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faq [2010/02/04 00:04] glaubitzfaq [2010/05/06 08:44] – Answered some more open questions. glaubitz
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 Generally, all MiniDisc devices with a USB connector (either //NetMD// or //HiMD//) are supported. Older models without USB do not allow any transfer of tracks to or from the MiniDisc besides using S/PDIF (TOSLINK or co-axial) or analog inputs/outputs. Generally, all MiniDisc devices with a USB connector (either //NetMD// or //HiMD//) are supported. Older models without USB do not allow any transfer of tracks to or from the MiniDisc besides using S/PDIF (TOSLINK or co-axial) or analog inputs/outputs.
 +
 +
 +**When I import an atrac3+ (.oma extention) encoded track uploaded with QHiMDTransfer
 +into SonicStage, the track cannot be converted to wav or transferred?**
 +
 +A track cannot be converted or transferred using SonicStage unless the track was
 +also imported directly from a MD/HiMD device using SonicStage. SonicStage uses DRM
 +on all atrac files and stores the DRM information (such as playback or transfer
 +restrictions) in a procfile. Each track has a unique content ID that is used to
 +identify the track. Prior to conversion/transfer, SonicStage checks the procfile for
 +any usage restrictions. Also, if SonicStage cannot find the procfile,
 +conversion/transfer is denied. SonicStage only makes an entry in a procfile when a
 +track is imported directly from a MD/HiMD device using SonicStage. No entry is made
 +when a track is imported from your hard drive, e.g. a track that was first uploaded
 +from the minidisc using QHiMDTransfer, hence you will not be able to convert or
 +transfer a track that has been uploaded using QHiMDTransfer. However, you will still
 +be able to play such tracks using SonicStage as the tracks are not encrypted. A
 +procfile is preserved even if the track is deleted from the music library in
 +SonicStage. A previously imported track may therefore be imported again (e.g. a
 +backup stored on your hard drive) without restrictions. Example: Import a track you
 +have made from a MD/HiMD device using SonicStage. Delete the track from the music
 +library in SonicStage. Upload the same track from the MD/HiMD device using
 +QHiMDTransfer. Import the track uploaded with QHiMDTransfer into SonicStage. You
 +will now be able to transfer/convert the track even if the track was uploaded using
 +QHiMDTransfer because the track had already been imported from the MD/HiMD device by
 +SonicStage in the past.
 +
 +Fortunately, SonicStage is no longer required to convert unencrypted atrac3+ tracks.
 +To convert .oma files to wav you can use MarCNet´s HiMD Renderer.
 +
 +At the moment a functional and open atrac3+ decoder is not available, but work on a
 +decoder has been initiated by the ffmpeg project. There are ffmpeg decoders for
 +atrac1 and atrac3.
 +
 +It is a good idea to back up the folder (C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony
 +Shared\OpenMG, assuming C: is your system drive) with DRM information (where the
 +proc files are stored). The folder also contains the keys required to decrypt any
 +encrypted tracks within SonicStage. From a post regarding proc files on the mailing
 +list by Thomas Arp:
 +
 +The exact place is: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony 
 +Shared\OpenMG\procfile\xx (when C: is your system drive)
 +There are a couple of subdirectories named by the last 2 digits of the 
 +contentID (xx in the path above).
 +The name of the procfile is the contentID with .opf extension.
 +If Sonicstage cannot find the file when importing atrac files an error 
 +message wil be stored in 
 +C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\OpenMG\omglog.txt.
 +It will look like this (my system drive is F:):
 +2010/03/16 23:07:09 [F:\Programme\Sony\SonicStage\Omgjbox.exe] 
 +00001608:00000ae8 OMGException(0x106): <42614> - F:\Programme\Gemeinsame 
 +Dateien\Sony 
 +Shared\OpenMG/procfile/3D/0203000002000121B40E00001836E9D78AD3673D.opf
 +
 +
 +**Is there an atrac3plus decoder available for GNU/Linux?**
 +
 +No, but work on a decoder has been initiated by the ffmpeg project. There are ffmpeg
 +decoders for atrac1 (atrac-sp) and atrac3.
 +
 +
 +**Why cannot ffmpeg identify all of my atrac1 (atrac-sp) tracks that I have uploaded
 +with the netmd python script?**
 +
 +  $ ffmpeg -i 01.aea
 +  FFmpeg version SVN-r22323, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
 +    built on Mar  8 2010 11:34:33 with gcc 4.4.1 [gcc-4_4-branch revision 150839]
 +    configuration: 
 +    libavutil     50.11. 0 / 50.11. 0
 +    libavcodec    52.57. 0 / 52.57. 0
 +    libavformat   52.55. 0 / 52.55. 0
 +    libavdevice   52. 2. 0 / 52. 2. 0
 +    libswscale     0.10. 0 /  0.10. 0
 +  [NULL @ 0x117d3c0]Format detected only with low score of 24, misdetection possible!
 +  [mp3 @ 0x1186700]Header missing
 +     Last message repeated 1707 times
 +  [mp3 @ 0x117d3c0]MAX_READ_SIZE:5000000 reached
 +  [mp3 @ 0x117d3c0]Estimating duration from bitrate, this may be inaccurate
 +  Input #0, mp3, from '02 - IR 2.aea':
 +   Duration: N/A, start: 0.000000, bitrate: N/A
 +    Stream #0.0: Audio: mp3, 0 channels, s16
 +  At least one output file must be specified
 +
 +The ffmpeg developer is working on this problem - hopefully it will soon be fixed.
  
 **Why does development of the software take place at such a slow pace?** **Why does development of the software take place at such a slow pace?**
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 **I tried formatting a HiMD in //qhimdtransfer// but that doesn't work, why?** **I tried formatting a HiMD in //qhimdtransfer// but that doesn't work, why?**
 +
 +This feature has not been implemented yet in //libhimd//. On Linux, you can use //himdformat// to format a HiMD. If installed //qhimdtransfer//, just run himdformat from a terminal. For other Linux systems, get the source from git (see [[compilingonlinux]]) and build the [[compilingonlinux#basictools|basictools]]. Formatting on MacOS and Windows is not yet supported by //qhimdtransfer//. You have to use //SonicStage// or //HiMD MusicTransfer for Mac// instead.
  
 **I tried renaming a track in //qhimdtransfer// but that doesn't work either, what's wrong?** **I tried renaming a track in //qhimdtransfer// but that doesn't work either, what's wrong?**
 +
 +Renaming tracks is a feature which has not been implemented yet, but we have it on the [[Tasks]] list.
  
 **I tried transfering a track to my HiMD walkman in //qhimdtransfer// but it won't work. Why?** **I tried transfering a track to my HiMD walkman in //qhimdtransfer// but it won't work. Why?**
 +
 +This is still in development, like for many other features, please see the [[Tasks]] list.
  
 **Why can I transfer some tracks from my HiMD and some not?** **Why can I transfer some tracks from my HiMD and some not?**
 +
 +Every track on a HiMD is encrypted. While MP3 tracks use a rather simple and obscure encryption (XORing the data with a constant key) which we have fully reverse-engineered, ATRAC3/3+ and PCM recordings are encrypted using 3DES. The mechanism on how the encryption key for 3DES is generated is yet to be understood. However, all recordings made with a MZ-RH1 Walkman use a constant key which we have obtained through reverse-engineering. Therefore, we can upload and decrypt tracks from the MZ-RH1 and know how to download ATRAC3/3+/PCM tracks to an MZ-RH1 (the latter is not implemented yet).
  
 **What is the difference between MP3 and LPCM/ATRAC3/3+ tracks?** **What is the difference between MP3 and LPCM/ATRAC3/3+ tracks?**
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 **Will it ever be possible to transfer tracks off NetMD device with this software?** **Will it ever be possible to transfer tracks off NetMD device with this software?**
 +
 +To the current knowledge it is **NOT** possible to upload tracks from pure NetMD devices since the hardware simply does not have the capabilities. You can buy and use a Sony MZ-RH1 or MZ-M200 Walkman to upload tracks. However, tracks transfered with //SonicStage// in NetMD cannot be transferred back to your PC, while tracks transferred with //Sony MD Simple Burner// **can** be uploaded again. We assume, that SonicStage sets a certain protection bit for each which prevents the upload of these tracks while MD Simple Burner does not.
  
 **Does this software also support NetMD devices? My NetMD is not recognized by //qhimdtransfer//.** **Does this software also support NetMD devices? My NetMD is not recognized by //qhimdtransfer//.**
  
-**I downloaded and installed both versions for MacOS but neither of them for me, why?**+NetMD devices are supported by the Python scripts so far only. Please check this [[netmdpython|section]] for more. 
 + 
 +**I downloaded and installed both versions for MacOS but neither of them work for me, why?** 
 + 
 +Your version of MacOS is obviously older than the one we used to build //qhimdtransfer// for MacOS. You may try to compile the software yourself on your version of MacOS. Please see the appropriate section in this wiki: [[CompilingOnMac]]
  
 **Does this software also work on other operating systems other than Linux, Windows and MacOS?** **Does this software also work on other operating systems other than Linux, Windows and MacOS?**
 +
 +Yes, the software generally works on all operating systems which provide the necessary libraries. *BSD and Haiku should work as well OS/2 (eComStation). We haven't tested it on other operating than Linux, MacOS and Windows yet, however. If you need assistance installing the software on other operating systems, please do not hesitate to contact us.
  
 **What is the [[NetMDPython]] stuff for and what is Python at all?** **What is the [[NetMDPython]] stuff for and what is Python at all?**
  
 **I have loads of old standard MDs with recordings I want transfer to my PC, what's the best way to do that?** **I have loads of old standard MDs with recordings I want transfer to my PC, what's the best way to do that?**
 +
 +The most convenient method is to use Sony's MZ-RH1 or MZ-M200 Walkman. These devices allow direct upload over USB to your computer. Depending on your operating system/computer, you will either use the official software or our software for this job:
 +
 +  * if you have Windows, please install and use //SonicStage//
 +  * if you have MacOS or Linux, please see this [[netmdpython#upload.py_-_upload_tracks_from_standard_mds_using_sony_s_mz-rh1_m200|section]]
 + 
faq.txt · Last modified: 2010/12/05 22:43 by glaubitz

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