Re: (idm) 2 minidisc queries

From Kent Williams
Sent Thu, Jun 18th 1998, 20:42

On Thu, 18 Jun 1998, Jeremy Wells wrote:
> Technically, the sound waveform *will* be different. Whether you will hear
> the difference is debatable. The Minidisk uses a loss compression scheme
> and will throw audio data out. The compression codec then tries to
> reassemble the audio close to the original--but it will never be the same.
> I have heard tests that when you dub from a Mididisk to Minidisk, you
> start hearing audible differences after the 5-10th generation.
> 
As soon as you feed a pristine digital signal through a processor of any
kind, any subtle effects in the original are pretty much right out. And
compare a fifth generation cassette with a fifth generation MD if you want
an idea of what you gain with the new format.

I would shy away from minidisc as a mastering format, because that's
just the beginning of a long chain of indignities that your music is going
to suffer before it reaches the ears of listeners.  Why start with less
data than you have to?

But for applications like walkman listening, auto, and field recording,
I say go for it.  The mechanical advantages of MD over DAT or cassette are
substantial, and the sound is quite good enough.  Better, in fact, than those
MP3 files everyone's so hot under the collar about.

Also what I absolutely LOVE about MD is how the fast forward and reverse
cue works -- no pitch change, and no ticky tickies as with CD.  If anyone
makes one with pitch control and provides a good control surface, they'll
be lightyears better than CD's for DJ'ing.