Sony RCDW500C Operating Instructions - Page 9

Notes • You cannot play both decks simultaneously. If you start playing a disc while playing a disc on another deck, the playback of former deck stops. • You can play unfinalized CD-Rs or CD-RWs only in DECK B. For the detailed explanation about finalizing, see "Finalizing a CD-R or CD-RW" on page 29. • Be sure to close the disc trays when the unit is not in use to prevent dust and dirt from entering and prevent damage to the disc tray. • When you turn on the unit, you will hear some mechanical noise from the unit. This is not a malfunction. • The play mode setting is canceled when you turn the unit off. Playing a disc with MP3 files About MP3 files MP3 (MPEG 1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compressing a sound sequence. The file is compressed to about 1/10 of its original size. Sounds outside the range of human hearing are compressed while the sounds we can hear are not compressed. Playback of some MP3 files may not be possible, depending on the encoding. The encoding method (i.e., the bit rate selected for encoding) will affect the sound quality of the MP3 files created. The bit rate typically used for MP3 files is 128 kbps. About ID3 tag ID3 tag is the text information (track title, album title, artist name, etc.) stored in the MP3 files. Notes on discs You can play MP3 files recorded on CD-ROMs, CDRs (recordable CDs), and CD-RWs (rewritable CDs). The disc must be in the ISO 9660*1 level 1 or level 2 format, or Joliet or Romeo in the expansion format. You can use a disc recorded in Multi Session*2. *1ISO 9660 Format The most common international standard for the logical format of files and folders on a CD-ROM. There are several specification levels. In Level 1, file names must be in the 8.3 format (no more than eight characters in the name, no more than three characters in the extension ".MP3") and in capital letters. Folder names can be no longer than eight characters. There can be no more than eight nested folder levels. Level 2 specifications allow file names up to 31 characters long. Each folder can have up to 8 trees. For Joliet or Romeo in the expansion format, make sure of the contents of the writing software, etc. *2Multi Session This is a recording method that enables adding of data using the Track-At-Once method. Conventional CDs begin at a CD control area called the Lead-in and end at an area called Lead-out. A Multi Session CD has multiple sessions, with each Lead-in to Lead-out segment regarded as a single session. CD-EXTRA: A format in which CD-DA (audio) data are recorded in the tracks of session 1 and computer data in the tracks of session 2. Mixed CD: A format in which computer data are recorded in the first track and CD-DA (audio) data in the following tracks within a session. continued 9 Basic Operations