Make No Mistake
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday March 27, 2000
Forget what the critics say, CD recorders are a breeze, writes Rod Easdown. Just make sure you get it right the first time.
Critics of CD recorders abound, but having owned and worked with one for the past year, I'm not among them. No-one could criticise the pricing of the hardware any more; even software prices are pretty good - good enough to make CD recorders a viable alternative to cassette decks.
Big brand CD recorders are now less than a grand and you can buy Philips' beautifully flexible twin-tray CDR765 for $1,099. That's in the territory of a premium tape deck or mini disc recorder and you don't have to invest money in a second format.
Philips slashed software prices at the same time it released the CDR765, bringing the cost of a blank CD-R (compact disc recordable) down to where it matched the price of a good quality blank cassette tape - about $8 for a 74-minute disc.
But the big bugbear of recordable CD remains. You get only one shot at recording. When the recording is made, it's permanent. If you want to erase and re-record you have to buy a more expensive CD-RW (compact disc re-writeable) at about $40. This scares most people off.
It hasn't been a problem for me, however. My CD recorder came with one CD-R and one CD-RW and that original CD-RW has been the only one I've ever owned. I use it for test recordings and, when I have the levels set, I put in a CD-R and record. After a year I'm experienced enough to be an infrequent user of the CD-RW.
But you have to think about what you're doing and adopt the carpenter's approach of measuring twice, cutting once. I've made a few mistakes. I once recorded the wrong track onto a collection when assembling a disc of driving music, but I can live
with it. Another time, when I was recording a vinyl record, the arm skipped and there was nothing for it but to throw the CD-R away. It's the only one I've ever ditched.
Making a CD recording is more finicky than a cassette. For example, you have to finalise recordings. It pays to read the instructions. There are features to make it easier, like digital synchronisation which senses an incoming digital signal and starts or stop
the recording appropriately.
Computer CD-Rs cost much less than music CD-Rs and there's little difference. The extra money for music CD-Rs goes to performers to compensate them for the royalties they forgo when copies of their works are made - or so we're told anyway. Before you buy an armload of computer CD-Rs, you should note that they only work in computers. Try one in your music recorder and it won't run.
There's a way around it, but it involves pulling the recorder apart when you make a recording. I honestly prefer paying for a proper disc and avoiding the hassle. That, and I can feel good about all those struggling performers who sacrifice so much to further their talent - like the Spice Girls, for example.
Three contenders
Philips CDR765 (pictured left)
This is the dual tray machine that brought recordable CD to the masses. It's nicely flexible and has some great ideas, such as playing the second disc as the first finishes. You can dub between trays at twice normal speed and make direct digital connections for the cleanest recordings possible. There's also digital-synch recording. The sound quality, a Philips strength, is mellow and luscious. Experience with early models would indicate that it's a bit fragile and has to be moved with care.
Price: $1,099
Pioneer PDR509
Until its launch late last year, Pioneer CD recorders started at about $2,000. This one carries a lot of good ideas from the more expensive models including Legato Link conversion that compensates for the 20,000Hz signal cut-off common to the CD format. It also has digital-synch recording that offers one track recording or successive tracks, and gives the option of automatic finalisation. Very good sound quality, very nicely made and easier to use than most.
Price: $999
Philips FW396CDR
If you can stand its appearance, this is the bargain of the market. It's a mini system which includes a basic CD recorder as well as a 25-watt per channel amplifier, three-disc CD changer, cassette deck, radio and graphic equaliser. It is easy to make CD recordings from a cassette or other CD and the system actually sounds OK, bearing in mind the CD recorder probably constitutes half the value of the system. For an extra $200 you can upgrade to the FW595CDR which offers surround sound and more power.
Price: $999
The verdict
Tough call. The Pioneer is a lovely machine to use and has some great ideas, but for an extra hundred dollars the Philips gives you the convenience and flexibility of an extra tray. Because I'm comfortable with technology and because I prefer its sound, I like the Philips, but if setting the time on a VCR is challenging, go for the Pioneer.
Infofile
Pioneer
1800 338439
www.pioneeraus.com.au
Philips
1300 651993
www.philips.com
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald