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--- faq [2010/02/04 01:04] – glaubitz
+++ faq [2010/12/05 23:43] (current) – spell fixes and updates glaubitz
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 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:):
+/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 or MacOSX?**
+No, but work on a decoder has been initiated by the ffmpeg project. This decoder is
+expected to be released in //mid of 2011// and will certainly also part VideoLAN's VLC.
+There are already ffmpeg decoders for ATRAC1 (ATRAC-SP) and ATRAC3. Both types
+can also be played back in VideoLAN's VLC.
+**Why can't 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?**
@@ Line 16: / Line 101: @@
 **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?**
+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?**
+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?**
+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?**
@@ Line 32: / Line 125: @@
 **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//.**
-**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?**
+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?**
 **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]]