Year 1999

In 1999 TDK introduces the first true blank Professional.

The same TDK manufactures a limited edition of blanks with the pattern of shutter designed by real artists, XS-iV, only in Europe.

Axia starts the commercialization of its first series of five blank intensely colored and starts producing the first series with six different colors, stimulating the collectibles.

Maxell, with the first series of Twinkle, introduces the surface not registerable of minidisc

colorful.

Sony produces the first of the successful series of Neige.

Maxell Pro european version

An additional blank "pro" without the features released in Europe.

Look questionable. Plastic Shutter.

TDK MD-XG

Is the latest model XG product, resumes the classical appearance with minor cosmetic changes of the shutter and a lighter color of shell.

Product registration duration of 60 and 74 minutes.

The case is "old style".

It was produced in large quantities, 74 > 60.

Axia MD HP 80A

The first model from 80 min produced by Axia. Presents a gorgeous blue-purple color and a bas-relief front shell behaves identically to the PS-J of 1998.

The case is custom.

Not easy to find.

Sony ES 2° series

Very similar to the previous edition, it differentiates from the previous for the position of logos and slide open the case with transparent back.

Another difference; the shutter, who in the first series has a neutral color in this series is gold color.

To touch the surface seems slightly wrinkled, improves grip.

Product registration duration of 74 and 80 minutes.

It was produced in medium quantities.

Maxell XL

Produced with only 74 min duration, apparently a response to Sony's ES series.

Nice window through which most can see the magneto optical media, though, front and rear; it appears a blank very studied before the production.

It closely resembles the Xeus Double Core.

The case opens scrolled.

Not easy to find.

TDK MD-RXG pro

The first real "PRO" ever produced; in Europe called MD-RXG while in Japan of XA PRO.

Available in length of 60 and 74 minutes.

Resumes the appearance of audio cassette MA-XG.

The appearance is beautiful with the aluminium frame to which are screwed on the front and rear shell made of plastic.

The front of magneto optical support is gold in colour.

Not easy to find.

On the left the european version, on the right the Japanese version

Axia J'Z

A series produced only 74 min in duration; very bright colors, each blank has the custom shutter.

Both the name and logo derive from compact cassette production earlier.

The cases are customised individually with the classic open book Axia.

It was produced in large quantities.

TDK XG-SP

A further variation on the theme of black-gold as XA with shutter appearance changes.

It was produced in large quantities 74 min, not easy to find 60 min.

Sony Prism 80 2° series

Upon completion of the Prism series introduces the format 80 min; given the emphasis with which it comes into this "long time eighty" I think it is the first blank produced with this duration by Sony.

Not easy to find.

Axia MD CS

With this series is resumed the low relief appearance adding to inscription Minidisc the new Axia.

Products in 74 min duration.

The colors used are of beautiful shades and introduces for the first time a chocolate color.

The cases are that open a book, each label is colored differently.

It was produced in medium quantities.

Sony Color Collection 3° series

Finally Sony introduces color series the fifth color.

This series is produced only in sizes 74 and 80 min.

This is the last series where the Sony produces cases with black rear and rigid plastic.

It was produced in large quantities.

Axia IM

Only products in 80 minutes long, is the first blank which is produced in six different colors.

Axia logo engraved on the shell and less marked than the previous PS Series.

The shell surface is opaque.

The cases feature a glitter and as always are customized with classic Axia open door case.

It was produced in medium quantities.

Sony Color Collection 3° series B / C

That same year, sony produces a slight variant of the 3° series, in which the logo of the SAC is decentralised.

This series is produced only in the length of 74 min and in turn presents a variant in which the shutter, as in the first series of Sony Color Collection, presents the inscriptions of the same colour of the shell, obviously apart from the black.

In this model, the Sony has a soft plastic semi-transparent case open book.

The cases in hard plastic were very fragile, it was enough just to create a crack on the front shell.

In addition, the weight of these soft cases is lower than the rigid plastic; the weight of 10 cases in rigid plastic is 145 gr, in soft plastic 110 gr.

It was produced in large quantities.

Axia Hello Kitty

Series produced in 74 and 80 min for a young female audience. Pure marketing.

Shell surface glitter as in some cases.

Very, very feminine.

Not easy to find.

Sony Premium 1° series 1999

This model, produced for the European market, it's the same as Prism on the Japanese market.

The only difference is that it was presented in three different durations of registration; 60, 74 and 80 from presentation.

It was produced in large quantities in Europe.

Maxell Twinkle 1° series

Produced in five different colors, 74 and 80 minutes, with the bearing surface colorful and with plastic shutter.

With this model the Maxell produced the first md with the surface not registerable coloured and transparent shell.

Cases with slide opening.

Not easy to find.

Sony Neige 1° series A / B

The Sony Neige for me has always been a beautiful blank, perfectly transparent, with an inscription in large characters.

It was produced in the recording duration of 74 and 80 min.

The length of the blank is visible at the bottom middleand not disturb the extreme"cleaning".

In the photo, above, there is a variant of the 74 min.with the inscription minidiscon the shutter; I think it's even more beautiful.

The case is soft plastic, all Neige, as products for the Japanese market, have this feature.

It was produced in large quantities.

Sony Redhot Utada Hikaru A / B

This md takes its name (only Sony blank) from pop singer Hikaru Utada, who in 1999 sold in Japan more than seven millions of copies with her first album.

Specification: she is a American artist naturalized Japanese. His name is Hitaru and the name Utada. In Japanese tradition, the surname is written before the name, whereby the blank was called Utada Hikaru.

The minidisc is very nice, with a dark red to great effect.

It was produced in two versions, one with the shell completely smooth front, the other front shell crossed by a band matt.

The case is in soft plastic.

It was produced in medium quantities.

TDK Excellent

Produced in three colours, only 74 min duration, picks up the classic appearance of the XA series with the knurled surface of the shell and the gold-colored disc; in fact it's just the plastic to be colored in gold, the dics is the classic aluminium color.

Cases "old style".

It was produced in medium / large quantities.

Sony Color Collection 4° series, A / B

A further variation of the previous series; concerns the shutter, black, where the duration of registration appears is wrapped in a square; nice idea, better ease of reading.

The inscriptions on the shutter are either clear or the same colour as the blank (less legible).

The case is in soft plastic.

It was produced in medium quantities.

Sony E44

It was presented as a gadget at the presentation of the Sony player E44 from which reprises the external appearance.

Really nice, pity it was not produced for marketing.

Introduces in blank Sony a variety and imagination that looks awkward in seriousness, repetitiveness and stillness of blank Sony.

Uncommon.

Sony Sparkling 2° serie

Product 74 and 80 min, with black lettering on the shell and the red shutter and vice versa.

Nothing particular.

Cases with sliding Opening with stripes on the sides to enhance grip.

The case is in soft plastic.

It was produced in medium quantities.

TDK Lucir 1° series

A widely-known series produced in 74 and 80 min, mild, glittering on the shell.

Introduces the cases with side-opening door,

will become the classic case TDK.

It was produced in large quantities.

TDK LTDK XS-iv

In Europe,

are launched these models called limited edition Design Line MiniDiscs, divided into three different series,

The first three, designed by young Italian artists, were produced in 200,000 pieces for each pattern.

Ixkun

The second series, MINIstry DISC "created by Scott Parker, Bow Wow Wow" created by Massimo Giacon, Girotondo "by Anna Gili.

1998

2000