Method and apparatus for recording compressed variable bitrate audio information

A recording device for recording audio information on a record carrier, the device comprising:

• compression means for encoding the audio information into compressed audio data having a variable bitrate;
• recording means for recording the compressed audio data at a transfer speed;
• and
• control means for controlling the transfer speed depending on the variable bitrate and
• for determining a transfer speed profile for an item of audio information in which profile the average transfer speed is higher than an average transfer speed minimally required to transfer the compressed audio data of the item;
• and
• data combination means for adding stuffing data to the compressed audio data according to the transfer speed profile;
• and
• in which the recording means records transfer speed profile information on the record carrier for enabling playback at a transfer speed as indicated by the transfer speed profile information.

A record carrier comprising:

• audio information encoded as compressed audio data having a variable bitrate;
• transfer speed information for controlling a transfer speed at playback, the transfer speed information including transfer speed profile information indicating the transfer speed at playback for an item of audio information, in which profile the average transfer speed is higher than an average transfer speed minimally required to transfer the compressed audio data of the item;
• and
• stuffing data in addition to the compressed audio data, according to the transfer speed profile.

A playback device for retrieving from a record carrier, the device comprising:

• reading means for retrieving compressed audio data at a transfer speed;
• control means for controlling the transfer speed;
• and
• data selection means for retrieving transfer speed profile information from the record carrier and for removing stuffing data from the data retrieved;
• and in which
• the control means sets the transfer speed for an item of audio information according to the transfer speed profile.