A method for transferring real time information on a record carrier, typically bitstream audio on an optical disc, which method comprises encoding consecutive segments of the real time information to compressed real time data in frames, and determining a buffer occupancy for at least one frame, which buffer occupancy is indicative of an amount of compressed real time data to be present in the playback buffer at the start of decoding said frame. A signal is transmitted carrying the compressed real time data and the buffer occupancy, which data are received, stored in a playback buffer and finally decoded. The retrieving and/or the decoding is controlled in dependence on said transferred buffer occupancy. A playback buffer can be used effectively without risk for underflow or overflow. Also a method for recording audio information on a record carrier, a recording device, a record carrier and a playback device are described.