang of how Divide works.
Dividing a track into separate tracks, combining two tracks into one, or moving tracks to a different order--all of these functions can be done at any time; with MD, there is no finalizing necessary.
This MD recorder has a 2-line display. The top line lists the name of the track; the bottom line list the track number, the time (you choose time elapsed in track or disc, or time remaining in track or disc), and the sound-level meters. There is also a grid to the right that shows 15 track numbers, and a place where it indicates whether your MD was recorded analog or digital.
There is a keyboard input in the front so that you can plug in a keyboard to add the titles to the tracks you record. This can also be done with the knob on the front right of the deck; you spin the knob to find your letter, then press the knob in to select that letter. You can choose all caps, mixed caps and small letters, digits, and punctuation marks. Since I record all analog through the DJ mixer, I have to input these myself, but generally I can enter the information before the song ends while I'm recording. If I don't have time, I can always add the title later...at any time!--remember, there's no finalization process with MD, unlike recording CD.
When you're recording, you can set the time display to let you know how much time is left on the minidisc. You can change speeds at any time in the middle of the disc, and the new amount of time left will display.
There are three speeds. The standard speed is 74 minutes or 80 minutes, depending on the MD you buy. LP2 doubles the time available, and LP4 quadruples the time. I tested the sound quality for each speed on various types of music. In the standard speed, I can tell no difference between the original CD and the MD recording, even though I've recorded it via analog. The only type of music that I can tell a noticeable difference on the slower speeds is music with crisp, bright sound like rap or dance music. With rock music, I cannot tell any difference in the three speeds. The LP4 speed gives a more "watery" effect to the bright music; you can still hear the highs but the whole sound is less bright. It's hard to tell any difference in LP2 speed.
MDs record in Sony's proprietary ATRAC3 format. I have a cable from Sony that will connect this unit to a computer, although my computer is a Mac, and Sony doesn't like Mac, so I would have to get a Windows emulation program before I could use it. Even then, the tracks would be on the computer in ATRAC3 format, which iTunes does not recognize, as far as I can tell, and if I made a CD in ATRAC3 format, I doubt any CD player would recognize it. This is something you'd want to research before buying if this is important to you.
There is a feature on this unit that enables you to change the recording level on a track AFTER you have recorded it! I haven't used it, so I can't vouch for its user-friendliness, but that can be an important feature for making perfect mixes, when you discover after recording that one track is too soft or loud.
This unit has digital and optical inputs/outputs, but I have not used them since I record from a DJ mixer and thus only use analog.
I bought this unit to be my recording unit for my compilations mixes. My masters are on MD, and then if I want to share the mixes with friends, I copy off the MD onto cassettes. I don't have a CD recorder yet, but I'm going to have to get one soon I think, since so few people have cassettes anymore!
In the USA, even fewer people have MD players than cassette players, so one disadvantage of having an MD recorder is that you are not likely to be able to record MDs for any friends. You may even have trouble finding MDs to record for yourself. Currently, Best Buy supports MD quite well, but I don't know of any other chain that does. I buy my blank MDs there.
Another way I use this is to put my old cassette tape mixes onto MD. In LP4 mode, I can put 2 90-minute and 1 60-minute cassette on one MD. The MD will not deteriorate as cassettes do. The LP4 speed is fine for the sound quality of the cassettes.
There is now a 45-hour MD available, called Hi-MD, which this unit cannot handle.
This Sony MD recorder is a full component sized, solidly constructed piece of stereo equipment. I have been very pleased with it and am so glad I bought it. I have read many reviews of the troubles people have with CD recorders, troubles that aren't even a part of the MD format. If recording ease and flexibility are important to you, I'd recommend getting an MD recorder, particularly this model. If you want to share mixes with friends, use the MD as your master and copy from it to CDs or cassettes.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 399.99
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Epinions.com ID:
bananaleaf
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Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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