"Derrick Fawsitt" wrote in message
...
On some machines, like mine for example, Total Recorder is in conflict
with
something (perhaps my soundcard), and crashes my system. So, when I
wanted
to do this, I recorded the BBC audio onto my MiniDisc recorder.

Slightly off this topic so forgive me but I have just bought a portable
Sharp Mini-disk recorder for about £45 and it just uses the conventional
mini-disk which I also use in large mini-disk player/recorder. Trouble
is, just when I had bought it to use with my Sony mike for recording
instrumental playing etc., I have read about Hi-mini-disks, (or whatever
you call them), which can record up to 1GB. I feel I like returning it
and swapping it for the greater capacity one only I have a friend who
bought one and used its Sonic Stage software and had to return it, he
re-named it Chronic-Stage as he had so much trouble with it.
I was happy with my new purchase until I heard about the newer version,
is there any consolation out there for me?
--
Derrick Fawsitt

Yes. Depending on your quality requirements, your Sharp may give you
adequately good recordings with little hassle, and it will play on your
large minidisk player. Have yet to hear of a non-portable Hi-MD deck.
I can't tell the difference between my recordings made on std minidisk
and those using PCM on Hi-MD minidisk using a Sony NH900, but others to whom
I've supplied CDs say they can tell the difference. (I'm over 65 with
hearing loss...es) They preferred the PCM recordings.

Suggest you check into alt.audio.MiniDisc where topics like this have
been discussed recently, or via Google's Groups archives. Also visit
www.minidisc.org for news & views. [Not too many MD recorders allow "on
the fly" recording gain adjustment. I think the Sharp brand is rare in that
respect. Some of the Sony Hi-MD allow it, but their displays may be dim.
The recent Sony RH10 however is good. Got mine from Amazon.)
Latest versions (3.2 on) of Sonicstage allow multiple uploads of your
recordings from Hi-MD formatted discs (both 1GB and ~300MB* types) via USB
to your PC, and conversion to wav files. Beware of earlier versions
supplied in box with new machine, even as recently as 4 weeks ago. It's
normally recommended by Sony that PCM recording to a 1GB Hi-MD disc is done
with additional power supply (a single AA cell) attached to your recorder.
(*by Hi-MD format of standard MiniDisc.)

HTH
--
M Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK
http://www.megalith.freeserve.co.uk/oddimage.htm