If the MXD-PCD3 deck is an April Fool's idea, the concept has to be
considered as theoreticallly valid.
To modify an existing MXD-D3 chassis to the proposed concept, it would
require the ability to provide a USB-Audio circuitry in the chassis, write a
USB add-on to the MXD-D3 firmware, and write USB software for the PC and
iMac.
The firmware would have to support:
1: Transport control of the CD-Audio and MD-Audio drives
2: Publishing media data to the USB bus
3: Switching between the on-board sources, the USB-Audio subsystem and the
external SP/DIF (optical) input and the analogue-digital interface circuitry
4: Support for interworking with SCMS (SP/DIF domain) and SDMI (Internet
domain) copy protection mechanisms
5: Gateway to the "set controls" on the front of the unit by enumerating
them as USB-HID devices
6: Managing the MD-Audio file system under the USB bus.
An option that can be considered is to make the proposed unit a complete
computer peripheral by making the CD-Audio drive a CD-ROM drive; and the
MD-Audio drive an MD-Data2 drive. This means that if the unit is hooked up
to a PC, the CD player becomes a secondary CD-ROM drive and the MD recorder
becomes an MD-Data2 drive thus putting it in a position to become a "Zip
Killer" as I mentioned before.
Other abilities could include streaming of computer audio out of the unit to
an amplifier, thus rendering the sound card obsolete.
The software should perform the following functions:
1: Transport control of the CD and MD drives
2: Passing waveform audio, including rendered MIDI audio to the proposed
concept unit
3: Acquiring waveform audio from any source in the unit so it can be edited
and used as part of multimedia
4: "Shadowing" the control panel and display for PC-based CD and MD playback
5: Computer-controlled CD-MD dubbing and the ability to record PC audio
(Internet radio, MP3s, etc) to MD
6: Computer-based MD editing and titling (waveform views of MD-Audio to
allow easy removal of "dead air", use computer keyboard to title quickly,
etc)
The CD-ROM and MD-Data2 functionaliry could be catered for with extra
drivers for the drives. As well, DirectX support can be built into the
drivers so the unit can do all sorts of PC audio functions such as games
audio.
Let's expose this as a concept to MD equipment makers like Sony.
Also why doesn't Sony develop a VAIO PC that fits in well with their popular
"E-series" mainstream-priced hi-fi gear like the MXD-D3 CD-MD deck or the
MDS-JE520 MD deck.
There are incentives for this to happen with the Microsoft-Intel PC-99
specification.
With regards,
Simon Mackay
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