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Note: In some areas the disposal of nickel metal hydride batteries in household or business trash may be prohibited. For the Sony Service Center nearest you call 1-800-222-SONY (United States only). Caution: Do not handle damaged or leaking nickel metal hydride battery.
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Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to them whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product. Model No. MZ-R90/R91 Serial No.
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This manual is for models MZ- R90 and MZ-R91. The MZ-R90 appears in the instructions for illustration purposes. Though they differ in appearance, the models share the same functions and are operated in the same way. For detailed specifications, see page 50.
Table of contents Recording an MD right away! ... 8 Playing an MD right away! ... 11 Various ways of recording ... 14 Two ways of connecting to a sound source ...14 Recording with digital (optical) input (optical cable required) ...15 To start/stop recording in sync with the source player (Synchro-recording) ...16 Recording from a microphone ...17...
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Editing recorded tracks ... 31 Erasing tracks ... 31 To erase a track ... 31 To erase the whole disc ... 31 Adding a track mark ... 32 Erasing a track mark ... 32 Moving recorded tracks ... 33 On the recorder ... 33 On the remote control ...
Recording an MD right away! The sound will be sent from the connected equipment as analog signal but will be recorded digitally on the disc. To record from a digital source, see “Recording with digital (optical) input (optical cable required)” (page 15). To record from an MD, see “Note on digital recording”...
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Insert a recordable MD. Slide OPEN to open the lid. Record an MD. CD player, cassette recorder, etc. (source) Insert a recordable MD with the label side facing up, and press the lid down to close. Slide REC to the right. “REC”...
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Record from the end of the previous recording Record partway through the previous recording Pause Remove the MD A track mark is added at the point where you press X again to resume recording while pausing; thus the remainder of the track will be counted as a new track. Once you open the lid, the point to start recording will change to the beginning of the first track.
Playing an MD right away! To use the recorder on a rechargeable battery or dry batteries, see “Power sources” (page 40). Make connections. firmly and completely into the appropriate jacks.) Headphones with a remote control (supplied) Wear the earpiece marked R in your right ear and the one marked L in your left ear.
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Play an MD. Find the beginning of the current track Find the beginning of the next track Pause Go backwards while playing Go forward while playing Remove the MD To go backward or forward quickly without listening, press X and keep pressing . or > (press and hold the control towards .
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• The VOL +/– buttons and the Mega Bass function may become inoperative. In this case, do the procedure below. 1 Press the jog lever, flip the jog lever until “AUDIO OUT” flashes in the display, and then press the lever again. “LINE OUT”...
Various ways of recording Two ways of connecting to a sound source The input jack of this recorder works as both digital and analog input jacks. Connect the recorder to a CD player or a cassette recorder using either digital (optical) input or analog (line) input.
Recording with digital (optical) input (optical cable required) Connect to a digital source using an optical cable (POC-5B or POC-5AB, not supplied) to make digital recordings. Digital recording is possible even from digital equipment with different sampling rates, such as a DAT deck or a BS tuner, using the built-in sampling rate converter.
To start/stop recording in sync with the source player (Synchro-recording) You can easily make digital recordings of a digital source on an MD. Before synchro-recording, make connections to the digital source with a digital cable, and insert a recordable MD. CD players, etc.
Recording from a microphone Connect a stereo microphone (ECM-717, ECM-MS907, ECM-MS957, etc.; not supplied) to the MIC (PLUG IN POWER) jack. Stereo microphone to MIC (PLUG IN POWER) Insert a recordable MD and start recording. Slide REC to the right. For other operations, see “Recording an MD right away!”...
• Sound recorded through digital (optical) input can be monitored in stereo through headphones, etc. Adjusting the recording level manually (Manual recording) When you record, the sound level is adjusted automatically. If necessary, you can set the level manually. Note Adjust the recording level while the recorder is in standby mode.
While observing the level meter in the display, adjust the recording level by flipping the jog lever or pressing > (+) or . (–). Set the level so that the level meter reaches around (–12 dB) mark beneath the display window. If the sound is too high, lower the recording level until the level meter just barely reaches the...
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Number of displayed items In stop mode LapTime RecRemain AllRemain Clock Display order Number of displayed items Press the jog lever. The display changes as follows. Display window on the recorder While recording Track number Elapsed time Track number Remaining time for recording Current date Current time...
On the remote control DISPLAY Press DISPLAY while recording or in stop mode. Each time you press the button, the display changes as follows. Display window on the remote control While recording Track number Elapsed time Track number Remaining time for recording —...
Setting the clock to stamp the recorded time To stamp the date and time on the MD when you record, you first need to set the clock. Once you set the clock, the recorder will include a time stamp each you record something.
CD that support CD-TEXT, and the CD player that support Joint Text required By connecting the recorder to a Sony portable CD player that supports Joint Text (the CD text copying function) (D- EJ01), you can copy track and disc names automatically during recording.
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CDs that support CD-TEXT. • The RK-TXT1 CD text connecting cable is designed for exclusive use with this recorder and Sony portable CD player (D-EJ01). Do not use a connecting cable of another make to copy CD text information.
Various ways of playback Selecting a track directly You can select a desired track directly by using the jog lever. Jog lever Flip the jog lever until the desired track appears in the display, and then press the jog lever. Flip to select Press to enter The selected track name appears in...
Indication A/B AllRepeat/F 1 Repeat/F 1 Shuffle/ F SHUF On the remote control PLAYMODE Press PLAYMODE while the recorder is playing or stopped. Each time you press the button, the play mode indication changes as follows. Display window on the remote control Play mode indication Indication none (normal play) All the tracks are...
Emphasizing bass (DIGITAL MEGA BASS) The Mega Bass function intensifies low frequency sound for richer quality audio reproduction. It affects only the sound from the headphones. Jog lever Press the jog lever, flip until “MEGA BASS” flashes in the display, and then press the lever again.
Checking the remaining time or the playing position You can check the track name, disc name, etc. during playback. On the recorder Jog lever While the recorder is playing, press the jog lever, flip until “DISPLAY” flashes in the display, and then press the lever again.
On the remote control DISPLAY Press DISPLAY while playing. Each time you press DISPLAY, the display changes as follows. Display window on the remote control Track number Elapsed time Track number Track name The number of Disc name tracks in the disc —...
Connecting to a stereo system (LINE OUT) Connect the i/LINE OUT jack of the recorder to the LINE IN jacks of an amplifier or a tape player with a line cable (RK-G129 or RK-G136, not supplied). The output is analog. The recorder plays the MD digitally and sends analog signals to the connected equipment.
Editing recorded tracks You can edit your recordings by adding/ erasing track marks or labeling tracks and MDs. Premastered MDs cannot be edited. Notes on editing • Do not move or jog the recorder while “TOC Edit”* is flashing in the display. •...
Press the jog lever again. “TOC Edit” flashes in the display, and all the tracks will be erased. When erasing is complete, “BLANKDISC” appears in the display. Adding a track mark You can add track marks so that the part after the new track mark is counted as a new track.
Moving recorded tracks You can change the order of the recorded tracks. Example Move track C from the third to the second track. Before moving After moving On the recorder Jog lever T MARK While playing the track you want to move, press the jog lever so that “EDIT”...
Labeling recordings You can name tracks during playback, discs during stop, and both during recording. Each name can be as long as 200 letters. Each disc can hold up to 1700 alphanumeric letters during playback or stop. On the recorder Jog lever ./>...
Labeling a track during playback Insert a disc and play the track you want to label. Press the jog lever so that “EDIT” flashes in the display, and then press the lever again. “ : Name” flashes in the display. Press the jog lever.
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Press/ Turn DISPLAY Insert a blank space to type in a new letter by pressing within 2 seconds. Cancel labeling by pressing for 2 seconds or more. PLAYMODE Delete a letter and move back all following letters to the left. If phrases are stored in the phrase bank, the first phrase stored appears in the display(page 39).
Storing phrases frequently used in labeling (Phrase Bank) Phrases that you often use in track or disc labeling can be stored in the recorder’s memory. There are two ways to store phrases: storing a phrase while performing the labeling procedure, or storing a phase using the EDIT menu.
Flip the jog lever or press ./> repeatedly. Flipping the jog lever or pressing the buttons causes the phrases stored in the phrase bank to appear one by one in sequential order. If you press X at this time, the first phrase stored in the phrase bank retrieved.
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Storing phrases using the EDIT menu Press DISPLAY for 2 seconds or more. Press the control towards . or towards N • > repeatedly until “Name Bank” flashes in the display, and then press x. Enter the phrase you want to store, then press x for 2 seconds or more.
Power sources You can use the recorder on house current or as follows. In the recorder … — a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery NH-14WM (supplied) With supplied battery case … — LR6 (size AA) alkaline battery (not supplied) It is preferable to use the recorder on house current when recording for a long time.
(size AA) The battery life may be shorter due to operating conditions and the temperature of the location. When using a LR6 (SG) Sony “STAMINA” alkaline dry battery (produced in Japan). When you record, use a fully charged rechargeable battery.
Additional information Precautions On safety Do not put any foreign objects in the DC IN 3V jack. On power sources • Use house current, nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery, LR6 (size AA) battery, or car battery. • For use in your house: Use the AC power adaptor supplied with this recorder.
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Sony dealer. (If a trouble occurred when the disc was in the recorder, we recommend that the disc be left in the recorder when you consult your Sony dealer so that the cause of trouble may be better understood.) Digital recording...
Troubleshooting Should any problem persist after you have made these checks, consult your nearest Sony dealer. Symptom The recorder does not work or works poorly. The lid does not open. Cause/Solution • Audio sources may not be securely connected. , Disconnect the audio sources once and connect them again (pages 8, 15).
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Symptom Cause/Solution No sound comes • The headphones plug is not firmly connected. through the , Plug in the plug of the headphones firmly to the remote control. headphones. Plug in the plug of the remote control firmly to i/LINE OUT. •...
System limitations The recording system in your MiniDisc recorder is radically different from those used in cassette and DAT decks and is characterized by the limitations described below. Note, however, that these limitations are due to the inherent nature of the MD recording system itself and not to mechanical causes.
Messages If the following error messages flash in the display window, check the chart below. Error message Meaning/Remedy BLANKDISC • An MD with no recording on it is inserted. , Insert a recorded MD. DISC ERR • The disc is damaged or does not contain proper recording or editing data.
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Error message Meaning/Remedy NO COPY • You tried to make a copy from a disc that is protected by the Serial NO DISC • You tried to play or record with no disc in the recorder. NO SIGNAL • The recorder could not detect digital input signals. P/B ONLY •...
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Error message Meaning/Remedy EMPTY • You tried to erase data in the phrase bank but no data have been recorded. BANK FULL • The phrase bank is almost full and cannot store the phrase you tried to enter. , Delete some phrases from the phrase bank, and then reenter the new phrase.
* The i/LINE OUT jack connects either headphones or a line cable. General Power requirements Sony AC Power Adaptor (supplied) connected at the DC IN 3 V jack: 120 V AC, 60 Hz (US model) 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz (Australia and New...
Stereo Microphones ECM-717, ECM-MS907, ECM-MS957 Stereo Headphones* MDR-series CD text connecting cable RK-TXT1 Active Speakers SRS-Z500 Recordable MDs MDW-series Your dealer may not handle some of the above listed accessories. Please ask the dealer for detailed information about the accessories in your country.
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How the MiniDisc got so small The 2.5-inch MiniDisc, encased in a plastic cartridge that looks like a 3.5-inch diskette (see illustration above), uses a new digital audio compression technology called ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding). To store more sound in less space, ATRAC extracts and encodes only those frequency components actually audible to the human ear.
Looking at the controls See pages in ( ) for more details. The recorder A x/CHARGE button (9)(12)(31)(40) B Display window (16)(25) C REC indicator (20) D DC IN 3V jack (at the rear) (8)(11)(40) E Jog lever (12)(17)(25)(34) F i (headphones)/LINE OUT jack (11)(23)(30) G MIC (PLUG IN POWER) jack (17) H LINE IN (OPTICAL) jack (8)(15)
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The display window A Character information display (19)(25) Displays the disc and track names, date, error messages, track numbers, etc. B MONO (monaural) indication C Disc name/track name indication Lights up when labeling a disc or a track. D Play mode indication (25) Shows the play mode of the MD.
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The headphones with a remote control US model A Headphones Can be replaced with optional headphones. B x (stop) button (12)(33)(35) C Control (12)(33)(35)(39) To play, press towards N • > during stop. Press towards N • > during play to search the beginning of the succeeding track;...
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Sony Corporation Printed in Japan Sony Corporation Printed in Japan...