A good overview of disc formats can be found in two National app notes http://www.national.com/apnotes/Others__v17.html AN-413 AN-501 describes the SMD interface, but National doesn't have it on line any more. It can be found at: http://manuales.elo.utfsm.cl/datasheet/national/pdf/nsc04334.pdf There are lots of other related app notes there related to using their disc chipsets which would be handy as well