To upload recordings made using a Hi-MD recorder via USB to a computer you
need to use Sony's Sonicstage software. SonicStage will allow faster than
real time digital upload via USB. As far as I am aware SonicStage is only
available on PC. Bear in mind though that once you have it on your PC it is
still locked in a copy protection wrapper so you can't do anything with it
except play it back using SonicStage. If Sony releases a converter at some
point, PC users will be able to unlock original microphone recordings (don't
hold your breath).
In practical terms this does not not matter much at the moemnt. As with
older MD recorders, and regardless of whether you are a MAC user or PC user,
if you want to get a digital copy of an MD recording that you can use as you
please with whatever software tools you want, you have to re-record the the
analog output from the MD in real time using a sound card and recording
software. This process shouldn't have much effect on the audio quality but
it is a pain.
The Olympus recorders are supposed to be compatible with PCs and MACs. I
think Olympus bundles the recorders with software for both platforms.
According to the Marantz manual:
"The CF card formats used by the PMD670 are Windows compatible. You can copy
audio files using a Windows compatible computer that can read a CF card or
be connected via the I/O port (i.e. USB). Or a Macintosh computer that can
recognize Windows compatible removable drives. CF cards with less than 2 GB
capacity are automatically formatted FAT16 (FAT = File Allocation Table). CF
cards with 2 - 8 GB capacity are automatically formatted FAT32."
I know there are MAC users of this recorder. I'm not sure you can hook a MAC
directly to the recoder via the recorder's USB 1.1 port, but you can eject
the CF card and use a USB2 or Firewire CF card reader (cost $10-$25) to read
the card. Whether directly from the recorder or a card reader, the CF card
will appear as an external drive. The audio file formats are all standard
audio formats. You just drag and drop to your computer's internal drive.
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