MiniDisc Recording Sources
This is a swing-space page documenting potential sources for recording MiniDiscs.
This page will focus on digital recording using TOSLINK in particular, and really, CD and DVD players in particular.
The main logistical advantage to dubbing from a CD is that gapless transfer is possible, and slightly less overall capacity of the disc is used. (This isn't meaningful per se, you save approximately 22 seconds on a 60-minute album such as "In Blue" by The Corrs, but it is there.)
SPDIF note:
SPDIF, the Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format, comes in two main flavors: Optical (also called TOSLINK), and Coax.
The two physical connectors can be converted back-and-forth between each other, so if you have a digital source with coax output, you can use a covnerter to get optical. The reverse is also true.
Coax digital audio is lamost always an RCA connector, often colored orange, labeled as Digital or Coax.
TOSLINK has two physical connectors, the larger square connector is common on set-top devices and very old devices. MINI TOSLINK is a 3.5mm minijack, often as a combination jack with an analog connection. The device will pick optical vs. analog automatically, but if there are any other functions overloaded onto the same port (e.g. line vs. headphones or microphone) there may be another way to specify which type of analog connection. There are adapters to convert the big/square TOSLINK cables to mini TOSLINK cables, the most flexible option is to buy a cable that includes "big" connectors on both sides and includes two of the TOSLINK to minijack adapters, such as this one from Target.
Modding note:
SPDIF or TOSLINK can often be added to other devices such as computer CDROM drives and lower end CD players. This page isn't about that, at least not yet.
Computers:
Any computer with TOSLINK output should work fine, although computers do not in general send track marks down the line automatically. Look closely at Macs from ~2003-2015 or so, enthusiast level DIY PC motherboards, USB sound cards, and add-in PCI sound cards.
- XITEL MD-PORT
- DG1, DG2 - already documented on minidisc.wiki
- output sound quiet relative to netmd or mac optical output, caps at -12dB (measured w/ PCM-D50)
- In ~2000-2002 these were marketed as having an automatic track marking feature, but today it only works with VLC on Windows, it likely relies on "start-stop" recording, so it's less efficient on time, gapless is not possible.
Playstations:
The Playstation 2, 3, and 4 have digital optical output. The 2 is known to send track marks correctly.
Portable CD players:
- Sony D-303, D-555 - models from the late 1980s, have full-sized TOSLINK output
- Sony D-465 and D-475 - manual - dankpods video
- Sony D-E551, 556, 555, Z555
- Sony D-E561 - as sold by minidisco - Sony manual - AA batteries
- caution: most other "5" and "6"-series discman/CDwalkman do not have optical
- Sony D-E7 series
- Sony D-EJ7 series
- Sony D-FJ75TR - manual - as seen on techmoan - has optical output, supports CD-TEXT transfer w/ the RK-TXT1
- Sony D-EJ815 (USDM version)
- Sony D-EJ825 (USDM version) - Sony manual
- supports CD-TEXT display on remote and transfer w/ RK-TXT1
- two gumsticks
- works with RM-MC10L/11EL remotes
- Sony D-EJ885 - manual - has optical
- D-E888
- Sony D-9 and E-EJ9 series
- D-E990
- D-EJ985 - manual - no support for RK-TXT1
- Sony D-EJ2000 - Just-CD - manual -
- Sony D-E01
- Sony D-NE1, D-NE10, and NE20
- These are also ATRAC players, but SOny's advice is to use analog when dubbing ATRAC files from CD to MD, so it likely outputs an SCMS-protected signal
- Trip report: I have a D-NE800 now and it simply does not turn on the light when it's playing AT3/MP3 files, so Sony simply declined to implement digital output of files
- Sony D-NE7 series
- D-NE700 is confirmed- manual
- D-NE710 DOES NOT have optical - manual
- D-NE720 DOES NOT have optical - manual
- Sony D-NE8 series
- D-NE800 is confirmed - manual
- D-NE820 is confirmed - manual
- D-NE830 DOES NOT have optical - manual
- Sony D-NE9 series
- D-NE9 confirmed to have optical via eBay pictures
- D-NE900 - confirmed - manual
- D-NE920 - confirmed - manual
- Kenwood DPCKT102 - as sold by minidisco - hello kitty version available
- Panasonic:
- SL-CT790, SL-CT780 (manual) (looks like maybe only the JDM versions of these have line outputs...)
- SL-CT820 (Just-CD Link)
- Optimus
- Akai
Set-Top CD-DVD Players
- Sony CMT-X1 - compact stereo, CD drive n the front, has an optical output
- Sony CDP-XE520, XE320, XE220 - Reddit Post - Manual
- Sony CDP-x15 Generation:
- CDP 215 does not have optical output.
- CDP-315 has optical output: manual
- Sony CDP-CE 5-CD changers
- Many of SOny's 5-CD changers have digital output, usually TOSLINK optical.
- CDP-CE415, CDP-C360Z are confirmed NO DIGITAL - manual
- Sony CDP-CX Many-CD changers
- Many of these have digital/optical output and most of them have Control-A/S for automation and potentially CD-TEXT transfer, although those Control systems are typically documented separately
- Sony DVP-S300, S330
- CDs play fine, track marks as expected, works well without the remote or a TV, has both coax and optical, also has dual analog line level output but that wouldn't get you track marks.
- Has a Control-S port for integration with an amplifier or receiver
- Sony DVP-S360, S363, S365 - Manual - mentions MD/DAT on the digital outputs, from ~2004
- Sony DVP-S560
- Sony BDP-S550 (as tested by ij4xs in discord)
- Sony DVP-FX820
- portable DVD player, abundant on eBay, ~2008-11ish - sends track marks to MD recorders correctly, but PCM- recorders pick up extra dead air before/after disc
- the optical output can be enabled or disabled, and set to PCM or Dolby, with no disc inserted, click menu then navigate to audio, enable the audio and set it to PCM mode.
- does not recognize CD-TEXT
- works with MP3 discs (haven't tested digital output yet as of 2023-07-08)
- Philips CDR795 (from Birch in discord)
- JVC
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