Update: Gmdrec is on a break (probably until September) as I focus on other projects.

Revision 3 is here! It merges the functionality of revision 1 with the form factor of revision 2 on a diminutive double-sided PCB. With the MCP2221 back on board and integrated 50cm USB cable it is again as simple as plug-and-play. While there is no external case you can easily protect it with a length of heat shrink tubing (included).

New features:

• no need to add a pull-down resistor for MZ-N1, R909 and R910 - pull-down is now applied programmatically when needed
• amber LED indicates device status (blinks on a button press)
• calibration values saved on-board, no need to enter them manually

New reduced price of $12.50 (the original revision was $15.00).

Quick start guide: https://github.com/fijam/gmdrec/wiki/Windows-Quick-Start-Guide

What is it?

gmdrec is a USB interface circuit between your late 90's Sony portable MiniDisc recorder and your PC.

Why did you make it?

Early portable MiniDisc recorders (despite all their retro charm) lack some modern conveniences such as a USB port. These only started to appear in devices featuring NetMD. For anything made before 2001 your primary interface with the device was pressing buttons on a remote. This included things such as labeling tracks which made it a very tedious endeavor.

This simple circuit pretends to be a remote and pushes buttons programmatically, driven by a Python script available on GitHub.

What makes it special?

With gmdrec recording and labeling MDs is a one-click operation. You just create a playlist in a supported media player (currently Foobar2000 on Windows and DeaDBeeF on Linux) and click Start. gmdrec will grab the tracks on the playlist, break them down into a sequence of button presses and label each track as it is being recorded in real time. You can also use it to label discs which have already been recorded but lack the titles.

You can buy an assembled one here or you can build one yourself! Schematics, a bill of materials and KiCad PCB files are hosted on GitHub.

Supported recorders

Currently supported recorders include: MZ-R55, MZ-R37, MZ-R70, MZ-R90, MZ-R91, MZ-R700, MZ-R701, MZ-N707, MZ-R900! Also supported: MZ-R909, MZ-R910, MZ-N1 (rev 3 out-of-the-box)

House-made electronics

Note: these devices are handmade. They won't look as pretty as factory-made ones, but I check each one for correct operation and it helps keep the price low.

Contributions welcome

If you want to contribute to the software side of this project (such as add support for a new device) dive into the code on GitHub.