HHB PORTADISC MDP500 Quick Reference Manual page 2

OVERVIEW
The HHB PORTADISC MDP500 has been designed for simple, intuitive recording using the MiniDisc
format. With comprehensive signal connectivity, the PORTADISC can be used out in the field or in the
studio, providing users with the means to record exceptionally high quality audio.
HOW TO RECORD A MINIDISC
Insert a blank disc (face up and in the direction of the arrow) into the slot on the side of the
PORTADISC. Then select your input source; from external microphone, line input, digital input or
internal microphone.
RECORDING FROM AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE
• Connect a stereo microphone to the left and right XLR mic inputs (or connect a mono microphone to
either input).
• Press the INPUT button once, then press F1 and F3 to select 'MIC' for each input. Press F2 to set
selection.
• With the PORTADISC in record pause mode, adjust the REC LEVEL control for the desired recording
level – this is not active if the limiter mode is set to 'AGC'.
• OTHER MICROPHONE INPUT ADJUSTMENTS
• Press INPUT again to select 'MIC-Att', then use F1 and F3 to select mic attenuation from '0dB',
'-15dB' or '-30dB' for each input. Press F2 to set selection.
• Press INPUT again to select 'BASSCUT', then use F1 and F3 to select the bass cut from 'OFF',
'75Hz' or '150Hz' for each input. Press F2 to set selection.
• Press INPUT again to select 'LIMITER', then use F1 and F3 to select limiter from 'ON', 'OFF',
'GANGED' or 'AGC' for each input. Press F2 to set selection. If one channel is set to 'GANGED' or
'AGC', the other is set to the same. In ganged mode, limiting on either channel will affect the other
channel by the same amount, thereby retaining the correct stereo image. If you subsequently decide
to set either channel to limiter 'ON' or 'OFF', you will need to select 'ON' or 'OFF' for both channels
using F1 and F3 before setting this with the F2 button.
• Press INPUT again to select 'PHANTOM', then use F1 and F3 to switch phantom power 'ON' or
'OFF'. Press F2 to set selection and F3 to exit.
RECORDING FROM EXTERNAL LINE SOURCES
• Connect the external line source to the left and right XLR line inputs (mono sources can be
connected to either input).
• Press the INPUT button once, then press F1 and F3 to select 'LINE' for each input. Press F2 to set
selection.
• Press INPUT again to select 'LIMITER', then use F1 and F3 to select limiter from 'ON', 'OFF',
'GANGED' or 'AGC' for each input. Press F2 to set selection and F3 to exit.
• Adjust the REC LEVEL control for the desired recording level - this is not active if the 'LIMITER' mode
is set to 'AGC'.
RECORDING FROM DIGITAL SOURCES
• Connect the external digital source to either the coaxial or optical SPDIF inputs or connect a USB
source (e.g. a compatible laptop computer) to the USB input.
• Press the INPUT button once, then press F1 or F3 to select 'DIGITAL' for either input. Press F2 to
set selection.
• Press INPUT again, then select the correct digital input using F1 from 'COAXIAL', 'OPTICAL' or 'USB'.
Press F2 to set selection and F3 to exit.
RECORDING FROM THE INTERNAL MICROPHONE
• Press the INPUT button once, then press either F1 or F3 to select 'INTMIC' for either channel.
Press F2 to set selection and F3 to exit.
• The REC LEVEL control is not active with the internal microphone – an automatic gain control (AGC)
system is used.
To begin recording, slide the RECORD button to the right. To begin from record pause mode, press
PAUSE before sliding the RECORD button, then press PAUSE again to begin recording. Press the
STOP or PAUSE buttons to stop or pause the recording.
To listen back to a recorded MD disc, press the PLAY button. Pressing PAUSE will pause playback.
The REW and FF buttons enable you to rewind or fast forward audio on the MD disc in order to locate
a particular point in a track. You can also search through the disc track by track using the AMS
and buttons.
HOW TO EDIT A MINIDISC
The EDIT button on the top of the PORTADISC enables tracks to be erased, divided, combined or moved.
It can also be used to name a track or a disc.
NAME A TRACK OR A DISC
• Press EDIT once to display 'NAME INPUT?'.
• Press F1 to select the track to be named or, to name the disc itself, press F1 until 'DISC' is displayed.
Press F2 to confirm selection.
• Use the AMS buttons to scroll through alpha-numeric characters for the first letter of the track or disc
name. Use F3 or the FF and REW buttons to move on to the next character along the display. Once you
have completed the name, press F2 to set.
• Once name information has been written to disc, pressing F1 will show the disc name and F2 displays
the track name.
ERASE A TRACK
• Press EDIT twice to display 'ERASE ?'.
• Press F1 to select the track to be erased. Press F2 to confirm selection.
• 'ERASE ???' will be displayed. Press F2 to confirm erase or F3 to exit without erasing.
ERASE ALL TRACKS
• Press EDIT three times to display 'ALL ERASE ?'.
• Press F2 to confirm.
• 'ALL ERASE ???' will be displayed. Press F2 to confirm erase or F3 to exit without erasing.
COMBINE TRACKS
• Press EDIT four times to display 'COMBINE ?'.
• Press F1 to select the track to be combined with its following track. Press F2 to start rehearsal.
• Press F2 to accept the combine operation.
• 'Complete!' will be displayed. Press F2 to confirm erase or F3 to exit without erasing.
MOVE TRACKS
• Press EDIT five times to display 'MOVE >> ?'.
• Press F1 to select the track to be moved, then press F3 to select its new destination track number.
Press F2 to confirm the move.
DIVIDE TRACKS
• During playback of the track you wish to divide, press PAUSE at the approximate point where you want the
track to be divided.
• Press EDIT once to display 'DIVIDE ?'.
• Press F2 to begin auditioning the divide point. The PORTADISC will play the audio from the divide point.
• Adjust this point (if necessary) using the FF and REW buttons. Then press F2 to confirm divide.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
The INPUT, SETUP, and SYSTEM buttons configure many of the PORTADISC's settings.
INPUT BUTTON
Press INPUT to select your input source, from 'MIC', 'LINE, 'DIGITAL', 'INTMIC' and 'OFF'. Once the input
source has been set, pressing INPUT again enables more advanced features to be set, including 'MIC-Att',
'BASSCUT', 'LIMITER' and 'PHANTOM' if the input is set to a mic source, 'LIMITER' for a line source and
'COAXIAL', 'OPTICAL' or "USB' for a digital source.
SETUP BUTTON
The SETUP button is used to save and recall five user settings, 'USER1' to 'USER5', and three recording
presets, 'MIC REC', 'LINE REC' and 'DIGI REC'. It is also used to set 'CLOCK/DATE SETUP?', 'DATE
FORMAT', 'PEAK HOLD METER?' and 'DISPLAY CONTRAST'.
SYSTEM BUTTON
Press the SYSTEM button to set system functions, from 'REC MODE?', 'TRACK-INCREMENT?', THRESHOLD
LEVEL', 'AUTO-START/CUT?', 'AUTO-PAUSE?', 'PRE-RECORD?', 'HEADPHONE MONITOR', 'OVERWRITE MODE?',
'REPEAT MODE?', 'DIGITAL OUTPUT?' and 'AUTO POWER DOWN?'.
DISPLAY BUTTON
❙
The DISPLAY button scrolls through different displays during stop, play and record modes. The display
may show total number of tracks and total playback time, MD time remaining, playback or recording track
and time, level margin and the current or stamped time and date.