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CD Recording FAQ
2. The CD Recorder
2.10. Which one to buy?
These days, all recorders support the major recording modes (DAO, TAO, SAO, PAO). However, there are still some extra features you may need, like CD-Text support and the ability to write uncorrected errors.
Apart from these issues, the first thing to think about is the interface. For an internal drive, it is advised to choose SCSI, since this is the best choice you can make. For an external drive, SCSI and FireWire are good options, unless you have to go for USB or PCMCIA.
Drive quality is the next important step. Good design means that the
drive:
- does not overheat and temperature is kept at normal levels even after burning 4-5 cds.
- does not vibrate and is built around a stable mechanism and chassis.
- is built in such a way that is protected against dust.
For the last point, you have to make sure that the drive's tray door is closed hermetically and that no cooler is attached to the drive.
Another important point is whether the drive supports OPC (Optimal Power Calibration), which ensures that the power of the laser is dynamically adjusted during the recording process.
The bundled software is often mentioned as a critical factor, but usually it is better to ignore it unless you are sure about its quality.
Finally, many people wonder whether they need cd-rw capability. CD-RW drives tend to run hotter than cd-r ones, which means that they also tend to break more often. However, if you need non-critical short-term copies of your data at large quantities, you may find savings in media to be very important.