Sony Net MD Walkman MZ NE410 User Manual

3-253-600-12(1)  
Portable  
MiniDisc Recorder  
Operating Instructions  
Recorder Operation ___________________  
Software Operation ____________________  
“WALKMAN” is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation to  
represent Headphone Stereo products.  
trademark of Sony Corporation.  
is a  
MZ-NE410  
© 2003 Sony Corporation  
— Consult the dealer or an experienced  
radio/TV technician for help.  
Declaration of Conformity  
You are cautioned that any changes or  
modifications not expressly approved in  
this manual could void your authority to  
operate this equipment.  
Trade Name: SONY  
Model No.: MZ-NE410  
Responsible Party: Sony Electronics  
Inc.  
Address: 680 Kinderkamack Road,  
Oradell, NJ 07649 USA  
Telephone No.: 201-930-6972  
SONY MZ-NE410  
This device complies with Part 15 of  
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to  
the following two conditions: (1) This  
device may not cause harmful  
Tested To Comply  
With FCC Standards  
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE  
interference, and (2) this device must  
accept any interference received,  
including interference that may cause  
undesired operation.  
SonicStage, OpenMG and the OpenMG  
logo, MagicGate, Memory Stick and the  
MagicGate Memory Stick logo,  
Memory Stick and the Memory Stick  
logo, Net MD and the Net MD logo are  
trademarks of Sony Corporation.  
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT and  
Windows Media are trademarks or  
registered trademarks of Microsoft  
Corporation in the United States and /or  
other countries.  
IBM and PC/AT are registered  
trademarks of International Business  
Machines Corporation.  
Macintosh is a trademark of Apple  
Computer, Inc. in the United States and/  
or other countries.  
MMX and Pentium are trademarks or  
registered trademarks of Intel  
Corporation.  
All other trademarks and registered  
trademarks are trademarks or registered  
trademarks of their respective holders.  
™ and ® marks are omitted in this  
manual.  
This equipment has been tested and found  
to comply with the limits for a Class B  
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the  
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to  
provide reasonable protection against  
harmful interference in a residential  
installation. This equipment generates,  
uses, and can radiate radio frequency  
energy and, if not installed and used in  
accordance with the instructions, may  
cause harmful interference to radio  
communications. However, there is no  
guarantee that interference will not occur  
in a particular installation. If this  
equipment does cause harmful  
interference to radio or television  
reception, which can be determined by  
turning the equipment off and on, the user  
is encouraged to try to correct the  
interference by one or more of the  
following measures:  
— Reorient or relocate the receiving  
antenna.  
— Increase the separation between the  
equipment and receiver.  
— Connect the equipment into an outlet  
on a circuit different from that to  
which the receiver is connected.  
3
Notice for users  
On the supplied software  
Copyright laws prohibit reproducing the  
software or the manual accompanying it  
in whole or in part, or renting the  
software without the permission of the  
copyright holder.  
In no event will SONY be liable for any  
financial damage, or loss of profits,  
including claims made by third parties,  
arising out of the use of the software  
supplied with this recorder.  
In the event a problem occurs with this  
software as a result of defective  
manufacturing, SONY will replace it.  
However, SONY bears no other  
responsibility.  
The software provided with this  
recorder cannot be used with equipment  
other than that which is so designated.  
Please note that, due to continued efforts  
to improve quality, the software  
specifications may be changed without  
notice.  
Operation of this recorder with software  
other than that provided is not covered  
by the warranty.  
Program © 2001, 2002 Sony Corporation  
Documentation © 2003 Sony Corporation  
4
5
Table of contents  
Recorder Operations  
6
Software Operation  
Transferring audio data from your computer to the  
computer ......................................................................... 47  
Listening to an MD with the Net MD disconnected from the  
7
For users with OpenMG Jukebox, SonicStage, or SonicStage  
users .................................................................................54  
8
9
Before using this product  
This recorder can only record materials from the connected computer. 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 31)  
Pages 11 to 31 in this manual explain the use of the Net MD as an  
ordinary MiniDisc Walkman.  
_  
_  
Troubleshooting and explanations (page 29)  
This section shows the troubles you may find while using the recorder,  
and their solutions.  
f t
t.  
When using the Net MD (the recorder) connected to your  
computer  
Software Operation (pages 32 to 64)  
Pages 32 to 64 in this manual explain the installation and basic operations of the supplied  
SonicStage software. Refer to these pages for details.  
Other information (page 50)  
This section shows the troubles you may find while using the SonicStage software, and  
their solutions. It also has the list of frequently asked questions and answers.  
SonicStage Ver. 1.5 Help  
This is an online help that you can view on your computer  
screen.  
Refer to online help for details on the use of the software. To  
display the help window, see page 48.  
Notes on the “Software Operation” section  
The displayed items in the illustrations that appear in this section may differ from the actual items  
displayed by the software.  
Explanations in this section assume familiarity with basic Windows operations. For details on the use  
of your computer and the operating system, please refer to the respective manuals.  
Explanations in this section cover general Net MD products. For this reason, some explanations (and  
some illustrations) may not be applicable to your Net MD. Please refer to the operating instructions of  
your Net MD as well.  
10  
Checking the supplied accessories  
Headphones/earphones (1)  
Dedicated USB cable (1)  
CD-ROM (SonicStage Ver. 1.5 and Net MD Simple Burner Ver. 1.1) (1)*  
Do not play a CD-ROM on an audio CD player.  
11  
       
Looking at the controls  
Front of the recorder  
3
4
5
6
1
2
7
8
A Display window  
D MENU button  
B VOL +* and – button  
E GROUP button  
F USB jack  
The VOL + button has a tactile dot.  
When connecting to your computer,  
connect the dedicated USB cable to  
this jack.  
C 4-position control key  
ENT/NX (enter/play/pause)*  
. and > (search/AMS)  
x/CANCEL (stop/cancel)  
G HOLD switch  
H i (headphones/earphones) jack  
The ENT/NX button has a tactile dot.  
12  
 
Back of the recorder  
2
3
1
A OPEN button  
C Battery compartment lid  
B Hand strap hole  
Use the hole to attach your own strap.  
The display window of the recorder  
4
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
A Disc indication  
E Play mode indication  
Shows play mode of the MD.  
B Group mode indication  
Lights up when group mode is on.  
F SOUND indication  
C Track number display  
G Disc, group, track indication  
D Battery level indication  
H Character information display  
Displays the track names, elapsed  
time, etc.  
Shows approximate battery condition.  
13  
Getting started!  
1
Insert an alkaline dry battery.  
E
e
Insert one LR6 (size AA) alkaline  
dry battery minus end first.  
Slide to open the battery  
compartment lid.  
Close the lid.  
When to replace the battery  
You can check the battery condition through the battery indicator while using the recorder.  
Battery power decreasing  
r
Weak battery  
r
The battery has gone out.  
“LoBATT” flashes in the display, and the power goes off.  
Battery life1)  
When  
SP Stereo  
LP2 Stereo  
LP4 Stereo  
playing2)  
Approx. 42 hours Approx. 48 hours  
Approx. 56 hours  
checking out audio data 75 tracks (of about 300 tracks (of about 600 tracks (of about  
from the computer3)  
5 minutes each) 5 minutes each) 5 minutes each)  
1) When using a new Sony LR6 (size AA) “STAMINA” alkaline dry battery (produced in Japan).  
2) Measured in accordance with the JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries  
Association) standard.  
3) The numbers of tracks that can be checked out differs according to the computer’s operating  
environment.  
Notes  
Disconnect the dedicated USB cable before replacing the dry battery.  
The battery life may be shorter than that specified, depending on the operating conditions, the  
temperature of the location, and varieties of batteries.  
14  
   
2
Make connections and unlock the  
control.  
1 Connect the headphones/earphones to  
2 Slide HOLD in the opposite direction of  
the arrow indicated on the recorder  
(HOLD .) to unlock the control.  
i.  
HOLD  
Connect firmly.  
to i  
15  
 
Playing an MD right away!  
1
Insert an MD.  
1 Press OPEN to open the lid.  
2 Insert an MD to the direction of the  
arrow with the label side facing front,  
and press the lid down to close.  
2
Play an MD.  
1 Press NX.  
ENT/NX, .,  
>, x/CANCEL  
2 Press VOL + or – to adjust the volume.  
The volume indicator appears in the  
display allowing you to check the  
volume level.  
To stop play, press x.  
Playback starts from the point you last stopped  
playing.  
To start playback from the beginning of the first  
track, hold down NX for 2 seconds or more.  
VOL +, –  
16  
 
To  
Operation  
Pause  
Press NX.  
Press NX again to resume play.  
Find the beginning of the current track or  
the previous track1)  
Press ..  
Press . repeatedly until the beginning of  
the desired track appears.  
Find the beginning of the next track2)  
Go backwards or froward while playing  
Press > once.  
Hold down . or >.  
Search for a point in a track while viewing While pausing, press and hold . or >.  
the elapsed time (Time search)  
Search for a specific track while viewing  
track numbers (Index search)  
While the recorder is stopped, press and  
hold . or >.  
Remove the MD  
Press x, and then press OPEN.3)  
1) If you press . twice continuously while playing the first track of the disc, the recorder goes to the  
beginning of the last track on the disc.  
2) If you press > during the last track of the disc, the recorder goes to the beginning of the first track  
on the disc.  
3) If you open the lid, the playback will begin from the beginning of the first track (except when group  
mode is on).  
Suppressing the skip of the sound (G-PROTECTION)  
The G-PROTECTION function was developed to provide a higher level of shock resistance  
than that of existing players in order to allow the recorder to be used while jogging.  
Note  
The playback sound may skip if:  
the recorder receives stronger continuous shock.  
a dirty or scratched MiniDisc is played.  
z
The MZ-NE410 supports DSP TYPE-S for ATRAC/ATRAC3. It thus allows you to enjoy TYPE-S  
high-quality sound from MDs recorded in MDLP mode on TYPE-S-equipped MD decks, etc.  
The recorder can play the track recorded by 2 × or 4 × long playing mode (LP2 or LP4). Normal  
stereo playback, LP2 stereo playback, LP4 stereo playback or monaural playback is automatically  
selected to match the audio source.  
17  
     
Various ways of playback  
Display A1) Play mode  
Shuff All the tracks are  
Selecting the play  
mode  
played in random order.  
(shuffle play)  
You can select various play modes such as  
normal play, single-track play (1 Trk), or  
shuffle play (Shuff). You can also select  
repeat play with the selected play mode.  
1) Group play mode (  
play a disc with group settings. For more  
) appears whenever you  
MENU  
4 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“RepOFF” or “RepON” (playing a  
track repeatedly) appears in the  
display, and then press ENT/NX to  
enter the selection.  
If you select “RepON”, “ ” appears  
on B and the playback repeats with  
the play mode selected in step 3.  
ENT/NX, .,  
>, x/CANCEL  
B lights up when you press ENT/  
1 Press MENU.  
NX.  
2 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“P-MODE” appears in the display,  
and then press ENT/NX.  
3 Press . or > repeatedly to  
select the play mode, and then press  
ENT/NX.  
Display B Play mode  
Each time you press >, the display  
item indicated by A changes as  
follows:  
Pressing ENT/NX while A is  
flashing causes the play mode to  
enter.  
Repeat play of all tracks  
1
Repeat play of a selected  
track  
SHUF  
Repeat shuffle play of all  
tracks  
Pressing > repeatedly changes A.  
To cancel the procedure  
Press MENU.  
To return the preceding  
settings  
Press x/CANCEL.  
Display A1) Play mode  
Normal  
(normal play)  
All the tracks are  
played once.  
1 Trk  
(single-track  
play)  
A single track is played  
once.  
18  
       
Adjusting the sound quality  
Adjusting treble or bass  
(Digital Sound Preset)  
You can adjust the treble and bass to suit  
your taste. The player can store two sets  
of treble-bass adjustments, which can  
then be selected later during playback.  
You can change the preset sound quality.  
To change the preset sound quality, select  
“SOUND1” or “SOUND2”, the one you  
want to change, in advance.  
1 While playing, press MENU.  
MENU  
2 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“SOUND” appears in the display, and  
3 tPhreenssp.ress EoNr T>/NrXep.eatedly until  
“SET” appears in the display, and  
4 tPhreenssp.ress EoNr T>/NrXep.eatedly until  
“SOUND1” or “SOUND2” appears  
in the display, and then press ENT/  
NX.  
ENT/NX, .,  
>, x/CANCEL  
Selecting the sound quality  
The display shows the currently  
5 PBreAssS.S” souonrd>settirnegp.eatedly to  
Factory settings  
Factory settings of the digital sound preset  
are as follows:  
adjust the sound level.  
• “SOUND1”: bass +1, treble ±0  
• “SOUND2”: bass +3, treble ±0  
Shows “ SOUND1” or  
SOUND2” is selected  
1 While playing, press MENU.  
2 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“SOUND” appears in the display, and  
press ENT/NX.  
The sound can be adjusted in 8 steps.  
(–4, –3, ...±0, ...+2, +3)  
3 Press . or > repeatedly to  
select “SOUND1”, “SOUND2”, or  
“OFF” in the display, and then press  
ENT/NX to enter the selection.  
Selecting “OFF” turns off the digital  
sound preset function.  
6 Press ENT/NX.  
“BASS” is set and the display  
changes to “TRE” (treble) setting  
7 mProedsse.. or > repeatedly to  
adjust the sound level, and then press  
ENT/NX to enter the selection.  
“TRE” (treble) is set.  
The sound settings are saved and the  
playback display appears again.  
19  
       
To cancel the procedure  
Press MENU.  
To return the preceding  
settings  
Press x/CANCEL.  
Note  
When using a digital sound preset, the sound  
may break or become distorted if the volume is  
turned up too high, depending on the settings or  
the track. In this case, change the settings of the  
sound quality.  
20  
Using the group function  
Note  
The recorder does not support the recording of  
group settings on the recorder. Use the supplied  
SonicStage software to assign tracks to group.  
For details, see “Software Operation” section  
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.  
MENU  
GROUP  
What is a disc with group  
settings?  
The recorder can operate various  
ENT/NX, .,  
>, x/CANCEL  
functions in units of group; that is tracks  
that have been recorded on a disc as part  
of separate groups, as shown below.  
Before group settings are made  
Disc  
Playing a track in group play  
In group play, all groups are played in  
order, starting with group 1, followed by  
the unassigned tracks (“GP --”). Playback  
stops after all the tracks have been played.  
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 12 13 1415  
1 Press MENU.  
Track 1 to 5 are assigned to group 1.  
Track 8 to12 are assigned to group 2.  
Track 13 to15 are assigned to group 3.  
2 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“P-MODE” appears in the display,  
m
3 aPnredstsh.en preosrs>ENTr/NepeaXte.dly until  
Track 6 to 7 are assigned to no group.  
” and “Normal” appear in the  
After setting the group (group play)  
4 dPirsepslsa.y, andotrh>en prerespseEaNteTd/lNy unXtil.  
“RepOFF” appears in the display, and  
then press ENT/NX to enter the  
selection.  
Disc  
Group 1  
Group 2 Group 3  
1 2345 6 7 1 2345 1 23  
To cue to the start of a group  
(Group Skip)  
1 While playing, press GROUP.  
Tracks that were not assigned to a group  
are treated as being part of “ GP --” .  
2 Press . or >.  
Pressing the . or > button cues to the  
first track of the previous or next group.  
You can create a maximum of 99 groups  
on a disc.  
21  
           
To return the preceding  
settings  
Press x/CANCEL.  
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  
ENT/NX.  
3 Press . or > repeatedly to  
select the play mode, and then press  
ENT/NX.  
After normal playback (page 18), the  
following play modes are displayed.  
Display  
Play mode  
, Normal All tracks in the groups  
(Normal  
play back once (starting  
Group Play) with the first track in  
group 1).  
, Shuff  
(In-Group  
Shuffle)  
Shuffle play starts with  
the group that is  
currently playing, and  
continues with the  
succeeding groups.  
4 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“RepOFF” or “RepON” appears in  
the display, and then press ENT/  
NX to enter the selection.  
If you select “RepON”, “ ” appears  
in the display and playback repeats in  
the respective group play mode  
(Group Repeat Play).  
Display  
Play mode  
,
Repeat play of tracks  
within a group  
, SHUF  
Repeat shuffle play of  
tracks within a group  
To cancel the procedure  
Press MENU.  
22  
   
Other Operations  
3 Press . or > repeatedly until  
the information that you want appears  
in the display, and then press ENT/  
NX to enter the selection.  
Viewing various  
information  
You can check the track name, disc name,  
etc. during playback. Group-related items  
appear only when a track with group  
settings is played.  
Each time you press >, the display  
changes as follows:  
Display  
Meaning  
LapTim  
The elapsed time of the  
current track  
MENU  
T:Name  
G:Name  
D:Name  
T–MODE  
Track name  
Group name  
Disc name  
Indicates the recording  
mode selected on the MD  
recorder used; i.e., “SP”,  
“LP2”, “LP4”, or  
ENT/NX, .,  
>, x/CANCEL  
“MONO”.  
Notes  
Depending on the group settings, the  
operating conditions and the disc settings, you  
may not be able to select certain indications or  
the indications may appear differently.  
The “T–MODE” indication appears only  
during playback. It appears for a few seconds,  
and is then replaced by the elapsed time of the  
current track.  
A
B
C
Track number  
The elapsed  
time  
Track number  
Track name  
To cancel the procedure  
Press MENU.  
The number of GP  
total tracks in  
the groups  
Group name  
To return the preceding  
settings  
Press x/CANCEL.  
The number of  
total tracks  
Disc name  
Track number  
Track mode  
1 Press MENU.  
2 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“DISP” appears in the display, and  
then press ENT/NX.  
23  
   
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.  
If no recorder operation (including opening or  
closing of the lid) occurs for an hour, the  
power in the recorder automatically turn off.  
For this reason, the next time you start  
playback or do another operation, the recorder  
will not respond quickly. the unit, however,  
will return to quick mode afterwards.  
Starting the playback  
quickly (Quick Mode)  
After pressing the playback button or  
cueing to the track, the playback can start  
quickly.  
MENU  
ENT/NX, .,  
>, x/CANCEL  
1 Press MENU.  
2 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“OPTION” appears in the display,  
and then press ENT/NX.  
3 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“Power” appears in the display, and  
then press ENT/NX.  
4 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“QUICK” appears in the display, and  
then press ENT/NX.  
To switch back to the normal  
setting  
Select “NORMAL” in step 4.  
To cancel the procedure  
Press MENU.  
To return the preceding  
settings  
Press x/CANCEL.  
24  
     
Protecting your hearing  
(AVLS)  
Locking the controls  
(HOLD)  
The AVLS (Automatic Volume Limiter  
System) function keeps down the  
maximum volume to protect your ears.  
To prevent the buttons from being  
accidentally operated when you carry the  
player, use this function.  
HOLD  
MENU  
ENT/NX, .,  
>, x/CANCEL  
1 Slide HOLD in the direction of the  
1 Press MENU.  
. to lock.  
2 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“OPTION” appears in the display,  
and then press ENT/NX.  
To unlock the controls  
Slide HOLD to the opposite direction of  
the arrow.  
3 Press . or > repeatedly until  
AVLS” appears in the display, and  
then press ENT/NX.  
4 Press . or > repeatedly until  
“ON” appears in the display, and then  
press ENT/NX to enter the  
selection.  
“ON” appears in the display, and after  
a few seconds, the playback display  
appears again.  
To cancel the AVLS function  
Select “OFF” in step 4.  
To cancel the procedure  
Press MENU.  
To return the preceding  
settings  
Press x/CANCEL.  
25  
         
Additional information  
On installation  
Never use the recorder where it will be  
subjected to extremes of light, temperature,  
moisture or vibration.  
Precautions  
On safety  
Do not carry or store the dry battery in the  
same place with metallic objects such as  
coins, key rings, or necklaces. This may cause  
a short-circuit and the generation of heat.  
Incorrect battery usage may cause the battery  
fluid to leak or battery to burst. To prevent  
such accidents, make sure the battery is  
installed with the + and – poles oriented  
correctly.  
On the MiniDisc cartridge  
Do not touch the internal disc directly. Forcing  
the shutter open may damage the internal disc.  
When transporting a MiniDisc, keep it in its  
case.  
Do not place the cartridge where it will be  
subjected to light, temperature, moisture or  
dust.  
If a battery leak should develop, carefully and  
thoroughly wipe away the battery fluid in the  
battery compartment before inserting a new  
battery.  
Do not affix the label outside of the specified  
area on the MD. Make sure the label is placed  
within the recessed space on the disc.  
If you will not use the recorder for a long  
time, be sure to remove the dry battery.  
On the headphones/earphones  
Road safety  
On Handling  
Do not use headphones/earphones while  
driving, cycling, or operating any motorized  
vehicle. This may lead to a traffic accident and  
is illegal in many areas. It can also be  
potentially dangerous to play your recorder at  
high volumes while walking, especially at  
pedestrian crossings. You should exercise  
extreme caution or discontinue using the  
recorder in potentially hazardous situations.  
If you experience an allergic reaction to the  
supplied headphones/earphones, stop using  
them at once and consult a doctor or a Sony  
service center.  
Do not drop or bump the recorder. This may  
cause the recorder to malfunction.  
Do not pull headphones/earphones cords.  
Do not place the recorder in the following  
places:  
—An extremely hot place (over 60°C  
(140°F))  
—A place exposed to direct sunlight or near a  
heater  
—In a car with the windows rolled up  
(especially in the summer)  
—In a damp place such as a bathroom  
—Near a source of electromagnetic fields  
such as a magnet, speaker, or TV  
—In a dusty place  
Preventing hearing damage  
Avoid using headphones/earphones at high  
volumes. Hearing experts advise against  
continuous, loud and extended play. If you  
experience a ringing in your ears, reduce the  
volume or discontinue use.  
On heat build-up  
Heat may build up in the recorder if it is used  
for an extended period of time. This, however,  
is not a malfunction.  
Caring for others  
Keep the volume at a moderate level. This will  
allow you to hear outside sounds and to be  
considerate of the people around you.  
On mechanical noise  
The recorder emits mechanical noise while  
operating, which is caused by the power-saving  
system of the recorder. This is not a  
malfunction.  
26  
   
On cleaning  
To protect a recorded MD  
After wiping the recorder casing with a soft  
cloth slightly moistened with water, wipe it  
again with a dry cloth. Do not use any type of  
abrasive pad, scouring powder or solvent such  
as alcohol or benzene as this may mar the  
finish on the casing.  
To record-protect an MD, slide open the tab at  
the side of the MD. In this position, the MD  
cannot be recorded. To record again, slide the  
tab back so the tab is visible.  
Wipe the disc cartridge with a dry cloth to  
remove dirt.  
Tab  
Dust on the lens may prevent the unit from  
operating properly. Be sure to close the disc  
compartment lid after inserting or ejecting an  
MD.  
To maintain good sound quality, use a soft  
cloth to clean the plugs of the headphones/  
earphones. A dirty plug may cause noise or  
intermittent breaks in the sound during  
playback.  
Recorded material is  
Back of the MD  
protected.  
Clean the terminals periodically with a cotton  
swab or a soft cloth as illustrated.  
Recorded material is  
not protected.  
Dry battery compartment  
If you have any questions or problems  
concerning your recorder, please consult your  
nearest Sony dealer. (If a trouble occurred when  
the disc was in the recorder, we recommend that  
the disc be left in the recorder when you consult  
your Sony dealer so that the cause of trouble  
may be better understood.)  
Terminals  
When consulting your Sony dealer, be sure to  
bring the recorder and the headphones/  
earphones.  
27  
 
General  
Power requirements  
One LR6 (size AA) alkaline battery (not  
supplied)  
Specifications  
MD Player  
Recommended temperature for  
check-in/check-out  
Audio playing system  
MiniDisc digital audio system  
Laser diode properties  
Material: GaAlAs  
+5 ° C (+41° F) or higher  
Battery operation time  
Dimensions  
Wavelength: λ = 790 nm  
Emission duration: continuous  
Laser output: less than 44.6 µW  
(This output is the value measured at a distance  
of 200 mm from the objective lens surface on  
the optical pick-up block with 7 mm aperture.)  
Recording and playback time (when  
using MDW-80)  
Approx. 81 × 28.9 × 74.4 mm (w/h/d) (31/4 ×  
13/16 × 3 in.) without projections.  
Mass  
Approx. 106 g (3.8 oz) the recorder only  
US and foreign patents licensed from Dolby  
Laboratories.  
Maximum 160 min. in monaural  
Maximum 320 min. in LP4 stereo  
Revolutions  
Design and specifications are subject to change  
without notice.  
Approx. 380 rpm to 2,700 rpm  
Error correction  
ACIRC (Advanced Cross Interleave Reed  
Solomon Code)  
Optional accessories  
MDR series stereo Headphones/earphones*  
SRS series Active Speakers  
Sampling frequency  
44.1 kHz  
Coding  
When using optional headphones, use only  
headphones/earphones with stereo mini  
plugs. You cannot use headphones/  
earphones with micro plugs.  
ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic  
Coding)  
ATRAC3 — LP2/LP4  
Modulation system  
EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation)  
Number of channels  
Your dealer may not handle some of the above  
listed accessories. Please ask the dealer for  
detailed information about the accessories in  
your country.  
2 stereo channels  
1 monaural channel  
Frequency response  
20 to 20,000 Hz ± 3 dB  
Outputs  
i: stereo mini-jack, maximum output level  
5 mW + 5 mW, load impedance 24 (USA)  
5 mW + 5 mW, load impedance 16 (Canada)  
28  
   
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 29).  
2 If you cannot solve the problem after you made checks, consult your nearest Sony  
dealer.  
While playing  
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
An MD is not  
• Repeat play is selected.  
played normally.  
, Use MENU on the recorder to change back to the normal play  
• Playback mode is changed.  
, Use MENU on the recorder to change back to the normal play  
An MD is not  
played from the  
first track.  
• Disc playing stopped before it came to the last track.  
, Press NX for 2 seconds or more to start playing.  
• Group play mode is selected.  
, Use MENU on the recorder to change back to the normal play  
(page 18), and then press NX for 2 seconds or more to start  
playing.  
The digital sound • The digital sound preset is off.  
preset function  
does not work.  
, Select “SOUND1” or “SOUND2” (page 19).  
Playback sound  
skips.  
• The recorder is placed where it receives continuous vibration.  
, Put the recorder on a stable place.  
• A very short track may cause sound to skip.  
, Try not to create a track under one second long.  
Sound has a lot of • Strong magnetism from a television or such device is interfering  
static.  
with operation.  
, Move the recorder away from the source of strong magnetism.  
Noise is  
• The sound was recorded in LP4 stereo mode.  
momentarily  
heard.  
, Because of the nature of the compression method used in LP4  
mode, noise may be output on very rare occasions during  
playback of sound recorded in this mode.  
Volume cannot be AVLS is on.  
turned up.  
, Release AVLS settings (page 25).  
29  
       
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
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 i.  
Volume is too low.  
, Adjust the volume by pressing VOL + or –.  
• The plug is dirty.  
, Clean the plug.  
The recorder skips • The GROUP button has been pressed (  
is flashing in the  
to several tracks  
ahead or behind  
when you press  
. or >.  
display).  
, The recorder returns to normal if no operation has made for 5  
seconds.  
The edited tracks  
may exhibit sound  
dropout during  
• This occurs due to the MiniDisc system limitation. The  
fragmentation of data may cause sound dropout while searching  
because the tracks are played in higher speed than normal  
playback.  
search operations.  
While using group function  
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
The group function  
does not operate.  
• While using a disc with no group setting, an attempt was made  
to select some group-related menu (“No Gp” appears in the  
display).  
, Use a disc with group setting.  
A track cannot be  
checked out to a new  
group. A new group  
cannot be created on  
the supplied  
• This is due to the MiniDisc system limitations. Group  
information has been written to the area where the disc name is  
stored. The disc name and track names are recorded in the same  
area, which can store a maximum of approximately 1,700  
characters. If the total number exceeds this amount, a new group  
cannot be created even though group mode is on. It is also  
impossible to make group settings at this time.  
SonicStage software.  
Others  
Symptom  
Cause/Remedy  
The recorder does • The volume is low.  
not work or works  
poorly.  
, Turn up the volume.  
• No disc is inserted (“NoDISC” appears in the display).  
, Insert a recorded disc.  
30  
   
The recorder does • The HOLD function is turned on (“HOLD” appears in the display  
not work or works  
poorly.  
when you press an operation button on the recorder).  
, Disable HOLD by sliding the HOLD switch to the opposite  
direction of the arrow.  
• The lid is not firmly closed.  
, Close the lid until it clicks.  
• Moisture has condensed inside the recorder.  
, Take the MD out and leave the recorder in a warm place for  
several hours until the moisture evaporates.  
• The dry battery is weak (“LoBATT” flashes or nothing appears).  
, Replace the dry battery with a new one.  
• The dry battery have been inserted incorrectly.  
, Insert the battery correctly.  
• An MD with nothing recorded on is inserted (“BLANK” appears  
in the display).  
, Insert a recorded MD.  
• The disc is damaged or does not contain proper recording (“Rd  
ERR” appears in the display).  
, Reinsert the disc. If the error message still appears, replace it  
with another disc.  
• While operating, the recorder received a mechanical shock, too  
much static, abnormal power voltage caused by lightning, etc.  
, Restart the operation as follows.  
1 Remove the dry battery from the recorder.  
2 Leave the recorder for about 30 seconds.  
3 Insert the dry battery.  
Explanations  
About the DSP TYPE-S for ATRAC/ATRAC3  
This recorder supports playback with the DSP TYPE-S specification for high-level Sony  
MiniDisc decks equipped with digital signal processors (DSP). This specification allows tracks  
recorded in MDLP mode to be played back with high quality sound. Since this recorder also  
supports DSP TYPE-R specification, superb sound is produced during playback in SP (normal  
stereo) mode as well.  
Suppressing the skips of the sound (G-PROTECTION)  
The G-PROTECTION function was developed to provide a higher level of shock resistance than that of  
existing players.  
31  
     
Recording audio data to  
your computer  
You can record audio data to your computer from  
sources such as audio CDs and the Internet (page 40).  
Audio CDs  
Internet  
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 47).  
32  
   
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  
functions for playing the audio data in various play modes, editing the data, and  
transferring the results to other devices and hardware connected to the computer. It is an  
integrated software application with a variety of functions for enjoying music.  
Transferring audio data to  
the Net MD  
You can transfer audio data stored in your computer to an MD  
To a Net MD  
Creating a music  
library  
Editing  
You can easily edit audio data or add  
labels from the keyboard (page 43).  
You can create a music library of your  
favorite songs on your computer.  
33  
   
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 indicated pages for details.  
1 Providing the required system  
environment.  
2 Installing the software onto your  
computer.  
3 Connecting the Net MD to your computer.  
4 Storing audio data to your computer.  
In this manual, recording from an audio CD is explained.  
5 Transferring audio data from your  
computer to an MD (Check-out).  
6 Listening to an MD.  
You can listen to audio data that have been checked out from your computer to your Net  
MD.  
34  
   
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.  
Computer  
IBM PC/AT or Compatible  
• CPU: Pentium II 400 MHz or higher (Pentium III 450 MHz or higher  
is recommended.)  
• Hard disk drive space1): 120 MB or more  
• RAM: 64 MB or higher (128 MB or higher is recommended)  
Others  
• CD-ROM drive (capable of digital playback by WDM)  
• Sound Board  
• USB port (supports USB 2.0 Full Speed (previously USB 1.1))  
Operating  
System  
Factory installed:  
Windows XP Home Edition/Windows XP Professional/Windows  
Millennium Edition/Windows 2000 Professional/Windows 98 Second  
Edition  
Display  
Others  
High Color (16bit) or greater, 800 × 480 dots or more (800 × 600 dots  
or more is recommended)  
• Internet access: for Web registration and EMD services  
• Windows Media Player (version 7.0 or higher) installed for playing  
WMA files  
1)  
See page 53 for details.  
This software is not supported by the following environments:  
Macintosh  
Windows XP versions other than Home Edition or Professional  
Windows 2000 versions other than Professional  
Windows 98 versions other than Second Edition  
Windows NT  
Windows 95  
Personally constructed PCs or operating systems  
An environment that is an upgrade of the original manufacturer-installed operating system  
Multi-boot environment  
Multi-monitor environment  
Notes  
We do not ensure trouble-free operation on all computers that satisfy the system requirements.  
We do not ensure trouble-free operation of the system suspend, sleep, or hibernation function on all  
computers.  
35  
           
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 installation!  
The SonicStage software may not correctly load or operate if the dedicated USB  
cable is connected to your computer during the installation.  
Close all other Windows applications before starting the installation!  
Make sure to close any virus-check software, as such software usually demand large  
amounts of system resources.  
2 Depending on the following operating system or software already installed  
on your computer, refer to the reference pages before installing the  
software.  
Windows XP  
• To install this software, you must log on with a  
user name with “Computer Administrator”.  
• If you perform the “System Restore” function in  
the Windows “System Tools” menu, the tracks  
managed by SonicStage may become corrupted  
and rendered unplayable.  
Windows Millennium Edition  
• If you perform the “System Restore” function of  
the Windows “System Tools” menu, the tracks  
managed by SonicStage may become corrupted  
and rendered unplayable.  
Windows 2000  
You must log on as “Administrator” before  
installing the software.  
OpenMG Jukebox,  
SonicStage, or SonicStage  
Premium  
• Depending on the version of your software, the  
existing software may be overwritten by the new  
version or it may co-exist with SonicStage  
Ver.1.5. As the installation process will depend  
on the version, see the reference page for details.  
36  
     
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].  
To use this software with the Net MD, you must install SonicStage Ver.1.5 and the Net  
MD driver.  
Click [SonicStage 1.5]  
When installing SonicStage for  
the first time  
When SonicStage, SonicStage  
Premium, or OpenMG Jukebox  
is installed on the computer  
continued  
37  
   
4 Follow the displayed instructions.  
Read the instructions carefully.  
The installation may take 20 to 30 minutes,  
depending on your system environment  
5 After the installation is completed, click [Restart] to restart the computer.  
Make sure to restart your computer only after  
the installation has completed.  
Was the installation successful?  
If any trouble occurs during the installation, see “Troubleshooting” (page 56).  
Notes  
Do not delete, move, or edit any of the installed folders using Explorer or any other application. Doing  
so could cause the SonicStage database to become unstable or corrupted.  
While the installation is still in progress, do not interrupt the operation or take the CD-ROM out of the  
CD-ROM drive. Doing so may render it impossible to install the software thereafter.  
38  
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 Make sure the remaining power of the dry battery is sufficient.  
Note  
Disconnect the dedicated USB cable before replacing the dry battery.  
2 Insert a recordable disc into the Net MD.  
3 Make the power source and the dedicated USB cable connections with the Net  
MD and the computer.  
To the USB  
connecting terminal  
To the USB jack/  
dedicated jack  
Net MD  
devices*  
Computer  
Dedicated  
USB cable  
* If a cradle is supplied with your Net MD, connect the dedicated USB cable to the  
USB cradle and place the Net MD onto the USB cradle.  
4 Check the connections.  
When the connections have been properly  
made, “PCppMD”* appears in the display of  
the Net MD.  
*Depending on the device, “Net MD” may be  
displayed.  
Notes  
When using the Net MD connected to your computer, make sure to run the recorder with a new dry  
battery. We do not assure the results should there be a mis-operation, check-out failure, or destruction  
of audio data caused by insufficient battery power.  
Place the recorder on a stable surface so that the dedicated USB cable does not become detached.  
39  
   
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, see the online help for details  
Note  
The system may malfunction if your computer changes to system suspend or hibernation mode while  
the software is playing, recording, or connecting to an external device or media* such as a Net MD.  
Make sure to disable any changes to suspend or hibernation mode. See page 53 for details.  
For this software, the word “MD” refers to the built-in MD slot on the computer, and “Device/  
Media” to a Net MD that is externally connected over a USB cable.  
Starting SonicStage  
Do one of the following:  
Double click  
([SonicStage] icon) on the computer.  
Select [Start] - [Programs]* - [SonicStage] - [SonicStage].  
[All Programs] in the case of Windows XP  
SonicStage starts up and the main window appears.  
40  
       
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 display.  
Note  
When you record an audio CD from your CD-ROM drive for  
the first time, the “CD Drive Optimization” dialog box  
appears when you insert the audio CD. Clicking [Start]  
initiates a check of the CD-ROM drive to verify that the CD-  
ROM drive is able to perform the recording properly.  
2 Click  
.
The recording navigation window* appears in the  
display.  
The recording navigation window makes it easy to make a  
recording. Simply by doing 1, 2 and 3 in the next step,  
you can select the audio source in the left panel and the  
recording destination in the right panel.  
3 Select  
(CD) for [1 Sources] and  
(Music Drive) for [2 Targets],  
then click 3  
[Jump to Record Window].  
The display changes to the recording window.  
continued  
41  
       
4 Click  
select the recording mode.  
in the middle of the recording window and  
When recording data in LP2 mode:  
select ATRAC3 132kbps  
When recording data in LP4 mode:  
select ATRAC3 66kbps  
Click here  
5 If the list panel is not displayed, click  
.
List panels appear under the recording window. The  
contents of the audio CD appear in the left list panel.  
6 Click  
[Record All].  
Recording starts.  
Upon completion, recorded tracks appear in the right list panel.  
To stop recording  
Click  
([Stop]).  
To resume recording, click  
. When recording is resumed, it starts from the beginning  
of the track that was last stopped.  
42  
   
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 (page 40) and click  
(Music Drive).  
“All Playlists” appears and all the albums stored on the  
Music Drive appear in the Music Drive window.  
2 Double click the desired album name.  
A list of the audio files in that album appears.  
3 Click  
in the lower right part of the display.  
The editing panel appears in the display.  
4 Select an item by clicking [Title], [Album], [Artist], or [Genre], and then  
right-click and select [Rename].  
You can also click [V] at [Album] or [Artist] to display a dropdown list, and then select  
an item from the list.  
5 When the track title is highlighted, enter the text data from the keyboard.  
z
You can also import names from a database with the  
albums. See the online help for details (page 48).  
([CD Info]) button for use in labeling tracks or  
43  
   
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 61).  
Playlist  
Checking out audio files to the Net MD  
This section explains how to check out all audio files in a playlist*.  
A playlist is a container that allows the stored audio files in the Music Drive to be classified by  
genre, artist, etc.  
Notes  
Make sure the remaining power of the dry battery is sufficient.  
Check-outs should be done at a temperature of +5 ° C (+41 ° F) or higher.  
1 Click  
to display the recording navigation window.  
2 Select  
(Music Drive) for [1 Sources] and  
(Device/Media) for [2  
Targets], then click 3  
([Jump to Record Window]).  
The display changes to the recording window.  
44  
         
3 Click  
recording mode (page 42).  
in the middle of the display and select the  
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 stereo mode. Select  
this mode if you listen to checked-out data on equipment that does not support  
MDLP mode.  
4 If the list panel is not displayed, click  
.
A playlist appears in the display.  
5 Confirm that the audio files you are about to check out are okay for checking  
out.  
The music notations beside the track number in the left  
panel of the list represent the number of times the file  
can be checked out (e.g.  
out three more times). If  
= the track can be checked  
appears beside the track  
number, the file cannot be checked out.  
6 Click  
[Check-Out All].  
Checking out of the files starts.  
All files in the playlist are checked out to the connected Net MD.  
To cancel a check-out  
Click  
([Stop]).  
45  
 
Notes  
Make sure the battery power is sufficient before checking out (or checking in) audio data. If the  
battery becomes exhausted during a check-out (or check-in), the check-out (or check-in) will not be  
completed. If this happens, replace the dry battery with a new one and try again.  
Make sure not to disconnect the dedicated USB cable or power source until the operation has  
completed once the check-out (or check-in) operation has begun. Failure to do this may result in the  
loss of check-out authorization. Even if a check-out fails, the audio file may be considered checked  
out on the SonicStage side and the file’s check-out authorization may be reduced.  
Make sure not to bump the Net MD after check-out has started. If you do, the contents of the  
recording may not be stored correctly.  
Due to the limitations of the MD system, you may not be able to record the full amount of remaining  
recording time.  
Due to the limitations of the MD system, a maximum of about 1,700 characters can be stored for disc  
name, group names and track names on the disc. Take note of this fact when checking out a large  
number of tracks.  
The checking out of audio data may take longer if the battery is weak.  
46  
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 Net MD connected to the  
computer  
If you listen to an MD with the Net MD connected to the computer, be sure to listen with  
the Net MD itself (connecting to the headphones/earphones, speakers, etc.). The MD sound  
cannot be heard from headphones/earphones that are connected to the computer.  
Listening to an MD with the Net MD disconnected from the  
computer  
Listen to the MD after disconnecting the dedicated USB cable from the computer and the  
Net MD.  
Notes  
Generally, you cannot erase or divide/combine checked-out audio files. If you want to edit such files,  
check them back in first. Checked-out files can be edited on some MD devices; however, erasing a track  
will decrease the number of times the file can be checked out, and dividing or combining tracks will  
render the file impossible to check back into the computer (page 60).  
47  
       
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 Internet, classifying and managing audio files, and  
playing in various play modes. For information and details on the various menus and  
operations, go to the online help.  
To display online help  
Click  
(help) while the SonicStage  
software is running.  
z
You can display the online help by selecting the following:  
[Start]–[Programs]*–[SonicStage]–[SonicStage Help]  
[All Programs] in the case of Windows XP.  
48  
         
Viewing online help  
The Tabs  
The right side frame  
The left side frame  
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 text.  
Scroll the display if necessary.  
Click underlined words to jump to their explanations.  
Note  
In the online help, “Device/Media’ is the  
general term for external devices such as Net  
MDs, Network Walkmans (i.e., portable IC  
audio players or portable “Memory Stick”  
audio players), and MusicClips.  
Device/Media  
49  
 
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 this software, you must log on with a user name with “Computer  
Administrator”* as an attribute.  
You must log on with the user name “Administrators” or “Power Users” to use the  
SonicStage software.  
Both edition of Windows XP (Home/Professional) can be used.  
The NTFS format of Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional (factory  
installed) can be used only with the standard (factory) settings.  
To check whether the user name has the attribute of “Computer Administrator”  
Go to [Start]- [Control Panel]-[User Account], and then check the user name displayed on the  
window.  
When using SonicStage under Windows XP  
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 should first back up all audio files  
and restore them after doing the system restoration procedure.  
For details about backup procedures, refer to online help.  
Note  
Restoring backup data requires access to the Internet. If an audio file becomes unplayable after  
restoring the system, an error dialog box may appear. If this occurs, do as instructed by the message.  
50  
         
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 should first back up all audio files  
and restore them after doing the system restoration procedure.  
For details about backup procedures, refer to online help.  
Note  
Restoring backup data requires access to the Internet. If an audio file becomes unplayable after  
restoring the system, an error dialog box may appear. If this occurs, do as instructed by the message.  
For Windows 2000 users  
Restrictions when running the SonicStage software under Windows 2000  
You must log on as “Administrator” to install the SonicStage software.  
You must log on with the user name “Administrators” or “Power Users” to use the  
SonicStage software.  
Of the Windows 2000 versions, SonicStage is supported only by Windows 2000  
Professional.  
The NTFS format of Windows 2000 Professional (factory installed) can be used only  
with the standard (factory) settings.  
For Windows 98 Second Edition users  
Importing MP3 files to the computer or playing WAV files on the computer  
Microsoft Media Player version 7.0 or higher is required for importing MP3 files or  
playing WAV files. Users of earlier versions can download the most recent version from the  
Microsoft website (http://www.microsoft.com/).  
51  
   
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 possible to check those tracks back in with  
SonicStage Ver.1.5. It is recommended to check in the tracks before installing SonicStage  
Ver.1.5.  
Check the following contents before installing SonicStage Ver.1.5.  
The installation items and procedure will vary depending on the software installed on your  
computer.  
Users with OpenMG Jukebox installed  
Installed Version  
What to do  
Ver.1.0~2.1  
Install SonicStage 1.5. OpenMG Jukebox Ver.1.0-2.1 is  
automatically uninstalled and replaced.1)  
Ver.2.2  
OpenMG Jukebox Ver.2.2 and SonicStage Ver.1.5 can co-  
exist in the computer.  
If you install SonicStage Ver.1.5, then OpenMG Jukebox  
Ver.2.2 will be automatically upgraded to the latest version.  
1)  
Audio files recorded with OpenMG Jukebox Ver.1.0-2.1 are automatically converted to SonicStage  
Ver.1.5 files. For safety sake, it is recommended that you back up your audio data with the back-up  
tool before doing the upgrade to SonicStage Ver.1.5.  
Users with an earlier version of SonicStage installed  
Installed Version  
What to do  
Ver.1.0~1.5  
Install SonicStage Ver.1.5. The earlier version is  
automatically uninstalled and replaced.1)  
1)  
Audio files recorded with SonicStage Ver.1.0-1.5 are automatically converted to SonicStage Ver.1.5  
files. For safety sake, it is recommended that you back up your audio data with the back-up tool before  
doing the upgrade to SonicStage Ver.1.5.  
Users with a SonicStage Premium installed  
Installed Version  
What to do  
SonicStage Premium  
Install SonicStage Ver.1.5. SonicStage Ver.1.5 and  
SonicStage Premium can co-exist in the computer.  
52  
   
Precautions on the co-existence of SonicStage Ver. 1.5 with OpenMG Jukebox  
Ver.2.2 or SonicStage Premium  
Make sure the OpenMG Jukebox Ver.2.2 icon is not displayed in the task tray. If it is, the Net MD may  
not be recognized by your computer.  
Audio data recorded on the computer are stored in a common file and used by both applications.  
Therefore, if you delete an audio file (e.g., one album) in one application, it will be deleted in the other  
software as well.  
Precaution on using a computer on which OpenMG Jukebox Ver.1.0-2.1 or  
SonicStage Ver.1.0-1.2 is installed  
After installing SonicStage Ver. 1.5, make sure you do not replace SonicStage Ver.1.5 with OpenMG  
Jukebox Ver.1.0-2.1 or SonicStage Ver.1.0-1.2, as all audio data in the Music Drive may be lost. If you  
begin the installation of OpenMG Jukebox Ver.1.0-2.1 or SonicStage Ver.1.0-1.2 by mistake, stop the  
installation immediately.  
Note on hard disk drive space  
120 MB or more free space on the hard disk drive is required. If your computer does not  
have enough space, the software will not be properly installed. The required free space  
differs according to the version of your Windows OS, or the amount of audio files that you  
handle.  
Notes on system suspend/hibernation mode  
If the computer changes to system suspend/hibernation mode during the recording of a  
CD or the checking in/out of a data file, the audio data may be lost or the computer may  
not wake up properly. The computer suspend/hibernation function should therefore be  
turned off.  
If you change the media while the computer is in system suspend/hibernation mode,  
audio data may be lost after the computer wakes up.  
If the computer changes to system suspend/hibernation mode, the computer may not  
recognize the Net MD when it wakes up. If this happens, disconnect the dedicated USB  
cable and reconnect it again.  
Backing up the audio data  
Before doing any procedure that may affect the operating system itself (such as a system  
recovery), you should back up all of your audio data with the [SonicStage backup tool]  
from the [Start] - [Programs] - [SonicStage].  
Note on the battery  
Make sure the battery power is sufficient before checking out (or checking in) audio data.  
If the battery becomes exhausted during a check-out (or check-in), the check-out (or  
check-in) will not be completed. If this happens, replace the dry battery with a new one  
and try again.  
When replacing a dry battery, make sure to disconnect the dedicated USB cable.  
53  
           
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 Click [Start]–[Control Panel].  
The “Control Panel” window appears.  
2 Double-click [Add/Remove Programs].  
The “Add/Remove Programs” dialog box appears.  
3 Click [Change or Remove Programs].  
4 Click [SonicStage 1.5.XX] in the “Currently Installed Programs” list, and  
then click [Change and Remove].  
5 Click [OpenMG Secure Module 3.1]* in the “Currently Installed Programs”  
list, and then click [Change and Remove].  
Do as instructed by the message and restart the computer. When the computer restarts,  
the uninstallation will be completed.  
* If SonicStage Ver.1.5 is co-existing with OpenMG Jukebox Ver.2.2 or SonicStage Premium on your  
computer, and you uninstall one or the other, make sure [OpenMG Secure Module 3.1] is not  
uninstalled since it is commonly used with both software applications.  
For Windows Millennium Edition/Windows 98 Second Edition  
users  
1 Click [Start]–[Settings]–[Control Panel].  
The “Control Panel” window appears.  
54  
           
2 Double-click [Add/Remove Programs].  
The Add/Remove Programs Properties window appears.  
3 Click [SonicStage 1.5.XX] in the list of programs for automatic removal, and  
then click [Add/Remove].  
4 Click [OpenMG Secure Module 3.1]* in the list of programs for automatic  
removal, and then click [Add/Remove].  
Do as instructed by the message and restart the computer. When the computer restarts,  
the uninstallation will be completed.  
For Windows 2000 users  
Log on as “Administrator”, and then follow the instructions below.  
Refer to the operating instructions of your computer for details on logging on as an  
administrator.  
1 Click [Start]–[Settings]–[Control Panel].  
The “Control Panel” window appears.  
2 Double-click [Add/Remove Programs].  
The “Add/Remove Programs” dialog box appears.  
3 Click [Change or Remove Programs].  
4 Click [SonicStage 1.5.XX] in the “Currently Installed Programs” list, and  
then click [Change/Remove].  
5 Click [OpenMG Secure Module 3.1]* in the “Currently Installed Programs”  
list, and then click [Change/Remove].  
Do as instructed by the message and restart the computer. When the computer restarts,  
the uninstallation will be completed.  
* If SonicStage Ver.1.5 is co-existing with OpenMG Jukebox Ver.2.2 or SonicStage Premium on your  
computer, and you uninstall one or the other, make sure [OpenMG Secure Module 3.1] is not  
uninstalled since it is commonly used with both software applications.  
55  
   
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 operating procedures and “Settings and  
Step 2: Check the symptoms in the SonicStage 1.5 online help  
Check “Troubleshooting” under “Additional information” in the online help.  
Useful information may also be found in other sections in the online help.  
Step 3: If the trouble cannot be solved after checking the above  
references.  
Check the following table and then consult your nearest Sony dealer.  
56  
 
Computer  
• Manufacturer:  
• Model:  
• Type: Desktop type / Laptop type  
Name of operating system:  
RAM capacity:  
Hard disk drive (containing SonicStage and audio data)  
• Capacity of the drive:  
• Free space:  
Installed folder containing SonicStage (if other than the default folder)1)  
• Location of the installed folder:  
Version of the software (SonicStage Ver.1.5)2):  
Error Message (if one appeared):  
If an externally connected CD-ROM drive is used  
• Manufacturer:  
• Model:  
• Type: CD-ROM / CD-R/RW / DVD-ROM / Other (  
)
• Type of connection to the computer: PC card / USB / IEEE1394 / Other (  
)
If another device with USB connection is used  
• Name of the device (or devices):  
1)  
If you do not specify the destination, the software is installed at C:\Program Files\Sony\SonicStage.  
To check the SonicStage software version, go to [Menu] - [About SonicStage] in the SonicStage  
window, or see the version information on the supplied CD-ROM.  
2)  
57  
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  
MD, disconnect the Net MD, restart the computer, and connect the dedicated USB  
cable again.  
• Is an MD inserted in the Net MD?  
Check if an MD is inserted in the Net MD.  
• If your computer does not recognize your Net MD even when the Net MD is  
connected and a disc is inserted, the Net MD driver may not be correctly  
installed.  
Go to the [USB Controller] in the Windows Device Manager window to verify that your  
Net MD is correctly recognized.  
A [!] mark in the Device Manager window indicates that your Net MD is not correctly  
recognized. Reinstall the Net MD driver.  
1 Click [Start]–[Settings]–[Control Panel].1)  
2 Double click [System] in the control panel.2)  
3 Click the [Hardware]3) tab, and then click [Device Manager].  
The Device Manager window appears.  
1)  
In Windows XP, select [Start]–[Control Panel].  
2)  
In Windows XP, double click [System] if the control panel is in the “classic” format, or click  
[Performance and Maintenance] and then [System] if the control panel is in the “category” format.  
Depending on your system, the [Hardware] tab may not be provided. In this case, click the [Device  
3)  
Manager] tab to display the Device Manager window.  
If the installation was not successful  
• Be sure to close all Windows applications before you start the installation.  
If you start the installation while other programs are running, a malfunction may occur.  
This is especially true for programs that require large amounts of system resources, such  
as virus-check software.  
• Be sure not to connect the Net MD to your computer before you start the  
installation.  
If the dedicated USB cable is connected to your computer before the installation, the  
installation cannot be done correctly. Connect the dedicated USB cable after the  
installation completed.  
• Make sure your computer has enough hard disk drive space.  
120MB of free space or more on the hard disk drive is required. If your computer does  
not have enough space, the installation may not be possible.  
58  
     
• 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.  
Problem  
Cause/Remedy  
The installation appears to have Check for the appearance of an error message beneath  
stopped before it has  
completed.  
the installation window.  
t Press the [Tab] key while holding down the [Alt]  
key. If an error message has appeared, press the [Enter]  
key. The installation will resume. If there is no  
message, the installation is still in progress. Wait a little  
while longer.  
The progress bar on the display The installation is progressing normally. Please wait.  
is not moving. The access lamp  
has not lit for a few minutes.  
• If the installation is still unsuccessful after all that you have done.  
— The installation can be done by copying all files to the hard disk as follows:  
1 Create a new folder on the hard disc.  
2 Insert the supplied CD-ROM (SonicStage Ver.1.5) into the CD-ROM drive.  
3 When the installation window appears, click [Exit] to cancel the installation.  
4 Right-click the start menu and start up Explorer.  
5 Select [SS15E] on the CD-ROM drive, and then click [Edit] -[Select All].  
6 Click [Edit]-[Copy to Folder] (or [Edit]-[Copy]) to copy all files to the folder that you  
created in step 1.  
7 Remove the CD-ROM from the CD-ROM drive, open the folder that was copied to the  
hard disk and double-click [setup.exe].  
8 When the installation window appears, follow the displayed instructions to install  
[SonicStage 1.5].  
— The installation may be done by installing the software from [Start]-[Run].  
If check-out (check-in) was not successful  
• Was the battery power sufficient?  
If the battery becomes exhausted during a check-out (or check-in), the check-out (or  
check-in) will not be completed. In this case, replace the dry battery with a new one and  
try again.  
• Is the surrounding temperature too low?  
During a check-out (or check-in), make sure the surrounding temperature is +5 ° C  
(+41° F) or higher. If the temperature is low, the recorder’s operation will become slow  
because of the nature of the battery.  
59  
     
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 used to record only analog sources (through a microphone or  
analog input) or PCM sources such as CDs. Recording audio files on a computer was  
impossible. However, thanks to SonicStage and other music management software based  
on such copyright protection technology as “OpenMG”1) and “MagicGate”2), conversion of  
audio files to the ATRAC or ATRAC33) format used on MDs became possible, enabling the  
recording of computer files to MDs.  
1)  
Copyright protection technology for managing audio data recorded on computers, etc.  
Technology for verifying the copyright-protection status of audio data in check-out/check-in  
2)  
operations between a computer and a Net MD device.  
File type for recording to an MD.  
3)  
How does the SonicStage software make using MDs more convenient?  
It allows you to record audio data from your computer to your MD.  
Editing operations are easily done using on-screen operations.  
— Labeling: Allows use of keyboard for easy labeling of contents.  
— Moving tracks or groups: Allows tracks or groups to be moved simply by dragging  
and dropping. Track movements are easy to see.  
— Group settings: Groups are easy to create or release.  
These operations can be used to edit tracks on a disc in the Net MD. If you want to edit  
the contents of an MD, connect the Net MD to your computer, and edit the tracks in the  
SonicStage Device/Media window.  
Can tracks recorded on the Net MD be checked in to a computer?  
No, they cannot.  
Audio data that was originally checked out from a computer can only be checked back into  
the same computer. Tracks that are recorded on the Net MD using a microphone or through  
an analog or digital connection cannot be transferred to the computer or copied.  
Computer k MiniDisc : OK.  
MiniDisc k Computer : OK only for tracks originally checked out from the computer.  
60  
                 
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 protection technology of this software conforms to SDMI (Secure Digital Music  
Initiative) specifications.  
This software places some restrictions on recording and playback to protect copyrights.  
You can check in audio files only to the same computer from which they were checked out.  
They cannot be copied or checked in to other computers.  
You can check-in audio files  
only to the computer which  
they were checked out.  
Check-out can  
be made for  
three times.  
You cannot copy or  
move audio files to  
another computer.  
continued  
61  
   
Restrictions on audio content  
High-quality digital audio content is widely available through music distribution services  
on the Internet. To protect the copyrights of its holders from unauthorized distribution,  
some audio content is distributed with certain restrictions on recording and playback. For  
example, the playback period or playback count for the data may be limited. In such cases,  
checking out of the audio contents may not be possible.  
Depending on the contents, some audio data that could be checked out are subject to  
editing restrictions on the Net MD; e.g., audio contents cannot be erased or track marks  
cannot be added or erased.  
It is not possible to check in tracks other than those that were checked out from your  
computer (for example, tracks recorded using a microphone or through analog or digital  
connection).  
Features by copyright protection by OpenMG  
The SonicStage software features OpenMG, a copyright protection technology developed  
by Sony to protect music copyrights. OpenMG uses high-level cryptographic technology to  
protect music contents with computers.  
Users should be aware of the restrictions described below.  
Music recorded on the hard disk using the SonicStage software cannot be played when  
copied to other computers.  
Installation of the same SonicStage software to other computers is not permitted.  
Usage Rules  
If Usage Rules are included in the music by way of the copyright holder or the distributor,  
operation will be restricted to use permitted by the Usage Rule. For music, such as  
compact discs, that does not contain a Usage Rule, the Default Usage Rule of SDMI will  
apply. This Default Usage Rule states that one file can be checked out up to three times  
only.  
On music contents that are not compatible with the SonicStage software  
Under the supervision of SDMI, this software prohibits recording of music with a copy  
prohibition signal.  
Upgrading SonicStage software  
This software was developed in accordance with the current arrangement between Sony  
and SDMI. If this arrangement is modified in the future, some of the software functions  
may become unavailable. Sony may offer an upgrade kit in this case at additional user  
expense.  
62  
 
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 data capacity for the media.  
“Check-In /Check-Out”  
Check-out is to transfer music files from a personal computer to an external device/media  
(such as a Network Walkman). Returning checked-out music files to the same computer is  
to check in. (You cannot move checked-out music files to another computer.)  
You can check out a music file, check it back in, and then check it out again an infinite  
number of times. The SDMI rules provide that up to four copies of a music file can be  
checked out at one time. OpenMG employs a method whereby three copies of a song can  
be checked out simultaneously, while the fourth copy is maintained as a master on your PC.  
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) service  
EMD is a website that distributes music files which are available for purchase.  
MP3  
MP3, which stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer3, is a standard for audio file compression  
determined by the Motion Picture Experts Group, an ISO (International Organization for  
Standardization) working group. It enables compression of audio files to about 1/10 of the  
data size of a standard compact disc. Since the MP3 encoding algorithm is disclosed, there  
are various encoders/decoders that are compliant with this standard, including freeware that  
is available for no charge. The MP3 standard is therefore widely used in the computer field.  
Music Drive  
Music Drive is a music database for managing audio data on a computer. In Music Drive,  
audio files can be managed along with such information as artist names, track names, and  
CD jacket images, or can be combined and categorized in different playlists.  
OpenMG  
Copyright protection technology for the import and management of musical content from  
distribution services or CDs. By using software that are compliant with OpenMG, audio  
contents can be encrypted before storage on a hard disk drive to allow playback of those  
audio files on that computer. OpenMG also prevents the unauthorized distribution of the  
contents via the Internet or other networks.  
Playlist  
A playlist is like a container that can be used to hold and categorize files stored in Music  
Drive. For example, by making a “jazz” playlist and then putting your favorite jazz tracks  
into the playlist, you can play all of the tracks repeatedly or check them all out at the same  
continued  
time.  
63  
               
Recording mode (Bit rate)  
This is a measure of data volume per second. The rate is expressed in bps (bits per second).  
In SonicStage, the bit rate can be selected for recording an audio CD or converting MP3  
and WAV format audio files into ATRAC3 format from among three rates: 132 kbps, 105  
kbps or 66 kbps. In the case of 105 kbps, 105,000 bits of information is processed per  
second. If the bit rate is large, that means a large amount of information is used to play the  
music. Thus, 105 kbps data produces better sound quality than 66 kbps data, and 132 kbps  
data provides better sound quality than 105 kbps data. However, audio files in formats such  
as MP3 have different encoding methods, and so the sound quality is not determined by the  
bit rate alone.  
SDMI  
SDMI, which stands for Secure Digital Music Initiative, is a forum that consists of over  
130 companies in the fields of recorded audio content, computers, and consumer  
electronics. It is dedicated to the development of integrated copyright protection  
technology that can be used worldwide.  
SDMI is working to create a framework for preventing the improper usage of audio files  
and to promote legal music distribution services. The copyright protection technology  
OpenMG is based on the SDMI standard.  
Windows Media Audio  
This is an audio compression technology that includes the management system called  
“Windows Media Rights Manager”.  
Windows Media Technology  
This is a technology that includes a contents management system called Windows Media  
Rights Manager which encrypts contents and distributes music contents along with their  
conditions for usage, distribution, etc. Audio files supporting Windows Media  
Technologies (WMT) downloaded via EMD* can be imported into and managed by  
OpenMG Jukebox.  
* EMD may not be available in certain areas of the world.  
64  
         
Index  
A
N
Accessories  
Net MD 33, 60  
optional 28  
Net MD driver 58  
supplied 11  
O
ATRAC3 60, 63  
Online help 48  
Audio CD 32, 41  
OpenMG 63  
AVLS 25  
OpenMG Jukebox software 36, 52  
B
P
back up 53  
Battery life 14  
Play mode  
group 22  
tracks 18  
C
CD-ROM 35  
Playlist 44, 63  
Check-in 60, 63  
Check-out 44, 60, 63  
Cleaning 27  
Connecting 39  
copyright protection 61  
Q
Quick Mode 24  
R
Recording mode (Bit rate) 42, 45, 64  
Recording navigation window 41  
D
S
delete (software) 54  
Device/Media 44, 49  
Digital Sound Preset 19  
DSP TYPE-S 31  
SDMI 64  
SonicStage Premium 36, 52  
SonicStage software (earlier version) 36, 52  
start (software) 40  
System environment 35  
System limitations 35  
E
EMD services 63  
G
T
G-PROTECTION 17  
Group  
Time search 17  
Transferring  
function 21  
play 21  
to the computer 40  
to the Net MD 44  
skip 21  
U
H
Uninstalling  
hard disk  
Windows 2000 55  
Windows 98 Second Edition 54  
Windows Millennium Edition 54  
Windows XP 54  
free space 35, 53  
storing 41  
HOLD 15, 25  
USB cable 11  
I
W
Index search 17  
Installing 37  
Windows 2000 55  
Windows 98 Second Edition 54  
Windows Millennium Edition 54  
Windows XP 54  
WMA 64  
L
labeling 43  
M
MP3 63  
Music Drive 41, 63  
WMT 64  
65  
 
This warranty is valid only in Canada.  
This warranty is valid only in the United States.  
Printed in Malaysia  

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