SonicStage 3.3 - An improvement, at least it installs and works!

Given the enormous trouble I’ve had upgrading Sony’s SonicStage in the past I was rather nervous when an email arrived suggesting an upgrade to SonicStage 3.3.

Given all the justifiably bad press Sony have had recently with the whole rootkit thing I wondered what sort of havoc SonicStage would cause this time. It took a week to recover from last attempt to upgrade and trashed my SonicStage music database. From the traffic and response to that blog post I was not alone.

The dilemma is that I need SonicStage to use my Net-MD player…

So, after a careful review of the install instructions and backup of the old database I started the upgrade. After a very slow download, despite a broadband connection it arrived at dialup speed, removal of the previous version and installation worked perfectly finishing with a request to reboot. On restarting the old database was upgraded and I now have a seemingly happy SonicStage 3.3 installation. I’ve added a CD and transferred some tracks to/from a Mini disc with no problems at all. That might not seem startling but in comparison with the pain of the other upgrades it’s a miracle.

I don’t have a download link as SonicStage is localised, visit www.Sony.com to find the correct version for your combination of hardware/location.

From Sony;

SonicStage Version 3.3 is now available for consumers with compatible Sony Hi-MD Walkman, Net MD Walkman, Network Walkman, ATRAC CD Walkman, CD/Radio Cassette Players.

SonicStage 3.3 includes a number of step-up features…

 

A dynamic playlist is now available. This allows user to a) select track genres and artists and specify the order of tracks to display, and b) make Playlist by Date Imported, Rating, Playback Count, the Number of Transfer, Number of Tracks, Playback Time and File Size dynamically.

New Playlist updated on My Library renews existing Playlist on an ATRAC Audio Device (by transferring the Playlist to an ATRAC Audio Device).

Ripping an Audio CD in ATRAC Advanced Lossless format is now available. Utilising new audio-compression technology, an Audio CD can be recorded into My Library without any sound degradation. This new technology allows users to record an Audio CD to approximately about 30~80 percent of the original size. The data compressed by ATRAC Advanced Lossless contains the data of ATRAC3 or ATRAC3plus (to maintain compatibility with current devices).

Ripping an Audio CD in WMA format is now available.

A cover art of an Audio CD can be displayed on SonicStage automatically, when inserting an Audio CD into the CD Drive.

When ripping an Audio CD, the option to select and add copyright protection with OpenMG is now available.

For devices that support Memory Stick PRO and Memory Stick PRO Duo, you can check-out of ATRAC3 or ATRAC3plus to Memory Stick.

Ripping an Audio CD to the following ATRAC format (ATRAC3plus/ATRAC3) is now available - 20kbps / 256kbps / 192kbps / 160kbps / 132kbps (ATRAC3) / 128kbps / 96kbps / 64kbps / 48kbps

Ripping an Audio CD into MP3 format is available.

Tracks recorded from microphone or analog inputs on Hi-MD devices can be uploaded to SonicStage and saved in WAV (PCM) format. The availability of new functions such as Create an ATRAC CD, Create an Audio CD and Create an MP3 CD. (MP3 format tracks in My Library only.)

Tracks in My Library can be transferred unlimitedly.

Tracks recorded on Hi-MD devices can be imported to My Library unlimitedly.

Tracks can be converted at a specified bit rate and transferred to devices or media.

Functionality to connect to CDDB (A distributed network CD database that contains track information such as released year and composer about most audio CDs in circulation) is now available.