Still cannot transfer music to MG Memory Stick!

[dorianne]

From and earlier thread "I have CD's that I have copied to my computer. I am trying to transfer them to my NZ. I have followed the directions in Sonic Stage, and cannot transfer them. I get error message: "Cannot optimize the detected music. Unable to convert non SDMI compliant content without check out rights." Can anyone help?"
I have tried everyone's suggestions from an earlier thread. I downloaded the patch, I tried using my card reader, and dragged and dropped. I tried using Music Match as someone suggested.I have followed everyone's suggestions. I am still getting the above error message.
:confused:

[greg elmassian]

not sure i understand your problem completely, but there is a MG patch for the NZ, it's on the sony site, go to the support, then pda's and then the nz...

[n2ifp]

Are you trying to create ATRAC3 or MP3 music format? You are much better off with MP3's, but you need Music Match for that.

ATRAC3 just complicates things to no end.

[Unregistered]

You need to put the unconverted MP3 files in the \PALM\PROGRAMS\MSAUDIO folder (no subfolders) of your Memory Stick.
They will appear in the Audio Player. Don't use VBR as it doesn't work.
I gave up with Sonicstage, and it took me quite a while to work out where the MP3's went. Much scratching of head, and that was before I discovered this site :D

[dorianne]

Originally posted by greg elmassian
not sure i understand your problem completely, but there is a MG patch for the NZ, it's on the sony site, go to the support, then pda's and then the nz... Greg, I downloaded the patch -- it didn't help. I have copied CD's to my computer. That is what I am trying to transfer to my NZ.

[greg elmassian]

still not enough explanation from you...

did you just copy the cd files directly to the computer? if so, they are not in a format to exist and play on your clie.... convert them to mp3.... I use altomp3.... the process is called "ripping"...
get yourself a bunch of mp3 files... then you will probably have no problem..

Greg

[dorianne]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Are you trying to create ATRAC3 or MP3 music format? You are much better off with MP3's, but you need Music Match for that.

ATRAC3 just complicates things to no end. I have tried several different things. I have copied CD's to my computer, and then have tried transferring them by using Sonic Stage. They will not transfer. I get an error message: "Cannot optimize the detected music. Unable to convert non SDMI compliant content without check out rights."

[dorianne]

Originally posted by greg elmassian
still not enough explanation from you...

did you just copy the cd files directly to the computer? if so, they are not in a format to exist and play on your clie.... convert them to mp3.... I use altomp3.... the process is called "ripping"...
get yourself a bunch of mp3 files... then you will probably have no problem..

Greg Yes, I copied the CD's directly to my computer using Windows Media Player. What is altomp3, and where do you get it? I have also tried to transfer a couple of songs that I downloaded from Kasa, and they are in the MP3 format. I cannot move them either. They certainly have not made it easy.

[dorianne]

Originally posted by greg elmassian
still not enough explanation from you...

did you just copy the cd files directly to the computer? if so, they are not in a format to exist and play on your clie.... convert them to mp3.... I use altomp3.... the process is called "ripping"...
get yourself a bunch of mp3 files... then you will probably have no problem..

Greg Where do you get mp3 files? I am on vacation at my brothers in Colorado -- am using his computer. I won't be able to try anything till I get home. I am so frustrated, I am close to giving up trying. I have followed all of Sonic Stage directions without success, and have tried several other things too.

[dorianne]

Originally posted by Unregistered
You need to put the unconverted MP3 files in the \PALM\PROGRAMS\MSAUDIO folder (no subfolders) of your Memory Stick.
They will appear in the Audio Player. Don't use VBR as it doesn't work.
I gave up with Sonicstage, and it took me quite a while to work out where the MP3's went. Much scratching of head, and that was before I discovered this site :D Ok -- how do you get the music in to begin with. I have copied CD's to my computer using Windows Media Player. I have also downloaded some songs from Kasa. Nothing I do works. I don't know what unconverted mp3 files are or how to get them. I have tried moving them into my memory stick, and have put them in the MS Audio folder, and they still do not show.

[dorianne]

Originally posted by Unregistered
You need to put the unconverted MP3 files in the \PALM\PROGRAMS\MSAUDIO folder (no subfolders) of your Memory Stick.
They will appear in the Audio Player. Don't use VBR as it doesn't work.
I gave up with Sonicstage, and it took me quite a while to work out where the MP3's went. Much scratching of head, and that was before I discovered this site :D What is VBR?

[dorianne]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Are you trying to create ATRAC3 or MP3 music format? You are much better off with MP3's, but you need Music Match for that.

ATRAC3 just complicates things to no end. I have Music Match and have tried it, but will try again. Will that work for CD's that I have copied to my computer using Windows Media Player?

[batsai]

I believe that part of the problem might be that you used Windows Media Player to rip your CD's. Unless you purchased an additional add-on, your music is in Windows Media Format (WMA) which may not be compatible with Sonic Stage and is definitely not compatible with the Clie (a shame, since it offers higher quality than MP3 at lower bitrates).

Re-rip your music with Music Match Jukebox (a free download). Then place the MP3 files in \PALM\PROGRAMS\MSAUDIO on your Memory Stick.

Another solution would be to re-rip your cds with Sonic Stage (which would put it in the correct format and then attempt to transfer them to the Clie.

Good luck! Hope this helps :D

[dorianne]

Originally posted by batsai
I believe that part of the problem might be that you used Windows Media Player to rip your CD's. Unless you purchased an additional add-on, your music is in Windows Media Format (WMA) which may not be compatible with Sonic Stage and is definitely not compatible with the Clie (a shame, since it offers higher quality than MP3 at lower bitrates).

Re-rip your music with Music Match Jukebox (a free download). Then place the MP3 files in \PALM\PROGRAMS\MSAUDIO on your Memory Stick.

Another solution would be to re-rip your cds with Sonic Stage (which would put it in the correct format and then attempt to transfer them to the Clie.

Good luck! Hope this helps :D Thanks, I will try that when I get back from vacation. I will let you know if it works.

[n2ifp]

I don't think you can use Sonic Stage the way you think. You haven't supplied enough info and have not answered direct questions while being somewhat hyper :)!

What music format are you using when you copy CD's to your computer using Windows Media?

MP3's are just another music format that is much easier to use than Sony's proprietary format which requires recording directly from copy righted sources. Then it will only allow you to either listen on your Clie or your desktop PC, but NOT both!

MP3's make life a whole lot easier, Music Match was a good app and yes there are others that can rip MP3's so they can be copied to your memory stick, white or purple, doesn't matter.

You can get a plug-in for Windows Media Player too and even create MP3 CD's that can play hours of music on the right CD player that has MP3 capability.

Places like C-Net and PC World have tutorials on their sites for learning more about MP3's.

VBR stands for variable bit rate and the NX doesn't support it nor does it support MP3 Pro. These recording formats would not be selected when creating MP3's.

[dorianne]

Originally posted by n2ifp
I don't think you can use Sonic Stage the way you think. You haven't supplied enough info and have not answered direct questions while being somewhat hyper :)!

What music format are you using when you copy CD's to your computer using Windows Media?

MP3's are just another music format that is much easier to use than Sony's proprietary format which requires recording directly from copy righted sources. Then it will only allow you to either listen on your Clie or your desktop PC, but NOT both!

MP3's make life a whole lot easier, Music Match was a good app and yes there are others that can rip MP3's so they can be copied to your memory stick, white or purple, doesn't matter.

You can get a plug-in for Windows Media Player too and even create MP3 CD's that can play hours of music on the right CD player that has MP3 capability.

Places like C-Net and PC World have tutorials on their sites for learning more about MP3's.

VBR stands for variable bit rate and the NX doesn't support it nor does it support MP3 Pro. These recording formats would not be selected when creating MP3's.

EXCUSE ME?? Please don't be so critical! I am new to MP3's. Sony gives no step by step directions, and I have followed Sonic Stage directions step by step. I thought I had answered your question, but I guess it was not to your satisfaction. I don't know the answer to your question about ATRAC3 and MP3's, because I don't understand either of them. Considering that I have been struggling with this for weeks, I don't consider myself hyper, but I am very frustrated. I usually don't have trouble figuring things like this out, but since there are no step by step directions, and this is new to me, it is very difficult. As to what music format I am using with Windows Media Player, I don't have a clue. I just put the CD in and copied it. That is the first time I have used WMP. I will try your suggestions when I get back from vacation.

[greg elmassian]

i think you meant kazaa... ok, so get an mp3 file.... play it on your brother's computer, make sure it is not variable bit rate...
(you really need to understand the pc side of things first)...
play the mp3 in winamp... it will tell you the bit rate... if it's variable, the bit rate will jump around...
ok, so now try copying it with msimport to the msaudio subdirectory on your memory stick...

if that all works, then when you put a file in the proper place and it does not play, then it cannot be played with the sony...

if you put a known good file on the sony and cannot "find" it with the audio player, then you put it in the wrong place

sorry, but this is something where you need to learn... if you have been working on it for 3 weeks, you need to make friends with someone who can sit by your side... doing it here on the forum will take a while (But we are willing to try)...

Greg

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by dorianne


EXCUSE ME?? Please don't be so critical! I am new to MP3's. Sony gives no step by step directions, and I have followed Sonic Stage directions step by step. I thought I had answered your question, but I guess it was not to your satisfaction. I don't know the answer to your question about ATRAC3 and MP3's, because I don't understand either of them. Considering that I have been struggling with this for weeks, I don't consider myself hyper, but I am very frustrated. I usually don't have trouble figuring things like this out, but since there are no step by step directions, and this is new to me, it is very difficult. As to what music format I am using with Windows Media Player, I don't have a clue. I just put the CD in and copied it. That is the first time I have used WMP. I will try your suggestions when I get back from vacation.

I am sorry, I wasn't trying to be critical, just observing, trying to get answers, trying to educate you, and the same time, help you. In order to help, it needs interaction and certain information from you. First of all, Sonic Stage is a real bear for most and is the most restricting of all formats(ATRAC3). Sony's proprietary ATRAC3 format allows only for very limited use. Sony's thinking is that you will guard the music with your life and darest not let anyone else even hear the music, LOL!

What we were trying to convey is the MP3 music format is a much better way to go. It's less restricting, more popular, easier to transfer, easier to use, and easier to record.

Winamp, Music Match, WMP with the MP3 plugin, and others, some are even free. I don't remember them all. You probably can find them by using search on Cliesource.

I also concur with Greg's statements. No one is saying your stupid, just that there is a learning curve. I hope this clears things up a little.

Again, I am sorry if I offended you :(!

[dorianne]

Originally posted by greg elmassian
i think you meant kazaa... ok, so get an mp3 file.... play it on your brother's computer, make sure it is not variable bit rate...
(you really need to understand the pc side of things first)...
play the mp3 in winamp... it will tell you the bit rate... if it's variable, the bit rate will jump around...
ok, so now try copying it with msimport to the msaudio subdirectory on your memory stick...

if that all works, then when you put a file in the proper place and it does not play, then it cannot be played with the sony...

if you put a known good file on the sony and cannot "find" it with the audio player, then you put it in the wrong place

sorry, but this is something where you need to learn... if you have been working on it for 3 weeks, you need to make friends with someone who can sit by your side... doing it here on the forum will take a while (But we are willing to try)...

Greg Ok - so you tell me to get an mp3 file -- where do I get that, and what is winamp? I give up! I don't have enough knowledge to do this. Sony should make it simple, and give step by step directions. Thanks anyway for trying to help.

[greg elmassian]

dorianne... you need a friend.... send me an email address, and I'll email you a short mp3 file... I'll make sure it works on my clie...

greg@elmassian.com


Greg

[batsai]

Dorianne,

I think what's confusing you is the different audio formats.

Windows Media Player by default rips files in Windows Media Format. These files are not compatible with your Clie.

Programs like WinAmp or Music Match Jukebox (both of which can be obtained online) will rip CDs into MP3 format, which is what you want.

Forget about Sonic Stage- it produces files in Sony's ATRAC3 format, which your Clie can read, but only if you have a MagicGate Memory Stick. In addition, there are a lot of restrictions when using ATRAC3 files that make it very inconvenient. That's why most people don't use Sonic Stage.

I would download either WinAmp or Music Match Jukebox (www.musicmatch.com), rip a CD at 128kbps and manually install those files onto your memory stick using MS Import under the directory PALM/PROGRAMS/MSAUDIO. If there is no MSAUDIO folder, create one, place your MP3 files in there and you're ready to rock :D

If you need more elaboration, I'd be happy to provide it. Good luck!

[greg elmassian]

hint: run the audio player once... will create msaudio directory...

greg

[Puppy]

Just to double check, you don't have to have MP3s (or any other media) named a certain name for the player to recognize them, do you? My Sony camera won't play MPEG files unless I not only stick them in a specific place, but give them a specific name, which is pretty lame. (I've got an NX70 on order, but I assume that works the same as the NZ).

For that matter, does the audio player read the ID tag stuff off of MP3s to display what it's playing?

[greg elmassian]

they don't have to have certain names (like the video files), but you CAN give them names that make the clie barf. I haven't got all the answers yet, but some really long file names, and strange characters in the name can be a problem...

Greg

[Puppy]

Okay. Thanks. So video yes, MP3s mostly no. That's good to hear. I'm planing on recording some NPR and talk radio and sticking it on the Clie for my commute.

I'm still going bonkers over whether I really should have ordered the NX 70. Unfortunatly there isn't a single modern PDA on the market that I totally like. Thought the Tungsten T came closest, but I don't like it's screen.

[greg elmassian]

Well, since the CF driver is in beta, and working well from all reports, having the CF slot so you can buy cheap memory, like a 1 gig for $300, I think you will be pleased... I have a 1 gig microdrive waiting to go... there was a guy who just got rid of his TG50 for an NX just because of the CF slot becoming useful..

Greg

[Puppy]

I hope that driver works out. Is it going to cost money, or is it open source or something?

It's so lame Sony's intentionally crippling the NX. Really it has so many things like that that could be easily improved :/

[greg elmassian]

go read the thread on the cf driver... go the the news part of the home page... you will see the thread... sounds like it is running well, they added auto mount (hot swap) for the cf card this morning... of course the driver will cost $$, I'd advise you to read the thread, and not add this discussion to the existing thread here...

Greg

[Jag]

Not sure I understand the problem, but if you are using SonicStage for your recorded CDs, I bet you are using the ATRAC format and that needs to be transfered to the white MagicGate Memory Stick. The purple Memory Sticks cannot handle ATRAC.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by Jag
Not sure I understand the problem, but if you are using SonicStage for your recorded CDs, I bet you are using the ATRAC format and that needs to be transfered to the white MagicGate Memory Stick. The purple Memory Sticks cannot handle ATRAC.

The poster doesn't know enough to communicate effectively concerning recorded music format. To add to the confusion is that it's spread over several threads. It makes it frustrating for all concerned. The poster somehow is ripping a CD using Windows Media Player and can't give me the format. Then the user is trying to use WMP to record(maybe) ATRAC3 format.

 

[greg elmassian]

Ditto

[dorianne]

Originally posted by Jag
Not sure I understand the problem, but if you are using SonicStage for your recorded CDs, I bet you are using the ATRAC format and that needs to be transfered to the white MagicGate Memory Stick. The purple Memory Sticks cannot handle ATRAC. Thanks! I have the white memory stick. I think that using Windows Media Player was my problem. Others in this thread have told me that WM Player is not compatible with Clie.

[dorianne]

Originally posted by n2ifp


The poster doesn't know enough to communicate effectively concerning recorded music format. ******That is because I am new to mp3's. I consider myself an intelligent person, and if I have step by step instructions, I can usually accomplish what I need to accomplish. I can even figure out a lot of things on my own when there are not step by step instructions, but this has me beat. There are no step by step directions on how to put mp3's in the Clie other than the scant directions that Sony and Sonic Stage have, and their instructions stink! Almost everyone that has replied to this thread is using a method than Sonic Stage, which is the method that Sony instructs us to use. Sony does not give any instructions for using other methods. ****** To add to the confusion is that it's spread over several threads. ****** I only started 2 threads. The reason I started the second one is because the other thread was an old one.****** It makes it frustrating for all concerned.  ******Believe me, you are not the only one that is frustrated! ****** The poster somehow is ripping a CD using Windows Media Player and can't give me the format. Then the user is trying to use WMP to record(maybe) ATRAC3 format. ******After I used WMP to record, I opened them up with Sonic Stage, and then tried to transfer them. I cannot find any place in WMP that tells what the format is. All I know is that I can listen to them on my computer, and can copy them to a blank CD. My understanding from some of the other replies to the thread is that WMP is not compatible with Clie. I have Music Match. I am going to try to re-record them in Music Match and see what happens.******

 

[dorianne]

Originally posted by batsai
Dorianne,

I think what's confusing you is the different audio formats.

Windows Media Player by default rips files in Windows Media Format. These files are not compatible with your Clie.

Programs like WinAmp or Music Match Jukebox (both of which can be obtained online) will rip CDs into MP3 format, which is what you want.

Forget about Sonic Stage- it produces files in Sony's ATRAC3 format, which your Clie can read, but only if you have a MagicGate Memory Stick. In addition, there are a lot of restrictions when using ATRAC3 files that make it very inconvenient. That's why most people don't use Sonic Stage.

I would download either WinAmp or Music Match Jukebox (www.musicmatch.com), rip a CD at 128kbps and manually install those files onto your memory stick using MS Import under the directory PALM/PROGRAMS/MSAUDIO. If there is no MSAUDIO folder, create one, place your MP3 files in there and you're ready to rock :D

If you need more elaboration, I'd be happy to provide it. Good luck! Thank you for your very kind reply. I have Music Match, so I am going to try that, and see what happens.

[tmill2500]

Skip Sonic Stage alto gether and take any MP3 and with MS import running, Clie connected to PC find folder on Clie for Audio player and drag and drop Mp3s no conversion, easy or open audio player and select transfer from menu...easy as pie no fuss no muss...

[greg elmassian]

i've emailed here privately. she is a bit of a novice, so you must be more explicit than "find folder on clie for audio player" ...

best advice (which i have given several times) ... start small... get a working mp3.... then install with hotsync (no looking for the right folder, no learning how to run msimport, etc).... then try audio player...

once she learns how to load mp3's then the other questions of why certain ones don't work, where they go, why can't use msimport on ms pro, why atrac3, why blah blah blah... can be addressed...

for now, KISS (the acronym)

greg

[n2ifp]

MP3 tutorials

http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Multimedia/Music_and_Audio/Audio_Formats/MP3/FAQs,_Help,_and_Tutorials/?tc=1

[oneeyesquare]

The wild world of MP3!!!! Wish I had a bigger memory stick so I could carry some music with me... Or maybe a CF driver/card that I could offload some files to.... Must be nice to be a beta tester....
:D

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by oneeyesquare
The wild world of MP3!!!! Wish I had a bigger memory stick so I could carry some music with me... Or maybe a CF driver/card that I could offload some files to.... Must be nice to be a beta tester....
:D

He-he, actually I prefer to use my mini-disc player for tunes on the go. The Clie is to heavy and clunky to use. The MD player on one rechargeable AA battery can last for days.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by dorianne


Hi,

I have (unfortunately) bought a MG Memory Stick Pro and some MP3 files do not work, when copied via MS Import, they have to be copied with SonicStage.

But the software tells me, that my Memory Stick cannot be used to Check out files, because it does not support copyright things or the software cannot read the stick. I use SonicStage 1.5.

Do you know what is the problem?

Thanks,
Markus