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Frequently Asked Questions
SD-Audio
Please note that SD-Audio is only available in the Japanese market today.
- What is the difference between the SD card and the MultiMediaCard, and how are they related to each other?
- SD card has many advantages over the MultiMediaCard, including content protection, planned capacity growth, high-speed data transfer, and a write-protect switch features. The SD card, a true network platform, can go from being used in one device to another. Some devices can support both SD and MMC cards. Please check your device's user manual for specific memory card support.
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- What is the CPRM?
- CPRM - Content Protection for Recordable Media - provides the method of copyright protection for SD-Audio and SD Binding technology. This content protection and certification/authentication standard was jointly developed by 4C Entity LLC.
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- Is CPRM applied to all data types stored on the SD card?
- No, copy-protection is not mandatory for all data types and can be asserted selectively at the discretion of the content owner. CPRM technology, a copy protection mechanism, is embedded in all SD cards and can be used to protect copyrighted content such as most commercially distributed music and movie files. To use CPRM with SD cards, CPRM compliant products such as SD-Audio players, SD-Video mobile phones or enabled devices such as a PC with CPRM enabled SD slot or CPRM enabled USB read/write are also required.
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- Can you save data in different formats such as audio, video, still pictures and documents on a single SD card?
- Yes, you can save data in different formats as long as the card has sufficient memory capacity. However, to play or transfer the data you will need equipment that is compatible with the appropriate data format such as SD-Audio, SD-Video and SD Document.
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- What do you need to transfer data to a PC?
- If the PC is equipped with a SD card slot, you can transfer data by simply inserting the SD card. PCs with SD slots are becoming readily available. For the card 4GB and above (up to 32GB), if the PC is compliant with SDHC, you can transfer the data directly, however, if not you need a USB reader/writer or a PC card adapter for SDHC memory card. Some PCs may need a USB reader/ writer or a PC card adapter for the SD card. PC editing software for each type of data such as sound, music and still images also is needed.
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- In terms of capacity, what SD cards will be available in the future?
- Currently, SD card capacities from 8MB to 32GB are available from the SD Association members. The SD Association is also working on next generation specification for above 32GB up to 2 Terabytes.
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- What is the service life of an SD card?
- SD cards like most semiconductor cards store information in flash memory. The current technology along with normal usage typically gives the card a lifespan of 10 years or more.
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- What is the difference between the SD card and the miniSD/microSD?
- The logic and electronics of both the miniSD/microSD and the SD card are identical. Only the form factor, size, and number of pins and “with or without” of the write protect switch of the miniSD/microSD are different from the standard SD card.
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- Will the miniSD/microSD replace the current SD card?
- No. The miniSD/microSD were designed to meet a special requirement for the smallest possible memory card size from several mobile phone companies.
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- My SD card does not seem work in my device, what should I do?
- The SD Association is an organization defining the specification of the SD standards. The SD Association does not manufacture any SD cards, but its member companies do. However, there are basic steps you may take:
- Make sure you insert your SD card per instruction from your device's user manual
- Note any error messages shown on your devices, and then check the user manual
- Contact the SD card manufacturer for any assistance
- Contact your retailer where you obtained the SD card product, if an RMA process is required
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- Is there a way to retrieve deleted pictures?
- Please refer to the card manufacturer's instructions on how to retrieve deleted pictures. The SD Association does not supply the tools for photo retrieval.
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- Where can I get the best SD card for my device, and what brand do you recommend?
- SD cards are widely available at leading consumer outlets worldwide. You should follow
the device's user manual for best capacity and speed class suitable for the device. The SD Association
does not recommend SD card manufacturers.
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- What is the right size SD card for me?
- Please follow device's user's manual for best size (capacity) and speed class card suitable for the device.
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- Are SD cards waterproof?
- The specific characteristics of SD card products are dependent on the SD card manufacturers. Some card makers use unique manufacturing technology to make the cards waterproof as an added feature while others do not. Please check with the specific SD card maker for card features.
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- What is the warranty of my SD card?
- Please check with the specific SD card manufacturer for product warranty.
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- Where can I get contact information on companies that sell SD cards, and where can I get contact information on the manufacturers?
- Please refer to the SD Association members list.
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- What is the SD Speed Class?
- The SD Association has established a specification that rates the minimum data transfer both SD/SDHC cards and SD/SDHC host products. The speed rate specifications were established based on the request from movie and video companies. Video recording requires certain writing speeds when recording the data onto an SD card. The SD Speed Class standardized the spec for both card and host devices in order to guarantee minimum writing speeds.
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- What are the applications for Speed Class?
- Class 2 : H.264 video recording, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 video recording
Class 4: MEPG-2 (HDTV) video recording, DSC consecutive shooting
Class 6: Mega-pixel DSC consecutive shooting, professional video camera
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SD-Audio
- What is the meaning of copyright protection - SDMI compatible - that often appears in explanations of SD-Audio?
- SDMI is a conference established by hardware manufacturers, the Recording Industry Association of America and major music companies in the United States (UMG, BMG, EMI, WMG and SME) to provide copyright protection for artists' works. SDMI compliant means various music contents can be enjoyed without problems such as illegal copying.
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- What is the meaning of Check-in and Check-out that often appears in explanations of SD-Audio?
- Check-out means to write music data that has been recorded to a personal computer from CDs and EMD (and compressed by AAC and MP3 systems) to a SD card. Conversely, returning music data from a SD card to a personal computer is called Check-in. The number of times for checking-out music content recorded to a personal computer is limited to three. However, if the music content checked-out once is checked-in to a personal computer, it can then be checked-out again.
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- Can a MMC be used with a SD-Audio player?
- No. Since a MMC has no copyright protection, it cannot be used with a SD-Audio enabled player.
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- Are SD-Audio players manufactured by different companies mutually compatible?
- If the SD-Audio players adopt the same compressed audio format, the players are compatible and can replay music.
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- Can SD-Audio record from MD?
- No, not directly.
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- Can ATRAC3 format files be used with SD-Audio?
- No, they cannot be used because the compression systems are different.
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- Check-out with a SD-Audio player is said to be up to three times but what does this mean?
- Under the SDMI standard, except for music content added under conditions related to special usage methods, when copying music content, four copies can be made at one time. Therefore, with a SD-Audio player, the specification is such that one copy is saved in the personal computer and the remaining three copies can be checked-out to the SD card. Also, three copies or more can be rewritten by Checking-in from a SD Card to a personal computer.
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