Frequently asked questions
This is a subset of our FAQ section with information most relevant to newcomers. "Why MD" and "Using MD" are must-reads for all aspiring collectors. Check the full section for more. Why MiniDisc? MiniDisc is a unique and
Reference library
MiniDisc Wiki collection
3,426 published source and document records. Incomplete and historical records remain available here.
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General Recording (Dubbing) Guide
Unless you have a NetMD recorder or deck with built-in CD copying, MDs are recorded in real-time from another audio source. Whatever plays into the MD's input is recorded onto the disc. The output of the source (such as
Getting Help
There's a lot to go through here, so it's understandable that you may need to reach out to others for help. The MD community is famously helpful and friendly, but we ask that you follow some basic steps before you post o
Getting Started
Before we begin Read the tl;dr version Be aware that MiniDisc is not the same as 8cm Mini CDs, Nintendo GameCube discs, or Sony PSP UMDs (Universal Media Disc) - MiniDisc is a particular format, and is spelt "MiniDisc" -
Getting Started - tl;dr version
You're interested in MiniDisc. Here's what you need to know. Read the full guide. You should watch this video It covers the format extensively It can be expensive The hardware is 15-30 years old Many devices have since f
Guides
Getting started Getting started guide Detailed buying guide Model naming conventions Purchasing equipment from Japan Real time copying (dubbing) General copying guide (analog / digital) md-to-pc Software guides Web MiniD
Hi-MD
Hi-MD Web MiniDisc has always supported Hi-MD devices in standard MD mode. As of Web MiniDisc Pro 1.4.0, Hi-MD modes are also supported. Warning Hi-MD mode features are much newer than NetMD and there may be bugs. You ma
HiMD Recording Capacities
HiMD Recording Capacities This page lists recording capacities for discs recorded in various HiMD modes. This information is sourced from the manual to the MZ-RH1, but should be similar for all Hi-MD recorders Except for
Homebrew mode
Homebrew mode This requires a Supported NetMD Device. Using the overflow menu, you can enable homebrew mode (formerly factory mode.) This mode is experimental and comes with no warranty. Once you click, there is a warnin
How to get it
There are several places to find equipment, depending on your locale. You won't find MiniDisc equipment in stores that sell new electronics, nor in major online retailers. In-person The local availability of MiniDisc equ
How to Lookup ToC Signature
How to Lookup ToC Signature Sony included a " ToC signature" as part of the MD spec. Recorders "sign" a disc and track with a 3-4 digit value when they record. Sony never published a list of these so we're making our own
Launching Web MiniDisc Pro
Insert a MiniDisc into the NetMD recorder and connect it to the computer. Navigate to Web MiniDisc Pro. On first visit, or if there has been an update, you will see a changelog window. Quickly check if anything seems rel
Linear PCM Audio to Hi-MD with SonicStage
Hi-MD devices support lossless Linear PCM audio. Using SonicStage, you can transfer lossless WAV tracks to a Hi-MD device with the steps outlined below. The steps to install SonicStage on Windows 10 are here: sonicstagew
LIP-12 Rebuild
Rebuild guide curtesy of @DanielMcGregor#4040 on the Mizucat Discord. This is a short and simple guide to rebuilding the LIP-12 battery. It uses a standard 18650 battery and is a rather quick fix. If you'd like to watch
Managing tracks
Click on a track to select it. The disc title will be replaced with options. After selecting one track, you can select more tracks by clicking them. You do not need to hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple tracks. Left to
MiniDisc Buyer's Guide
This page is intended to be a complement to the Getting Started guide, with more details about particular generations of machine, decks, and "gotchas" - for someone new to the MD format, please check the Getting Started
Misconceptions
In this section, we hope to address several popular misconceptions about MiniDisc. These are things we have heard across the internet in comments, videos, forum and social media posts, and beyond. Many are based on truth
Model Naming Convention
Looking at finding a minidisc recorder can get confusing, with the huge number of model names and numbers. As time went on from the initial Sony MZ-1, the Sony naming convention changed and evolved. Then NetMD came along
NetMD devices - recording speed test
Current results Sample track with 23m41s in Web MiniDisc Test your device Do you have a NetMD machine that is not listed? Prepare a blank MD, download and unzip the test file from here — unavailable in this snapshot Open
Next Steps
Once you have a working recorder and are enjoying MD as a music format, there is much more to experience. Expanding your collection More equipment A late model MD player or a deck are common additions once you decide to
Overflow menu
In the top-right of the app is the overflow (ellipsis) menu. This shows many more features and settings. Reload TOC - refresh the list of tracks from the Table of Contents on the disc Enter Homebrew Mode - advanced featu
Relubricating gears on MD portable units
WARNING **DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK** This will be a physical repair guide, focusing on getting a cranky MD mechanism back to proper working order! Here are some symptoms that this will (likely) fix, or at the very least,
Repairing dents on MD units
WARNING **DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK** This is a repair guide that is physical, and is not guaranteed to fix your dent(s) fully. I was not 100% successful, but I am okay with moderate blemishes on my units. If this dent da
Requirements
To use Web MiniDisc Pro you need: a NetMD recorder USB cable (most use USB Mini-B) Chromium web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, etc.) or ElectronWMD Windows Windows requires a driver to be installed before
Sharp gear reference
The Sharp portable MiniDisc devices are prone to a failure of the plastic worm gear that is connected to a rod that moves the laser sled back and forth. A common symptom seems to be a device that is unable to read discs.
Song Recognition
As of version 1.3.0, Web MiniDisc Pro has Shazam integration to identify and title tracks using audio fingerprints. Song recognition works better with ElectronWMD than the web browser-based Web MiniDisc Pro. See the next
SonicStage with netMD on Windows 10
Want to use netMD with a modern PC? Well, you should use Web MiniDisc or Platinum MiniDisc. They are both much easier to install and use, and let you use many more audio formats, including FLAC. You also do not have to m
Sony MDS-E12 belt replacement
Applicable to models with the MDM7 series MD mechanism, including but not limited to: MDS-JE440/640/JB940 MDS-JE470/770 MDS-JE480/780/JB980 MDS-E10, MDS-E12 "pro" decks MXD-D4, MXD-D40, MXD-D400, MXD-D5C Most Sony mini a
Sony MDS-JE500 and MDS-JE510 Eject Issue
Sony MDS-JE500 and MDS-JE510 Eject Issue This guide describes how to replace the "chuck in" microswitch on the mds-je500 and mds-je510. Other units may be affected by this, please update the wiki for any additional model
Sony MDS-S30 belt replacement
Should be valid for MDM2 mechanisms, including but not limited to: MDS-302 MDS-303 MDS-S35 MDM-X4 Background and diagnostics This is an easy issue to diagnose because the device will fail to accept a MiniDisc fully. Atte
Sony MZ-N1 write head repair
You may need to do this repair to the MZ-N1, MZ-N505, MZ-N707, or other units, if you find your machine is writing silence instead of audio, skipping during recording, or not writing anything at all to the disc. This was
Specific use-cases
Most of this guide assumes you want to use MD as a music format when at home or travelling. Here is advice if you have different goals. Just for show (display piece) If you are only interested in the aesthetics of the fo
Testing and using your equipment
Unboxing Depending on the sale listing, you may wish to film yourself opening and testing the device in case it did not arrive as described. Check for obvious damage. Reading the manual (if available) The wiki has upload
The MiniDisc Getting Started Guide
This guide is our compilation of the best information and advice we can offer for anyone curious about entering the MiniDisc hobby. After reading, you should feel comfortable buying and using MiniDisc. MiniDisc is a retr
TOC Cloning with Sony MZ-N710
:!: — image unavailable in this snapshot The following guide expects you to have some knowledge about how to handle precision mechanical and electronic devices. Improper handling of device can result inoperable device. D
Troubleshooting
Web MiniDisc Pro has been heavily tested, especially on the most common devices. Some issues or errors may still occur. Browser JavaScript console When reporting an issue or bug, you may be asked to show the browser cons
Using Platinum MiniDisc
Platinum MiniDisc is an easy to use cross-platform frontend to Vuori's linux-minidisc tool. It supports almost any audio format, including FLAC. You can even transfer tracks back to your PC if you are using the MZ-RH1. A
Using Web MiniDisc offline
Using Web MiniDisc offline Electron WMD Electron WMD is a standalone desktop version of Web MiniDisc Pro by the same developer. It can be found at this GitHub link. Browser app Web MiniDisc Pro can also be installed loca
Web MiniDisc Pro guide
Referencing version: Web MiniDisc Pro 1.3.2 Web MiniDisc Pro (WMDpro) is a web app that can copy (almost) any audio file onto a Sony MiniDisc using the NetMD USB protocol. It can also manage tracks, erase discs, and enab
Web MiniDisc Pro guide and user manual
Web MiniDisc Pro (WMDpro) is a web app that can copy (almost) any audio file onto a Sony MiniDisc using the NetMD USB protocol. It can also manage tracks, erase discs, and enable new features that extend the MD format. I