Pioneer MJ-L77 - Manual (Page 7)

1 Before You Start
7
Se
t Up
About the Table of Contents
When you load any kind of minidisc into the recorder, the first thing it does is read a
section of the disc called the Table of Contents, or TOC. Just as the contents page of a
book tells the reader what each chapter is about and where to find it in the book, the
TOC tells the recorder where the tracks are on the disc, the name and length of each
track, the name of the disc, and so on. In the couple of seconds it takes to read all this,
the recorder’s display shows the message
MD TOC READ.
Since you can change what’s on a recordable MD, the Table of Contents is rewritable,
and so is called the User Table of Contents, or UTOC for short. If you have a recordable
disc loaded in the recorder and hit eject, the recorder automatically updates the UTOC
before giving you the disc back. In both cases, the message
MD TOC WRITE
appears in the display during the UTOC updating process.
The UTOC is vital for the recorder to be able to play a disc correctly. Until you hit eject,
the recorder stores all the current session’s recording and editing information in its
memory. If there’s a power failure or you accidently unplug the recorder before it’s had
a chance to write the UTOC there’s a danger that all that disc information will be lost.
To prevent this, plug the recorder back in as soon as possible and eject the disc. If you
leave the unit unplugged for more that a day, you’ll lose the UTOC information stored
in memory and with it, that session’s recordings/edits.
Copying restrictions
You may run into problems making digital copies of some sources, even when the
sampling rate is compatible. Some DVD discs disable the DVD player’s digital output to
prevent illegal digital copying (you can still record via the analogue outputs though).
Another restriction on digital copying comes from something called SCMS, which
stands for Serial Copy Management System. This stops you making multiple-
generation digital recordings and is aimed at preventing illegal digital copying of
copyright material. The number of generations that SCMS will let you make depends
on the source.
A recording made from any source
via analogue inputs can be digitally
copied once only.
Analogue
connection Digital connection Digital connection
Satellite
Audio from digital satellite can
usually be copied digitally for two
generations. (Sometimes just one
generation is possible.)
Digital connection Digital connection Digital connection
Digital audio from CD, MD, DVD or DAT can be copied
digitally for one generation only.
Digital connection Digital connection