Sony MZ-N510 - Manuals

7 Software Operation What is a Net MD? .......................................... 69 Basic Operations ............................................ 70 Basic operational flow using the Net MD ............................................ 70Providing the required system environment ........................

10 Before using this product This manual explains the recorder operations and the installation and basic use of the supplied SonicStage software. For details on the various operations, refer to the pages indicated below. When using the recorder Recorder Operation (pages 11 to 67) Pages 11 to 67 in t...

11 Checking the supplied accessories Optical cable (1)Battery carrying case (1)CD-ROM (SonicStage Ver. 1.5) (1)*Carrying case with a belt clip (1) (European model only) ∗ Do not play a CD-ROM on an audio CD player. AC power adaptor (1) Headphones/earphones with a remote control (1) NH-7WMAA Nickel m...

12 Looking at controls The recorder A Display window B GROUP button C X (pause) button D END SEARCH button E MENU button F OPEN button G VOL + * , – button * VOL + has a tactile dot. H 4-way control keyENTER • N * . , > (search/AMS) x • CANCEL/CHG (stop/cancel/ charge) * N has a tactile dot. I RE...

13 The display window of the recorder A MONO (monaural) indication B LP mode indication C Sound indications D Disc indicationShows that the disc is rotating for recording or playing an MD. E Level meterShows the volume of the MD being played or recorded. F Disc name/track name indicationLights up wh...

14 The headphones/earphones with a remote control A Clip B HOLD switchTo prevent the buttons from being accidentally operated when you carry the recorder, use this function. C (group) +, – button D Headphones/earphonesCan be replaced with optional headphones/earphones. E Volume Control (VOL+, –)Turn...

15 Getting started Charge the rechargeable battery before using. Even if the rechargeable battery is not charged, you can use the recorder as long as the AC power adaptor is connected. 1 Insert the rechargeable battery Using the dry battery Insert one LR6 (size AA) alkaline dry battery (not supplied...

16 2 Charge the rechargeable battery. 1 Connect the AC power adaptor to DC IN 3V. 2 Press x • CANCEL/CHG while the recorder is stopped. “Charge” flashes, e appears in the display, and charging starts. When charging is completed, the battery indication disappears.Full charging of a completely dischar...

17 3 Make connections and unlock the controls. 1 Connect the headphones/earphones with the remote control to i . 2 Slide HOLD to the opposite direction of the arrow ( . ) to unlock the controls. Battery life For details, refer to “Battery life” (page 53) When recording (Unit: Approx. hours) When pla...

18 Recording an MD right away! This section explains the basic procedure for making digital recordings using an optical cable connected to a CD player, Digital TV or other digital equipment. For other recording operations, see “Various ways of recording” (page 23). 1 Insert an MD. 1 Press OPEN to op...

19 2 Make connections. (Insert the cables firmly and completely into the appropriate jacks.) 3 Record an MD. 1 Set the sound source you want to record to pause. 2 While the recorder is stopped, hold down REC • T MARK and press N . The recorder starts recording . 3 Play the source you want to record....

20 If the recording does not start • Make sure the recorder is not locked (pages 12, 17). • Make sure the MD is not record-protected (pages 18, 55). • Premastered MDs cannot be recorded over. Notes • Do not change the rechargeable battery during operation even if the recorder is connected to AC powe...

21 Playing an MD right away! 1 Insert an MD. 1 Press OPEN to open the lid. 2 Insert an MD with the label side facing front, and press the lid down to close. 2 Play an MD. 1 Press N on the recorder. (Press NX on the remote control.) A short beep sounds in the headphones/earphones. 2 Press VOL + or – ...

23 Various ways of recording Viewing various information You can check the remaining time, track number, etc. when recording or during stop. Group-related items appear only when a track with group settings is played and then stopped. 1 Press MENU. 2 Press . or > repeatedly until “DISP” appears in...

24 To start/stop recording in sync with the sound source (Synchro-recording) During synchro-recording, the recorder starts and stops recording in sync with the sound source. When recording from digital equipment (such as a CD player), you can omit operating both the recorder and the sound source, an...

26 Notes • It is recommended that you use the AC power adaptor for long recordings. • When you record in LP4 mode, momentary noise may be produced on very rare occasions with certain sound sources. This is because of the special digital audio compression technology that enables a recording time 4 ti...

27 Adding track marks automatically (Auto Time Stamp) Use this feature to add track marks automatically at specified intervals when recording through the analog input connector. This function is convenient for recording long period of time, such as lectures, meetings, etc. 1 While the recorder is re...

28 Adjusting the recording level manually The sound level is adjusted automatically while recording. If necessary, you can set the recording level manually during both analog and digital recording. 1 While pressing X , press REC • T MARK. The recorder stands by for recording. 2 Press MENU. 3 Press ....

29 Various ways of playback Viewing various information You can check the track or disc name, track number, the elapsed playing time of the current track, the number of the tracks recorded on the MD, the group name, and the total number of tracks in a group. 1 While playing, press MENU. 2 Press . or...

30 Selecting the play mode You can select from various play modes such as repeat play, shuffle play, or bookmark play. 1 While the recorder is playing, press MENU. 2 Press . or > repeatedly until “P-MODE” flashes in the display, and then press ENTER again. 3 Press . or > repeatedly to select p...

31 To play the bookmarked tracks 1 During playback, press MENU. 2 Press . or > repeatedly until “P-MODE” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 3 Press . or > repeatedly until “ TrPLAY” appears in the display, and then press ENTER.“ RepOFF” appears. 4 Select “ RepON” (playing the bookma...

32 Adjusting the sound quality You can change the preset sound quality and store the results in “SOUND1” or “SOUND2”. 1 While playing, press MENU. 2 Press . or > repeatedly until “SOUND” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 3 Press . or > repeatedly until “SET” appears in the display,...

33 Editing recorded tracks Before editing You can edit your recordings by adding/erasing track marks or labeling tracks and MDs. Notes • Premastered MDs cannot be edited. • Close the record-protect tab on the side of the MD before editing. • The recorder is recording editing results while “TOC Edit”...

34 4 Press . or > repeatedly until the following item appears in the display, and then press ENTER. The cursor flashes in the letter input area and the track, group, or disc is ready to be labeled. 5 Press VOL + or – to select a letter and press ENTER. The selected letter appears and the cursor m...

35 Example Move track C (track number 3) from the third to the second track. 1 While playing the track you want to move, press MENU. 2 Press . or > repeatedly until “EDIT” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. The recorder plays the selected track repeatedly. 3 Press . or > repeatedly ...

36 Dividing a track directly 1 While playing or pausing an MD, press T MARK on the recorder at the point you want to mark. “MK ON” appears in the display, and a track mark is added. The track number will increase by one. To add track marks while recording (except while synchro-recording) Press T MAR...

37 Note When you erase a track mark between the two consecutive tracks that are assigned into different groups, the second track is re-assigned into the group containing the first track. In addition, if you combine a track that is assigned to a group with a track that is not assigned to a group (two...

38 To erase the whole disc You can quickly erase all the tracks and data of the MD at the same time. Note that once a recording has been erased, you cannot retrieve it. Be sure to check the contents of the disc before you erase it. 1 Play the disc you want to erase to check the contents. 2 Press x t...

39 Using the group function What is the group function? The group function is provided to allow playback of discs with group settings. The group function is convenient for playback of MDs on which several albums or CD singles have been recorded in MDLP (LP2/LP4) mode. What is a disc with group setti...

40 Recording a track to an existing group You can add a track to an existing group. 1 Press GROUP, and then press . or > until the group you want to add a track to appears in the display. 2 Press N while pressing REC • T MARK. 3 Play the source sound. Newly recorded track is added after the curre...

41 Selecting the play mode for group play (Group Play Mode) The shuffle play and repeat play function can be used during group play mode. 1 Press MENU. 2 Press . or > until “P-MODE” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 3 Press . or > repeatedly to select the play mode, and then press ...

42 Notes • You can create a maximum of 99 groups on a disc. It will not be possible to make a group setting if the tracks, groups and disc name on a disc exceed the maximum number that can be input. • The tracks or groups must be sequential. If the desired tracks or groups are not consecutive, you m...

43 4 Press . or > until “EDIT” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 5 Press . or > until “G : Rls” appears in the display, and press ENTER. “G : Rls?” and “ENTER” appear alternately in the display. 6 Press ENTER. The group setting of the selected group is released. To return the prece...

44 3 Press . or > until “Move” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 4 Press . or > until “T : Move” appears in the display, and then press ENTER. 5 When moving a track out of a group, skip this step.When moving a track into a different group, press . or > until the destination grou...

45 5 Press . or > to select the destination point on the disc, and then press ENTER. To return the preceding settings Press x . To cancel moving Press x for 2 seconds or more. To erase a group You can erase tracks in a selected group. Note that once a recording has been erased, you cannot retriev...

46 Other operations Useful settings The recorder has many menus with useful functions for recording, playback, editing, etc.The following table shows the menu items that you can select. Category Function What it does Site page General operations Beep on/off Turns the beep sound on or off. page 49 Re...

47 Editing Moving Changes the order of tracks or groups. page 34 (track) page 43 (group) Erasing Erases tracks, groups, or the entire disc contents. page 37 (track and disc) page 45 (group) Assigning tracks to groups Assigns recorded tracks or groups to a new group. page 41 Releasing a group Release...

48 How to use the menu items To set the menu items, do the following procedure. 1 Press MENU to enter the menu. 2 Press . or > to select the item. 3 Press ENTER to enter the selection. 4 Repeat steps 2 and 3.The setting will be entered when you press ENTER at the last. To return the preceding set...

49 Turning off the beep sound You can turn on/off the beep sound on the recorder and the remote control. 1 Enter the menu and select “OPTION” - “BEEP”. 2 Select “OFF”. To turn on the beep sound Select “ON”. Recording without overwriting existing material If you wish to avoid recording over the curre...

50 Notes • When the power mode is set to “QUICK”, the power remains on within the recorder even when nothing appears in the display. This leads to a shorter battery life. For this reason, it is recommended that you charge the battery daily. • If no recorder operation (including opening or closing of...

51 List of menus Menus on the recorder Items listed under “Menu 1” are the selectable items which appear when you press MENU, items listed under “Menu 2” are the selectable items which appear when you select an item in Menu 1, and “Menu 3” are the selectable items which appear when you select an ite...

53 Power sources You can use the recorder on house current or as follows. — a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery NH-7WMAA — an LR6 (size AA) alkaline dry battery It is preferable to use the recorder on house current when recording for a long time. When using a battery, make sure it is a fully...

54 Additional information Precautions On safety Do not put any foreign objects in the DC IN 3V jack. On power sources • Use house current, nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery, LR6 (size AA) battery, or car battery. • For use in your house: Do not use any other AC power adaptor since it may cau...

55 On the MiniDisc cartridge • When carrying or storing the MiniDisc, keep it in its case. • Do not break open the shutter. • Do not place the cartridge where it will be subject to light, extreme temperatures, moisture or dust. • Attach the supplied MD label only in the space designated for it on th...

56 Specifications Audio playing system MiniDisc digital audio system Laser diode properties Material: GaAlAsWavelength: λ = 790 nm Emission duration: continuousLaser output: less than 44.6 µW(This output is the value measured at a distance of 200 mm from the lens surface on the optical pick-up block...

57 Troubleshooting and explanations Troubles and solutions If you find any troubles operating the recorder, follow the steps below. 1 Check this section, “Troubles and solutions” (page 57). You may find the solution of your trouble on “Messages” (page 63) as well. Check the information. 2 If you can...

59 While playing “TrFULL” appears even before the disc has reached the maximum recording time (60, 74, or 80 minutes) and the recording cannot be done. • This is due to the MiniDisc system limitation. When 254 tracks have been recorded on the disc, “TrFULL” appears regardless of the total recorded t...

60 While Editing No sound comes through the headphones/earphones. • The headphones/earphones plug is not firmly connected. , Plug in the plug of the headphones/earphones firmly to the remote control. Plug in the plug of the remote control firmly to i . • The plug is dirty. , Clean the plug. The reco...

61 While using group function Track marks cannot be erased. • This is due to the MiniDisc system limitations. When the data of a track is fragmented, the track mark of a fragment under 12 seconds long (recorded in SP stereo), 24 seconds long (recorded in LP2 stereo mode or monaural mode), or 48 seco...

62 Others Symptom Cause/Remedy The recorder does not work or works poorly. • The rechargeable battery is not charged. , Charge the rechargeable battery. • The volume is low. , Turn up the volume. • No disc is inserted. , Insert a recorded disc. • The HOLD function is turned on (“HOLD” appears in the...

63 Messages If the following error messages flash in the display window, check the chart below. Error message Meaning/Remedy AVLS • AVLS is set to “ON” so that the volume will not increase anymore. , Set AVLS to “OFF” (page 50). FULL • You tried to set the 21st bookmark. , You can set up to 20 bookm...

66 Explanations Difference between digital (optical) and analog (line) inputs The input jack of this recorder works as both digital and analog input jacks. Connect the recorder to a CD player or a cassette recorder using either digital (optical) input or analog (line) input. To record, see “Recordin...

67 The meaning of “no sound” “No sound” describes a recorder condition in which the input level is about 4.8 mV during analog input or less than –89 dB during optical (digital) input (with 0 dB as full bit (the maximum recordable level for a MiniDisc)). Note on digital recording This recorder uses t...

68 Recording audio data to your computer You can record audio data to your computer from sources such as audio CDs and the Internet (page 76). On the computer Listening You can listen to an audio CD in the CD-ROM drive of your computer, or audio data in the hard disk drive (page 83). Internet Audio ...

69 What is a Net MD? Net MD is a standard that enables the transfer of audio data from a computer to a MiniDisc device. To use this Net MD with your computer requires a software application called “SonicStage”.SonicStage software provides a database for managing audio data in the computer and functi...

70 Basic Operations Basic operational flow using the Net MD The following is the basic steps that you will take following the purchase of your recorder. Through these steps, you will prepare and set up your computer for use of your recorder as a Net MD. Do the following steps, and refer to the indic...

71 Providing the required system environment System requirements The following hardware and software are required in order to use the SonicStage software for the Net MD. This software is not supported by the following environments: • Macintosh • Windows XP versions other than Home Edition or Profess...

72 Installing the software onto your computer This section explains the installation of the SonicStage Ver.1.5 software supplied with your Net MD. Before installing the software 1 Make sure to note the following before installing the software. Do not connect the dedicated USB cable before the instal...

73 Installing SonicStage Ver.1.5 1 Turn on your computer and start up Windows. 2 Insert the installation CD-ROM for SonicStage into the CD-ROM drive of your computer. The setup program starts up automatically and the SonicStage Ver.1.5 installation window appears. 3 Click to select [SonicStage 1.5]....

74 4 Follow the displayed instructions. Read the instructions carefully. The installation may take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your system environment (page 95). 5 After the installation is completed, click [Restart] to restart the computer. Make sure to restart your computer only after the insta...

75 Connecting the Net MD to your computer After the software installation is completed, connect the Net MD to your computer.Refer to the operating instructions of the Net MD as well. 1 Insert a recordable disc into the Net MD. 2 Make the power source and the dedicated USB cable connections with the ...

76 Storing audio data to your computer This section explains how to record and store audio data from an audio CD to the hard disk drive of your computer.The procedure in this section is used to record all tracks on an audio CD. To record only specific tracks from a CD, or from other sound sources, s...

77 Recording audio CDs to the hard disk drive In SonicStage Ver.1.5, the hard disk drive is called the “Music Drive”. The Music Drive manages all audio data stored by SonicStage. 1 Insert the audio CD that you want to record into the CD-ROM drive of your computer. The CD window appears in the displa...

78 4 Click in the middle of the recording window and select the recording mode. When recording data in LP2 mode: select ATRAC3 132kbps When recording data in LP4 mode: select ATRAC3 66kbps 5 If the list panel is not displayed, click . List panels appear under the recording window. The contents of th...

79 Labeling audio data After recording has completed, you can label the audio data in the Music Drive. Once audio data in the Music Drive is labeled, the label information will be transferred to a disc along with the audio data, allowing you to view the data on your Net MD. 1 Start up SonicStage (pa...

80 Transferring audio data from your computer to the Net MD (Check-out) Audio data stored on the Music Drive can be transferred to your Net MD. This process is called “Check-out”. The number of times a track can be checked out is restricted in this software for the protection of copyrights (page 98)...

81 3 Click in the middle of the display and select the recording mode (page 78). Standard transfer mode: Data are transferred in the format of the original files.Maximum available transfer space: All data are transferred in LP4 mode.SP transfer mode: All data are converted and transferred in normal ...

83 Listening to an MD You can listen to an MD on the Net MD while it is connected to your computer. When disconnected from your computer, the Net MD can be used as an ordinary MiniDisc device.For details on Net MD operations, refer to the “Recorder Operations” section. Listening to an MD with the Ne...

84 Advanced operations Using other functions! Using the SonicStage online help This manual explains only the basic operations of the SonicStage software. However, the software has a host of other functions that allow you to carry out various operations, such as importing audio files from the Interne...

85 Viewing online help Let’s find out how to use the online help first. An explanation on the use of the online help can also be found in the online help. 1 Double click [Overview] in the left-hand frame. 2 Click [About this Help file].The explanation will appear in the right-hand frame. 3 Read the ...

86 Other information Settings and Precautions Settings according to OS The settings and precautions will differ according to the operating system being used.Check the items that apply to your system. For Windows XP users Restrictions when running the SonicStage software under Windows XP • To install...

87 For Windows Millennium Edition users When using SonicStage under Windows Millennium Edition If you use the “System Restore” function in Windows “System Tools”, audio data managed by SonicStage may become corrupted and rendered unplayable.Before executing the system restoration procedure, you shou...

88 For users with OpenMG Jukebox, SonicStage, or SonicStage Premium installed on their computer Note Confirm whether any tracks have been checked out from your computer.If tracks have been checked out from OpenMG Jukebox, an earlier version of SonicStage, or SonicStage Premium, it may not be possibl...

90 Uninstalling the SonicStage software To uninstall the SonicStage software, follow the procedures below. For Windows XP users Log on with a user name with “Computer Administrator” as an attribute.Refer to the operating instructions of your computer for details on logging on as an administrator. 1 ...

92 Troubleshooting Please do the following steps if you encounter a problem while using the SonicStage software. In case a message appears, it is recommended that you write it down. Step 1: Check the symptoms in this “Troubleshooting” section. A variety of information can also be found in the operat...

94 If your computer does not recognize the Net MD • Is the Net MD connected correctly to your computer? — If the Net MD is not firmly connected to the computer, the Net MD will not be recognized by your computer. — Reconnect the dedicated USB cable. If the computer still does not recognize the Net M...

95 • If the installation seems to be stopped It may take 30 minutes or more for the installation to complete, depending on your computer or CD-ROM drive.During the installation, watch out for the occurrence of any of the following problems. • If the installation is still unsuccessful after all that ...

96 Information and explanations Net MD FAQ This section introduces frequently asked questions and answers on the Net MD. On the Net MD What is a “Net MD”? Net MD is a specification that allows audio data in a computer to be transferred to a MiniDisc through a USB cable.Till now, MiniDiscs could be u...

97 On Editing Can checked-out tracks be edited on the Net MD? • Things you can do on the Net MD:— Label contents.— Assign or release groups— Move tracks or groups. • Things you cannot do on the Net MD:— Add track marks (divide)/erase track marks (combine).— Delete tracks, groups, or the entire disc ...

98 On copyright protection The OpenMG technology* allows you to enjoy digital music, while maintaining the copyrights of its holders. OpenMG Jukebox encrypts audio files in OpenMG format and stores them on the hard disk of your computer to prevent unauthorized distribution. * The copyright protectio...

100 Glossary ATRAC3 ATRAC3, which stands for Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding3, is audio compression technology that satisfies the demand for high sound quality and high compression rates.The ATRAC3 compression rate is approximately 10 times higher than that of the Audio CD, resulting an increased...

102 Index A Accessories optional 56 supplied 11 ATRAC3 96 , 100 Audio CD 68 , 77 Auto Time Stamp 26 AVLS 50 B back up 89 Bookmark add 30 play 31 C CD-ROM 71 Charging 16 Check-in 96 , 100 Checking playing position 29 remaining time 23 , 29 Check-out 80 , 96 , 100 Cleaning 55 Combining tracks 36 Conne...