Recording music from a Mac to a Windows-only Sony Minidisc

February 16, 2005 4:06 PM

Minidisc question: Is there a quick way to record music (mp3/cd) from a Mac to a Minidisc? (more inside)
posted by dhruva to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Response by poster: I have a Sony Net MD, and I'm trying to record music onto it. Google tells me that the only way I can do it is by analog realtime recording. I'd like to stuff more than 70 mins onto a disc but the software Sony provides is Windows only. I'm looking for ways that use the USB connection, I guess.
posted by dhruva at 4:06 PM on February 16, 2005

If Sony doesn't have a Mac port of SonicStage, I'm pretty sure you're out of luck.

Maybe you could get VirtualPC or something and use the Windows version?
posted by cmonkey at 4:15 PM on February 16, 2005

Response by poster: I'm scared to use the Windows version, because the last time I used it on a windows machine, it completely trashed the system and I had to format the hardrive.
posted by dhruva at 4:22 PM on February 16, 2005

The first thing to look at is products by Xitel. I have their first generation rig called the MD-Port AN1. This is a USB to stereo mini analog jack. Some years later they came out with a USB to digital unit called the MD-Port DG2. Xitel's website is at http://www.xitel.com/products.htm. They support both PC and Mac.

Two great sources for minidisk information are MiniDisco and the MD Community.
posted by jhritz at 7:27 PM on February 16, 2005

Response by poster: MD-Port DG2 seems to be PC only. I guess virtual PC is the way to go then.
posted by dhruva at 8:29 PM on February 16, 2005

A word of caution before you spend the big bucks on Virtual PC: It might just be my iBook, but I can NEVER get Virtual PC to work right with my MD. It always hangs or crashes.
posted by hughbot at 5:03 AM on February 17, 2005

Here's how I would do it with the equipment I have:

1) - Burn mp3's to a CD.

2) - Hook CD player to Minidisc recorder with an RCA patch cord.

3) - Record analog.

It's not super-fast, but it works, and not too expensive if you already have the gear.
posted by scottr at 9:41 AM on February 17, 2005

Response by poster: I did some more googling etc, and it seems that there's definitely no way to do what I wanted to do. There is Virtual PC on my system, but apparently the version I have will not play well with USB devices, and so I've decided to stick to the analog route. Thanks, everyone.
posted by dhruva at 5:45 PM on February 17, 2005