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WHAT IS AN MD (MINI DISC)?
An MD is only 64
mm
(25/8 inches)
in diameter,
about
half the
size of a conventional
CD. But an MD can be used to store and
playback
a full 74 minutes
of"data such as a CD. Unlike a CD, an
MD comes
in a plastic cartridge,
so that it can be handled
with
ease. The cartridge
also protects
the disc inside from shocks,
dust and scratches.
Unlike cassette
tapes,
which can become
stretched
or tangled,
an MD is an excellent
durable
media.
There are two types of MDs: "Optical discs" and "Magneto-optical
discs". Both types use laser beams and optical pick-up technology
to read recorded
data during playback.
Optical
discs
These
are playback
only discs.
Like CDs, they
are used
as
prerecorded
music discs,
You cannot
record or edit them.
ml
4
The shutter covers
the
opening
only
Label
on the non-labeled
side of the MD.
Recordable
MO*l
discs
These are recordable discs which can be recorded on again and
again, like cassette tapes. The recording
method called magneto-
optical
technology
employs
a laser and magnetism
to record
signals.
Therefore,
the quality
of recorded
sound
does
not
deteriorate
even after many playbacks
and recordings.
'+
m
+
The
shutter
covers
Label
the opening
on both
sides of the MD.
*1 MO: An abbreviation
of Magneto
Optical
Ultra compact size made possible by ATRAC*2technology
A newly developed
digital
audio compression
technology
called
the ATRAC
system
automatically
extracts
only the frequencies
that
are
actually
audible
to the
human
ear
and
cuts
the
frequencies
which
are inaudible.
This compresses
the amount
of data to be recorded
to 1/5 of the normal amount.
The ATRAC
system
is based upon studies
carried out in the field of auditory
psychology
and does not impair the quality of the audible
sound.
*2ATRAC: An abbreviation
of Adaptive TRansform
Acoustic Coding
Quick random access
One of the great features
of the MD is that you can search
for
desired
tracks quickly. There are also quick and easy functions
for random
playback,
in which
the order of the tracks
can be
rearranged
at random,
and for renumbering
tracks enabling
them
to be played in any order.
Recording
on the MD is performed
differently
from that of a
cassette
tape or a DAT. Therefore,
the MD system
is subject
to
the following
restrictions.
"TOC*
Full" is displayed even if the recording time does
not reach the maximum recordable time of the disc (60-
minute or 74-minute)
"TOC Full" is displayed
when 254 tracks are already
recorded
on a disc, without
respect to the recording
time.
*TOC: An abbreviation
of Table Of Contents.
"TOC Full" is displayed even if a disc is not fully recorded
on
If there are lots of emphasis
data in a particular
track, the unit
handles
the data as index
codes,
and tracks
are counted,
in
addition,
without
respect to the time and number
of tracks.
The remaining time on a disc is not increased even after
some short tracks have been erased
When the remaining
time on a disc is displayed,
it may not be
increased
even after erasing
short tracks because
the sections
less than eight seconds
are not counted.
Certain tracks cannot be joined (the COMBINE function
does not function)
.
Tracks created
by editing
may not be joined.
It is not possible
to combine
a track recorded
in monaural
and
a track recorded
in stereo.
The total of the recorded time and the remaining time on
a disc does not match the maximum
recordable
time of
the disc (60-minute
or 74-minute)
Recording
is performed
in a minimum
unit of one cluster
(two
seconds).
Even
if the recorded
section
is shorter
than
two
seconds,
a two-second
space is needed in recording.
Therefore,
the available
time becomes
shorter.
Track
numbers
may not be registered
properly
When recording from a CD with CD
MD, small tracks maybe
created
depending
on the contents
of a CD.
When
using the AUTO MARK function,
track numbers
may not
be registered
properly
depending
on the contents
of the CD.
Digital inputs may not be acceptable
When digital recording
is attempted
from recorded
material
with
copyrights,
digital dubbing
cannot be performed
to a recordable
MD from another
MD recorded
in digital
because
of the built-in
record
restriction
function
which
complies
with
the SCMS*
standard.
* SCMS
(Serial
Copy Management
System)
is the standard
to
restrict
single
digital
dubbing
between
digital
audio
systems
thus protecting
copyrights.
Mini Disc
(prerecorded
sound source)
Digital dubbing
II
II
Recording
through
26
ENGLISH
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