MiniDisc is the digital replacement for audio cassette and was the first truly recordable digital audio format for the home and on the move. The disc is 2.5 inches in diameter, stored in an enclosed cartridge, and playback/recording only uses one side of the disc. It is an extremely durable format and the quality of sound will not deteriorate, even when used regularly by a vocalist. An area around the centre of the disc stores TOC (Table Of Contents) information i.e. track title information, track number information and position of track. Total playback time is commonly 74 minutes however 80 minute discs are also available. There is an accidental erasure tab located on the disc which can be slid across to prevent accidental erasure of tracks. The shockproof nature of MiniDisc make it ideal for use in a professional singing environment, and it has the following advantages over CD :-
1. Minidisc has now become the worldwide industry standard for vocal entertainers.
2. It's small compact size makes it ideally portable for musicians and vocalists.
3. It is an enclosed medium, i.e. it cannot be subject to 'track skip' as the disc is enclosed in it's own solid cartridge. You can handle it easily without worrying about dust, fingerprints etc. - a common problem with CD.
4. There are no compatibility problems. A minidisc can be used with any minidisc player, therefore you can be certain that your purchase will play back on your current equipment - unlike CD which now has CD-R and CD-RW formats leading to incompatibility problems.
5. Superior editing capabilities: once a track has been recorded, it can be moved into any desired position on the disc, enabling you to change the running order of tracks in seconds. An unwanted track can be erased if desired, and a new one added in it's place. There is no need to find a spare blank section to add or move a track, as the minidisc automatically handles this.
6. Titling capabilities: no need for
track running orders on pieces of paper. The minidisc displays the track name,
artist name and track number onscreen. Common editing functions on a minidisc
player are; Divide, Move, Combine, Programmed Move, Erase/All Erase, Track/Disc
Name. Characters that can be input for on-screen track information are; Capital
letters,
Lower-case letters and Symbols.
Applying labels to a Minidisc
When sticking labels to a minidisc cartridge, be sure to observe the following. If a label is not affixed properly, you may be unable to eject the disc from the machine:
We would always recommend labeling the minidisc case/sleeve rather than the disc itself to avoid any potential problems.
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