CD text recording: Useful when compiling MD recordings from compact discs with CD text information. By connecting the MD recorder via its digital input, track labeling is automatically recorded from the CD onto the disc. You will also need a CD text compatible CD player.

Digital input/output: Enables a direct digital connection from digital sources and to other digital devices. This is very useful as discs recorded and copied using this connection are of a better quality. Also track breaks, record levels and (where available) text information is all transferred automatically.

These connections can be found in two formats: optical and coaxial. Both serve the same purpose, but you must connect like to like - e.g. if your CD player has an optical digital output then you would connect it to the optical digital input on your MiniDisc recorder.

Editing:

Disc Erase: Erase the entire disc leaving it blank.

Disc Title: Add a title to your disc.

End Search: Finds the blank space at the end of the disc so that you can quickly start recording onto the free space without recording over existing material.

Programmable playback: Allows the user to select the tracks and order they wish to hear them in.

Track Combine: Merges two tracks into one.

Track Divide: Splits one track into two at the specific point you require.

Track Erase: Erases a single track - other tracks automatically shuffle into place.

Track Mark: A way of placing a marker on a track which can be used with the editing functions. Also Automatic Track Marking which places marks at a regular pre-set interval (e.g. every 5, 10 or 15 minutes) to allow easier navigation on a disc with no existing track breaks.

Track Move: Reposition a track in the discs running order.

Track Title: Label a specific track.

MD Long Play (MDLP): Increases the capacity of a disc by 2 or 4 times (MDLP x 2 and MDLP x 4). So an 80 minute disc will allow up to 320 minutes of stereo recording time. There is a small loss in quality  - most say x 2 is very good and x 4 is acceptable for less critical material. Discs recorded in an MDLP mode can only be played back on an MDLP compatible MiniDisc player.

NET MD: MiniDisc recorders equipped with Net MD functionality allow you to write music tracks to them from a PC at super-fast speeds. Usually supplied with a USB connection lead and software which enables you to arrange music files of different formats (MP3, CDA, WMA) on your PC into albums, you simply select the compression rate (standard play, LP2 or LP4 - see MD Long Play above) and write them to MD at speeds of up to 64 times faster than real time! This facility is ideal for those who store music on their computer and wish to quickly sort and compile albums for taking out and about.

Pitch control: Allows you to adjust the speed of a disc's playback.

PS/2 keyboard socket: A very useful feature which allows you to connect a PC keyboard directly into your MiniDisc recorder allowing you to label the tracks and discs in a more efficient manner.

SCMS (Serial Copy Management System): Employed on all domestic digital recorders. It limits the number of generations that can be made of a recording when using digital connectors. If you copy a CD onto a MiniDisc using a digital connection, you will not then be able to copy that second generation disc again in the same fashion. But thereafter you can create as many generations as you wish using an analogue connection