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View Full Version : Difference between MS

sstrasser86
03-23-2003, 04:37 PM
whats the diff. between magic gate and the normal sony MS?
Blazefire
03-23-2003, 04:45 PM
The only difference is that magic gate MS's can play the atrac format, which is a copyrighted format with playback limitations, but is half the size of MP3 (so you can put twice as much music on the same sized blue MS card). Otherwise, they are exactly the same, except magic gate is usually twice as much in price.
sstrasser86
03-23-2003, 04:48 PM
so its like 2x as much mem as the purple ones?
sstrasser86
03-23-2003, 04:49 PM
what do u mean playback limitations?
sstrasser86
03-23-2003, 05:18 PM
well..........
n2ifp
03-23-2003, 06:25 PM
Magic Gate is only needed if you record music in Sony's proprietary ATRAC3 music format. It involves more work and the Magic Gate sticks or more expensive to boot!

The Magic Gate sticks work the same as the purple ones in every other application.

In other words, unless one has a specific need to record ATRAC3 format, it would be dumb to do so :).
sstrasser86
03-23-2003, 06:59 PM
well i found a site that i could either get a magic gate for 59 and a normal one for 89 which one should i get?
sstrasser86
03-23-2003, 07:09 PM
someone plz anwser me
cbulock
03-24-2003, 01:15 AM
Chill, you can't expect an answer in ten minutes.:)

As n2ifp said


The Magic Gate sticks work the same as the purple ones in every other application.


So if you found a MG Stick for less than a regular MS than I would go for it. But I have a feeling that you have the prices switched around. You should be able to get a regular MS for around $50-60 (maybe even less), but the MagicGate sticks generally cost more.


so its like 2x as much mem as the purple ones?


Not really twice as much memory, but the files sizes for the music files are about half as small. So kinda I guess.


what do u mean playback limitations?


I'm not 100% certain on how this works, but I think that when you have music in the ATRAC format, when you transfer it to your Clie, it's checked out of your PC and is then only playable on your Clie. If you want to listen to it on your PC, it then has to be checked back in to your PC and taken off your Clie.
I'd stick to MP3 format since it's most convenient. But if you really want to save the space on your stick, you might want to try out the ATRAC3 format.
jimod
03-24-2003, 01:18 AM
Or you could just get a 256 pro and hope for the drivers.
YTTAN
03-24-2003, 01:50 AM
I rather try 2x128ms than to buy a Magicgate 128ms.

256 pro may not usable on atrac3 format as stated in sony website even after upgrade.
jimod
03-24-2003, 02:42 AM
my bad, i thought the pro's were supposed to be compatible with the atrac3, but i use mp3, so i am just waiting for Best buy to get the 1 gig and hoping for a good employee price on it.
n2ifp
03-24-2003, 07:24 AM
Originally posted by cbulock
Chill, you can't expect an answer in ten minutes.:)

Not really twice as much memory, but the files sizes for the music files are about half as small. So kinda I guess. 




Where does the ATRAC3 format become half as small? I am puzzled, the ATRAC3 is a bit more efficient yes, but by half the size of a mp3 recording at similar bit rates :confused:?
cbulock
03-24-2003, 11:35 AM
I'm not sure the exact amount, I know there is an increase in compression for ATRAC3. I guess I got half the size from the posts above.
sstrasser86
03-24-2003, 02:14 PM
o your right i have the price switched or wait no i don't

http://www.shoprmall.com/jandr/?source=goto
tifosiv122
03-24-2003, 04:07 PM
Originally posted by sstrasser86
o your right i have the price switched or wait no i don't

http://www.shoprmall.com/jandr/?source=goto

I don't see them selling a 128 regular stick?
You can find the sticks for much cheaper anyway.

Erik
EvilGenius
03-24-2003, 05:20 PM
Where does the ATRAC3 format become half as small? I am puzzled, the ATRAC3 is a bit more efficient yes, but by half the size of a mp3 recording at similar bit rates ?

They won't be half the size if you record them at similar bit rates, but the ATRAC3 format is more efficient so most people can record at half the bit rate that they would record their MP3s at and get comparable quality. This results in an ATRAC3 file being about half the size of an MP3 file of similar quality and everyone shortens that down to claiming that they take up half as much space. Its not technically accurate but its a reasonable shorthand for getting the point across.

well i found a site that i could either get a magic gate for 59 and a normal one for 89 which one should i get?

That depends on what you're using it for. You haven't told us. If you're going to use it to play ATRAC3 files a lot then you probably want the Magicgate. The efficiency of ATRAC3 will make the Memorystick act like its twice as large. The trade off is that the Sonicstage software is slightly more cumbersome (honestly, I have no problems with it other than the fact that I can't keep my library on two different machines, but other people have complained).

On the other hand if you aren't going to play any music on your Clie, or if you decide its going to be MP3 for some reason (of which there are many good reasons such as compatibility with other digital music devices) then I'd probably suggest going with the standard Memorystick and saving $30.
sstrasser86
03-24-2003, 08:25 PM
yeah i have found mem sticks for under 40 so i guess i will go w/ the purple