Sharp MDMT15 VQ MiniDisc Player/Recorder with Voquette Web Audio Manager

Sharp MDMT15 VQ MiniDisc Player/Recorder with Voquette Web Audio Manager
Manufacturer: Sharp
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com Review
Ready to take your portable audio to the next level? This minidisc bundle starts with a fully featured player/recorder, then adds the hardware and software you need to bring your PC's Web audio, music, and information with you wherever you go. With Sharp's MD-MT15 and the Voquette NetLink adapter, your minidisc player becomes an Internet-enabled recorder.

The Sharp MD-MT15VQ itself lets you record your favorite songs from various sources, including CD players and satellite broadcasting tuners (thanks to the sample rate converter), and then play your selections back in 24-bit ATRAC sound. True digital recording is possible from a digital source via the optional optical cable, while analog dubbing can be performed from the RCA left/right-out on your stereo to the optical/line-in jack on the player, using the included wiring.

The MD-MT15VQ also features comprehensive editing functions and text input to identify your minidiscs and individual tracks, along with a three-mode extra bass system and 10 seconds of buffer memory to reduce skips. The player, which sports a compact design with a clamshell opening mechanism, comes with headphones, an AC adapter, and a drawstring carrying pouch.

Of course, the real star of this system is the Voquette Media Manager software, the key to downloading, recording, and controlling Web audio content. Creating custom play lists of songs, live Webcasts, news, and other spoken information is remarkably simple, thanks to its friendly and intuitive user interface.

Voquette is all about taking Web audio, with its wealth of content and personalized play lists, beyond the PC. Voquette converts MP3, Microsoft Media, and Real Audio files and transfers them in real time. Unfortunately, once you've gotten used to the minutes-in-seconds downloads of MP3, real time suddenly seems slow. For this reason, Voquette allows you to schedule copying sessions at convenient times, like when you're sleeping.

We're also spoiled by MP3's ability to compress 10 CDs' worth of music into the space of one. Since Voquette duplicates files in their uncompressed form, a 74-minute disk is still only good for 74 minutes worth of music.

Voquette's NetLink hardware consists of a four-headed cable adapter with special pass-through plugs that patch in between your keyboard and your PC's keyboard port, as well as between your multimedia speakers and your sound card. The cable also connects to the player at the line-in and DC-in jacks, acting as a bonus power supply. One downside to this configuration is that it's a bit of a tangled mess.

After the usual learning curve, the Voquette software easily manages music, talk, and even converted text from a variety of sources.

In addition to the Voquette software recognizing Real Audio, Microsoft Media Player, MP3, WAV, and CD tracks, an optional upgrade can convert HTML and Microsoft Word documents into speech (albeit in a less-than-mellifluous computerized voice) and automatically record it to minidisc. Having done so, you can listen to e-mail, text, and even Web pages on the go. You can also schedule automatic program downloads on an ongoing basis once you've specified your personal preferences, or just drag and drop the desired files from a Web site onto the Media Manager for instant or future playback. The proprietary technology "translates" from the various sources, so there are virtually no worries about incompatible audio formats. It's rather difficult to imagine Web audio getting much easier.

With so much focus on MP3 these days, we should not forget that the most impressive aspect of using the minidisc format to download computer music files lies in its editing capabilities, which are second to none. MD accesses, rearranges, and deletes files easily at any time. It also offers the freedom to erase and re-record frequently on an affordable medium.

Surprisingly, the MD-MT15VQ is one of the most affordable minidisc player/recorders on the market. The Voquete NetLink makes for a happy, rewarding marriage of two popular entertainment (and information) technologies. This is a uniquely liberating bundle for anyone wanting to take their PC content beyond the desktop.

Pros:

Excellent sound quality
All-in-one-solution records, plays, and links to your PC for next-generation features
Extremely stable playback, even under active conditions
Unparalleled content editing and access

Cons:

More cables for your desktop to contend with
Traditional audio recording (without MP3 compression) means a 74-minute disc is good for 74 minutes of music, period
No blank minidiscs included with player

Amazon.com Product Description
With Sharp's MDMT15 and Voquette's NetLink analog adapter, your minidisc player becomes an Internet-enabled Web recorder. You can download MP3s, RealAudio, Windows Media Player, and WAV files from your PC for more portable music. Also, your e-mails, Microsoft Word documents, Web pages, and text files can be automatically converted to audio and recorded onto your minidisc player.

Sharp's MDMT15 provides 7.5 hours of recording and 15 hours of playback from a single NiMH battery or two AA batteries. You can digitally record your favorite songs from various sources, including CD players and satellite broadcasting tuners, thanks to the sample rate converter. Then, play your selections back in 24-bit ATRAC sound. The Sharp MDMT15 also features editing functions and text input for your minidiscs.

The compact design features a clamshell opening mechanism. There is a three-mode extra-bass system and 10-second memory buffer so the player won't skip if it's jarred or knocked about. Headphones, an AC adapter, RCA cable, and a carrying case are included.

Sharp offers a one-year warranty on parts, 90 days on labor.