18
US
Playing a disc with MP3
files
About MP3 files
MP3 (MPEG 1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard
technology and format for compressing a sound
sequence. The file is compressed to about 1/10
of its original size. Sounds outside the range of
human hearing are compressed while the
sounds we can hear are not compressed.
Playback of some MP3 files may not be
possible, depending on the encoding.
Notes on discs
You can play MP3 files recorded on CD-ROMs
CD-Rs (recordable CDs), and CD-RWs
(rewritable CDs).
The disc must be in the ISO 9660*
1
level 1 or
level 2 format, or Joliet in the expansion
format.
You can use a disc recorded in Multi Session*
2
.
*1
ISO 9660 Format
The most common international standard for the
logical format of files and folders on a CD-ROM.
There are several specification levels. In Level 1,
file names must be in the 8.3 format (no more than
eight characters in the name, no more than three
characters in the extension “.MP3”) and in capital
letters. Folder names can be no longer than eight
characters. There can be no more than eight nested
folder levels. Level 2 specifications allow file
names and folder names up to 31 characters long.
Each folder can have up to 8 trees.
For Joliet in the expansion format (file and folder
names can have up to 64 characters) make sure of
the contents of the writing software, etc.
*
2
Multi Session
This is a recording method that enables adding of
data using the Track-At-Once method.
Conventional CDs begin at a CD control area
called the Lead-in and end at an area called Lead-
out. A Multi Session CD is a CD having multiple
sessions, with each segment from Lead-in to Lead-
out regarded as a single session.
CD-Extra: This format records audio (audio CD
data) on the tracks in session 1 and data on the
tracks in session 2.
Mixed CD: This format records data on the first
track and audio (audio CD data) on the second and
subsequent tracks of a session.
Notes
• With formats other than ISO 9660 level 1 and 2,
folder names or file names may not be displayed
correctly.
• When naming, be sure to add the file extension
“MP3” to the file name.
• If you put the extension “MP3” to a file other than
MP3, the unit cannot recognize the file properly and
will generate random noise that could damage your
speakers.
• The following discs take a longer time to start
playback.
– a disc recorded with complicated tree structure.
– a disc recorded in Multi Session.
– a disc to which data can be added (non-finalized
disc).
• The encoding method (i.e., the bit rate selected for
encoding) will affect the sound quality of the MP3
files.
• The bit rate typically used for MP3 files is
128 kbps.
Cautions when playing a disc that is
recorded in Multi Session
CD-DA (audio) data or MP3 files stored on a Multi
Session CD may be subject to some restrictions on
playback.
– If the disc begins with a CD-DA session, it is
recognized as a CD-DA (audio) disc, and
playback continues until an MP3 session is
encountered.
– If the disc begins with an MP3 session, it is
recognized as an MP3 disc, and playback
continues until a CD-DA (audio) session is
encountered.
– The playback range of an MP3 disc is determined
by the tree structure of files produced by
analyzing of the disc.
– A disc with a mixed CD format will be
recognized as a CD-DA (audio) disc.
