System Limitations - Sony Walkman MZ-R909 Operating Instructions Manual

System limitations

The recording system in your MiniDisc recorder is radically different from those used in
cassette and DAT decks and is characterized by the limitations described below. Note,
however, that these limitations are due to the inherent nature of the MD recording system
itself and not to mechanical causes.
Symptom
"TR FULL"
appears even before
the disc has reached
the maximum
recording time (60,
74, or 80 minutes)
and the recording
cannot be done.
"TR FULL"
appears even before
the disc has reached
the maximum track
number or
recording time.
Track marks cannot
be erased.
The remaining
recording time does
not increase even
after erasing
numerous short
tracks.
The total recorded
time and the
remaining time on
the disc may not
total the maximum
recording time (60,
74, or 80 minutes).
The edited tracks
may exhibit sound
dropout during
search operations.
Cause
When 254 tracks have been recorded on the disc, "TR FULL"
appears regardless of the total recorded time. More than 254 tracks
cannot be recorded on the disc. To continue recording, erase
unnecessary tracks.
Repeated recording and erasing may cause fragmentation and
scattering of data. Although those scattered data can be read, each
fragment is counted as a track. In this case, the number of tracks
may reach 254 and further recording is not possible. To continue
recording, erase unnecessary tracks.
When the data of a track is fragmented, the track mark of a
fragment under 12 seconds long (recorded in SP stereo), 24 seconds
long (recorded in LP2 stereo mode or monaural mode), or 48
seconds long (recorded in LP4 stereo mode) cannot be erased. You
cannot combine tracks recorded in different recording modes, e.g., a
track recorded in stereo and a track recorded in monaural; nor can
you combine a track recorded with digital connection and a track
recorded with analog connection.
Tracks of under 12 seconds, 24 seconds, or 48 seconds in length are
not counted and so erasing them may not lead to an increase in the
recording time.
Normally, recording is done in minimum units of approximately 2
seconds (in SP stereo), 4 seconds (in LP2 stereo mode or
monaural), or 8 seconds (in LP4 stereo mode). When recording is
stopped, the last unit of recording always uses this unit of 2
seconds, 4 seconds, or 8 seconds even if the actual recording is
shorter. Likewise, when recording is restarted after the stop, the
recorder will automatically insert a blank space amounting to 2
seconds, 4 seconds, or 8 seconds before the next recording. (This is
to prevent accidental erasing of a previous track whenever a new
recording is started). Therefore, the actual recording time will
decrease whenever a recording is stopped by a maximum of 6
seconds, 12 seconds, or 24 seconds.
The fragmentation of data may cause sound dropout while
searching because the tracks are played in higher speed than normal
playback.
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