4 − Playing back CDs

Discs that can be played

This unit can play the following types of files and discs.
ªª CD-DA (audio CD) format discs

Music CDs that are commercially available and CD-R and CD-RW discs that have been recorded as audio CD format can be played. In this manual, these types of discs are called “audio CDs.”

ªª CD-ROM (data CD) format discs

Discs with MP3 and WAV files recorded on them can be played. In this manual, these types of discs are called “data CDs.”

MP3 files that have a sampling frequency of 32, 44.1 or 48 kHz and a bit-rate of 32–320 kbps or a variable bit- rate (VBR) can be played back. WAV files that have a sampling frequency of 8–48 kHz and are 8-bit or 16-bit can be played back.

CAUTION

Limitations of MP3 files that use VBR compression

Due to format limitations, positions cannot be accurately detected in VBR files. For this reason, the point where playback actually starts might differ slightly from the point set in advance for functions of this player when points must be set in the middle of a track.

Folders and tracks on data CDs

This unit treats all the audio files (WAV and MP3) on data CDs as “tracks.” Some data CDs store files inside folders in the same way that ordinary computers do. In addition, multiple folders can be stored inside another folder creating a multilevel structure.

This unit assigns a folder number to each folder to manage them. Folder numbers and are assigned sequentially starting with the first folder at the highest level followed by the folders (subfolders) inside it. Folders inside a higher-level folder are numbered in order before the next folder in the higher-level is numbered as shown in the illustration below.

If the root folder of a data CD contains one or more audio files, it will be numbered as the first folder.

Each audio file is also assigned a track number. Track numbers are assigned in order starting from those in the lowest numbered folder.

During ordinary playback of data CDs, tracks are played back just like an audio CD in the order of their assigned numbers.

Folders that do not directly contain audio files are not given numbers. For example, in the illustration below the folder that contains folder 5 is not given a number.

<An Example of Data CD Structure>

14 TASCAM CD-200