A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors comprising a first sector format to a sector format conversion device which includes a buffer and a data queue, where those (N) first sectors comprise a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors, comprising a second sector format, comprise at least the first number of bytes. The method overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector, and enqueues the newly-overlain (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-overlain (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th overlain second sector to an information storage medium.