64 Q&A Section
MD4—Owner’s Manual
11 Q&A Section
This section is intended to answer your questions about MD4 and MD DATA discs.
What’s the difference between MiniDiscs and MD DATA Discs?
MiniDiscs were designed to store mono and stereo sound data. MD DATA discs were originally
designed to store computer data. Ideal for use with digital cameras. However, they can also be
used to store mono, stereo, and four-channel sound data. That’s how MD4 uses them.
Can MD4 use normal MiniDiscs?
Yes, but only for 2-track or mono recording and playback. MiniDiscs recorded on MD4 can be
played on normal MiniDisc decks.
What happens if I insert an MD DATA Disc into a MiniDisc deck?
The disc will not be recognized. MiniDisc decks cannot use MD DATA discs.
How does MD4 know what type of disc I insert?
MiniDiscs and MD DATA discs have a different shape on one corner. Also, the TOC on the disc
contains information related to disc type.
How long is the life of an MD DATA disc?
So long as the disc is not damaged physically, it has an infinite life span. Even after one million
record and playback operations there is no signal degradation.
Do I need to format an MD DATA Disc before recording with MD4?
No. MD4 uses MD DATA discs straight out of the wrapper. No fuss. An MD DATA disc that has
been used to store computer data, however, must be formatted before use with MD4. See Erasing
Songs on page 48 for more information.
Can I protect my MD4 recordings against accidental erasure?
Yes. MD DATA discs have a write protect tab.
What is the available recording time?
This depends on the Recording mode: 37 minutes for four-track (4TR), 74 minutes for stereo
(2TR), and 148 minutes for mono (MONO).
What is the frame counter?
A frame is a integral part of the MD DATA disc format. One frame can hold 11.6 ms of data
(i.e., 512 samples of ATRAC sound data at 44.1 kHz). There are approximately 86 frames in a
second.
Is the sound quality affected by repeated ping-pong operations?
No—thanks to digital recording technology. Note, however, that the MD4 mixer is analog, so
after many ping-pong operations slight signal degradation may occur. Although this is still insig-
nificant when compared to tape-based analog recorders.
Do I have to sacrifice one track to record timecode?
No. MD4 generates MTC (MIDI Timecode) or MIDI Clock from the disc’s internal sync signals.
So even in a synchronized MIDI system, all four tracks are available for sound recording.
How many songs can I store on an MD DATA disc?
Up to 254.