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--- guides:webminidisc [2022/10/18 10:14] – [Recording mode] specialk
+++ guides:webminidisc [2023/04/14 20:03] (current) – hien34
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
   * USB cable (most use USB Mini-B)
   * Chromium web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, etc.)
+=== A note about Hi-MD devices ===
+  * **Hi-MD** devices can operate in either Hi-MD mode or (normal) MD mode, but only MD mode works properly with Web MiniDisc at present. If you're using a Hi-MD device and having difficulty with installing the driver or Web MiniDisc not finding a compatible device, make sure that an MD-formatted media is inserted prior to connecting the device to your computer. Hi-MD (1GB) discs //CANNOT// currently be used.
+  * To format a standard MiniDisc in MD mode, try the following steps:
+      - Your Hi-MD device should be disconnected from the computer and plugged into a power source sufficient for writing (e.g. the AC adapter).
+      - Set the Disc Mode setting in the menu on your device to MD. This enables standard MiniDiscs to default into MD mode when recording or formatting. (Please refer to the manual for your device for specific instructions.)
+      - Reformat your target MiniDisc via the menu on the device. This should format the MiniDisc in MD mode, and the device should indicate it's in MD mode on its display.
+      - With the MD mode MiniDisc still inserted, you can go ahead and reconnect the device to your computer and continue setting things up!
 ==== Windows ====
@@ Line 94: / Line 102: @@
 The Safari web browser is not currently supported. Use Chrome or Edge instead.
+==== WSL2 on Windows ====
+For those that need or prefer to live in Windows without installing Zadig's utility, WSL2 is a solution that can work with some extra steps. It can certainly be automated/scripted better if used often.
+Commands referred to are entered either in a Windows Adminstrator PowerShell window or Ubuntu/WSL2 terminal as directed.
+. Install WSL2 under Windows 10/11.
+Open a PowerShell prompt under Windows 11 by right-clicking on the Start button and choosing Windows Terminal (Admin). Accept the warning and you'll see the PowerShell window pop up with "Administrator" in the top left.
+Next, install WSL by typing the following in the PowerShell window:
+<code>
+wsl --install
+</code>
+Just wait a few minutes and after it's complete, reboot when you're ready.
+. Set up your instance of Ubuntu/WSL2.
+After a reboot, you'll see terminal window that asks you to set a username and password. These are for the instance of Ubuntu running in the WSL, so they don't need to correlate to your Windows login.
+Update the packages
+<code>
+sudo apt update
+</code>
+. Install USB support for WSL2 - this is required for USB devices to be seen within your Ubuntu instance.
+In Windows: Download the .msi from [[https://github.com/dorssel/usbipd-win/releases |here]] and install it.
+In Ubuntu/WSL2:
+<code>
+sudo apt install linux-tools-generic hwdata
+sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/local/bin/usbip usbip /usr/lib/linux-tools/*-generic/usbip 20
+</code>
+. Verify your device can be seen in Windows and link it to Ubuntu/WSL2.
+In Windows:
+<code>
+usbipd wsl list
+</code>
+Note the BUSID (in this case, it's 2-2)
+<code>
+PS C:\Users\YourUserID> usbipd wsl list
+BUSID  VID:PID    DEVICE                                                        STATE
+-3    8087:0029  Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R)                                Not attached
+-4    0c45:672c  Integrated Webcam                                             Not attached
+-1    046d:c332  USB Input Device                                              Not attached
+-2    054c:00c9  Net MD Walkman                                                Not attached
+</code>
+Attach it in Windows (replace the busid parameter with yours, in the example above it is 2-2):
+<code>
+usbipd wsl attach --busid <busid>
+</code>
+Now see if it's attached in Ubuntu/WSL.
+<code>
+user@PCname:~$ lsusb
+Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
+Bus 001 Device 002: ID 054c:00c9 Sony Corp. Net MD
+Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
+</code>
+. Since it's WSL2, we need to run udev so we can manage the device (important for the next step).
+<code>
+sudo /lib/systemd/systemd-udevd --daemon
+</code>
+. Follow the Linux instructions listed [[guides:webminidisc|above]]. Note your ID output from "lsusb" (in this case, 054c:00c9)
+. Install a chromium-based browser of your choice (I used Google Chrome) and then navigate to [[https://web.minidisc.wiki/|Web Minidisc Pro]].
+. Push Connect and select your device!
+Additional efficiencies and automations may be listed later.
+After a reboot, reload you will have to repeat the "attach" (step 4) and udev (step 5) steps above and finally,
+<code>
+sudo udevadm trigger
+</code>
 ===== Launching Web MiniDisc Pro =====
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 "Downloading" uses reverse-engineered features in //netmd-exploits// to copy the ATRAC files from the MD as downloadable files. Not all equipment supports this. To enable downloading, choose "Enable Homebrew mode ripping in main UI" from the Overflow Menu.
-Once this is enabled, the "record" option in the app will be replaced with "download" - which will read the selected tracks and download ATRAC or ATRAC3 files via the browser.
+Once this is enabled, the "record" option in the app will be replaced with "download" - which will read the selected tracks and download ATRAC or ATRAC3 files via the browser. Also see [[guides:convert-atrac|]] if needed.
 This feature is experimental and may have errors or issues. Please contact the development team to report bugs.
@@ Line 259: / Line 352: @@
 === Compared to SonicStage ===
-Interestingly, SonicStage used an LP mode "wrapper" to send SP tracks to disc. Web MiniDisc (and other new tools) send raw audio to the recorder to be encoded directly in SP mode. As a result, SP mode tracks sound better when recorded with Web MiniDisc. LP mode tracks will sound as good (or better) if using remote ATRAC encoding, but worse if using the default atracdenc.
+Interestingly, SonicStage converts all audio to LP2 first before transferring it to a device, even when recording in SP. This means that when recording in SP, the original audio is converted to LP2, then to PCM, which is then sent to the device, and finally encoded by the device in ATRAC1 (SP). As a result, SP mode tracks sound better when recorded with Web MiniDisc, as it doesn't do any redundant encoding. LP mode tracks will sound as good (or better) if using remote ATRAC encoding, but worse if using the default atracdenc.
 === Diagram ===