I wonder if it is possible to store sound files from my PC on a mini disc, and vice versa? It would be great if I could simply copy sound files from my hard disk to a mini disc and save hard disk space. I have hundreds of cool sound files in .WAV format downloaded off the Internet that I would like to not only store on an MD but also play back on it. Is this possible? I also would like to be able to copy music saved on MD on to my computer.
JOHN SAUNDERS Ho Man Tin I tried this last week and after many failures, succeed only by 'cheating'. I was not able to find programs or drivers on the Web that would simplify the process, and instead came up with reams of information on why this is not possible.
Anyway, I was able to record sound from my PC (both from the hard disk and from the CD-ROM drive). I connected the output socket in my computer's sound card (it is where you would plug in your speakers) via a dubbing cable to the recording socket of a mini disc player. After pressing the record button, I played a .WAV file on my computer and after that a song off a CD in the CD-ROM drive. Both were successfully recorded, though the quality was far from great.
Although files recorded from PC to MD in this way can be played back, the MD is not meant to be a store device for computer files. If you simply want to copy the likes of .WAV files on to a storage media to free up hard disk space, I suggest you use a magneto optical (MO) disc, ZIP, Jaz or maybe even re-writable CDs - or even floppies. MDs will not work.
As for moving music from MD to hard disk, that was much easier. The process is pretty much the reverse of what I did to get sound from the PC to the MD, and is perfectly common.
It is easy to record sound to a computer and store it in any number of formats, including RealAudio for playback on the Web, provided you have the right software. The software to help you 'record' sound to your hard disk is an integral part of your PC's multimedia kit, for example. You also can do it using the basic Sound Recorder in Windows (go to Start, Programs, Accessories, Multimedia, Sound Recorder).
