An Alternative to OpenMG for Clean, Hassle-Free MP3 Downloading

[dino]

Hi all avid MD buffs-

First off I want to thank everyone here especially all the regular posters. I've been keeping a close eye on a lot of threads over the last few days- spent heaps of time researching a new portable music device...and all I can say is: MD, where have you been all my life?!!

Just got a n707, absolutely love it. I am re-discovering how much I enjoy portable music.

BUT...I aggree with most here, OPENMG sucks the big one. Rediculous restrictions..can't upload, CANT DELETE for crying out LOUD!! I found I couldn't even delete my own sound bytes recorded after a bunch of files downloaded with OPENMG!! absolutely crazy...

I got the 'Simple Burn' software, not bundled with the AUZ models, not even a mention of it (thanks sony, luv ya), and yes it is simple and is limited to LP2/LP4, but what it does, it does well and the software isn't a bugfest like openMD. Rips albums quite fast and very happy with LP2 for quality.

I found a quick and easy way to get my mp3's onto my MD by using Simple Burn. I haven't seen this on any other post and my apologies if I'm just repeating someone elses idea.

CAVEAT- you need Nero, and nero's imagedrive, or something similar that can create a virtual CD disc image, and mount it to your desktop.

Five easy steps to a clean and hassle free mp3-md burn:


1. Open nero, select Audio CD from the presets and drag all the MP3's you want into it. Nero is far less picky about formats and sample rates. I found this method foolproof.

2. Save or 'Burn' your cd to your hard drive (not your burner). Nero will give you a default filename of 'image.nrg'

3. Use Nero's imagedrive (bundled with nero) to mount the .nrg you just created. Lets say for this example, drive 'F'


I'm not an expert, but I found these 3 steps took around 2 MINUTES or less for a regular sized audio cd, ie: about 10 mp3 tracks to be converted and 'burned' to my hard drive as a regular audio CD 'image'. I have a PIII 1gig, so that would have helped with the mp3-aif conversion times. Faster machine=faster mp3 conversion=faster image creation.

Now If you know how to use Simple Burn, the rest as they say, goes without saying.


4. Select your 'virtual F' cd drive in Simple Burn & burn that sucker.

5. When you're done, trash the .nrg file sitting on your desktop (large file).


If your machine is 'fairly' fast (most today are) then Simpleburns' CD-Atrak conversion is done in on-the-fly in RAM. Notice your HD doesn't tick over at all.

ADVANTAGES TO THIS METHOD

*you're using reliable software
*unlike openmg, crap isn't left all over your hard drive, not to mention that f**ing checkin-checkout bullshit.
*you can delete, re-arrange tracks on your MD to your hearts content WITHOUT having to do it via your pc.
*did I mention you dont have to use openmg?
*it's faster and doesn't thrash your HD
*no openmg

Now..all I need is to be able to upload audio, then I will be an EXTREMELY happy customer.

Well thats about it. BTW, can someone please tell me why sony called their monster openMG, I would have thought openMD would have been more appropriate.

cya's and thanks again.

[fbleagh]

Hey thats a cool suggestiobn thanks for sharing

hopefully this will tide us over until other s/w is developed


btw openMG = MAGIC GATE

its used for all their magic gate devices eg network walkman etc.

[Thomas Davie]

I tried your suggestion Dino, and it worked like a charm. As a matter of fact, except for titling, I've no need for Open MG Jukebox.

Tom

[Sefu]

Hi Dino,
Thanks for the great tip!
I stuck the thread as I though everyone should read it. Applause to Dino...

[MDWiZ]

Nice work! Can you put this in F.A.Q.'s so it doesn't get lost? I'd like to go through this again when I get NetMD.

[Shin Gouki]

That's a pretty good alternative you've given, I'm gonna try it out

Thanks!

[Thomas Davie]

I'm using a pokey Celeron 400 w/256 Mb ram for my MD transfers and I find thart Dino's method is still faster than Open MG. And, Nero doesn't seem to have a problem with VBR files either.

Just remeber to use Nero's Driveimage to 'eject' the CDRom after you've finished using Simpleburner to transfer the songs or else when you try to delete the image file you won't be able to.

Tom

[dino]

NP;/

Yeah I forgot to mention the thing about 'ejecting' the image.nrg...

Also, Simpleburner *does* use your hard drive a bit with your 'virtual cd', but I'm guessing it's all read, and the Atrack conversion is still done in ram. Burning a real CD to MD is silent on my machine=doesn't use the hard drive at all.

Thomas- I found Simple Burner handled titling well, lets me enter MD title, CD title for the Group, and track titles..is there anything else involved in titling i'm not aware of? I'm pretty new to md/netmd.

[abalboa3]

This is probably a very stupid question, but can you do the same thing with easy cd creator instead of Nero? If so, does anyone know what steps need to be taken? Thanks.

[Luke_A_P]

About the titling, has anyone check whether Simple Burner can read CD-text? That might solve the titling issue.

Abalboa3, I don't think easy cd creator has a facility to mount drive images, so in that case no.

Another free program that lets you mount drive images is Deamon tools.