Data Recovery and Digital Storage Glossary

• Mixed Mode
  A mixed mode CD contains one data track and multiple audio tracks. Mixed Mode CDs have been largely replaced by multisession CDs in which the first session consists of audio tracks and the second session consists of data.
  
  
• MP3
  (MPEG Audio Layer 3) An audio compression technology that is part of the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 specifications. MP3 compresses CD-quality sound by factor twelve, while still maintaining high fidelity. MP3 music files are played via software or a handheld device. MP3 has made it feasible to download quality audio from the Web very quickly.
  
  
• MPEG-2
  ISO's Motion Pictures Expert Group adopted this codec for the compression and playback of full-motion video. All DVD-Videos are compressed using MPEG-2. CD-i discs are compressed using MPEG-1.
  
  
• MTBF
  Mean Time Between Failures, the average time a device will function before failing. MTBF ratings are measured in hours and indicate the reliability of mechanical/electronic devices.
  
  
• MultiRead
  The ability of any drive to read all of the following types of media: CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. MultiRead is a standard developed by the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA).
  
  
• Multisession
  A multisession CD consists of multiple sessions, each recorded at a different time. Each of the sessions are linked together in such a way that only one logical device appears when the CD is mounted. Not all CD-recorders can record this type of CD and not all CD-ROM drives can read them.