Sony MZ-R501 Operating Instructions - Page 35

System limitations The recording system in your MiniDisc recorder is radically different from those used in cassette and DAT decks and is characterized by the limitations described below. Note, however, that these limitations are due to the inherent nature of the MD recording system itself and not to mechanical causes. Symptom Cause "TrFULL" appears even before the disc has reached the maximum recording time (60, 74, or 80 minutes). When 254 tracks have been recorded on the disc, "TrFULL" appears regardless of the total recorded time. More than 254 tracks cannot be recorded on the disc. To continue recording, erase unnecessary tracks. "TrFULL" appears even before the disc has reached the maximum track number or recording time. Repeated recording and erasing may cause fragmentation and scattering of data. Although those scattered data can be read, each fragment is counted as a track. In this case, the number of tracks may reach 254 and further recording is not possible. To continue recording, erase unnecessary tracks. Track marks cannot be erased. The remaining recording time does not increase even after erasing numerous short tracks. When the data of a track is fragmented, the track mark of a fragment under 12 seconds long (recorded in stereo), 24 seconds long (recorded in LP2 stereo mode or monaural mode), or 48 seconds long (recorded in LP4 stereo mode) cannot be erased. You cannot combine tracks recorded in different recording modes, e.g., a track recorded in stereo and a track recorded in monaural; nor can you combine a track recorded with digital connection and a track recorded with analog connection. Tracks of under 12 seconds, 24 seconds, or 48 seconds in length are not counted and so erasing them may not lead to an increase in the recording time. The total recorded time and the remaining time on the disc may not total the maximum recording time (60, 74, or 80 minutes). Normally, recording is done in minimum units of approximately 2 seconds (in stereo), 4 seconds (in LP2 stereo mode or monaural), or 8 seconds (in LP4 stereo mode). When recording is stopped, the last unit of recording always uses this unit of 2 seconds, 4 seconds, or 8 seconds even if the actual recording is shorter. Likewise, when recording is restarted after the stop, the recorder will automatically insert a blank space amounting to 2 seconds, 4 seconds, or 8 seconds before the next recording. (This is to prevent accidental erasing of a previous track whenever a new recording is started). Therefore, the actual recording time will decrease whenever a recording is stopped by a maximum of 6 seconds, 12 seconds, or 24 seconds. The edited tracks may exhibit sound dropout during search operations. The fragmentation of data may cause sound dropout while searching because the tracks are played in higher speed than normal playback. 35