3-234-036-13(1)
Portable
MiniDisc Recorder
Operating Instructions
WALKMAN and
are trademarks of
Sony Corporation.
MZ-R501/R501PC/R501DPC
© 2001 Sony Corporation
Certain countries may regulate disposal of
battery used to power this product.
WARNING
Please consult with your local authority.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do
not expose the unit to rain or
moisture.
For customers in the USA
Owner’s Record
The serial number is located at the rear of
the disc compartment lid and the model
number is located at the top and bottom.
Record the serial number in the space
provided below. Refer to them whenever
you call upon your Sony dealer regarding
this product.
To avoid electrical shock, do not
open the cabinet. Refer servicing to
qualified personnel only.
Do not install the appliance in a
confined space, such as a bookcase or
built-in cabinet.
Model No.
Serial No.
To prevent fire, do not cover the
ventilation of the apparatus with news
papers, table cloths, curtains, etc. And
don’t place lighted candles on the
apparatus.
This equipment has been tested and found
to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
place objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, on the apparatus.
Don’t throw a battery, dispose it as the
injurious wastes.
Caution
The use of optical instruments with this
product will increase eye hazard.
equipment does cause harmful
CAUTION — INVISIBLE LASER
RADIATION WHEN OPEN
interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the
following measures:
AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM
Information
IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE
LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF
ANY NATURE, OR LOSSES OR
EXPENSES RESULTING FROM
ANY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT OR
THE USE OF ANY PRODUCT.
— Reorient or relocate the receiving
antenna.
— Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
— Connect the equipment into an outlet
on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
— Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio/TV technician for help.
2
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
You are cautioned that any changes or
modifications not expressly approved in
this manual could void your authority to
operate this equipment.
The CE mark on the unit is
valid only for products
marketed in the European
Union.
3
Table of contents
(Synchro-recording) ........................................................................18
Stamp) ..............................................................................................19
(Manual recording) ..........................................................................20
4
Adding a track mark ............................................................................. 28
Erasing a track mark ............................................................................ 29
Precautions ........................................................................................... 31
Troubleshooting ................................................................................... 33
Messages .............................................................................................. 36
Specifications ....................................................................................... 38
5
The display window
H
A B CD
EF G
.
L P 2 4
Digital MEGA BASS
I
J
K
L
M
A MONO (monaural) indication
Displays the disc and track names,
error messages, track numbers, etc.
C Disc indication
Shows that the disc is rotating for
recording, playing or editing an MD
Shows the play mode of the MD.
E REC indication
Lights up while recording. When
flashing, the recorder is in record
standby mode.
F SYNC (synchro-recording) indication
Shows the volume of the MD being
played or recorded.
H REC REMAIN/REMAIN (remaining
Lights up along with the remaining
time of the track, the remaining time
of the MD, or the remaining number
of tracks.
Shows approximate battery condition.
J Time display
K Disc name/track name indication
Lights up when labeling a disc or a
track.
7
Getting started
Checking the supplied accessories.
AC power adaptor (European and Chinese models only) (1)
Headphones/earphones (1)
Optical cable (except U.S.A. model) (1)
PCLink kit (supplied with MZ-R501PC only) (1)
Digital PCLink kit (supplied with MZ-R501DPC only) (1)
1
Insert an alkaline dry battery.
E
e
Slide to open the battery
compartment lid.
Insert an LR6 (SG) alkaline dry
battery minus end first.
Close the lid.
Using on a house
current.
Connect the AC power adaptor.
To a wall outlet
AC power
adaptor
To DC IN 3V
Battery life1)
(Unit: Approx. hours) (JEITA2))
LR6 (SG) alkaline dry battery3)
Recording4)
Normal
7.5
LP2
LP4
13.5
48
10
42
Playback
36
1) The battery life may be shorter due to operating conditions, the temperature of the location, and
varieties of batteries.
2) Measured value by the standard of JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries
Association).
3) When using a Sony LR6 (SG) “STAMINA” alkaline dry battery (produced in Japan).
4) To prevent interrupted recording due to drained battery, use new battey for recording operations.
8
When to replace the battery
When the dry battery is weak, flashing r or “LoBATT” appears in the display. Replace
the dry battery.
Note that the battery level indicated by the battery indication is only approximate and
varies with the recorder condition.
Note
Stop the recorder before replacing battery.
2
3
Connect the headphones/
earphones and unlock the control.
HOLD
headphones/earphones
(supplied)
Connect firmly
To i
Insert an MD.
Insert an recordable MD when recording.
1 Slide OPEN to open the lid.
2 Insert an MD with the label side facing
front, and press the lid down to close.
9
Recording an MD right away!
Connect to a digital source using an optical cable to make digital
recordings. Digital recording is possible even from digital equipment
with different sampling rates, such as a DAT deck or a BS tuner, using
the built-in sampling rate converter. To record from an analog source,
1
Make connections. (Insert the cables
firmly and completely into the appropriate jacks.)
CD player, MD
player, digital
amplifier, etc.
Portable CD
player, etc.
to DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL)
AC power adaptor
Optical mini-plug
Optical plug
Optical cable
to a wall
outlet
Optical cable
to LINE IN (OPTICAL)
to DC IN 3V
10
2
x
Record an MD.
1 Press N while pressing REC.
N
Recording starts.
2 Play the source you want to record.
REC
To stop recording, press x.
After you press x and “Edit” stops
flashing in the display, the recorder will
automatically turn off after:
— about 10 seconds when using a
battery.
— about 5 minutes when using the AC
power adaptor.
Notes
• “Saving” or “Edit” flashes while data of the recording (the track’s start and end points, etc.) is being
recorded. Do not move or jog the recorder or disconnect the power source while the indication is
flashing in the display.
• The lid does not open until “Edit” disappears in the display.
To
Press
Record from the end of the
previous recording1)
END SEARCH and press N while pressing REC.
Record partway through the
previous recording1)
N, > or . to find the start point of
recording and press x to stop. Then press N
while pressing REC.
Pause
X2)
Press X again to resume recording.
Remove the MD
x and open the lid.3) (The lid does not open while
“Edit” flashing in the display.)
1) By setting “R-Posi” to “Fr End”, recording operations will always start from the end of the
2) A track mark is added at the point where you press X again to resume recording while pausing; thus
the remainder of the track will be counted as a new track.
3) If you open the lid while “R-Posi” is set to “FrHere,” recording will begin with the first track the next
11
If the recording does not start
• Make sure the recorder is not locked
• Make sure the MD is not record-protected
• Premastered MDs cannot be recorded over.
For models supplied with the AC plug
adaptor
If the AC power adaptor does not fit the wall
outlet, use the AC plug adaptor.
Notes
• If the power supply is disrupted (i.e. the
battery is removed or becomes exhausted or
the AC power adaptor is disconnected) during
a recording or editing operation, or while
“Edit” appears in the display, then it will not
be possible to open the lid until power is
restored.
• You can make a digital recording only from an
optical type output.
• When recording from a portable CD player,
set the CD player to pause, and then do the
recording procedure on the recorder.
• Note the following when recording from a
portable CD player:
—Some portable CD players may not be
capable of digital out unless powered by the
AC power.
—Connect the AC power adaptor to the
portable CD player and use it on AC power
as the power source.
—Disable any anti-skip function (such as
ESP*) on the portable CD player.
∗ Electronic Shock Protection
z
• LINE IN (OPTICAL) jack is for both digital
and analog input. The recorder automatically
recognizes the type of line cable and switches
to digital or analog input.
• The level of the recorded sound is adjusted
automatically.
• You can monitor the sound during recording.
Connect the supplied headphones/earphones
to i and adjust the volume by pressing VOL
+/–. This does not affect the recording level.
12
Playing an MD right away!
1
Play an MD.
1 Press N.
VOL +/–
2 Press VOL +/– to adjust the volume.
The volume will be shown in the
display.
To stop play, press x.
Playback starts from the point you last
stopped playing.
x
N
After you press x and “Edit” stops flashing in the display, the recorder will automatically
turn off after:
— about 10 seconds when using a battery.
— about 5 minutes when using the AC power adaptor.
To
Press
Find the beginning of the current track
Find the beginning of the next track
Pause
Go backwards while playing1)
Go forward while playing1)
Remove the MD
. once
> once
X. Press X again to resume play.
press and hold ..
press and hold >.
x and open the lid2).
1) To go backward or forward quickly without listening, press X and keep pressing . or >.
2) Once you open the lid, the point to start play will change to the beginning of the first track.
13
G-PROTECTION function
The G-PROTECTION function has been
developed to provide excellent protection
against sound skipping during many active
uses. This function provides a higher level of
shock protection during playback than the
traditional one.
If the play does not start
z
Playback will switch automatically between
stereo and monaural according to the sound
source.
Note
Sound may skip if:
—the recorder receives stronger continuous
shock than expected.
—a dirty or scratched MiniDisc is played.
14
Various ways of recording
Two ways of connecting to a sound source
The input jack of this recorder works as both digital and analog input jacks. Connect the
recorder to a CD player or a cassette recorder using either digital (optical) input or analog
record using analog (line) input.
Difference between digital (optical) and analog (line) inputs
Difference
Digital (optical) input
Analog (line) input
Connectable
source
Equipment with a digital (optical)
output jack
Equipment with an analog (line)
output jack
Usable cord
Optical cable (with an optical or an Line cable (with 2 phono plugs
optical-mini plug)(page 10)
or a stereo-mini plug)(page 16)
Signal from the Digital
source
Analog
Even when a digital source (such
as a CD) is connected, the signal
sent to the recorder is analog.
Recorded track Marked (copied) automatically
Marked automatically
numbers
• at the same positions as the source • after more than 2 seconds of
(when the sound source is a CD or
an MD).
blank or low-level segment.
• when the recorder is paused
while recording.
• at specified intervals when the
Auto Time Stamp is on.
You can erase unnecessary marks
• after more than 2 seconds of blank
or low-level segment (with a sound
source other than a CD or an MD).
• when the recorder is paused during
synchro-recording (the recorder
pauses automatically when it
encounters a section with no audio
signal for 3 seconds or more).
You can erase unnecessary marks
Recorded
sound level
Same as the source.
Adjusted automatically. Can also
Can also be adjusted manually
(Digital REC level control)
(“Adjusting the recording level
Note
Track marks may be copied incorrectly:
• when you record from some CD players or multi disc players using digital (optical) input.
• when the source is in shuffle or program play mode while recording using digital (optical) input. In
this case, play the source in normal play mode.
• when recording BS or CS programs through digital (optical) input.
15
LINE IN (OPTICAL) jack is for both
digital and analog input
The recorder automatically recognizes the type
of line cable and switches to digital or analog
input.
Recording with analog
input (line cable
required)
The sound will sent from the connected
equipment as analog signal but will be
recorded digitally on the disc.
Note
A track mark is added at the point where you
press X again to resume recording while
pausing recording; thus the track will be
counted as a new track.
CD player,
cassette recorder,
etc.
to LINE OUT
Recording for long
times
L (white)
R (red)
Select each recording mode according to
the recording time that you want.
Stereo recording is possible at 2 times
(LP2) or 4 times (LP4) the normal
recording time.
Line cable
(RK-G129,
not supplied)*
MDs recorded in monaural, LP2 or
LP4 mode can be played back only
on MD players or recorders with
monaural, LP2 or LP4 playback
mode.
SELECT
>/.
N
REC
to LINE IN (OPTICAL)
∗ Use the connecting cords without an
attenuator. To connect to a component
such as a portable CD player having a
stereo mini-jack, use the RK-G136
connecting cord (not supplied).
MENU/ENTER
1 Press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“R-MODE” flashes in the display,
and then press MENU/ENTER again.
1 Insert a recordable MD and start
recording.
For recording operations, see
(page 10). To record from a portable
CD player, set the CD player to pause
and then start recording.
16
Notes
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
to select the desired recording mode.
• You cannot change the recording mode while
recording.
• It is recommended that you use the AC power
adaptor for long recordings.
Recording Display
Recording
mode1)
(indication) time3)
• If you try to play an MD recorded in LP2
stereo or LP4 stereo on a player/recorder that
is not support these modes, playback will not
start and “LP:” will appear on the display.
• Sound recorded through digital (optical) input
can be monitored in stereo through
Stereo
Stereo (none) 80 min.
LP2 stereo LP2 (
LP4 stereo LP4 (
Monaural2) Mono
)
160 min.
320 min.
160 min.
)
(MONO)
headphones/earphones, etc.
• When you record in LP4 stereo mode,
momentary noise may be produced on very
rare occasions with certain sound sources.
This is because of the special digital audio
compression technology that enables a
recording time 4 times longer than normal. If
noise is produced, it is recommended that you
record in normal stereo or LP2 stereo mode to
obtain better sound quality.
1) For better sound quality, record in normal
stereo or LP2 stereo mode.
2) If you record a stereo source in monaural, the
sounds from left and right will be mixed.
3) When using an 80-minute recordable MD.
3 Press MENU/ENTER.
4 Press N while pressing REC.
The recording starts.
5 Play the source sound.
To stop recording, press x.
The settings of the recording mode
remains when you record the next time.
z
• Audio components that support the LP2 or
LP4 modes are indicated by the
logo marks.
or
• Once you set, the recorder keeps its recording
mode when you record the next time.
• You can achieve high sound quality and rich
tones when recording in normal stereo (or
monaural) thanks to the newly developed DSP
TYPE-R for ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform
Acoustic Coding).
What is the newly developed DSP
TYPE-R for ATRAC?
“TYPE-R” is a high-level Sony specification
used in the Digital Signal Processor (DSP),
which is heart of the MiniDisc sound. This
technology gives the MiniDisc recorder twice
the signal processing capability as previous
MiniDisc Walkman models, producing a
sound quality close to that of MiniDisc decks.
17
3 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “ON” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER.
To start/stop recording
in sync with the source
player
4 Press N while pressing REC.
(Synchro-recording)
The recorder stands by for recording.
You can easily make digital recordings of
a digital source on an MD.
Before synchro-recording, make
connections to the digital source with a
digital cable, and insert a recordable MD.
5 Play the source sound.
The recorder starts recording when it
receives the playing sound.
To stop recording
Press x.
CD players,
etc.
z
• You cannot pause manually during synchro-
recording.
• When there is no sound from the player for
more than 3 seconds during synchro-
recording, the recorder goes into the standby
mode automatically. When the sound comes
from the player again, the recorder resumes
synchro-recording. If the recorder is kept in
the standby mode for 5 minutes or longer, the
recorder stops automatically.
the recording mode, and then start the
procedure of synchro-recording.
REC
N
Notes
• Do not change the “SYNC-R” setting while
recording. Recording may not be done
properly.
• Even when there is no recorded sound on the
sound source, there may be cases when
recording does not pause automatically during
synchro-recording due to the noise level
emitted from the sound source.
• If a silent portion is encountered for 2 seconds
or more during synchro-recording, a new track
mark is automatically added at the point
where the silent portion ends.
• Synchro-recording cannot be done if the
connecting cord is not an optical cable.
• You cannot adjust the recording level
manually during synchro-recording.
SELECT
MENU/ENTER
>/.
1 Press MENU/ENTER while the
recorder is stopped.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “SYNC-R” flashes in the
display, and then press MENU/
ENTER.
“SYNC” lights up in the display.
SYNC indication
“SYNC” does not lights up if optical
cable is not connected to the recorder.
18
Recording without
overwriting existing
material
Adding track marks
automatically at
specified intervals
(Auto Time Stamp)
If you wish to avoid overwriting the
current contents of an MD, do the
following procedure. All new material
will then be recorded from the end of the
current contents.
Use this feature to add track marks
automatically at specified intervals when
recording through the analog input
connector.
SELECT >/.
SELECT >/.
MENU/ENTER
MENU/ENTER
1 While the recorder is recording or in
recording pause, press MENU/
ENTER.
1 While the recorder is stopped, press
MENU/ENTER.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “R-Posi” flashes in the display,
and then press MENU/ENTER.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “TimeMK” flashes in the
display, and then press MENU/
ENTER.
3 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “Fr End” flashes in the display,
and then press MENU/ENTER.
3 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until the desired time interval flashes
in the display.
To start recording over the
current contents
Select one of the following intervals.
Display
OFF
Time
Notes
—
• If you start recording while the recorder is in
play-pause mode, the recording will begin
from the point at which is paused.
• The setting will remain even after the power is
turned off.
5 min
Approx. 5 min.
Approx. 10 min.
Approx. 15 min.
10 min
15 min
4 Press MENU/ENTER.
To cancel Auto Time Stamp
MENU/ENTER, or stop recording.
19
Using Auto Time Stamp to add
track marks while recording
Adjusting the recording
level manually
When the elapsed recording time
exceeds the time interval for Auto
Time Stamp:
From that point the recorder adds a track
mark whenever the time interval has
elapsed.
(Manual recording)
When you record, the sound level is
adjusted automatically. If necessary, you
can set the level manually.
Note
Example: 8 minutes of recording has
already been done when an Auto Time
Stamp time interval of 5 minutes is set.
A track mark will be added at the 13-
minute point (after the start of recording)
and after each 5-minute interval
thereafter.
Adjust the recording level while the recorder is
in standby mode. You cannot adjust it while
recording.
SELECT
>/.
X
When the time interval set for Auto
Time Stamp exceeds the elapsed
recording time:
The recorder adds a track mark when the
set Auto Time Stamp time interval has
elapsed.
REC
MENU/ENTER
1 Press REC while pressing X.
The recorder stands by for recording.
Example: 3 minutes of recording has
already been done when an Auto Time
Stamp time interval of 5 minutes is set
A track mark will be added at the 5-
minute point (after the start of recording)
and after each 5-minute interval
thereafter.
2 Press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“RecVol” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
3 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “Manual” flashes in the display,
and then press MENU/ENTER.
Notes
• Automatic track marking by Auto Time Stamp
starts when you add a normal track mark to
the disc (i.e., by pressing T MARK or X,
etc.).
• The setting will be lost when the recording
stopped.
To switch back to the automatic
control, Press SELECT >/.
repeatedly until “Auto” flashes in the
display, and then press MENU/
ENTER.
4 Play the source.
20
5 While observing the level meter in the
display, adjust the recording level by
pressing SELECT >/..
Checking the remaining
time or the recording
position
Set the level so that the maximum
input lights up the fifth segment on
the level meter. If the sixth segment
lights up, lower the level by pressing
SELECT >.
You can check the remaining time, track
number, etc. when recording or during
stop.
fifth segment
SELECT >/.
MENU/ENTER
Recording does not start in this step.
If your source is an externally
connected component, be sure to cue
the source to the beginning of the
material to be recorded before you
start playback.
1 While the recorder is recording or
stopped, press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“DISP” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
6 Press X again to start recording.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until the information you want flashes
in the display.
To stop recording
Press x.
The recording level control is switched back to
automatic control when you record the next
time.
Each time you press SELECT .,
the display changes as follows.
Notes
LapTim (elapsed time)
• The recording level cannot be adjusted while
recording is in progress. If you want to adjust
the recording level after you have started the
recording, press X to pause the recorder. Then
do the procedure from step 5.
r
RecRem (remaining time for
recording)1)
r
• You cannot adjust the recording level
manually during synchro-recording.
AllRem (remaining time after the
current location)
1)“RecRem” start flashing in the
display when the remaining time for recording
become 3 minutes or less.
continued
21
3 Press MENU/ENTER.
The display changes as follows.
A
B
A
B
Elapsed time
Track number
Remaining time for Track name
recording
Remaining time
after the current
location
Disc name
Note
Items may appear differently depending on the
recorder’s operating status or the recorder
settings.
z
If you want to check the playing position or
22
Various ways of playback
Indication A/B Play mode
Playing tracks
repeatedly
/1 Rep
A single track is
played repeatedly.
You can play tracks repeatedly in three
ways — all repeat, single repeat, and
shuffle repeat.
/Shuf.R
After the currently
selected track
finishes playing,
the remaining
tracks are played
repeatedly in
SELECT >/.
random order.
Emphasizing bass
(DIGITAL MEGA BASS)
MENU/ENTER
The Mega Bass function intensifies low
frequency sound for richer quality audio
reproduction. It affects only the sound
from the headphones/earphones.
1 While the recorder is playing or
stopped, press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“P-MODE” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
SELECT >/.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
to select the play mode, and then
press MENU/ENTER.
Each time you press SELECT .,
the display item indicated by B
changes as shown in the table below.
Pressing MENU/ENTER while B is
flashing causes the play mode to
change.
MENU/ENTER
1 Press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“BASS” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
The new mode then appears in the
window indicated by A.
A
B
Indication A/B Play mode
—/Normal
All the tracks are
played once.
/AllRep
All the tracks are
played repeatedly.
continued
23
2 Press SELECT >/. to select
the item, and then press MENU/
ENTER.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “ON” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER.
Each time you press SELECT .,
A and B change as follows.
When you try to turn the volume too
high, “AV LS” flashes in the display.
The volume is kept to a moderate
level.
A
Digital MEGA BASS
To cancel AVLS
B
Checking the remaining
time or the playing
position
Indication A/B
—/OFF
Play mode
Normal play
/BASS 1
Mega Bass
(moderate effect)
You can check the track name, disc name,
etc. during playback.
/BASS 2
Mega Bass
(strong effect)
SELECT >/.
Notes
• If the sound becomes distorted when
emphasizing bass, turn down the volume.
• The Mega Bass function does not affects the
sound being recorded.
MENU/ENTER
1 While the recorder is playing, press
MENU/ENTER, press SELECT
>/. repeatedly until “DISP”
flashes in the display, and then press
MENU/ENTER again.
Protecting your hearing
(AVLS)
The AVLS (Automatic Volume Limiter
System) function keeps down the
maximum volume to protect your ears.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until the information you want flashes
in the display.
SELECT >/.
Each time you press SELECT .,
the display changes as follows.
LapTim (erapsed time)
MENU/ENTER
r
1 Rem (remaining time of the
current track)
1 Press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“AVL S” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
r
AllRem (remaining time after
current location)
24
3 Press MENU/ENTER.
Connecting to a stereo
system
The display changes as follows.
Connect the i jack of the recorder to the
LINE IN jacks of an amplifier or a
recorder with a line cable (not supplied).
The output is analog. The recorder plays
the MD digitally and sends analog signals
to the externally connected equipment.
A
B
A
B
Elapsed time
Track number
Portable DAT
recorder, etc.
Stereo system,
etc.
Remaining time of Track name
the current track
Remaining time
after the current
location
Disc name
to LINE IN
Stereo mini-plug
2 phono plugs
Note
L
R (red)
(white)
Items may appear differently depending on the
recorder’s operating status or the recorder
settings.
RK-G129
(not
supplied)
RK-G136
(not supplied)
z
If you want to check the remaining time or the
recording position while recording or in stop
Locking the controls
(HOLD)
to i
To prevent the buttons from being
accidentally operated when you carry the
recorder, use this function.
1 Press N to start playing.
Notes
• Even when connecting to the externally
connected equipment, the Mega Bass function
is operative. If you do not want the effect of
the Mega Bass function on your recording or
the output from the externally connected
• When recording to an externally connected
equipment, press VOL +/– repeatedly to
adjust the volume level until “VOL 27”
appears in the display, which is optimum for
recording to an externally connected
equipment.
HOLD
1 Slide HOLD in the direction of the
SELECT ..
To unlock the controls
Slide HOLD in the opposite direction of
the arrow.
25
Editing recorded tracks
You can edit your recordings by adding/
erasing track marks or labeling tracks and
MDs. Premastered MDs cannot be edited.
VOL +/–
X
END
SEARCH
Notes on editing
• Do not move or jog the recorder while “Edit”
is flashing in the display.
• You cannot edit tracks on an MD that is
record-protected. Before editing tracks, close
• If you perform an editing operation while
playing, be sure not to turn the power off until
“Edit” disappears in the display.
x
SELECT
MENU/ENTER
>/./
./>
• The lid does not open until “Edit” disappears
in the display after editing.
Labeling a disc during stop
1 Press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“EDIT” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
Labeling recordings
You can name discs while the recorder is
stopped, tracks while the recorder is
playing, and both while the recorder is
recording. Each name can be as long as
200 letters.
Each disc can hold up to 1,700
alphanumeric letters during playback or
stop.
“
” and “Name” flash in the
display.
2 Press MENU/ENTER.
The disc is ready to be labeled.
3 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
to select a letter and press MENU/
ENTER.
Available characters
• Capital and small letters of the English
alphabet
The selected letter stops flashing and
the cursor moves to the next input
position.
• Numbers 0 to 9
• ! " # $ % & ( ) * . ; < = > ?
@ _ ` + – ' , / : _ (space)
Press
To
X
Switch between
capital letters, small
letters and marks /
numbers.
Note
If you try to enter more letters than the disc can
hold, “FULL” appears in the display. Enter a
shorter name for the track or disc, or delete
“LP:” from the track name recorded in MDLP
mode.
VOL +/–
Move the cursor to
the left or right.
./>
Change the letter to
the one before / next
one.
END SEARCH/ Insert a blank space
VOL +
to type in a new letter
pressing both buttons
together.
26
2 To label a track, press MENU/
Press
To
ENTER while “
” and “Name” are
END SEARCH/ Delete a letter and
VOL –
flashing.
move back all
To label a disc, press SELECT >/
following letters to
the left pressing both
buttons together.
. repeatedly until “
” and
“Name” flash in the display.
The track or disc is ready to be
labeled.
x
Cancel labeling.
of the label name.
5 Press MENU/ENTER for 2 seconds
To cancel labeling
or more.
Press x.
The track or disc is labeled.
Notes
Labeling a track during
playback
• When the recording is stopped while labeling
a track or a disc during recording, or when the
recording moves on to the next track while
labeling a track, the input at that point is
entered automatically.
• “LP:” has automatically been added at the
beginning of track names for tracks recorded
in LP2 stereo or LP4 stereo.
1 Insert a disc and play the track you
want to label.
2 Press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“EDIT” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
Relabeling recordings
Follow the steps corresponding to the
labeling method until the disc or track is
ready to be labeled. Enter a new character
over the one you want to change, then
press MENU/ENTER.
“
” and “Name” flash in the
display.
3 Press MENU/ENTER.
The track is ready to be labeled.
Notes
• You cannot relabel premastered MDs or label
MDs that have not been recorded.
• The recorder is able to display, but cannot
label using Japanese “Katakana” characters.
• The recorder cannot rewrite a disc or track
name of more than 200 letters that was created
by another device.
Labeling a track or a disc
during recording
1 While recording, press MENU/
ENTER, press SELECT >/.
repeatedly until “EDIT” flashes in the
display, and then press MENU/
ENTER again.
“
” and “Name” flash in the
display.
27
4 Press MENU/ENTER again.
Moving recorded tracks
The track moves to the selected
destination track.
You can change the order of the recorded
tracks.
To cancel moving
Example
Press x.
Move track C from the third to the second
track
Before moving
Adding a track mark
A
B
C
B
D
D
You can add track marks so that the part
after the new track mark is counted as a
new track.
The track numbers will increase as
follows.
A
C
After moving
x
SELECT >/.
Add a track mark
1
1
2
3
4
5
2
3
4
Track numbers increase
MENU/ENTER
T MARK
1 While playing the track you want to
move, press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“EDIT” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
“
” and “Name” flash in the
display and the recorder plays the
selected track repeatedly.
1 While playing or pausing an MD,
press T MARK at the point you want
to mark.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “ ” and “Move” flash in the
display, and then press MENU/
ENTER.
“MK ON” appears in the display, and
a track mark is added. The track
number will increase by one.
For the example above, “003 t” and
“t 003” appear alternately in the
display.
To add track marks while
recording
Press T MARK at the point you want to
add a track mark.
3 Press SELECT >/. to select
the destination track number.
You can use Auto Time Stamp to add
track marks automatically at specified
intervals (except while digital recording)
For the example above, “003 t” and
“t 002” appears in the display.
28
Note
z
When you erase a track mark and name
assigned to the mark are also erased.
You cannot add track marks during synchro-
recording.
Note
You cannot erase a track marks according to the
Erasing a track mark
When you record with analog (line) input,
unnecessary track marks may be recorded
where recording level is low. You can
erase a track mark to combine the tracks
before and after the track mark. The track
numbers will change as follows.
Erase a track mark
1
1
2
3
4
3
2
Track numbers decrease
X
T MARK
.
1 While playing the track with the track
mark you want to erase, press X to
pause.
2 Find the track mark by pressing .
slightly.
For example, to erase the third track
mark, find the beginning of the third
track. “00:00” appears in the display.
“MK 003” appears in the display for
2 seconds.
3 Press T MARK to erase the mark.
“MK OFF” appears in the display.
The track mark is erased and the two
tracks are combined.
29
To erase the whole disc
Erasing tracks
You can quickly erase all the tracks and
data of the MD at the same time.
Note that once a recording has been
erased, you cannot retrieve it. Be sure to
check the contents of the disc you want to
erase.
To erase a track
Note that once a recording has been
erased, you cannot retrieve it. Make sure
of the track you are erasing.
SELECT >/.
SELECT >/.
x
x
MENU/ENTER
MENU/ENTER
1 While playing the track you want to
erase, press MENU/ENTER, press
SELECT >/. repeatedly until
“EDIT” flashes in the display, and
then press MENU/ENTER again.
1 While the recorder is stopped, press
MENU/ENTER, press SELECT
>/. repeatedly until “EDIT”
flashes in the display, and then press
MENU/ENTER again.
“
” and “Name” flash in the
“
” and “Name” flash in the
display, and the recorder plays the
selected track repeatedly.
display.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “Erase” flashes in the display,
and then press MENU/ENTER.
2 Press SELECT >/. repeatedly
until “ ” and “Erase” flash in the
display, and then press MENU/
ENTER.
“Erase?” and “ENTER” appear
alternately in the display.
“Erase?” and “ENTER” appear
alternately in the display.
3 Press MENU/ENTER again.
“Edit” flashes in the display, and all
the tracks will be erased.
3 Press MENU/ENTER.
The track is erased and the next track
starts to play. All the tracks after the
one erased are automatically
renumbered.
When erasing is complete, “BLANK”
appears in the display.
To cancel erasing
Press x.
To erase a part of a track
Add track marks at the beginning and the
end of the part you want to erase, then
30
Additional information
Preventing hearing damage
Avoid using headphones/earphones at high
volume. Hearing experts advise against
continuous, loud and extended play. If you
experience a ringing in your ears, reduce the
volume or discontinue use.
Precautions
On safety
Do not put any foreign objects in the DC IN 3V
jack.
Caring for others
On power sources
Keep the volume at a moderate level. This will
allow you to hear outside sounds and to be
considerate of the people around you.
• Use house current or LR6 (size AA) battery.
• For use in your house: Use the AC power
adaptor. Do not use any other AC power
adaptor than the ones designated for this
recorder since it may cause the recorder to
malfunction.
On the MiniDisc cartridge
• When carrying or storing the MiniDisc, keep
it in its case.
• Do not break open the shutter.
• Do not place the cartridge where it will be
subject to light, extreme temperatures,
moisture or dust.
• Attach the supplied MD label only in the
space designated for it on the disc. Do not
stick it on any other disc surface.
Polarity of the
plug
• The recorder is not disconnected from the AC
power source (mains) as long as it is
connected to the wall outlet, even if the
recorder itself has been turned off.
• If you are not going to use this recorder for a
long time, be sure to disconnect the power
supply (AC power adaptor or dry battery). To
remove the AC power adaptor from the wall
outlet, grasp the adaptor plug itself; never pull
the cord.
On cleaning
• Clean the recorder casing with a soft cloth
slightly moistened with water or a mild
detergent solution. Do not use any type of
abrasive pad, scouring powder or solvent such
as alcohol or benzene as it may mar the finish
of the casing.
On heat build-up
Heat may build up in the recorder if it is used
for an extended period of time. In this case,
leave the recorder turned off until it cools down.
• Wipe the disc cartridge with a dry cloth to
remove dirt.
• Dust on the lens may prevent the unit from
operating properly. Be sure to close the disc
compartment lid after inserting or ejecting an
MD.
• To obtain the best sound quality, use a dry
cloth to wipe the plugs of the headphones/
earphones. Dirty plugs may cause sound
distortion or intermittent breaks in the sound.
On installation
• Never use the recorder where it will be
subjected to extremes of light, temperature,
moisture or vibration.
• Never wrap the recorder in anything when it is
being used with the AC power adaptor. Heat
build-up in the recorder may cause
malfunction or damage.
Notes on battery
Incorrect battery usage may lead to leakage of
battery fluid or bursting battery. To prevent
such accidents, observe the following
precautions:
On the headphones/earphones
Road safety
Do not use headphones/earphones while
driving, cycling, or operating any motorized
vehicle. It may create a traffic hazard and is
illegal in many areas. It can also be potentially
dangerous to play your recorder at high volume
while walking, especially at pedestrian
crossings. You should exercise extreme caution
or discontinue use in potentially hazardous
situations.
• Install the + and – poles of the battery
correctly.
• Do not try to recharge dry battery.
• When the recorder is not to be used for a long
time, be sure to remove the battery.
• If a battery leak should develop, carefully and
thoroughly wipe away battery fluid from the
battery compartment before inserting new
ones.
31
Note on mechanical noise
The recorder gives off mechanical noise while
operating, which is caused by the power-saving
system of the recorder and it is not a problem.
Microphone, record player, tuner, etc.
(with analog output jacks).
To protect a recorded MD
To record-protect an MD, slide open the tab at
the side of the MD. In this position, the MD
cannot be recorded or edited. To record again,
slide the tab back so the tab is visible.
Analog recording
Home-recorded MD
Back of the MD
Tab
Digital recording
Recorded material
is protected.
Recordable
MD
No
digital
recording
Recordable
MD
Note on maintenance
Clean the terminal periodically with a cotton
swab or a soft cloth as illustrated below.
Recorded material
is not protected.
Note on digital recording
This recorder uses the Serial Copy
Management System, which allows only first-
generation digital copies to be made from
premastered software. You can only make
copies from a home-recorded MD by using the
analog connections.
If you have any questions or problems
concerning your recorder, please consult your
nearest Sony dealer. (If a trouble occurred when
the disc was in the recorder, we recommend that
the disc be left in the recorder when you consult
your Sony dealer so that the cause of trouble
may be better understood.)
Premastered software such
as CDs or MDs.
Digital recording
Home-
recorded
MD
No
digital
recording
Recordable
MD
32
Troubleshooting
Should any problem persist after you have made these checks, consult your nearest Sony
dealer.
Symptom
Cause/Solution
The recorder does • Audio sources may not be securely connected.
not work or works
poorly.
, Disconnect the audio sources once and connect them again
• The HOLD function is turned on (“HOLD” appears in the display
when you press an operation button on the recorder).
, Disable HOLD by sliding the HOLD switch in the opposite
• Moisture has condensed inside the recorder.
, Take the MD out and leave the recorder in a warm place with
the lid open for several hours until the moisture evaporates.
• The dry battery is weak (r or “LoBATT” flashes).
• The dry battery have been inserted incorrectly.
• You pressed a button while the disc indication was rotating
quickly.
, Wait until the indication rotates slowly.
• When recording digitally from a portable CD player, you did not
use AC power or did not disable the anti-skip function such as ESP
• The analog recording was made using a connecting cord with an
attenuator.
• The AC power adaptor was unplugged or a power outage occured.
• While operating, the recorder received a mechanical shock, too
much static, abnormal power voltage caused by lightning, etc.
, Restart the operation as follows.
1 Remove the battery from the battery compartment lid.
2 Leave the recorder for about 30 seconds.
3 Insert the battery into the battery compartment.
• The disc is damaged or does not contain proper recording or
editing data.
, Reinsert the disc. Rerecord the disc. If the message still
appears, replace it with another disc.
“No SIG” appears • There is no digital signal from a portable CD player.
in the display
when recording
from a portable
CD player.
, When recording digitally from a portable CD player, use the
AC power adaptor and disable the anti-skip function (such as
33
Symptom
Cause/Solution
There is no
recording on the
MD after a
recording
• The AC power adaptor was unplugged or a power outage occurred
during recording.
operation.
The lid does not
open.
• The battery have been exhausted.
, Replace the exhausted battery with new ones.
Volume cannot be • AVLS is on.
turned up.
No sound comes
through the
headphones/
earphones.
• The headphones/earphones plug is not firmly connected.
, Plug in the plug of the headphones/earphones firmly to i.
• Volume is too low.
, Adjust the volume by pressing VOL +/–.
An MD is not
played from the
first track.
• Disc playing stopped before it came to the last track.
, Press . repeatedly or open and close the lid once to go back
to the beginning of the disc, and restart playing after checking
the track number in the display.
Playback sound
skips.
• The recorder is placed where it receives continuous vibration.
, Put the recorder on a stable place.
• A very short track may cause sound to skip.
Sound has a lot of • Strong magnetism from a television or such device is interfering
static.
with operation.
, Move the recorder away from the source of strong magnetism.
Cannot find the
track marks.
• You pressed X after pressing . or >.
The disc cannot
edit on other
component.
• The component does not support LP2 stereo and LP4 stereo mode.
, Edit on other component that support LP2 stereo and LP4
stereo mode.
Momentary noise • Due to the special digital audio compression technology used in
is heard.
LP4 stereo mode, momentary noise may occur on very rare
occasions with certain sound sources.
, Record in normal stereo or LP2 stereo mode.
34
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 When the data of a track is fragmented, the track mark of a
erased.
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 remaining
recording time does
not increase even after
erasing numerous
short tracks.
The total recorded
Normally, recording is done in minimum units of approximately
time and the remaining 2 seconds (in stereo), 4 seconds (in LP2 stereo mode or
time on the disc may monaural), or 8 seconds (in LP4 stereo mode). When recording
not total the maximum is stopped, the last unit of recording always uses this unit of 2
recording time (60, 74, seconds, 4 seconds, or 8 seconds even if the actual recording is
or 80 minutes).
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 The fragmentation of data may cause sound dropout while
exhibit sound dropout searching because the tracks are played in higher speed than
during search
operations.
normal playback.
35
Messages
If the following error messages flash in the display window, check the chart below.
Error message
Meaning/Remedy
BLANK
• An MD with no recording on it is inserted.
, Insert a recorded MD.
BUSY
Edit
• You tried to operate the recorder while it was accessing the
recorded data.
, Wait until the message goes out (in rare cases, it may take
2–3 minutes).
• The MD player is recording information (track start and end
position) from the memory to the disk.
, Wait until this process is completed. Do not expose the
player to physical shock, nor disrupt power supply.
ERROR
FULL
• The disc is damaged or does not contain proper recording or
editing data.
, Reinsert the disc. If this fails, rerecord.
• There is no more space to record on the disc (less than 12
seconds in stereo, 24 seconds in LP2 stereo mode or monaural
or 48 seconds in LP4 stereo mode available).
, Replace the disc.
• You tried to enter more than 200 letters to label a single track
or disc.
• You tried to enter a total of more than 1,700 letters for track or
disc names during playback or stop.
, Enter a shorter name for track or disc, or delete “LP:” from
the beginning of the track name recorded in MDLP mode
HiDCin
HOLD
• Voltage of the power supply is too high (The recommended
AC power adaptor is not used).
, Use the recommended AC power adaptor.
• The recorder is locked.
, Slide HOLD against the arrow to unlock the recorder
LoBATT
• Battery is weak.
MEMORY
• You tried to record with the recorder placed where it receives
continuous vibration.
, Put the recorder on a stable place, and start recording
again.
36
Error message
Meaning/Remedy
NoCOPY
• You tried to make a copy from a disc that is protected by the
Serial Copy Management System. You cannot make copies
from a digitally connected source which was itself recorded
using digital connection.
NoDISC
No SIG
• You tried to play or record with no disc in the recorder.
, Insert an MD.
• The recorder could not detect digital input signals.
PbONLY
• You tried to record or edit on a premastered MD (Pb stands for
“playback”).
, Insert a recordable MD.
SAVED
Saving
• You tried to record or edit on a MD with the tab in the record-
protect position.
• The MD player is recording information (sounds) from the
memory to the disk.
, Wait until this process is completed. Do not expose the
player to any physical shock, nor disrupt power supply.
SORRY
• You tried to erase the track mark at the beginning of the first
track.
• You tried to erase a track mark to combine tracks the recorder
cannot combine (a track recorded in stereo and in mono, for
example).
• You tried to press X or T MARK during synchro-recording.
TEMP
• Heat has built up in the recorder.
, Let the recorder cool down.
TrFULL
• There is no more space for new data when you are editing the
MD.
TrPROT
• You tried to record or edit on a track that is protected from
erasing.
, Record or edit on other tracks.
37
General
Power requirements
Specifications
Sony AC power adaptor connected at the DC IN
3V jack (supplied with the European and
Chinese models only):
System
Audio playing system
MiniDisc digital audio system
Laser diode properties
Material: GaAlAs
120 V AC, 60 Hz (U.S.A., Canadian and
Taiwan model)
230 V AC, 50/60 Hz (Europe continental
model)
Wavelength: λ = 790 nm
Emission duration: continuous
Laser output: less than 44.6 µW
(This output is the value measured at a distance
of 200 mm from the lens surface on the optical
pick-up block with 7 mm aperture.)
Recording and playback time
When using MDW-80:
Maximum 160 min. in monaural
Maximum 320 min. in stereo
Revolutions
350 rpm to 2,800 rpm (CLV)
Error correction
ACIRC (Advanced Cross Interleave Reed
Solomon Code)
Sampling frequency
44.1 kHz
Sampling rate converter
Input: 32 kHz/44.1 kHz/48 kHz
Coding
ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic
Coding)
240 V AC, 50 Hz (Australian model)
220 V AC, 50 Hz (Chinese model)
230 - 240 V AC, 50 Hz (U.K. and Hong
Kong model)
220 V AC, 50 Hz (Argentina model)
110/220 V AC, 60 Hz (Korean model)
100 - 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz (Other models)
One LR6 (size AA) alkaline dry battery (not
supplied)
Battery operation time
Dimensions
Approx. 83.0 × 27.8 × 75.8 mm (w/h/d) (33/8 ×
11/8 × 3 in.) without projections.
Mass
Approx. 113 g (4.0 oz) the recorder only
Supplied accessories
US and foreign patents licensed from Dolby
Laboratories.
ATRAC3 - LP2/LP4
Modulation system
Design and specifications are subject to change
without notice.
EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation)
Number of channels
2 stereo channels
1 monaural channel
Frequency response
20 to 20,000 Hz 3 dB
Wow and Flutter
Below measurable limit
Inputs
Line in: stereo mini-jack, minimum input level
49 mV
Optical (Digital) in: optical (digital) mini-jack
Outputs
i: stereo mini-jack, maximum output level 5
mW + 5 mW, load impedance 16 ohm
Optional accessories
Optical Cable
POC-15B, POC-15AB, POC-DA12SP
Line Cable RK-G129, RK-G136
Stereo Headphones* MDR-D77, MDR-D55
Active Speakers SRS-Z500
Recordable MDs MDW-series
AC power adaptor AC-E30HG
Your dealer may not handle some of the above
listed accessories. Please ask the dealer for
detailed information about the accessories in
your country.
∗ Use only headphones/earphones with stereo
mini plugs. You cannot use headphones/
earphones with micro plugs.
38
Explanations
How the MiniDisc got so small
The 2.5-inch MiniDisc, encased in a plastic
cartridge that looks like a 3.5-inch diskette,
uses a new digital audio compression
technology called ATRAC (Adaptive
TRansform Acoustic Coding). To store more
sound in less space, ATRAC extracts and
encodes only those frequency components
actually audible to the human ear.
Quick Random Access
Like CDs, MDs offer instantaneous random
access to the beginning of any music track.
Premastered MDs are recorded with location
addresses corresponding to each music
selection.
Recordable MDs are manufactured with a
“User TOC Area” to contain the order of the
music. The TOC (Table of Contents) system
is similar to the “directory management
system” of floppy disks. In other words,
starting and ending addresses for all music
tracks recorded on the disc are stored in this
area. This lets you randomly access the
beginning of any track as soon as you enter
the track number (AMS), as well as label the
location with a track name as you would a
file on a diskette.
A
B
A — User TOC area
Contains the order and start/end points of
the music.
B — Music Data
39
This warranty is valid only in the United States.
Sony Corporation Printed in MJaaplaynsia
|