Numpty mp3 question

[andytk]

What would be the best way to copy Mini Disks onto computer hard disk?
I'll be needing mp3's from now on.

Its a farirly ancient Sony MD player. (MZ-R55 circa 2000)
My Laptop is Windows XP and I have the usual MS Media Player but as far as I'm aware I can't record mp3's from an external source.

Andy

[parrot of doom]

Google for a free audio recorder, and use the minijack output on the minidisc into the back of your soundcard (rec in)

Then convert them to mp3 with another free utility.

[Pigeon]

Not the rec in! That way you go through an extra D-A / A-D step, with associated loss of quality.

Use the S/PDIF in fed from the MP3 player's S/PDIF out, to transfer it digitally. There's still the problem that it's going through an MP3 decode/encode step unnecessarily, but fortunately multiple recodings in a lossy format don't introduce any extra lossage as long as you use the same format and parameters.

If your sound card doesn't have an S/PDIF in get a cheap one using the C-Media CMI8738 chipset. They are cheap and, unlike Soundblasters, don't bugger about with the S/PDIF signal but just give you the straight data.

[RickApple]

Would it not be easier to get www.limewire.com and download it all, in higher quality? Answer to the moral argument being you've paid for it once all ready and just want it in a digital format!