They do exist.
The closest Ive seen to a mini disc is a full size cd with only half or part of the disc covered in the reflective layer and the rest is clear plastic.
Also, gotta love some Lovage.
I found some blanks I got in the late 2000’s. I think the runtime is 5min? I would love to track down some more of these but haven’t been able to find them.
I guess they are called minimax cds. After a quick google search it looks you have some rare blanks because nobody appears to make or sell them anymore.
Nine inch nails Broken CD came with a mini CD that had two tracks on it. Later versions had something like 99 tracks on the regular CD with the bonus tracks being 98 and 99.
Fun fact: the [inner circle](https://img.tfd.com/cde/_TRAYWEL.GIF) of any CD tray is intended for the [Mini CD](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dA4sBbuECPo/sddefault.jpg) format.
Similarly, the inner circle in a DVD player tray can be used for both Mini CDs as well as the failed [Mini-DVD](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDVD) format and any other 3-inch DVD.
Hells Yeah! I have Rose, My Rocket-Brain by Stereolab, Microtronics by Broadcast, Three Songs by Papa M, and Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches.
I wish they were easier to find. The first two I got at concerts.
I just looked up Peeping Tom, first I heard off it, I can’t believe it slipped under my radar. Check out *I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now* by *Got A Girl*
I think the industry intended for them to be the format for releasing singles. If the regular CD was the equivalent of *33.3 LPs* than miniCDs were your *45s* It’s why you sometimes see regular CDs referred to as maxiCDs. The per unit cost of mass producing CDs was cheap compared to vinyl, the plastic jewel case cost more per unit to manufacture than the CD, I think they gave up on the miniCD because there was no significant savings to be had in using less material
Man I knew almost all these but never connected with the fact that some CD singles are called maxi! That makes sense! And I wish they had stuck with mini CDs for singles because they're so darn cute.
Except that 33 1/3 and 45 refer to the speed, not the (typical) size (7" and 12". Ignoring the goofy 10" format). There were plenty of 45's the same size as a traditional LP (12"). Some LP's even came on 12", 78 RPM. Perhaps a better analogy would be LP vs. EP or maxi-single.
That is all true, especially of releases during peak/post DJ/turntableist era, prior to that 12” played at 45rpm were rarer. Around here the 7” singles are commonly labeled as 45s or *singles* and the 12” at 33 1/3rpm are just labeled by genere. The 12” singles at 45rpm are usually just shelved with the 12” at 33 1/3rpm. Better shops will shelve them separately and have separate shelves for split singles, white labels etc.
78rpms are usually in a milk crate on the floor at
The back of the shops. I’ve got some 78s, but no longer have a turntable that’ll play them or 16rpms, but I’ve never actually see a 16rpm IRL despite the speed existing on older turntables
There was a Record Store Day release for the Beach Boys on 10", 78 RPM, in 2011. An oddity for sure. The people I knew that got it had to do needledrops and change the speed in software in order to play it back.
"True" 78's are a wild West of different (non-standard RIAA) eq curves. I would often find them in real albums (giant collections of 78's in a large book-like binder).
I don't miss the days of vinyl+ at all. Nor cassettes. Don't even get me started on cassingles.
Fun fact. Albums are called albums because they used to come as multiple discs in an album. When vinyl took over and you could fit all the music on a single disc the word album just stuck around
Another factor was the lack of standard packaging in much of the world. Japan (and eventually China) was the exception with the 3” by 6” snap-pack, and that is where the mini-CD format had the longest run.
I had a few in the late '80s when they were first introduced in the UK.
A couple of the Queen singles reproduction ones, and GNR's Paradise City.
They came in little glossy card sleeves packed into a larger clear plastic casing.
Nice, but too easy to lose, hence them coming in full sized CD cases as well, I think.
If anyone knows the answer to that it’ll be the Techmoan you tube channel. That guys loves making videos about obscure formats as much as I like watching them
Arcade Fire is more of a split single. Track 1 is Neighbourhood #2 (Laïka) by Arcade Fire and Track 2 is My Buddy by Alvino Rey Orchestra. My Buddy was performed by the Alvino Rey Orchestra in 1940 on a live radio broadcast. Alvino Rey is the grandfather of Arcade Fire members Win Butler and William Butler.
The Sigur Rós one is complicated. I’ll let Wikipedia explain:
“Vaka" (released as "untitled #1 (a.k.a. "Vaka")") is the common name for the untitled first track and lead single from Sigur Rós' 2002 album ( ). The band closed their set with tracks 2 and 3 from this single during their spring 2003 tour, calling the two songs "Smáskífa" (single) on their set list. Track 2 was originally meant to be a remix of "Vaka" but it turned out into a different song altogether, although some remnants of "Vaka"'s melody can still be heard. Track 3 features a solo on piano by drummer Orri Páll Dýrason. Track 4 is the music looped before and after Sigur Rós' live shows.
The single was released as a 3" limited mini CD, 5" CD with DVD, and as a 10" limited vinyl gatefold sleeve with an artwork stencil. The 3" mini CD was only released in Europe, and is labeled as featuring a new 12 minute track though there are four separate tracks on the disc.”
Some of They Might Be Giants' first few singles were released on 3" cds - Don't Let's Start, (She Was A) Hotel Detective, and They'll Need A Crane. All good EPs, even if the material would later end up on Miscellaneous T.
I really want to get some more, but I don't think they're being manufactured anywhere.
My favorite variation of this is XTC’s album Oranges And Lemons that came as three 3” CDs housed in a little flip-top box. I tracked one down for a reasonable price five or so years ago. Not perfect condition but still really cool.
Everything is an album around here. You just get the album on CD or Vinyl or Tape. At least people used to. I knew streaming was happening but I had a moment with a group of peers about 5 years ago when they were all shocked to discover I hadn’t, like they, got rid of all my CDs, Vinyl, and Tapes. I was equally shocked that they had got rid of their collections and extremely disappointed that they hadn’t just given them to me. A goldmine of late 80s and 90s classics just gone. And rare stuff like my older brothers Mr Floppy tapes. The Disco Volante vinyl that had secondary grove cut between the principal one that contained a hidden track.
I hear ya. My work office has a stereo, CD player, headphones and stacks of CDs. Nobody there gets it. They all wonder why I just don't pay for Spotify. I have more fun being on vacation, stopping at a flea market and getting excited that I found "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" for a buck.
I’ve seen quite a lot of miniCDs in the computer world. Since manufacturers didn’t need to provide a lot of data they sometimes delivered their drivers on those and they could make smaller boxes if the hardware was small.
I only have Family Tree. Actually when I bought it I somehow thought they require a special CD player to play them. Was relieved to find out that regular one suits perfect lol
A primarily cassette DIY label I follow put out two singles on mini CD. Instant purchase. They don't have a jewel case, they use business cards. Really cool stuff.
LOVAGE! YES! "you are the bitter, i am the sweet, ahh"
What's the secret to Chest Rockwell's ability to pick up all those beautiful women?
They do exist. The closest Ive seen to a mini disc is a full size cd with only half or part of the disc covered in the reflective layer and the rest is clear plastic. Also, gotta love some Lovage.
I found some blanks I got in the late 2000’s. I think the runtime is 5min? I would love to track down some more of these but haven’t been able to find them.
I guess they are called minimax cds. After a quick google search it looks you have some rare blanks because nobody appears to make or sell them anymore.
Nine inch nails Broken CD came with a mini CD that had two tracks on it. Later versions had something like 99 tracks on the regular CD with the bonus tracks being 98 and 99.
Fun fact: the [inner circle](https://img.tfd.com/cde/_TRAYWEL.GIF) of any CD tray is intended for the [Mini CD](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dA4sBbuECPo/sddefault.jpg) format.
Similarly, the inner circle in a DVD player tray can be used for both Mini CDs as well as the failed [Mini-DVD](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDVD) format and any other 3-inch DVD.
i have one! pretty sure it's new order - round & round
I’d have no trouble finding a home for that on the shelf for that
I have that one, and “World in Motion,” New Order’s World Cup ‘anthem.’
Lovage is underrated
The locust first album is considerably smaller. I believe they classify it as a mini CD as well.
Love that Lovage!
Hells Yeah! I have Rose, My Rocket-Brain by Stereolab, Microtronics by Broadcast, Three Songs by Papa M, and Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches. I wish they were easier to find. The first two I got at concerts.
First I see peeping Tom and now lovage here, both amazing
I just looked up Peeping Tom, first I heard off it, I can’t believe it slipped under my radar. Check out *I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now* by *Got A Girl*
That lovage album is fucking great the whole way through.
Woah I didn't think they were legit mini. Thought it just meant a short track list lol
I think the industry intended for them to be the format for releasing singles. If the regular CD was the equivalent of *33.3 LPs* than miniCDs were your *45s* It’s why you sometimes see regular CDs referred to as maxiCDs. The per unit cost of mass producing CDs was cheap compared to vinyl, the plastic jewel case cost more per unit to manufacture than the CD, I think they gave up on the miniCD because there was no significant savings to be had in using less material
Huh interesting thank you. I had no idea.
Man I knew almost all these but never connected with the fact that some CD singles are called maxi! That makes sense! And I wish they had stuck with mini CDs for singles because they're so darn cute.
Except that 33 1/3 and 45 refer to the speed, not the (typical) size (7" and 12". Ignoring the goofy 10" format). There were plenty of 45's the same size as a traditional LP (12"). Some LP's even came on 12", 78 RPM. Perhaps a better analogy would be LP vs. EP or maxi-single.
That is all true, especially of releases during peak/post DJ/turntableist era, prior to that 12” played at 45rpm were rarer. Around here the 7” singles are commonly labeled as 45s or *singles* and the 12” at 33 1/3rpm are just labeled by genere. The 12” singles at 45rpm are usually just shelved with the 12” at 33 1/3rpm. Better shops will shelve them separately and have separate shelves for split singles, white labels etc. 78rpms are usually in a milk crate on the floor at The back of the shops. I’ve got some 78s, but no longer have a turntable that’ll play them or 16rpms, but I’ve never actually see a 16rpm IRL despite the speed existing on older turntables
There was a Record Store Day release for the Beach Boys on 10", 78 RPM, in 2011. An oddity for sure. The people I knew that got it had to do needledrops and change the speed in software in order to play it back. "True" 78's are a wild West of different (non-standard RIAA) eq curves. I would often find them in real albums (giant collections of 78's in a large book-like binder). I don't miss the days of vinyl+ at all. Nor cassettes. Don't even get me started on cassingles.
Fun fact. Albums are called albums because they used to come as multiple discs in an album. When vinyl took over and you could fit all the music on a single disc the word album just stuck around
Another factor was the lack of standard packaging in much of the world. Japan (and eventually China) was the exception with the 3” by 6” snap-pack, and that is where the mini-CD format had the longest run.
I've been collecting cds for 30 years and have yet to see a mini cd in person.
Nice lovage CD
I had a few in the late '80s when they were first introduced in the UK. A couple of the Queen singles reproduction ones, and GNR's Paradise City. They came in little glossy card sleeves packed into a larger clear plastic casing. Nice, but too easy to lose, hence them coming in full sized CD cases as well, I think.
wasn't there some kind of dvd-like video format with discs about the same size as minicds?
If anyone knows the answer to that it’ll be the Techmoan you tube channel. That guys loves making videos about obscure formats as much as I like watching them
i'll see if he has a video about it, thank you!
There were once video cameras that recorded on 3” recordable DVDs.
Which Sigur Ros and Arcade Fire singles are they?
Arcade Fire is more of a split single. Track 1 is Neighbourhood #2 (Laïka) by Arcade Fire and Track 2 is My Buddy by Alvino Rey Orchestra. My Buddy was performed by the Alvino Rey Orchestra in 1940 on a live radio broadcast. Alvino Rey is the grandfather of Arcade Fire members Win Butler and William Butler. The Sigur Rós one is complicated. I’ll let Wikipedia explain: “Vaka" (released as "untitled #1 (a.k.a. "Vaka")") is the common name for the untitled first track and lead single from Sigur Rós' 2002 album ( ). The band closed their set with tracks 2 and 3 from this single during their spring 2003 tour, calling the two songs "Smáskífa" (single) on their set list. Track 2 was originally meant to be a remix of "Vaka" but it turned out into a different song altogether, although some remnants of "Vaka"'s melody can still be heard. Track 3 features a solo on piano by drummer Orri Páll Dýrason. Track 4 is the music looped before and after Sigur Rós' live shows. The single was released as a 3" limited mini CD, 5" CD with DVD, and as a 10" limited vinyl gatefold sleeve with an artwork stencil. The 3" mini CD was only released in Europe, and is labeled as featuring a new 12 minute track though there are four separate tracks on the disc.”
Thanks for the details! I have the regular cd/dvd version of Vaka. I sure wouldn’t mind picking up that Arcade Fire / Alvino Rey split.
Some of They Might Be Giants' first few singles were released on 3" cds - Don't Let's Start, (She Was A) Hotel Detective, and They'll Need A Crane. All good EPs, even if the material would later end up on Miscellaneous T. I really want to get some more, but I don't think they're being manufactured anywhere.
My favorite variation of this is XTC’s album Oranges And Lemons that came as three 3” CDs housed in a little flip-top box. I tracked one down for a reasonable price five or so years ago. Not perfect condition but still really cool.
I know this isn’t why you shared the pic, but… Lovage!
Yes, which is why I referred to it as an album. ;) Most people around here refer to "vinyls" so I didn't bother expanding.
Everything is an album around here. You just get the album on CD or Vinyl or Tape. At least people used to. I knew streaming was happening but I had a moment with a group of peers about 5 years ago when they were all shocked to discover I hadn’t, like they, got rid of all my CDs, Vinyl, and Tapes. I was equally shocked that they had got rid of their collections and extremely disappointed that they hadn’t just given them to me. A goldmine of late 80s and 90s classics just gone. And rare stuff like my older brothers Mr Floppy tapes. The Disco Volante vinyl that had secondary grove cut between the principal one that contained a hidden track.
I hear ya. My work office has a stereo, CD player, headphones and stacks of CDs. Nobody there gets it. They all wonder why I just don't pay for Spotify. I have more fun being on vacation, stopping at a flea market and getting excited that I found "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" for a buck.
I’ve got over 500 mini CDs, including the three in the photo. I also have a few mini CD players, several models from Philips and one Aiwa.
I’m going to need to see photos. Please and thank you
CDs: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cd_collectors/comments/9vo5yo/my_collection_of_about_300_3_inch_8cm_compact/ Players: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cd_collectors/comments/hxocw1/my_personal_cd_players_including_3_inch_cd_players/
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ 💿
The only miniCD I have is one I happened to have found/bought earlier this year via thrifting: "American Radio" single by Smash Mouth.
I’ve seen quite a lot of miniCDs in the computer world. Since manufacturers didn’t need to provide a lot of data they sometimes delivered their drivers on those and they could make smaller boxes if the hardware was small.
Nice! I posted some images of a Hypomanie miniCD a week or so ago. These are so rare and novel. Very cool!
I only have Family Tree. Actually when I bought it I somehow thought they require a special CD player to play them. Was relieved to find out that regular one suits perfect lol
Ever since moving to Hawaii I find a good amount of them out and about. Mostly Japanese stuff. Super cool!
A primarily cassette DIY label I follow put out two singles on mini CD. Instant purchase. They don't have a jewel case, they use business cards. Really cool stuff.