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Sony Corporation of America Corporate Communications Department Sony Drive Park Ridge, New Jersey 07656 Telephone (201) 930-5432 |
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SONY UNVEILS MINI DISC SYSTEM FOR PORTABLE AUDIO MARKET
Predicts New Age of Personal Listening Enjoyment
NEW YORK, May 16, 1991 -- Sony today proposed the Mini Disc
(MD) system as a format for personal listening enjoyment.
Capable of providing more than one hour of recording and playback
on a 2.5-inch (diameter) disc, MD is a truly portable digital
audio system that marks an important step in the evolution of new
music media.
Targeted by Sony for market introduction in late 1992, the
Mini Disc's unique combination of features are designed to meet
consumer needs not currently satisfied by any single audio
format. Offering the sound quality, quick random access and
durability of optical disc media along with the portability and
shock resistance of magnetic cassette, the Mini Disc promises to
further expand the audio hardware and software markets.
"We understand consumer needs, and we put our technology to
work to meet those needs," said Norio Ohga, president and CEO,
Sony Corporation. "We also recognize the importance of software.
MD pre-recorded discs can be manufactured using existing CD
production facilities."
Other Sony Successes Create MD Market
It was the success of two earlier Sony-driven audio
developments that created the need for MD. First was Sony's
creation of the personal listening concept with the introduction
of the Sony Walkman® personal stereo cassette player. The
Walkman cassette player for the first time provided millions of
consumers the opportunity to enjoy their favorite music anytime,
anywhere. In 1990 alone, more than 60 million personal stereos
were sold worldwide. The Walkman cassette player appeals
particularly to the younger music customer, a consumer segment
responsible for purchasing nearly 40 percent of all music sold
today, according to Sony Music Entertainment.
The success of the cassette-based Walkman personal stereo
also helped drive the popularity of both blank and prerecorded
compact cassettes. The cassette format proved ideal for personal
audio use because it was small, easily stored an LP's-worth or
more of music, was shock-resistant, and affordable.
The second significant development was Compact Disc Digital
Audio, first introduced in 1982 by Sony, which ultimately became
the successor to the LP record. The Compact Disc launched the
digital era for consumers by offering high quality sound and
rapid random access in a durable, convenient format. This disc-
based format had inherent "high-tech" appeal and in less than a
decade it became the preferred home music source and raised the
quality standard for prerecorded music.
According to Mr. Ohga, "The success and benefits of CD and
analog compact cassette led to a new need -- a need based on
satisfaction with CD's wonderful sound, durability and quick
random access, and a need based on the portability, recordability
and shock resistance of the analog cassette. It is a need for
Mini Disc."
The Mini Disc format will provide the following benefits and
features:
o A 2.5-inch diameter disc that can store up to 74
minutes of digital audio sound;
o Disc housed in a protective caddy; disc/caddy weights
0.6 oz.;
o MD System employs different media for playback and
recording:
- CD-type Optical media for pre-recorded software;
- Magneto-optical (MO) media for recording;
o Direct access to any musical selection in less than a
second;
o Resistant to shock and vibration;
o Prerecorded software manufacturing process similar to
today's CDs.
Sony is planning to incorporate into the Mini Disc system
the Serial Copy Management System (SCMS).
"The announcement of this important new technology for
personal listening supports our view that no single audio format
can meet every consumer's needs," noted Ron Sommer, president and
COO, Sony Corporation of America. "We do not see MD displacing
any current formats. Instead, we expect it to co-exist with CD,
DAT and other cassette formats, each of which meets specific
consumer requirements."
Commenting on the growth opportunities presented by MD, Sony
Software President Michael Schulhof said Mini Disc will offer
"new momentum for the software industry." He added, "The digital
era of consumer audio has been firmly established by CD, and the
MD format will provide consumers with another digital
entertainment option."
According to Sony, CD will remain the standard for home high
fidelity music playback because it provides the ultimate sound
quality. Digital Audio Tape (DAT) will complement CD and MD as
the ultimate record/playback format for high end music
enthusiasts, audiophiles and musicians.
MD is envisioned as the ideal digital record/playback format
to meet the portable application requirements of the mass market.
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