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MINIDISC MANUAL
V3.0E
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Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. The MiniDisc System 1.1. The Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.2. What it is and How it Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.3. Serial Copy Management System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 1.4. Additional Features of the Premastered MD . . . . .
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Introduction T he quick random access of Compact Disc players has become a necessity for music lovers. The high quality of digital sound is now the norm. The future of personal audio must meet the above criteria and more. That’s why Sony has created the MiniDisc, a revolutionary evolution in the field of digital audio based on an advanced miniature optical disc. The MD offers consumers the quick random access, durability and high sound quality of optical media, as well as superb compactness, sho
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The Features 1. The MiniDisc System 1.1. The Features With the MiniDisc, Sony has created a revolutionary optical disc. It offers all the features that music fans have been waiting for. Quick Random Access The MiniDisc offers quick random access to the music selection or phrase of your choice; something only a disc is capable of. Total Durability The MiniDisc can never stretch, break or tangle like cassette tapes. Since the free floating optical pick-up never touches the surface, scratches are
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R e co r di What it is and How it works is special. Prerecorded music packages require a 1.2. What it is and How it Works label, featuring the artist’s picture or other infor- mation – for it is the artwork that most often Two Kinds of MiniDiscs are Available: captures the buyer’s eye. Therefore the top face of the cartridge is left completely free for the Premastered MiniDiscs for label. A window for the laser beam to read the Music Software disc is only necessary on the bottom face. Premaster
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What it is and How it Works The same 0.5mW laser is used for the playback of layer in the disc is heated by the laser to a tem- premastered optical discs. The amount of light perature above the Curie point (approximately reflected depends on whether or not a pit exists 200° C), it temporarily looses its coercive force. on the surface of the disc. If there is no pit, a As the disc rotates and the irradiated domain high proportion of the light is reflected back returns to normal temperature, its m
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What it is and How it Works Quick Random Access 1. Ordinary Method: Reprogramming the A: Before Rearranging Music Data and Order are Recorded Time-Wise Order of Music Inner Edge A B C D E F G H Outer Edge Disc Signal Lead in 1 2 3 4 Lead out B: After Rearranging Lead in 1 2 3 Lead out Rearranged Area 2. MiniDisc: A: Before Rearranging Music Data and Order are Recorded Area-Wise Disc Signal Lead in UTOC Only Music Data is Recorded Lead out UTOC Data TNO START STOP 1 A B 2 C D 3 E F 4
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What it is and How it Works Threshold of Hearing: ATRAC Digital Audio Compression Technology As sound level diminishes, there is a level below which the human ear cannot detect. This thres- In order to provide approximately 74 minutes of hold varies with frequency. The threshold of music on the 2.5-inch MiniDisc, a digital audio audibility is lowest for sounds with a frequency compression technology called “ATRAC” (Adaptive of approximately 4kHz; that is, sounds close to Transform Acoustic Codin
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What it is and How it Works Shock-Resistant Memor Shock-Resistant Memor y y Conventional optical pick-up systems can easily buffer memory. As long as the pick-up returns to mistrack when subjected to shock or vibration. In the correct position within 10 seconds, the digital audio CDs, this causes “skipping” or listener never experiences mistracking or muting. muting. Resistance to shock and vibration is a vir- Since signals enter the buffer memory faster than tual prerequisite for true portable
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What it is and How it Works Sony MiniDisc System 1.3. Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) Specifications The MD conforms to the SCMS convention (see ISO- Channels: 2 (Stereo) 958 + Amendment 84 (C. O.) 126 and 126A). The Serial Copy Management System allows to make a Frequency Response: 5 - 20.000 Hz first digital copy from digital sources. Further digital copies from protected sources are prevented, copies Dynamic Range: 105 dB in the analog domain remain possible. Wow- and Flutter: Unmeasura
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MD Production 2. The production process of the premastered MD 2.1. MD Production 1 2 3 4 5 6 Input Pre- Mastering Disc Cartridge Packaging Material Mastering Replication Assembly Æ Æ Æ Æ Æ Æ 1. Input Material DADC requires following input components from customers: • A MD master tape or a sound carrier as for CD production (e.g. PQ-encoded U-Matic 1630). • Print films, as well as colour proofs, for artwork, label- and cartridge print. • Completely filled in form sheets (sample forms 1, 2 & 3 on
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BOOKLET MD Components 2.2. MD Components The MD consists of the following components: Upper Cartridge (e.g. Polycarbonate) Upper Cartridge (e.g. Polycarbonate) Label (Paper) Label (Paper) Disc (e.g. Polycarbonate) Disc (e.g. Polycarbonate) Clamping Plate (e.g. Stainless Steel) Clamping Plate (e.g. Stainless Steel) Shutter Lock (e.g. POM) Shutter Lock (e.g. POM) Shutter (e.g. POM) Shutter (e.g. POM) Lower Cartridge (e.g. Polycarbonate) Lower Cartridge (e.g. Polycarbonate) WARNING: All
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MD Components 1. Upper Cartridge The upper cartridge is made of grey plastics (e.g. polycarbonate). Its purpose is to protect the MD against mechanical damage or dust. The upper cartridge also forms the spine on which the disc ID information will be printed in white ink. 2. Label The paper label is glued onto the upper cartridge. 3. Disc The disc is manufactured in the same way as CDs are. It has a polycarbonate layer which contains the data. A thin layer of aluminum is used as reflective media,
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Input Components Specifications music start times with an accuracy down to 3.1. Sound Carrier Specifications one frame. • Please note all noises (kind of noise and time at DADC offers all necessary facilities to prepare which it appears) as well as general quality sound carriers for MD-production. For exam- notes in the ”Sound & Noise Information” ple PQ-encoding, digital editing for the sheet (form 2). common digital tape formats U-Matic and • Start recording of time code and digital mute at
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Input Components Specifications • Tape widths: 1/4", 1/2" PQ Encoding Start recording approx. 15 sec. after Time code • Formats: NAB, CCIR, AES start. Please pay special attention to the offset- • Noise reduction: Dolby A, Dolby SR time of the begin-points. We recommend to use • Reference signals: as standardized e.g: for an offset-time of at least 5 frames to avoid that 15ips CCIR tape: the music start is cut off during playback. 5sec 1kHz 0dB left channel 5sec 1kHz 0dB right channel Definition
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SAMPLE Premastering Instructions Form 1 Premastering Instructions 8 3 1 3 7 4 2 8 7 5 1 2 2 UPC/EAN Code : Catalogue No.: 123456789 Customer: Studio: Music Company Record Factory Total Tracks: Artist: Sample Artist 12 Titel: Total Time: Sample 46:44 Source: o U-MATIC o ANALOG o DAT o OTHER ................ Type of Recorder: SONY DMR - 4000 o 1/4" EQ: NR.: Cal. Tones: Fs: o MASTER o 1/2" o NO NR.: o CCIR o 63/100 Hz .......dB o 44.1 kHz o MATERIAL o 15 IPS o DOLBY A o NAB o 1 kHz
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SAMPLE Sound & Noise Information Sound & Noise Information Form 2 Title: Artist: Catalogue No.: T R Sample Sample Artist 123456789 # EMP 1 V N V N 0 ____________ 1 ____________ 2 ____________ 3 ____________ 4 ____________ 5 ____________ EMP 25 10 50 2 V N 0 ____________ 1 ____________ 2 ____________ 3 ____________ 4 ____________ 5 ____________ EMP 50 3 T N 0 ____________ 1 ____________ 2 ____________ 3 ____________ 4 ____________ 5 ____________ EMP 05 4 V V N 0 ____________ 1 ____________ 2 ____
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Abbreviations for possible noise Abbreviations for possible noise AE Abrupt End, Sudden End I Instrument Noise BE Bad Edit LCH Left Channel BL Blow Noise, Wind Noise LFN Low Frequency Noise CB Cut Begin M Mouth/Lip Noise CE Cut End MIC Microphone CF Cross Fade MUS Musician Noise CL Click Noise N Noise CR Crackle OWT On Whole Track DB Double Begin PN Play Noise POP Pop Noise DE Double End DIS Distortion PT Print Through DO Drop Out R Room Noise FI Fade In RCH Right Channel FL Flutter SB Sudden/Ab
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Additional TOC Data/Character Information This allows to store also data like disc title, track 3.2. Additional TOC Data/ name, disc recording date and track recording Character Information date in the TOC. For disc title and track names in As one of the new features of the MD, character total up to 2048 characters are available. This information can be displayed during playback. text information can be recalled during play back This information is included in the TOC (table of of the MD and th
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SAMPLE Character Information Form 3 Character Information 1 3 Page ....... of ...... ARTIST: TITLE: CATALOGUE No: Emotions Mariah Carey 01-468851-50 10 Disc Information: No of tracks (max 255) 5099746885187 UPC/EAN - code: Mariah Carey###Emotions Disc name (max. 160 characters) Track No. _____ Information: 1 DE S34 92 30212 ISRC - code (ISO 3901): Emotions Track name (max. 160 characters) Track No. _____ Information: 2 DE S34 92 38490 ISRC - code (ISO 3901): And You Don't Remember Track name (
