RCA 1627195C manual Recommendations and information concerning discs, CD-R and CD-RW discs

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Recommendations and information concerning discs

CD-R and CD-RW discs

This player can play most CD-R and CD-RW discs. However, depending on the recorder of the discs of your personal computer, the type of disc and recording method used, some discs might not play, or the performance might not meet the expected standard of quality. When playing a CD-R disc, it is completely normal for the unit to take up to 20 seconds to recognize the disc before it plays. If the disc is not recognized after a period of 20 seconds, remove the disc, and then insert it again. If after several trials, the disc cannot be recognized, make sure you have followed the recommendations below or try another type of disc.

•Whatever the actual recording capacity of a disc, do not fill it to maximum capacity.

•Use CD-R discs rather than CD-RW (re-recordable CDs), as replay of CD-RWs may sometimes not work properly.

•Use a reliable and good quality recording software.

•Before recording on a disc, close all applications on you personal computer in order to optimize the quality and reliability of recordings on the disc.

CD-R and CD-RW discs with mp3 format “Sound” files

In the case of discs that include mp3 files, follow not only the general recommendations for CD-R and CD-RW discs, but also the following specific recommendations:

•The format of your mp3 files should be ISO 9660 or JOLIET. These files are compatible with DOS and Windows applications as well as with Mac OS.

•Your mp3 files must have a name no longer than 12 characters as well as the suffix “.mp3”. They must be recorded in the form: title.mp3. Ensure that you do not leave spaces or use special characters such as ( . , / , \ , = ,+) in the name.

•Do not attempt to record protected mp3 files. Such files are coded and protected.

•Use a decompression transfer rate of at least 128 kb/sec (kilobytes/second) when recording mp3 files. Sound quality with mp3 files basically depends on the rate of compression/ decompression you choose. Getting audio CD quality sound requires an analog/digital sampling rate, that is conversion to mp3 format, of at least 128 kb/sec and up to 160 kb/sec.

However, choosing higher rates, like 192 kb/sec or more, only rarely give even better sound quality. Conversely, files with sampling rates below 128 kb/sec will not be played properly.

Important: The above recommendations cannot be taken as a guarantee that the DVD player will play mp3 recordings, or as an assurance of sound quality. You should note that certain technologies and methods for mp3 file recording on CD-Rs prevent optimal playback of these files on your DVD player (that is degraded sound quality and even, in some cases, inability of the player to read the file or files).

Information updated in December 2002

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1627195C_13R400TD 26 7/15/04, 4:39 PM