The MDS-E12 has a build in RS232 port, like several other studio line MiniDisc players. This interface can be used to control the player from a computer. This interface module enables the user to interact with the player in such a way that fully automated recording on the MiniDisc is possible.

graph TD
  A[user_script] --> B[RS232]
  B --> C[SONY_MDS_E12]

  A --> D[audio_handler]
  D --> E[miniaudio]
  E --> J[PC audio out]
  J --> C

  F[mutagen] --> E
  G[ID3] --> F
  H[MP3] --> F
  I[FlAC] --> F

ID3, MP3 and FLAC are used from mutagen to extract metadata information from MP3 or FLAC files. This is the title and artist to form later the track title for the MiniDisc. Also the track length as we need that for our timer as the player we are using is not blocking.

The miniaudio module is used to playback the track that we want to record on the MiniDisc.

The following connections need to be made between the computer and the MDS-E12. The audio connection can either be analog or digital.

graph TD
  A[computer] --> B[RS232]
  A --> C[audio_connection]
  B --> D[MDS-E12]
  C --> D