Right, here's my problem.

I'm recording tracks from my playlist to MD digitally via an optical cable and when the track changes on my playlist the MD isn't starting a new track.

I know about the "insert pause" plugin, and if I put a pause in of 3+ seconds it will force a track change, but then I end up with a 3 second gap at the end of the track.

I've got the sync mode set up on my minidisc player so it only records when it recieves a signal and if there's a cut in the data it'll start a new track, but as I said before, if there's 3+ seconds of silent data it'll also add a new track.

If, while recording, I change the track playing in Foobar, the minidisc detects the track change and starts a new track. If I stop and play foobar quickly, the minidisc detects the track change even if it's only stopped for a split second. If I pause and resume the current track in foobar, the minidisc will only detect it as a new track if the silence is over 3 seconds. When the current playing song finishes and new one starts, the MD is unaware of the track change.

I have some idea on what's going on (I might be completely off):

The MD detects a track change when there is a break in the signal.
There is a break in the signal generated when a track is changed manually in foobar.
There is a break in the signal generated when a track is stopped in foobar.
When a track is paused, silence is tranmitted digitally, but the signal is constant.
There is no break in signal between a track ending and a track starting.
The pause between tracks plugin sends a silent signal rather than halting the signal.

I'm guessing I need some sort of plugin that creates a break in the signal between each track, rather than sending a silent signal.

Any ideas?

Pause between tracks
http://www.cqasys.com/projects/kode54/index.php

He already tried that, and it adds an unwanted pause to the resulting tracks. What we need is an output that reopens between tracks, I guess.

Oups. My bad. Next time, I'll read more carefully. Sorry.

Yeah, the "add pause" plugin does appear to be aimed at MD recording, but analogue MD recording. I need something that, as kode54 said, restarts the output after every track.

Here's something I tried

Outputted to wav from Foobar. Slapped all the .wav files into Media Player Classic. Media Player Classic does restart the stream after each track, hurrah!

Ach. However, because the minidisc stops recording and starts recording in an instant it misses the first few seconds of the next track.

What I really need is a "stop between tracks" DSP plugin, which is exactly the same as "pause between tracks" but stops the output. If I could get the stream to stop for 3 (or whatever) seconds between tracks, the MD should be ready to start recording again.

Is there a feature request area I should be suggesting this to?

Put the files on a slow disk and force full file buffering? That'll give you a stop.

(At least it gives me on )

I use my PC for music, and I use my minidisk when commuting everyday. To transfer music from PC to minidisk I have to record it in Real Time, and as you know that can take forever (76mins). Is there another way to get the mp3 from the PC onto the MD?

Get one of the Net MD Sony Player / recorders. They record faster than realtime.

If he gets another player, he may as well shoot for something better than another MD player.

...go on kode54, you've been waiting fo me to ask you. Tell me, what do you think is bareing in mind, this is for use on a crowded commuter train. At the moment, my slim MD sits in my shirt pocket.

What about something like this: http://www.etronics.co.kr/audiocard/audiocard.asp

just about any solid state portable audio player (i nearly said mp3 player) would be smaller than the MD player, surely?

Hello kjoonlee, this sherwood audiocard looks interesting. Who else makes such things. (I've searched Google for audiocard but only get PC sound cards in the results.)

yeah i think i was talking about something like this a LONG time ago

(like in the .4's or something...)

before foobar was "popular"?

and for the same reasons... MD recording.

If you are going to be sitting there, might as well use stop after current then press play again.