Introduction to CD Recording, Recording modes

Basic Playback and Recording

Introduction to CD Recording

The PDR-509 is designed to let you make extremely high quality digital recordings onto recordable compact discs. For flexibility, you can use either rewritable discs (CD–RW) or write-once discs (CD–R). For more general information on the discs you can and can’t use with this recorder, see About CD, CD–Rand CD–RWDiscs on page 8. The over- view on this and the following page gives you some idea of what the PDR-509 is capable of, and also provides guidance on what to avoid and things to be careful of when recording. We strongly recommend that you read these pages fully before proceeding to the more detailed instructions on the following pages.

Recording modes

The recorder is equipped with a set of analog input terminals, as well as both optical and coaxial digital inputs. This means that the PDR–509 is compatible with almost all audio sources— analog or digital. It even has a built in sampling rate converter making it ideal for recording DAT tapes or satellite broadcasts, for example, which are often at sampling rates different to that of CD. Since CDs are always recorded at a sampling rate of 44.1kHz, sample rate conversion is completely automatic— if the recorder senses a digital signal at either 32 or 48kHz, it will convert it to 44.1kHz. Note that this recorder can't convert 96kHz digital sources (such as some DAT tapes and DVD discs).

There are five recording modes available—four for digital- input recording, and one analog-input record mode. The table below provides a brief summary of each.

Digital recording restrictions

This unit has been designed exclusively for recording and playback of audio discs—you can’t record other CD

formats, such as computer CD-ROMs or Dolby Digital

(AC-3).If you record from a disc format such as

CD+GRAPHICS, VIDEO-CD, or other format that includes both digital audio and video or text, you will only be able to record the audio part of the disc.

In addition to standard audio CDs, this recorder will record DTS encoded audio CDs and HDCD format CDs, however.

Almost all commercial digital source material is protected by copyright laws. For this reason, the PDR-509 uses special consumer-use blank CD-Rand CD-RWdiscs on which a copyright fee has already been paid. A further restriction comes in the form of SCMS (an acronym for Serial Copy Management System). This generally allows just one generation of digital recording. In other words, you can make a digital recording from an original source (such as a commercial CD), but you can’t then make further digital recordings from that copy. Most digital recording equip- ment uses the SCMS system, including CD and MD recorders, and DAT decks. You may also find that you can’t record certain DVD discs as the digital output of the DVD player can be disabled by the disc.

Of course, if you do encounter SCMS or other digital-copy restrictions, you can always record through the analog inputs of the PDR-509. To check whether a source is digital-copy protected, see Checking for Digital Copy Protection on page 32.

Mode	Description	Uses

Automatic digital-	Recording starts after the recorder senses an	Good for recording edited versions of CDs,
input 1-track synchro	input signal. Once the track has finished, the	MDs, DATs or DCC tapes. Full instructions on
recording	recorder stops recording	page 20.
Automatic digital-	Recording starts after the recorder senses an	Good for recording complete CDs, MDs, DATs
input all-track	input signal, and continues until all tracks on	or DCC tapes. Full instructions on page 21.
synchro recording	the source have finished. The recorder then
	stops automatically

Automatic finalization	As automatic digital-input all-track synchro	Good for recording complete CDs, MDs, DATs
recording	recording, above, with automatic finalization	or DCC tapes when you don't want to record
	of the disc after all tracks have been recorded	anything else on the disc afterwards. Full
		instructions on page 22.

Manual digital-input	Recording start and stop is completely under	Useful for recording digital sources other than
recording	the user's control	CD, MD, DAT or DCC, which may not have
		track numbers (digital satellite broadcasts, for
		example). Full instructions on page 23.

Analog-input	Records any analog audio source through the	As well as analog sources, such as vinyl
recording	analog inputs. Unlike digital-input recording,	records, this mode can be used for digital
	you must set the recording levels, as you	sources that are digital-copy protected. Full
	would with analog tape.	instructions on page 25.