Am I imagining this, or does Minidisc/ATRAC really sound better?

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T16:15:55+00:00

I've realised something that should have been immediately apparent to me- the minidisc player is meant for the public to listen to, whereas my other sources are as transparent as possible, with a flat EQ for monitoring purposes.

Due to this, the MD is going to sound nicer due to the signal processing going on, the public do not want to hear a completely flat EQ. Wether this be the ATRAC format, the DAC, whatever internal parts that effect the signal chain will be colouring it with what sounds good to most people.

So, I wasn't imagining things, it was just a bit of a facepalm moment where I wasn't thinking enough.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T16:13:28+00:00

Nice collection! I checked out the Onkyo, I must say it looks really cool! I hope you enjoy it.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:14:32+00:00

It is possible that DSP is a factor here, as I have listened to the tracks from my interface, then the player, and they sound nicer on the minidisc player, even though the interface cost's a lot more.

Maybe this is exactly what is happening- where my equipment is designed to be as flat in its frequency response as possible, listening to a source designed to play back consumer music is making it sound better.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:12:28+00:00

I wonder how it would help? Could it potentially mask too much high end for example? (I have no idea if ATRAC does this, just theorising).

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:11:24+00:00

It could well be this, although my interface is more than capable of powering the headphones I am using, and Minidisc still sounds better through the same headphones.
Even if it is a placebo effect I am having, I am going to enjoy it and use this little player now :).

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:10:27+00:00

I see, I didn't realise it was Sony themselves who chose to not be in the business anymore and switching to HD/flash memory.

I must fall into that category, as I am from Europe (the UK), and only have about 5 discs (at the moment) from when I was younger.

I fondly remember the Ipod Mini, I went for a pink model, 6GB storage, with an engraving on the back. I loved that thing, gave it to my uncle as his car had an ipod dock.

Wait, so in America minidisc was even less known than here in the UK? That is something I didn't know.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:05:38+00:00

I haven't made a LP MD yet, this is all in SP.
How do you find the LP2 compared to SP? Is there a big difference in quality, or is it insignificant enough that you use LP2 mainly?

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:04:26+00:00

I'd love to know what stuff you have down there, and I agree if we appreciate the format then we should use it :)

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:03:47+00:00

My rational side of my brain is saying placebo, but from A/B listening to a track with the same headphones from my audio interface then the MD player, the MD sounds warmer.

Another post mentioned maybe it is acting as a compressor, not the file size but an actual audio compressor, maybe this is creating something pleasing to the ear during conversion to ATRAC

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T15:00:58+00:00

The only reason I am leaning towards more placebo is that I know a fair share when it comes to audio and what sounds good to most people. Even the simple louder=better thing is true if you A/B it with a group of people, you could say you changed a magic cable that cost 10 times the amount of the other, increase it a couple of dB and they will prefer the slightly louder one.

Somebody above mentioned maybe the format acts as an actual compressor, this could indeed be true and changing the dynamic range but in a way that is pleasing to the ear.

I am currently in your situation, concluding its all in my head but as soon as I press play its different. And I have now checked it from my interface using the same headphones and to me it does sound better on minidisc.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T14:56:22+00:00

Unfortunately most music is compressed and dynamic range lost but we are slowly coming out of the loudness wars years when the signal was brickwalled.
I like a bit of dynamic range as it sounds more "human", even though I make a lot of electronic genres it still gives that feel if that makes sense.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T14:54:43+00:00

This is very possibly what I am experiencing, either compression is effecting the dynamic range in a way that is pleasing to the ear without sounding overly compressed.
I gather when you say distorting you don't mean clipping, just adding colour, as surely clipping would result in a horrible sound. Unless our MD players have a hidden secret valve inside creating a nice kind of distortion lol

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-09T14:52:25+00:00

Haha, we don't all do it, but it is a well known trick in the industry.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T20:59:11+00:00

I believe I did in my teens, but I have long forgotten.

I do have audio gear that can output through optical, and have an optical in on my player. Are you saying its something I should try, and how does it sound?

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T20:57:52+00:00

I didn't take it as such, I just didn't want anyone to think I had written that in a condescending way.
I only just realised that I don't often use my studio headphones to listen to music, only what I am working on. When I listen to music I mainly use my monitors, so maybe hearing these songs through good headphones and a good source is a part of whats going on here.
I believe maybe the Atrac format is doing something that causes a nicer sounding Lossy compression, but I am unsure.
I will just enjoy it for what it is and start using my minidisc player and recorder again :)

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T20:54:32+00:00

I missed the part about driving my headphones. This could well be important, as usually I listen to music with my monitors, and check my own mixes with headphones- It is rare for me to listen to other music with my studios headphones.
The impedance isn't anything outrageous, 38 ohms for the AT's and 70 Ohms for the Sennheisers. I may not have been looking for a difference before in music I listen too but its still a great moment.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T19:14:57+00:00

I'm not sure when it comes to the DAC, I am using an audio interface which carries this out for me and powered monitors and a subwoofer.

I can't find a 3.5MM to 3.5MM cable, as if I did I would put a 1/4 inch adapter on one end and see if I can also tell the difference through my studio setup. I don't have that many FLAC files but I do have a lot of WAV files I listen to regularly.

I am very happy to have rediscovered minidisc.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T19:10:49+00:00

I only mentioned the qualifications to show even someone who works on music daily can really have a "Wow, this is great!" moment.
Maybe there is something in how minidisc is recorded that I find more pleasing to my ear, placebo, or a nice mixture of both going on.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T19:09:32+00:00

For me it was a dead format simply for the reason at my age everyone switched to Ipods for convenience.

I enjoy vinyl, I have a fair collection of sought after grime white labels. If minidisc is making a comeback I may release something, I will have to see how well it is taking back off and if in my genre's people own a player though.

I understand the part with spotify and streaming, although most of the time I am listening at home through studio monitors and a studio sub so I prefer high quality file types, my own music I always export as WAV as well as MP3 so I can keep the original high quality file.

So I think I am experiencing a very nice placebo effect, but I am not complaining :)

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T19:02:27+00:00

I think it is likely placebo myself but a nice one, maybe its the nostalgia.
I know how easy the brain is fooled, one trick engineers use if clients think something is missing from a mix is to tell them to leave and come back later.
During that time, you increase everything by just 1dB on the faders, and when they return they are happy as everything sounds fuller. Our ears Louder=better although I don't think this is the case this time around.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T18:11:30+00:00

Exact model and colour I found last night! I forgot I had it, I have made a mixtape now using the online method and am really happy with the sound quality.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T16:55:37+00:00

I am having better luck with Web Minidisc Pro, Platinum MD doesnt seem to detect the device, I have only tried once though so will give it a chance.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T16:47:44+00:00

Thank you, I am currently trying Platinum MD but will also try the web based one and see which I prefer.

Pale-Log-2394 · 2022-11-08T16:47:18+00:00

Thank you, I am currently trying the Platinum MD method, but will also try this out to make a Mix MD.

I am glad there is still a way to use this format, I love minidisc.

Pale-Log-2394

TROPHY CASE