System Limitations - Sony MZ-R5ST Operating Instruction

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
"TRACK FULL" appears even
before the disc has reached the
maximum recording time (60 or
74 minutes).
"TRACK 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 or 74
minutes).
The edited tracks may exhibit
sound dropout during search
operations.
Cause
When 254 tracks have been recorded on the disc,
"TRACK 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 cannot
be erased. You cannot combine 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 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. When recording is
stopped, the last unit of recording always uses
this unit of 2 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
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; a maximum of 6 seconds
compared to the potential recording time for each
stop.
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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