What is an md (mini disc), Type of md, Optical discs – Aiwa CSD-MD50 User Manual

Page 14: Recordable mo*^ discs, Quick random access, The limitations of md, Track numbers may not be registered properly, Digital inputs may not be acceptable

Attention! The text in this document has been recognized automatically. To view the original document, you can use the "Original mode".

Advertising
background image

WHAT IS AN MD (MINI DISC)?

An MD is only 64 mm (2 % inches) in diameter, about half the
size of a conventional CD. But MD can be used to store and play

back a full 74 minutes of data such as a CD. Unlike a CD, 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.

TYPE OF MD

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 on or edit them.

The shutter covers
the opening only on
the non-iabeled
side of the MD.

Recordable MO*^ 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.

The shutter covers

the opening on the
both sides of the MD.

MO: An abbreviation of Magneto Optical

Ultra compact size made possible by ATRAC*^

technology

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 dafa 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.

ATRAC: 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 which enables

them to be played in any order.

THE LIMITATIONS OF MD

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 of 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 of 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, which 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 with the maximum

recordable time of the disc (60-minute or 74-minute).

Recording is performed by the 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,
fhe available time becomes shorter. If there are scratches on a
disc, the available time becomes shorter as well, because the
sections which are scratched are automatically erased.

Track numbers may not be registered properly.

When recording from a CD through digital inputs (using the CD

► MD button), small tracks may be 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 the digital audio system

thus protecting copyrights.

MD

(prerecorded sound source) Digital dubbing

ir=®=^

1 4

ENGLISH

Digital

dubbing

E

Recording through analog
inputs

J

e

E>

J

e

Advertising