MiniDisc [Sony]
Maker and role
Sony Corporation, Manufacturer
Object detail
Accession number
2023.149.9
Maker
Production period
Description
Sony MiniDisc
Square red plastic minidisc with “SONY / insert this end / SA COATING ADVANCE / Color Collection / Mini / Disc / 74 / Recordable MD” printed on the front. At the back, “Mini / Disc / 4ADK55160” is engraved. A white sticker with "EXCERPTS (W. Orch)" handwritten on it is attached to the bottom edge of the minidisc.
Square red plastic minidisc with “SONY / insert this end / SA COATING ADVANCE / Color Collection / Mini / Disc / 74 / Recordable MD” printed on the front. At the back, “Mini / Disc / 4ADK55160” is engraved. A white sticker with "EXCERPTS (W. Orch)" handwritten on it is attached to the bottom edge of the minidisc.
Brief History
The MiniDisc was a development in portable music player technology that was released in the early-1990s by Sony. It was a continuation in the development in optical disc technology (e.g. CDs). A key aspect of MiniDiscs was their re-writability and were intended to be used much like a mix-tape, recording from external sources. However a small number of artists released content directly onto MiniDisc.
MiniDiscs use magneto-optics to store data. This process involves writing data via magnetisation which is then read by a laser light. This is different to optical disc technology such as CDs where the laser light both reads and writes data. MiniDisc technology had a relatively short-lived peak in popularity and was soon superseded by MP3 players and iPods. Magneto-optical media and devices have now reached end-of-life status and as such is considered an obsolete technology.
This MiniDisc was produced by Sony and has a playback time of 74 minutes and was marketed as having a shock absorbing coating. This type of MiniDisc used Sony’s proprietary ATRAC digital audio format. The disc itself is housed inside a coloured plastic casing.
MiniDiscs use magneto-optics to store data. This process involves writing data via magnetisation which is then read by a laser light. This is different to optical disc technology such as CDs where the laser light both reads and writes data. MiniDisc technology had a relatively short-lived peak in popularity and was soon superseded by MP3 players and iPods. Magneto-optical media and devices have now reached end-of-life status and as such is considered an obsolete technology.
This MiniDisc was produced by Sony and has a playback time of 74 minutes and was marketed as having a shock absorbing coating. This type of MiniDisc used Sony’s proprietary ATRAC digital audio format. The disc itself is housed inside a coloured plastic casing.
Marks
SONY / insert this end / SA COATING ADVANCE / Color Collection / Mini / Disc / 74 / Recordable MD Printed
Mini / Disc / 4ADK55160 Engraved
EXCERPTS (W. Orch) Hand-written
Mini / Disc / 4ADK55160 Engraved
EXCERPTS (W. Orch) Hand-written
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Sony Corporation. MiniDisc [Sony], 2023.149.9. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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