Klarinet Archive - Posting 000165.txt from 1999/08

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] MiniDisc (was Audition tapes)
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 22:18:02 -0400

My computer's been down, so I haven't been able to reply, but since there
seems to be a bit of contention, let me explain my views about MiniDisc...

If you want the short description, here it is:

If you have to choose between minidisc and cassette, get a minidisc. The
fact that it is digital makes it better than a cassette (Cassettes are
Satan's medium as far as I am concerned). However it is still a very
low-end format.

Now, the long...

Minidisc is a format that has struggled to gain acceptance in the recording
community. For awhile recordings were issued on Minidisc, but they cost the
same as CDs and they didn't sound as good. That was the first nail in its
coffin. There are similar problems with it as a recording medium. Many
companies make full size (stereo component size) and professional minidisc
players/recorders. The problem with them comes down to two main things:

1. The Analog to Digital convertors. The converters in every minidisc that
I have ever come across have been *really* bad. They have a harsh sound and
they are noisy compared to even the cheapest DAT machines.

2. Data compression. In order to fit the amount of data on that small
disc, they need to compress it. While other formats use compression (DVD
most notably), they use what is referred to as "lossless compression." This
means that the compression doesn't change the sound. No such luck with
MiniDisc.

These 2 things are, in my view as a recording engineer, major problems.

If you want to edit, you can do that on a minidisc much easier than with a
cassette or a DAT. If you want to do it on any other medium, you really
need to get a computer-based editing workstation and a good sound card
(preferably with a digital I/O, and not a turtle beach or sound blaster).
Digital Audio Labs, Digidesign, Lynx, Event, and several other companies
make very good sound cards for about $500 new. Many of these can be found
used for substantially less on various internet newsgroups (rec.audio.pro,
rec.audio.marketplace, etc...).

Good PC programs include Sound Forge, Wavelab, and SAW Pro (for multitrack).
These programs start at about $300/each.

Hope this helps at least a little bit...

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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