explanation of MD terms and cables

[winston61]

I've jumped into the MD world by purchasing an older MZ D50 Sony and I am awaiting a brand new Sony 510. Don't know anything about optical connectors. My Panasonic DVD player has digital(optical) out and both MDs have digital(optical) input. Will I be able to use an older CD portable with an ordinary line out to dub MDs? Which type of interconnects will I need? I know that I will need a digital cable for that application, but what about dubbing from non-optical sources? Can someone define Toslink? Thanks to all.

 

[soupy]

for non-optical based dubbing just get a mini -> mini stereo cable, basically two 1/8in plugs on both ends. If quality is a big concern avoid cheap ones such as radio shack gold series. A good deal is the markertek cable or you can get one of the DIY guys to build you one. Just plug one end on the player's line out and the other end in your MD's input (which is also the optical input). Then push record, play the CD. Sync Recording might not be accurate so the MD might be off with track marks. This'll require you to manually edit them.

 

[Braver]

Quote:

Originally posted by winston61 I've jumped into the MD world by purchasing an older MZ D50 Sony and I am awaiting a brand new Sony 510. Don't know anything about optical connectors. My Panasonic DVD player has digital(optical) out and both MDs have digital(optical) input. Will I be able to use an older CD portable with an ordinary line out to dub MDs? Which type of interconnects will I need? I know that I will need a digital cable for that application, but what about dubbing from non-optical sources? Can someone define Toslink? Thanks to all.

just look at the connections to see what cable you need.

your DVD will have a square shaped optical output. your MDs will have a small round input, which will take a miniplug. can't remember what a Toslink is exactly, but I think it's the square connector.

for analog connection, you'll need a miniplug at the MD end, and a miniplug on the other when recording from the line-out (or headphone out) of a Cd portable, or a a couple of RCA plugs for use with a standard component like a DVD. make sure you check the recording level though, chances are you'll need to adjust it. and you might not get any track marks, depending on whether there are silences between tracks. it's a pain to do this manually, but it works nontheless.