Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    BTW - you can find this topic easily by doing a SHOW KEY/FULL BANTER.

    Or you could use the MARK command.  Your choice.

-b

    Well, I think this idea of "Boycotting Hell" is provocative, communist,
    and downright un-American!  And I'm sick and tired of listening
    to misguided, uninformed people who think it isn't.
    
    (Can I say that here?)
    
    signed,
    Concerned  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    		
    		^   ^
    		*   *
    		  >
    
    		 "V"
                 
    
    

>>  Well, I think this idea of "Boycotting Hell" is provocative, communist,
>>  and downright un-American!  And I'm sick and tired of listening
>>  to misguided, uninformed people who think it isn't.

    I suspect that 'Boycotting Hell' is sexist, why can't the girls
    help also?? Next thing to go are Histerectomies, as we all know,
    they are really HERsterectomies. What has this to do with music??
    Well......(???).......(????)... They use computers for cat scans
    (yeah, that's right), and.....(?????) cat gut for violins....(????
    now what????), and we can use a sampler to capture a violin and a
    cat & play them back using a computer based sequencer. So I guess that
    this proves that there is music all about us, if we just recognise
    the sources available. Now lets start valuing differences and give
    everyone an equal opporitiunity (except for those people who keep
    yelling out 'FREE BIRD' while you are playing at a gig) to express
    themselves.

							Jens

    Isn't it illegal to yell "Free Bird" in a crowded theatre??
    
    Edd

    C'mon guys!  Let's keep to the topic of the note.  And, let's keep it
    to COMMUSIC.  For example, why is it that in church we always sing
    hymnals and never any hernals?  Why is it that we always have hernias
    and never himnias?  Why is it that MIDI cables are always male plugs on
    *both* ends?  Why don't they make left-handed keyboards?  
    
    Steve

Who is Mr (or Mrs)(or Ms) Bird anyway? More to the point, what was he arrested
for in the first place ??

    
    
    What??  You've NEVER heard of Larry Bird??
    
    What was he arrested for anyway??
    
    Ralph
    
    

    Why do I feel like I've opened Pandora's box?

-b

    
    re .-1 
    
    
    Pandora's what !??!?   None of that language in this notes file!!
    
    We don't care to hear about your love life anyway.
    
    ;-)

	Let's see, pandora's Box...  That's a MIDI processor, right?  Changes
any controller message into any other controller message?  Is it going at list
price or is Sam Ash having a blowout sale?

	Dan

    I can't delete my for sale notes 12.246 and 12.247 because I changed
    node and no longer have the privilege to delete them.  Anyone else who
    wants to delete any of my notes go ahead and try.
    ;-)
    Tom

    Did I mention that I am moving my office 30 miles away today so
    probably won't go to lerds bims any more?
    Who wants to start one in woonsocket?
    Tom

RE < Note 2195.12 by MILKWY::JANZEN "Tom FXO-01/28 228-5421 MSI ECL Test" >

>    I can't delete my for sale notes 12.246 and 12.247 because I changed
>    node and no longer have the privilege to delete them.  Anyone else who
>    wants to delete any of my notes go ahead and try.

	Done.

re. the latest Sam Ash flyer mentioned in the Hot Price note.....

What an organized outfit these people are.  I've only spent a small fortune
with them in the past year and I don't get their flyers.  

One of my two CP60M pianos arrived.  Way cool. I put my Y-word MCS-2 MIDI
control station on top to give me control wheels and patch changes (sorta,
MCS-2 is locked-in to DX-7 style banks).  I'm surprized to read in John
Middleton's copy of the service manual that these things are stretch-tuned.
Now I even understand that term.  The lowest notes are tuned below their value,
and the highest are tuned above.  The dratted book gives the deviation in
cents, but I only have a freq counter.  Oh, well, I have the list of note to
freq values that Tom J. typed-in a while back, but that doesn't get me past the
cents hurdle.  I can feel a chromatic tuner tugging at my wallet.

My copy of "Ascending Ayers Rock" arrived from Karl M., who has been a pillar
of integrity and not cashed my check during some duplication delays.  My
finances have been off by that amount for months :-)  I better go put that
on....

	Eirikur

    I think Alesis new repair policy (or lack thereof) really stinks.
    Comments? 

-b

    
    What's this? Sound Technology, who fix Alesis gear in the U.K., were
    great when my out-of-warranty MMT8 needed fixing. What's changed?
    
    Richard.

re Brad,

	I've got one token piece of Alesis gear, a Midiverb II.  After reading
	all of the notes in here about their general state of quality and their
	new repair policy, you can be sure that when the $$$ comes in, I'll
	be going with an R5/R8 and an MM-1 instead.

Dan

    I've never used their repair service, but I have the new policy right
    here in front of me...
    
    First 90 days: No charge, repair or replace at Alesis option. Customer
    must get RAN (Return Authorization Number) before returning unit. An 
    800 number is NOT available. :^( Customer must provide proof of
    purchase (Credit Card slip, receipt, cancelled check). No service will
    be preformed on units with missing serial numbers.
    
    Non-warranty (>90 days) Service. $30 per hour, *includes* parts , labor
    and return shipping. 1 hour minimum.
    
    Extended warranty available. $30 for 2 years. Transferrable to
    subsequent owner for $10. Does NOT include user-installable software
    updates. These cost $30.
    
    I don't like spending money anymore than the next guy, but I think
    their policy is pretty fair. The free lunch is over...
    
    Edd

Wow and they just transferred a warranty on a used micro enhancer for me...

I detect a lack of consistancy here.

dbii

RE: Edd about "equitable" and "fair" policy

Their terms are only fair for stuff that has an average record of reliability.

For stuff that has an above average record of unreliability, it isn't fair,
or right.  If they sell stuff that is always broken, they should fix it.  If
they sell stuff that only occasionaly breaks (like good brands of most
anything -- please, no religious wars here), then their terms sound fair.

I think Alesis will be gone within 1 year.

Chad

My experience has been that if a company makes great, reliable hardware, the 
service department is terrible.  And, if a company makes unreliable gear,
the service department is great.  When a company is young, it's okay to beef
up sales by giving great service on all the bad gear you sell.  But, after 
you've made a lot of sales you find that this approach costs you big time 
because your competition starts dropping closer to your price with a product
that may have not as much bang for the buck but is a lot more reliable.  You
are pretty much forced to compete.  You have to keep your prices lower than
your competition, but your product quality also has to increase.  Service 
takes a beating, but the quality of your product gets better.  I take it as
a sign that Alesis is making this transition.  I expect their prices to go
up slightly, but the quality to improve and the bang for the buck to still 
keep ahead of the competition.  I see the fees as a temporary measure to help
with the transition.  After a while, as quality improves, it will probably
not be an issue.

Steve

	I don't know if I'd agree that Alesis' quality is improving.  As a very
recent buyer of an HR16, I had problems with it right from the start.  As I said
in other notes, I told them I didn't want it back.

	Dan

    I've got 3 pieces of A-gear:

	HR16 - 1 year old, back 3 times
	MVII - 2 years old, back twice (both in last 2 mos)
	QuadV- no problems yet

    I have never had another piece of gear die on me - *NEVER*.  The only
    problem I ever had was with my OB-Xa (when I misread a set of
    directions in quasi-French and fried my power supply), but it was not a
    QC problem. 

    Before they stop fixing *their* mistakes for free, I think they should
    demonstrate over the long haul the improvement *AND* consistency in
    quality they claim to have achieved.  So far, I ain't seen it. 

    Interesting aside - BOSS has a 16 channel "keyboard mixer" with 2 band
    EQ for $500.  An M160 can be had for less than $800.  I wouldn't buy a
    1622 on a bet.  Bleah. 

-b

Naaa.  What I mean is that I expect Alesis is or will be improving the quality.
I see what is happening now as part of the scheme for competing with other 
competitors who have the quality at a slightly higher price and who are
improving bang for the buck to compete with Alesis.

Steve

    Conversely, they could be hurting for cash...
    
    My only point earlier was that I don't think they are out of line or
    are being unreasonable with their new policy. Indeed, I'm somewhat
    taken by how many free repairs they've performed in the past. Union
    Music charges somewhat more for repair work; what about other dealers?
    $30 per hour isn't unreasonable.
    
    ...and isn't a transferrable warranty (even for a fee) a fairly rare
    bird?
    
    The reliability issue (I don't dispute the high failure rate) really
    isn't germain to the new service policy argument.
    
    Edd

    Have you ever started an evening doing a routine synthesis operation
    and everything stopped working and after 3 hours you find out it was
    somthing dumb?
    I can't think of an example.  Perhaps you can offer one.
    Tom

    I once spent a couple hours laboriously step-timing (and tweaking!) the
    first 8 bars to "Misty", only to have the lights blink...
    
    Edd

    re: .28
    
    Hmmm that leads me to ask a question.  Which of these hot-shot
    dedicated sequencers (MMT-8, MC-500, etc.) have non-volatile memory?
    
    My SQ-80 does, and considering how frequently I've been saved by
    that when PSNH fumbles and the power goes out (several times a month), 
    it occurs to me that I oughta be thinking about that when considering
    data-intensive musical devices like sequencers.
    
    	db

    The MMT8 has a cell on the board that saves you in this situation.
    
    Provided it's working, that is. 
    
    In my case, it wasn't.
    
    Richard.

    
    The good old MSQ-100 manages to hold its memory after power goes dwon
    for *days*.  I've done scratch sequences, not saved them to tape, left
    the thing alone for a week and come back to find the sequence still
    there on power up.
    
    							Brian

    My old QX-7 remembered things for 2-3 days, then forgot. Simply turning
    the power on once a day kept it alive...
    
    My MC-500 forgets not only the sequence but what a sequence even is if
    Mass Electric burps...
    
    Edd

    My MAC and Pro-4 forgets what I was trying to say with the sequence
    after one day. Even if I save it to disk. ;-)
    
    Ken
    

    I found this in the Consultants Notes. It may have been posted before,
    if not..enjoy.
    
    
    Ken
    
    
    
                 <<< SHIRE::BEORN:[NOTES$LIBRARY]CONSULTANTS.NOTE;1 >>>
                                -< CONSULTANTS >-
================================================================================
Note 59.13                       Washington DC??                        13 of 17
EICMFG::AJK "Anton J. Kuchelmeister, @UFC"           36 lines  24-NOV-1989 07:46
                               -<    �(���)�   >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    This is the attemptive official enet icon list, which will be added
    as an examen question to the consultants curriculum:
    
 
    :-o    Wow!                       :-c     Real unhappy
 
    :-|    Grim                       :-C     Just totally unbelieving
 
    := |   Baboon                     :-B     Drooling
 
    :-v    Speaking                   :-,     Smirk
   
    :-V    Shout                      :-||    Anger
 
    :-w    Speak with forked tongue   :-)     Smiling
 
    :-r    Sticking tongue out        :-(     Frowning
 
    :-*    Oops!                      '-)     Wink
 
    :-T    Keeping a straight face    ;-)     Sardonic Incredulity
 
    :-D    Said with a smile          %-<I>   Drunk with laughter
 
    :-x    Kiss kiss                  :-"     Pursing lips
 
    :-[    Pouting                    :-#     My lips are sealed
 
    :-X    A big wet kiss!            :-P     Tongue hanging out in anticipation
 
    :-Y    A quiet aside              8-|     Eyes wide with surprise
 
    >-<    Absolutely livid!!         &-|     Tearful
 
    

During this festive season, we all begin humming our favorite Christmas songs.  
Most of these songs are well-loved and have been around a long time.  However, 
woud these songs be recognizable under different titles?  See how many of these 
Christmas tunes you can identify.

1. Small City in Judea

2. Colorless Yuletide

3. Singular Yearing for Twin Anterior Incisors

4. Loyal Followers Advance

5. Righteous Darkness

6. Weather-cloudless: Arrival Time-2400 Hours

7. Far Off in a Feeder

8. Array the Corridors

9. Bantam Percussionist

10. Monarchical Triad

11. Nocturnal Noiselessness

12. Father Christmas En Route to Borough

13. Initial Christmas

14. Frozen Precipitation Commence

15. Proceed and Enlighten Upon the Pinnacle

16. The Quadruped with the Vermillion Proboscis

17. Query Regarding Identity of Descendant

18. Delight for This Planet

19. Give Attention to the Melodious Celestial Beings

20. Hence Arriveth Kris Kringle

21. At the Zenith of the Habitat

22. Jehovah Dulcify Blithe Chevaliers

23. The Dozen Festive 24-hour Intervals

24. Shaking Sleigh Ornaments

25. Is There Auditory Agreement Among Us

26. A Jocund Yuletide From All of Us 

27. Frozen Fairylike Imaginary Realm 

28. The Yule Conifer

29. The Laughing Ancient Holy Chip

30. Notice Sharon's Thorny Flower Unfurl Forever

    Wha' gives???? Everyone dead???
    
    Edd

NOVA was down.

I've been coming in on BANZAI since Friday.  Is NOVA still down?  Most
people (including me) probably didn't write the list of alternate nodes
and can't remember them.

Chad

    
    Back to power failures:  It looks like UPS's suitable for use on a
    synth rack set (backing up only the synths, sequencers, and FX
    boxes) will set you back about $400.  SPS's are a little cheaper; not
    enough to really matter down in this range.  
    
    I checked into the small-UPS market when power hits started whacking
    my VCR (which is also my mastering deck) on a regular basis.
                                               
    	-Bill

RE < Note 2195.39 by GUESS::YERAZUNIS "There's no force like brute force!" >

	Er, UPS?  (United Parcel Service?)

    Uninterruptible Power Supply.  I had to mess with those when I worked
    at the nuclear plant.  In that environment, they controlled power
    coming from the grid, generators and batteries.  'Course, that was for
    a plant that generated 1000 MW, so these were slightly more expensive
    than what you would use for a MIDI studio.  Also, harder to rack-mount.
    ;^
    
    Steve

    > a plant that generated 1000MW...
    
    All that danger and alll they get is 1 WATT!!!! (1000 milliwatts).
    
    Probably very efficient...
    
    Edd

	O.K., now whats SPS?

    re: .42
    
    No, Edd!  MW != mW  MEGA!!  MEGA!!  Not milli!  Hmmm.  Maybe this
    explains some of your equipment problems?  ooh!  ow!  Leggo my hair!
    It's a joke, son!
    
    Steve

    SPS = Standby Power Supply.  Different strategy than UPS.
    
    Typically a UPS is running all the time, making the 110/60 that run the
    equipment.  The UPS's batteries are always on charge; hence they act
    like BIG capacitors and smooth out any spikes and glitches.  While 
    grid-powered, the UPS "syncs" to the power line frequency so that
    power-line clocks run at the right speed.
    
    An SPS only runs when the actual power line drops; therefore it can be
    smaller, cheaper, lighter, and quieter than a UPS.  The  problems are
    that because the SPS power oscillator isn't running all the time,
    sometimes it fails and you  don't know it until grid power is already
    gone.  Also, the switchover from grid power to SPS power and back may
    cause a naaaasty glitch (though manufacturers are trying to build
    autosync circuits to prevent that).
    
    Most *PS's don't put out real sine-wave 110/60; they have something
    that looks like a 3-step square wave.  I'm suspicious of feeding that
    stuff into all my wall-bug boxes.
    
    What do I use now?  Nothing... I just endure (not owning anything with
    volatile ram, like a sampler or R-word sequencer, makes this less of
    a worry.  I sure would like the surge protection of a UPS, though.)
    
    Oh yeah, if you spring for an UPS/SPS, remember that even though your 
    equipment may be unplugged, it may not be powered down !  :-)
    
    	-Bill        

	If anyone is serious about UPSsing their setup, shop around for
	this stuff, 'cause the markups are embarassingly high.  Prices on
	new product have also dropped, leaving dealers that stock this
	kind of product holding the bag on old inventory.  Figure out
	what you want, then feel free to VAXmail me for an opinion on the
	price (I have connections!): SWAV1::STEWART

	John Stewart

:-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-)
RE: Karl Moeller in 2220.4

> Frohliche Neue Jahr

Das soll eigentlich so hei�en:

     Froehliches Neues Jahr

  oder

     Ein Froehliches Neues Jahr


You got to watch those adjective endings!!! :-)
:-);-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-)

Chad

				1st entry in '90.





	    There goes my 15 ms of fame...

Last night my K1R seemed to have developed a problem.  Sometimes when I
downloaded a patch, particularly to high-numbered locations, the audio
would get much louder and distorted-sounding.  I ignored this as being similar
to a MIDI-volume defaults bug I had heard about and just went on loading it.

Later, even when simply playing the thing and sending patch changes, I had the
same problem.  Then I looked at my rack, and the SPX-50 was displaying a patch
with Distortion in the name.  Yep, I had just re-cabled the rack and
MIDI-connected the SPX.  It was on the same MIDI channel, and it has its own
bizzare patch-mapping inside it.  And of course I always have it in circuit as
a reverb.


Oh, yeah.  Practica Musica (Mac educational program) doesn't like my Oberheim
Xk.  It must be tripping over the release velocity.  It seems to see note-offs
from that device as new note-ons.  Other keyboards work fine.

Sigh.

	Eirikur

    Welcome to the "16 channels aren't enough, and actually, channels
    are a crumby way of addressing devices on a network anyway" club.
    
    len.
    

    Where would I put a 64 bit IUD in my studio???
    
    Edd

    In the closet, next to the 64 bit diaphragm.
    
    len.
    

    I'm in the process of purchasing a used mixer from one of the folks in
    the NE area, but I have a slight problem. The thing is a very large
    unit (weighs almost 80 lbs) and the current owner has nothing in which
    to ship it.

    A friend had one set aside at a local NE store last week, but the store
    forgot and threw it out!  Now we have nothing to put this beastie in.
    Does anyone have a cardboard box suitable for shipping an 80 lb. piece
    of gear in?  Its dimensions are roughly 32x28x8 (inches, of course). 
    
    Any help or pointers would be appreciated.  Thanks.

-b

Ask your New England folks to check around for a store that specializes in 
packaging and sending things for people.  We have one here in Nashua called 
"The Packaging Store" that does this.  Bring in any odd-sized object and for a 
price, they find a way to package it, recommend the best method for 
shipping it and even get it to UPS, Federal Express, or whoever you decide 
should ship it. 

My wife and I have used the store quite a few times and they've been great.
This might be an unusual item for them to package, but that's what they do for 
a living.

Peter

    Better check the weight.  UPS has limitations, which I don't remember.
    Over the limit you have to use a moving company.

    Here's the deal - I can ship the thing either via Federal Express
    (circa $90) or via Greyhound Bus Lines (circa $60).  UPS' limit
    is 70 lbs.

    My problem is a box; I figured that most large mixers are shipped in
    cardboard boxes - finding an old box and filling it full of peanuts
    and/or foam would do the trick, I'd think.  Problem is, I can't find a
    bloody box. 

    Thanks for the pointers, in any event.

-b

> Problem is, I can't find a bloody box. 

Most shipping places sell empty boxes for just a couple of bucks. I know that 
the UPS office near me carries them. Also, most Rent-a-Truck locations sell 
boxes of all shapes and sizes. Try your local Ryder or U-Haul company.....

Alan S.

    > I can't find a bloody box...
    
    When I worked at a supermarket in H.S., we used to get 1/4 sides of
    beef in a box of approximately the dimensions you mentioned.
    
    Unfortunately, if you do locate one, it *will* be a bloody box.
    
    Edd

        must be february already, but my precious  1982 Ovation Collectors
        edition has dropped a channel, forcing me to perhaps even enjoy
        sequencing (so far, nyet), and worse yet, find suitable guitar
        substitutes on the cz.  I've so far contained my dweebness to
        fooling with sounds, and real time entry of anything recorded.
        Anything too difficult for my keyboard skills got guitared (how's
        that for a term). Will this force me into playing like Len and
        Edd? Will i need architecture model documents for each new piece
        i might like to do?  Will february last until May? Will I actually
        use a synth bass? (ohhh noooo).
        
        Oh, and stupid owner trick of the month - while attemting to repair
        some mechanical whoes on my little fostex, i very cleverly managed
        to snap the circuit board for the monitoring circuit quite in half.
        Anyone in need of some destructive services?
        

    re .59
    
    How'd your Ovation 'drop a channel'?  You have a 1892 Ovation Midi
    Guitar?
    
    Rodney

    re: .59
    
    Wear your step-time techno-tweebiness with pride!!
    
    Edd

    re .60
    
>    How'd your Ovation 'drop a channel'?  You have a 1892 Ovation Midi
>    Guitar?
    
	Rodney, I think he's saying that one of them vibratin', acoustical
	type SGUs the Ovation uses went south for the winter.  Sounds like
	he got caught without a spare, too...

	    From the Pieces & Bits column, Grammy Magazine, Jan. 1990:

	``What They Really Mean''

	What they really mean.  Austin studio musician and writer George
	Alistair Singer, writing in Sound Choice magaine, has translated
	some common industry expressions.  When you hear "A record
	company is listening to our tape" the correct translation is:"Our
	tape is in a big box at a record company." Others: "We're making
	some good connections" means "We're annoying some people who own
	expensive cars."  "They like our tape" equals "They didn't want
	to argue with us."  "They want to hear more" is "They like the
	music but they're afraid it might not sell a million so they
	don't want to be the ones who signed you. But on the other hand
	it might sell a million and they don't want to be the ones who
	didn't sign you." And finally, "Check: a piece of paper until it
	clears."''

	``Direct to Compact

	Reference Recordings Ltd, San Francisco, are claiming the
	completion of the world's first Direct-To-CD recording session,
	pianist Dick Hyman playing the music of Fats Waller.  Music
	waveforms were converted to a digital bitsream and transmitted,
	via microwave, directly to the compact disc master.  No recording
	tape of any kind was used, not was there any editing or other
	manipulation. 

	All was made possible by the invention of a Bosendorfer SE
	computerized reproducing piano.  Hyman recorded the music in New
	York and had it stored on a computer floppy disc.  This was sent
	to California and used to play another Bosendorfer in the
	recording studio.  Microphones picked up its sound waves which
	were then converted to a digital bitstream and broadcast to the
	CD mastering facility at Disctronics Manufacturing.  "The
	finished product is identical to the master," says producer J.
	Tamblyn Henderson.'' 

The Ovation is probably an easy fix.  Priciest part is the transducer, and
that's not very expensive.  Much more likely is a connection, or a part in the
preamp.

Snapping a PC board in two isn't fatal, either.  IFF you didn't mung some
components.  Just glue it back together with some added splints, then solder
individual strands of fine copper wire (untwist some zip cord) to bridge the
traces across the crack.

Optimistically,

	Eirikur

    re .63
    
    He used MICROPHONES? Gack.
    
    Richard.

                      <<< Note 2195.65 by HUNEY::MACHIN >>>
                             -< Dick to Disc, eh? >-

        well yes, the Ovation having a stereo pickup, one side is no
        longer present. I suspect its a pre-amp problem. The real problem
        with the fostex is mechanical, the broken board was just the monitoring
        circuit and i can get around it using the line-outs. But my
        mechanical ineptitude has made the situation even worse.. basically,
        cannot get the sucker to raise the heads when i press play, and get
        them to withdraw when i say stop. For a while, a good 'ole american
        whack seemed to do it, but then i started thinking professionally
        and thought i should fix it, and jeezzz i just should have left it
        alone.....
        
        As for the dweebness - i keep making excuses to avoid it, but i've
        got everything set up, and ready to go - i've even picked a lousy
        song to start with.  Besides, now that the OS/2 device driver is
        starting to grunt along (and if that ain't a dweeby activity, i
        don't know what is) i have built up a supply of work dweebness that
        might as well get channeled into midi...
        

                bs
                

    Just a quick word of welcome to all the new COMMUSIC noters who have
    introduced themselves in the last few days.  Welcome to one of the
    world's best addictions. 

-b (co-mod)

    I got this thru the mail and got permission from Phil to put it in here.
    He told me that Sony plans on selling these thing for about $700
    when they hit the stores in 1992.
    
    Errol
    
................................................................................
From:	WMOIS::TERRY_P      "PHIL TERRY, CD-ROM PROGRAM, 241-4384" 30-MAY-1991 16:57:07.66
To:	WRKSYS::DUCEY
CC:	
Subj:	More info. on SONY's Mini Disc - from there press release


	+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ TM
	|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
	| d | i | g | i | t | a | l |		INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
	|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
	+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

	To:	Distribution			Date:	30 MAY 91
						From:	Phil Terry
						Dept:	CD-ROM Program
	CC:					Locn:	WMO1-1/G3
						DTN :	241-4384
						Node:	WMOIS::Terry_P

	Subject:  SONY MiniDisc press release/product announcement

	I've received a FAX from my contact at SONY Elec. Publ. Co., 
	Recorded Media Div.   The FAX is poor quality and lines have 
	been obscured, but I have transcribed the contents as best I 
	can in this memo.

	SONY	News and Information		Research and Technology
		No. 91A-069E
		May 15, 1991

	Headline:  SONY develops the Mini Disc system, an ultra-compact
		   record/playback digital audio disc format -- a new 
		   concept for personal audio proposed

	May 15, 1991 Tokyo - SONY Corporation today announced the development
	of the Mini Disc (MD) system which plays back an ultra-compact optical
	disc which can be manufactured using existing CD production facilities.
	At the same time the system also records and plays back 74 minutes of
	digital audio sound on an ultra-compact magneto-optical disc.   The 
	MD format will provide high quality sound with greater freedom than
	ever before.  SONY is working to gain the support of domestic and 
	overseas hardware and software companies for the new format while 
	preparing for its own product introduction targeted for late 1992.

	The Mini Disc system is a revolutionary record/playback audio system 
	that combines the portability and shock-resistance of analog compact
	cassettes with the sound quality, quick random access and easy 
	operation of optical disc media.

	The new system employs a 64mm (2.5-inch) diameter, record/playback
	magneto-optical disc which comes in its own cartridge protecting it 
	from physical damage, similar to computer diskettes.

	The Mini Disc offers not only the convenience of quick random access
	but also vibration proof musical enjoyment thanks to its newly 
	developed "shock-proof memory".  The Mini Disc's unique combination 
	of features allows the user to enjoy high quality sound at any time,
	and anywhere, creating a new age of personal audio.  SONY also 
	developed a special MD pickup for the Mini Disc system which can read
	both magneto-optical discs and CD-type media.
							

	This special feature will help bring about a smooth transition to 
	the prerecorded software of the future..

	WHY THE MINI DISC?

	The analog compact cassette tape, launched in 1963, offered the 
	consumers a portable, shock-resistant format plus recordability.
	The consumer appeal of these features led to an expansion of both 
	hardware and software markets, and with the advent of the "Walkman"
	headphone stereo, the creation of an entirely new market for personal,
	portable audio.   This has been reflected in the sales of 
	analog compact cassette related products, which have increased to the 
	present level of about 150 million units per year worldwide.

	The compact disc was introduced in 1982 and has established a strong
	market because of its digital sound quality, quick random access and
	ease of operation.

	SONY's research indicates that consumers now want a system which
	combines the features of the analog compact cassette and compact disc
	?? illegible ?? recordability together with quick random access and 
	high quality digital sound.   SONY believes that the Mini Disc will 
	meet this demand, thereby creating a new portable, personal stereo
	market for both hardware and software industries.

	TECHNOLOGIES AT THE HEART OF THE MINI DISC SYSTEM:

	The development of Mini Disc is the result of SONY's many years of 
	experience in the fields of magneto-optics, digital audio, key devices
	and miniaturization, as well as the successful combination of these
	technologies.

	(1)	DIGITAL AUDIO COMPRESSION SYSTEM
		The MD's high-efficiency data compression technology compresses
		by 5 times the digital signal used in CD or DAT, allowing 74
		minutes of high quality digital sound recording on a 64mm 
		disc.  The Mini Disc comes in a convenient pocketable cartridge
		which measures 72mm by 68mm by 5mm.

	(2)	"SHOCK-PROOF MEMORY"
		The MD player's "shock-proof memory" prevents skipping by
		storing data read from the disc in a memory chip. (eg.  a 
		1M bit chip will store approx. 3 seconds of music).   If the 
		player is jolted and the optical pickup is shifted off the 
		correct track, uninterrupted playback continues while the
		pickup returns to the correct position.  MD's ability to 
		overcome shock and vibration means that the personal audio user
		can enjoy digital sound any time, anywhere.

	(3)	THE MD PICKUP
		The MD system uses a single pickup which can detect and read 
		signals from both magneto-optical and optical discs.  As a 
		result, prerecorded music discs for the MD system can easily
		be manufactured using current CD optical technology and 
		productions facilities.



	(4)	"OVERWRITE" TECHNOLOGY
		SONY has developed a magnetic layer, the polarity of which
		can be reversed using a third magnetic power used in 
		conventional magneto-optical discs.  Also developed was a 
		magnetic head which reverses polarity of magnetic signals
		with low power consumption.  This combination does away with
		the necessity of consecutive erasure and rewriting and results
		in a smaller, less complex record/playback device.

	SONY is planning to incorporate into the Mini Disc system the 
	?? illegible ?? Copy Management System (SCMS), a copy protection 
	device that adheres to the Athens Agreement.

	Mini Disc SPECIFICATIONS:

		Channels			Stereo 2 channels
		Frequency response		5 to 20,ooo Hz
		Dynamic range			105 db
		Wow/Flutter			Below measurement limit
		Sampling frequency		44.1 kHz
		Coding system			ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform
						Acoustic Coding)
		Modulation system		EFM
		Error correction system		CIRC
		Recording/playback time		Up to 74 minutes
		Cartridge size			68mm x 72mm x 5mm
		Disc diameter			64mm
    

    Great, another incompatible format.  Although this stuff about the
    pickup suggests they may be able to make a box that plays CDs as well
    as these puppies.  Lessee, pretty soon I'll have records, open reel
    tapes, cassettes, CDs, DATs, MDs....I'll only need five "aux" inputs on
    my receiver 8^)  8^)  8^)
    
    						Brian
    
    P.S. This SCMS s**t has got to stop.  

    The buffering scheme described is not limited to this medium, so the
    "shock resistance" could be applied to CDs as well.
    
    I agree though,  we don't need another medium.  I count 7 now (in order
    of age):
    
    	open reel tape
    	LP
    	analog cassette
    	CD
    	DAT
        digital compact cassette
    	MD
    
    CD and DAT satisfy all my needs for digital media, and players for
    legacy formats like LP and analog cassette will remain necessary for
    a long while.  My open reel needs are 1/2" 8 track, not 1/4" quarter
    track.
    
    BTW, SCMS is not worth ranting about.  It only prevents you from making
    digital copies of digital copies, and the minimal losses inherent in
    (unlimited) analog copying seem irrelevant.  If it makes the RIAA
    happy, great, it takes the wind out of their tape tax sails.
    
    len.  

    
    soem of us still have 78's.

    Anyone remember 16rpm records? Yow! And what about the novel-sized
    cassettes that pre-dated the compact cassette?
    
    ugh!
    
    dp

Interesting reading about the mini disk here.  I just returned from an 
extended vacation to England and Scotland.  While there, I read an interesting 
article about the expected flood of new media (mini disk, digital compact
cassette, etc.) in the (London) Sunday Times.  I think I remembered to bring
that article home with me since I intended to post parts here and the mini
disc was something I hadn't heard about before.

The article (from the business section) talked about the head of Sony having
found a new favorite toy (the mini disc) similar to the way he was enamored
of the Walkman when market research indicated that noone wanted such a beast.
Then it goes on about how the market really can't take a flood of new media.
(The shelf space in stores alone allows only a few media to dominate.)  

As I recall, the article mentions that DAT is proving to be a flop in that it 
is/was too expensive and too late in some markets.  Thus, the writer expected 
DAT to survive in specialized markets but not as the media of choice for the 
next generation of personal stereo.  

Finally, there was some speculation that the mini disc may be coming to market 
very quickly to prevent the Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) from gaining a 
position as the dominant format.  The hypothesis was that the more formats 
that come on the market will stifle huge growth in any leaving the door open 
for another format to dominate in the way that cassettes and CDs have.

I'll post more details from this article after I dig it out of my luggage.

- John -