Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter

Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter

Share this post

Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter
Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter
How MiniDisc Worked

How MiniDisc Worked

A Format Ahead of Its Time

ObsoleteSony's avatar
ObsoleteSony
May 25, 2025
∙ Paid
81

Share this post

Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter
Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter
How MiniDisc Worked
8
10
Share

I don’t usually write deep dives explaining how tech works, but I had to make an exception for MiniDisc. Over the years, I’ve posted plenty about its design, its cult following, and how it fit into Sony’s story. But I kept running into the same thing: most people still don’t actually know how it worked. And honestly, it’s one of the coolest systems Sony ever built. So this time, I wanted to slow down, break it all down, and show why this misunderstood format deserves a second look.

MiniDisc is often remembered as a failed format, but that misses how far ahead of its time it really was. Long before streaming or solid-state MP3 players, Sony created a portable system that let you record, delete, edit, and organize music in real time. It used heated lasers, magnetic writing, smart compression, and skip-resistant memory, all packed into a compact cartridge. Once you see how it worked, the ambition becomes clear.

MD introduced three major innovations: rewritable magneto-optical discs, ATRAC …

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 ObsoleteSony LLC
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share