MiniDisc is one of the more versatile audio recording options available, and that's why it's survived into the days of recordable CDs and the MP3. But saying it's versatile just doesn't convey the surprising number of cool things you can do with MD — some of which just aren't possible with any other format. MiniDisc lets you:

• make mixes of PC audio you've downloaded from the Internet or ripped to your hard drive
• make high-quality live recordings (with an optional microphone and a recorder with a mic input)
• make mixes of your favorite CD tracks
• change the order of tracks without having to re-record them
• break a lengthy track into multiple separate tracks, or combine several short tracks into a single-track suite
• instantly erase any individual track or an entire disc
• add disc and track titles that appear on a compatible player's display panel (great for labeling mix MDs with artists, titles, and other reference information that could never fit on the outside of the cartridge)

Recording options: select the sound quality and music capacity you want

Previous generations of MiniDisc recorders offered only one sound quality option: ATRAC™ compression, which fit up to 80 minutes of audio (the same amount a regular CD holds) onto a tiny MiniDisc. But these days, MD offers more recording quality options than ever. Some let you fit more material onto a single MD, some provide superior sound quality, and some use advanced encoding technologies to try to achieve both.

• Many recorders offer MiniDisc Long Play (MDLP™) mode. This means they can use ATRAC3™ compression to either double or quadruple recording time — so you can opt to record between about two and a half and five hours of material onto an 80-minute disc. Be aware, though, that the more compression you use, the lower your recording's sound quality. Also, MDLP recordings will not play back on non-MDLP-capable players.


• Sony's advanced Hi-MD™ recorders use sophisticated ATRAC3plus™ compression technology to fit up to 45 hours of music (at a bitrate of 48 kbps) onto specially designed 1GB Hi-MD discs. (Higher bitrates are also available.) These recorders are also backward-compatible with standard MiniDiscs, and can use ATRAC3plus compression to record up to 13 hours of music onto a regular 80-minute MD. Although ATRAC3plus is designed to provide better sound quality at lower bitrates than the older ATRAC and ATRAC3 formats, the "higher bitrate means better sound" rule of thumb still holds. And as with MDLP, Hi-MD recordings will not play back on non-Hi-MD players.


• Hi-MD introduces another first in the world of MiniDisc: full CD-quality sound. You can choose to record music to a Hi-MD or regular MD disc as uncompressed PCM (CD-quality) audio, and lose none of the sound quality of the original recording. (A 1GB Hi-MD disc holds 94 minutes of PCM; an 80-minute MD holds 28 minutes' worth.)

PC connectivity
Are you a fan of PC-based music? An MD portable with a USB interface makes an affordable, versatile alternative to an MP3 player. You get easy recording of PC audio, whether it's downloaded from the Internet, ripped from CDs, transferred from external audio sources, or created with your home studio software. And you get quick music transfer:Net MD™ portables will let you record PC audio at speeds up to 32X, while Hi-MD portables will record at speeds up to 100X!

Plus, you get all the editing ease that MD offers — and blank MiniDiscs (including Hi-MD discs) are available at a tiny fraction of the cost of flash memory media. If you're interested in learning more, see our article about PC-friendly MD portables.

Live recording with an optional microphone
Take a microphone and a portable MiniDisc recorder equipped with a microphone input, and you've got an affordable, convenient way to make great-sounding, digital live recordings. People use this feature all kinds of ways: musicians can record rehearsals and performances, students can record class lectures, journalists can make high-quality field recordings — the possibilities are nearly endless. And if you use a Hi-MD recorder, you'll even be able to upload your recordings to your PC.

If live recording will be the main way you use your MiniDisc portable, be sure to pick a microphone that'll give you good results. A stereo mic captures sound with more realism than a mono mic. The wider the mic's frequency response, the more accurate the recording. And no matter which mic you choose, make sure that it has a minijack plug, and that your recorder has a matching minijack microphone input.

CD-to-MiniDisc recording

Do you ever record mix tapes or CD-Rs for a party or the car? Mix MDs are much more versatile. MiniDisc makes it easy to erase or replace a song, break apart or consolidate tracks, and even change the song order, without re-recording. That's just not possible with other formats. Plus, blank MDs can be re-recorded up to a million times without degradation.

There are a couple of disadvantages to MD recording, however. Unless you're using a Hi-MD recorder to capture uncompressed sound, MD won't deliver quite the same sound quality CDs can. Also, unlike CD-Rs and CD-RWs, MiniDiscs won't play in any CD or DVD players.

You can record to MiniDisc via digital or analog input. Either sounds great, but digital transfer gives you slightly better sound quality. Just connect your CD player's (optical or coaxial) digital output to your MiniDisc recorder's matching digital input. It's that simple — you're ready to record.

Choosing a MiniDisc player or recorder

A home MD recorder is perfect for the MD enthusiast who mostly listens at home, or who routinely records from CD, radio, TV, or other home audio sources. Just hook the MD deck up to your receiver, or any audio component with a compatible output, and you're ready to record.

It's still possible to find some MD portables out there, and MiniDisc's durability and portability make it a good choice format for listening on the go. A portable player/recorder with a microphone input gives you the most versatile listening and recording options. If your car stereo has an auxiliary input, just add a cigarette lighter adapter for listening in your vehicle. Add a compatible microphone to make live recordings anywhere. A USB interface, included with some models, lets you easily record PC audio (see "PC connectivity" above). And, if you only record at home occasionally, a portable player/recorder makes a great stand-in for a home deck.