CD recorders (CDRs) are similar to standard CD play- ers, with the addition of the features and controls needed for recording. Functions such as play, search and programming for playback will be familiar, but the recorder will function slightly differently from what you may be used to for magnetic tape recorders.
Disc Types
Unlike a conventional CD player, the CDR 26 uses three types of discs, and it is important to understand how each one plays.
Both decks in the CDR 26 will play back any conventional CD that bears this logo.
Recordable Discs that bear this logo (called CD-R Audio discs) may be recorded on once, and when they are finalized they will play in either deck in the CDR 26 or in any conventional CD player, including home, car and portable models. CD-R discs will not play in most DVD players, unless the DVD player has been specifically designed to play the CD-R format. Consult the owner’s manual for your DVD player for further information. The Record Deck % on the CDR 26 may also be used to record on these discs, and it will play CD-R Audio discs even if they have not been finalized.
ReWritable Discs that bear this logo (called CD-RW Audio discs) may be used for recording on the CDR 26, and they may also be erased and reused. They may be recorded on or played in the Record Deck % of the CDR 26 and in other CD-RW recorders or CD-RW-compatible players. They will NOT play back in many current CD players unless the player is CD-RW-compatible. CD-RW Audio discs will play on most DVD players once they have been finalized.
NOTE: To avoid confusion between recordable discs that are formatted for use with consumer CD recorders such as the CDR 26 and standard CD-R/ RW discs that are meant only for use in computers, some manufacturers or retailers will add a “For Music Use” icon to their discs. However, to be assured of complete compatibility with the CDR 26, always look for the words “DIGITAL AUDIO” in the compact disc logo when purchasing blank discs for use with
your CDR 26.
Recordable ReWritable Discs designed for use in com- puter CD-R drives may not be used for recording in the CDR 26. Only discs specifically designed for use in consumer CD audio recorders may be used. If you attempt to use a blank-computer-type recordable disc for recording on the CDR 26 you will see a NO AUDIO message in the Information Display Y and recording will not be possible. However, discs that have been recorded on in the CD-R drive of a com- puter may be played in the CDR 26, provided that they have been properly finalized in accordance with audio standard IEC958.
The CDR 26 is specifically designed for the recording and playback of consumer audio discs, and cannot be used to copy data discs, DVDs or other optical discs used by video game systems.
CD-R Terminology and Display Messages
Compact disc recording has its own special terminology, and some of the messages displayed by the CDR 26 may be new to you. Before using the CDR 26, you may wish to familiarize yourself with some of the terms used by the CDR 26. Additional error message dis- plays may also appear. Please see page 23 for a complete explanation of error messages.
Finalize: This term refers to the process that completes the recording of a disc by recording a final Table of Contents and preparing the disc so that it may be played on other machines. A CD-R disc may not be played on other CD players until it is finalized. However, once the finalization process is complete, a CD-R disc may not be recorded on again. Only CD- RW discs may be “unfinalized,” so that additional tracks may be recorded on a disc.
TOC: This stands for Table of Contents and refers to the data recorded on each CD that tells the player how many tracks are on the disc, the total time of the disc and the running time of each individual track. Each time a disc of any sort is placed in the CDR 26, you will see TOC in that deck’s Information Display Y to indicate that the unit is reading this data from the disc. This is required to copy the track information to any recording.
OPC: Stands for Optical Processing Calibration. When you see this message in the Information Display Y for the Record Deck %, it means that the laser transport inside the unit is making the calibra- tions and adjustments needed so that the recording process is optimized for the specific disc in use.
BUSY: When you see this message, it means that the Record Deck is completing part of the record operation. When you see this message, do not press any buttons; simply wait until the message clears from the display. If the CDR 26 is powered off while the BUSY message is displayed, e.g., if a power outage occurs, the disc may be rendered unusable because the CDR 26 did not complete the process of updating the disc with track information.
DISC FULL: When there are only four sec- onds of record time remaining on a blank disc, a DISC FULL message will appear in the Information Display Y. When you see this mes- sage, you will need to stop the recording process and, when a CD-R is being recorded, insert a new blank disc or, when a CD-RW is in use, either use a new disc or erase existing tracks following the instructions on page 21.
