MiniDisc [Sharp]
Maker and role
Sharp Corporation, Manufacturer
Object detail
Accession number
2023.157.4
Maker
Production period
Description
Sharp MiniDisc
Part 1: Transparent plastic case for Sharp minidisc. The case is open at the top end and has cutout enabling access to minidisc.
Part 2: Square purple plastic minidisc with “INSERT THIS END / SHARP / 74 / Digital / Audio / MiniDisc / MD-R 74” printed on the front. A lined sticker is adhered with “Alanis Morisette / Jagged Little / Pill. [crossed out] / Triple J / Hottest 100 / No. 2 / 1995” handwritten in blue pen. At the back, “GC517003” is printed.
Part 1: Transparent plastic case for Sharp minidisc. The case is open at the top end and has cutout enabling access to minidisc.
Part 2: Square purple plastic minidisc with “INSERT THIS END / SHARP / 74 / Digital / Audio / MiniDisc / MD-R 74” printed on the front. A lined sticker is adhered with “Alanis Morisette / Jagged Little / Pill. [crossed out] / Triple J / Hottest 100 / No. 2 / 1995” handwritten in blue pen. At the back, “GC517003” is printed.
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 MiniDisc technology had a relatively short-lived peak in popularity and was soon superseded by MP3 players and iPods.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 Sharp and has a playback time of 74 minutes. 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 MiniDisc technology had a relatively short-lived peak in popularity and was soon superseded by MP3 players and iPods.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 Sharp and has a playback time of 74 minutes. This type of MiniDisc used Sony’s proprietary ATRAC digital audio format. The disc itself is housed inside a coloured plastic casing.
Marks
INSERT THIS END / SHARP / 74 / Digital / Audio / MiniDisc / MD-R 74 Printed
Alanis Morisette / Jagged Little / Pill. [crossed out] / Triple J / Hottest 100 / No. 2 / 1995 Hand-written
GC517003 Printed
Alanis Morisette / Jagged Little / Pill. [crossed out] / Triple J / Hottest 100 / No. 2 / 1995 Hand-written
GC517003 Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Sharp Corporation. MiniDisc [Sharp], 2023.157.4. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
![MiniDisc Walkman [Sony]; Sony Corporation; 1997](https://collection.motat.nz/records/images/medium/57960/43ba23511424cabaff39768ff1e08881bf0e46a2.jpg)
![MiniDisc [Sony]; Sony Corporation](https://collection.motat.nz/records/images/medium/57962/c4043b9c8858cbbcc125e6ae7f6ea33aff2ea4bc.jpg)
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