How many times can you play an MD?

[md user]

I've just had an MD that started to skip.

On examination of the upper surface I noticed circular scratches! (at a certain angle to the light).

Anybody else found the upper record head to cause scratches? (Or maybe trapped dust between head and disc surface?)

This is my first MD to show 'wear-and-tear'.

Anybody else seen similar?

Regards all

mdmad.

[paperclip]

The title of this post reminds me of the Tootsie Pop commercial: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

[md user]

Yep; rescue contents and discard MD. I've only had one go bad on me so far. I managed to rescue nearly all the music that was on it.

Right, thanks.

BTW, I presume that you have many discs, so that 1 going bad indicates that this should be rare occurence? I do hope so.

The title of this post reminds me of the Tootsie Pop commercial: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Right now, a Tootsie Pop is more useful than the said MD!

[freddyjollo]

Are you sure they are scratches? The top surface has a lubricant I seem to remember as the magnetic record head actually touches the top. I remember a long time ago when I was very new to md, buying some clear mds from Richer Sounds, & when I looked at the top surface there seemed to be these marks, circular rings in places. So I returned all but one box. When I took the ones I had used apart it was clear that I was seeing lubricant "marks".

The state of the top surface shouldnt really affect play back as the laser reads from the bottom surface and is non contact. So if a disk has been ok and hasnt been re recorded it should play alright - the record head hasnt been in contact with the top?

I think the big worry is about mds "drying out" ie the lubricant going off and not doing its job? What is the lifespan in this repect of a md regarding its recording usefulness?

[md user]

Are you sure they are scratches? The top surface has a lubricant I seem to remember as the magnetic record head actually touches the top. I remember a long time ago when I was very new to md, buying some clear mds from Richer Sounds, & when I looked at the top surface there seemed to be these marks, circular rings in places. So I returned all but one box. When I took the ones I had used apart it was clear that I was seeing lubricant "marks".

The state of the top surface shouldnt really affect play back as the laser reads from the bottom surface and is non contact. So if a disk has been ok and hasnt been re recorded it should play alright - the record head hasnt been in contact with the top?

I think the big worry is about mds "drying out" ie the lubricant going off and not doing its job? What is the lifespan in this repect of a md regarding its recording usefulness?

Good points.

I should have said that the skipping was in the recording process - i.e. temporary losses of recording. Also, different players started to behave erratically when reading the TOC &c. This was, naturally, evident when playing back. Other disks I have never showed this erratic behaviour - concluded that the disk was 'failing'.

Concerning the circular marks - yes, may be lubricant 'trails', some were definitely spiral (head returning?).

The disk was a little old; I got it second-hand with a deck I bought (but not obviously THAT old).

My main worry was, as the disk is DEFINITELY no longer reliable, and, being new to MDs, whether I should NOT expect 'indefinite lifetimes' from MDs; you know, where they claimed MILLIONS of plays, and re-recordings &c. It is important when using MDs for archiving AND use purposes.

Also, could record-head alignment be at fault in one of my decks/portables? [Too early to tell yet being the first failure.]

What is the reality about MDs? Just wanted to know from you experienced folks! Especially as I am 'INVESTING' in the technology! (This is my last music technology type - it's gotta last!)

Still, really enjoying MDs!

Regards,

mdmad.