in: line, optical, coax, footswitch (mono jack x 2: rec/pause, play/pause). out: line, headphones (28mW)
300 x 121 x 356mm, 4.1kg
Features:
"Backtrack" recording feature allows unit to play an MD track and record a new
(separate) track simultaneously. If the machine's output is run
through a mixer, new material can be mixed with existing material and
recorded.
From the Sony announcement:
"The BackTracking feature effectively makes the unit
two machines in one. In conjunction with the MDS-DRE1's digital I/Os,
BackTracking allows the DJ to record and synchronize tracks on the fly from any
source, while a song is being played. These sources can be mixed (with an
external DJ mixer) along with material on the same disc. This provides the DJ the
flexibility to create customized mixes and audio transitions in real time.
Additional planned features of the ergonomically designed, portable,
tabletop unit include seamless looping; turntable-style scrubbing and
trick play; digital archiving; digital disc and random access
capability; "hot start" buttons, allowing up to eight tracks to be
assigned simultaneously for continuous instantaneous play; slider
faders to control pitch and tempo; and full song-based editing
function (1/86 sec accurate) including the capability to divide,
combine, move, erase or copy a track."
Unit features independent speed and pitch controls (+/- 12% each).
Optional accessories:
Footswitch (FS-A8).
Problems:
A user reports: Only one small problem is evident in the unit and it
relates to changing speed of playback. Whenever you do, relatively
large amounts of 'wow and flutter' develop. It sounds like a reverb
and delay has been put on the sound. I suspect, after speaking with
SONY, that a software upgrade will hopefully be available soon to
correct this problem plus any other 'bugs' in the unit. -Jeremy
Koch ([email protected])Followup: Jeremy reports
that Sony Japan (via Sony Australia) has acknowleged that there is
a fault with the units due to the processing chips they
have used. There is no fix for the problem and it will be rectified
in the next model (if there is another model).
