Sony MZ-NH900 User Manual

Recording with the Sony MZ-NH-900

Set-Up Steps for MD Mode Only

The HiMD recorders can record in two formats: the higher quality HiMD
format or the Standard MD SP format. They can also record on both the
old, “MD” discs and the new HiMD discs. The separate set-up steps for
the Hi-MD mode follow these below.

These steps are for MD Disc mode, NOT Hi-MD !!

Files created in the MD format cannot be transferred digitally via

SoundStage and a USB cable on a PC. MD format recordings have to be

transferred in real time on the Transfer platform in B-18 or via a analog

cable. Format Your Discs should be formatted in HiMD mode unless you

have a special reason to use MD mode.

Recording Kit: Sony MZ-NH900 recorder; 110 A.C. power Supply;

Charging cradle; USB cable; AA battery holder (detachable); Sony MDR­V600 Headphones or similar. 1- Rode NT4 stereo mic or 1- stereo pair
of Sound Professional Binaural mics.

With a Sound Devices Preamp Some Sony MZ-NH900 recorders will
become available alone and some will be in backpack kits using the
MP-2 or Mix Pre mic preamps and condenser mics-- probably the Rode
NT1A’s and the CAD 179’s. The later kits can only be checked-out to
students who have taken Field Audio 420 or are enrolled in 460 and
receive a demo.

Set-Up Steps for the Sony MZ-NH900 MD Recorder

It is very important to go through theses steps every time before you
start recording and, preferably, before you even set off to record. Take
some time to practice placing the recorder into manual record gain
mode because you’ll need to be able to do this quickly and confidently
in the field. If you fail to do some of the below steps, your recording
can suffer in terms of quality and in some cases, it won’t be able to be
imported into a computer without a lot of extra work or maybe, not at
all.

Perform these steps with No Disc in the Recorder:

3.

+

3.

4. Set to Advanced Menu Mode Press and hold the Navi/Menu button
for 2 seconds until the menu window activates. Rotate the circular jog
wheel until the word, "Option," is blinking. Press down on the small
ENTER button (the button in the middle of the Jog wheel) to select
“Option.” Rotate the jog wheel until the word "Advanced" is blinking
and select it by pressing ENTER. You cannot access manual record
gain unless it is in this mode.

“EOR” (EDIT; OPTION; RECORD SET)

5. Format Disc in MD format (this erases everything that is already

recorded on the disk) Press and hold the Navi/Menu button for 2

seconds until the menu window activates. Rotate jog wheel to EDIT,
select it by pressing the ENTER button in the center of the Jog
Wheel. Under Edit-> select Format-> and blinking “Yes.” If there is
no “Format” option provided, select “Erase All.” "Disc Mode" is
blinking. Select “Disc Mode” by pressing ENTER. Jog until the word,
“MD” is blinking. Select it with ENTER.

6. Set Disc Mode in MD format Press and hold the Navi/Menu button for
2 seconds until the menu window activates. Rotate jog wheel to

Option, select it by pressing the ENTER button in the center of the

Jog Wheel. Under Option-> select Disc Mode-> and blinking “MD.”

7. Set Record Mode to SP Press and hold the Navi/Menu button for 2
seconds until the menu window activates. Rotate Jog Wheel until
"REC Set" is blinking and press Enter. Select “Rec Mode” and then
“SP.”

8. Look at the Menu window. The Record Mode should show “MD” and
“SP. If the window shows HiMD or LP2, re-do the above steps 5 and

7.

9. Install a fresh, alkaline, 9 volt battery into the Rode NT-4 mic by un­screwing the lower section of the body and sliding the battery into the
cavity (terminals first). Check for correct polarity (+ to + and – to –).
Secure the battery in place with the flexible spring clip and screw the
sections back together.

10. Slip the mic back into the shock mount and attach the fake fur
jacket. The Rode NT-4 mic is very sensitive to hand-holding and the
slightest amount of wind. Unless you are mounting it on a mic stand
indoors, the results are likely to be disappointing without a shock
mount/zepplin.

11. Its best to turn ON the mic before plugging it in to the Recorder. The

switch is on the Mic body ON. When the NT4 is switched ON, the red
battery status light should illuminate for about 1 second and turn off. If
the L.E.D. remains illuminated significantly longer, the battery should be
replaced. Life expectancy for a high quality alkaline battery is in excess
of 400 hours. If left ON, the battery power will be unnecessarily
depleted.

12. Attach the XLR-> 1/8” stereo mini-plug cable to the end of the
NT4 mic. Plug the mini-plug connector into the RED mic in jack on
the Sony Recorder and the headphones into the black headphone
jack.

13. Set/Check Mic Sensitivity (Low or HI) Press and hold the

Navi/Menu button for 2 seconds until the menu window activates. Use
Jog Wheel to navigate to "Rec Set" and then "Mic Sens." Select
"High" if you are recording ambience or "Low" if you are recording
close voice or loud sound effects.

14. Set in Manual Record Level Mode Unfortunately, one cannot go
directly into Manual Record Mode; you must go into Auto Gain mode,

MIC IN

Headphone OUT

place it in pause and then use the menu to change to Manual
Record level. Push the RED REC button down and slide the button to
the right to put the recorder in instant record mode (auto gain).
Press on the PAUSE BUTTON. Press and hold the Navi/Menu button
for 2 seconds until the menu window activates. Rotate jog wheel until
"REC Set" is blinking. Select “REC Volume,” and then “Manual.” You
can now adjust Record Level manually with the Jog Wheel. Set the
record level gain so the normal volume "peaks" cause about 1/2 of
the segments to come on (turn black). Notice that the over­modulation segment occurs right under the “0” of “30.”

You can change the record level as the deck while recording if
necessary.

15. To start recording, press again on the Pause button. When you are

ready to stop recording, press on the PAUSE button again. Try to
not stop the recorder with the STOP button unless you are taking a
break because this will take the deck out of Manual Record Level
mode. Note that the recorder jumps to unused disc space when a
new recording is started. Recordings are organized into “groups.” A
‘Group” includes all the tracks made with the pause button. Pressing
STOP will cause a new “group” to be created the next time the a
recording is made on the disc.

16. To raise the headphone volume, press on the top edge of the
ENTER button and on the lower edge to lower the headphone
volume. This may take some practice.

17. You can create a marker for a new track as the Recorder is running
by pressing the "T mark" button above the mic input jack. This will
create a new track at this point making it much easier to locate later.

18. Allow the Record to Save the Files. After pressing STOP, the
recorder needs to write the file to the disk in order to save it. DO
NOT remove the disk or turn off the power to the unit by removing
the battery or power cord during this phase or you will lose the
recordings on the disc.