Recording method having temporary buffering

A method of recording an audio work received from an audio source at a recording device, comprising:

• a) detecting, at the recording device, the beginning of the audio work;
• b) thereafter, automatically buffering at least an initial portion of the audio work in a short term memory buffer associated with said recording device;
• said buffering including stream compressing the initial portion of the audio work according to a perceptual coding technique and storing the compressed version of said initial portion of the audio work in said short term memory buffer;
• c) after the start of said buffering, either
• i) recording a compressed version of said audio work, including at least said initial portion, in long term memory associated with said recording device in response to a record command so that the entire audio work may be recorded in long term memory if so desired by the user;
• or
• ii) removing said audio work from said short term memory buffer if the user fails to give the user activation command before said short term memory buffer is filled by said audio work.

A recording device for recording an audio work received from an audio source, comprising:

• a) means for identifying the beginning of an audio work based on input signals representing the audio work received from the audio source;
• b) a short term memory buffer;
• c) means for stream compressing at least the initial portion of a first audio work to form compressed data;
• d) means for loading said compressed data into said short term memory buffer;
• e) a central controller in communication with said means for identifying the beginning of an audio work;
• f) long term memory in communication with said central controller;
• g) wherein said compressed data in said short term memory buffer is discarded without being stored in said long term memory if the short term memory buffer is filled by said compressed data before the receipt of a record command;
• and
• h) wherein said compressed data in said short term memory buffer is transferred to said long term memory to form a representation of the audio work in said long term memory, including at least the initial portion of the audio work, in response to a record command received before said compressed data fills said short term memory buffer.