Very simply, having had a disastrous failure with my PC burner causing
me lost time and blank CD's, I am considering purchasing the above
Yamaha CDR-HD1500 HDD + CD-R/RW Digital Audio Recorder and fitting it
into my Quad system, can I have your opinions on it please.
--
Derrick Fawsitt

Derrick Fawsitt wrote:
Very simply, having had a disastrous failure with my PC burner causing
me lost time and blank CD's, I am considering purchasing the above
Yamaha CDR-HD1500 HDD + CD-R/RW Digital Audio Recorder and fitting it
into my Quad system, can I have your opinions on it please.

Hi - we had a thread about this a while ago - I've pasted my reply below.

Rob

--

Jim Lesurf wrote:
I'd like to buy an audio CD recorder. I already have a Pioneer PDR509 and
was thinking of a PDR609. However it seems this is no longer
available. So
can anyone suggest an alternative that is still on sale? (Or is the
PDR609
still around?)

Having had a search on the web I have the impression that Marantz, Sony,
Yamaha, and Denon may do CD recorders. However the models I've found
details of are all either:

1) CDR and HD
2) Dual drive

I don't want to 'clone' CDs. Nor do I really need a HD - although I might
go for that option if I can't find my preference which is simply for a
machine that works as the PDR509 or 609...

So, any models people can recommend?


I had a NAD double CD recorder - worked fine except for curious, very
small, 'glitches' between tracks when copying CDs - shouldn't matter in
your case. Very quiet - no fan.

Also, if anyone has one of the Yamaha CDR + HD machines, can they comment
on how easy they are to use for the following type of process:


I use a Yamaha HD1300, bought for the HD and analogue recordings.

1) Make a long recording (i.e. 80 mins) from radio whilst
unattended. Of
something like a R3 concert.


It can do this according to the manual. The HD is split into 99 minutes
partitions; anything over that simply crosses over to another partion -
never tried it.

2) Then edit the results (both to set track starts/ends to divide the
recording, and the remove unwanted sections) and write to one or more
CDRs.


You can indeed, but it's hardly intuitive. Ditto titles etc, although I
got a cheap serial-USB lead so I can do it on a (Windows) computer,
yippee. I'll test it to see if you like.

Also on if the HD make any audible mechanical noises whilst recording or
replaying. (Ditto for any fans if the machine has them.)

The HD makes occasional clicks, and a mild mechanical hum during use.
Not too bad, and the nature of these things. When the fan kicks in it is
noticeable, not fantastically loud though. Good ventilation around the
back means it rarely comes on, but bear in mind the unit is very deep,
so siting can be an issue.

Seems very well built, never missed a beat, copies are very good. But I
don't use it as much as I might because the interface makes editing
tricky, or perhaps more accurately - difficult for me to remember.

It's been upgraded to a 250gb model (HD1500 - mine's a 160Gb, but disks
are easy to change, c.450UKP). If you're going this route I'd take a
look at the Cambridge HD CD recorder - although I think they're both
overpriced. HTH

Rob

In message , Rob
writes
The HD makes occasional clicks, and a mild mechanical hum during use.
Not too bad, and the nature of these things. When the fan kicks in it
is noticeable, not fantastically loud though. Good ventilation around
the back means it rarely comes on, but bear in mind the unit is very
deep, so siting can be an issue.

Seems very well built, never missed a beat, copies are very good. But I
don't use it as much as I might because the interface makes editing
tricky, or perhaps more accurately - difficult for me to remember.

It's been upgraded to a 250gb model (HD1500 - mine's a 160Gb, but disks
are easy to change, c.450UKP). If you're going this route I'd take a
look at the Cambridge HD CD recorder - although I think they're both
overpriced. HTH

Rob

Rob.

Can't thank you enough and excuse my delay in acknowledging your help. I
am not sure if the one in my local shop is the larger HD, I will have to
check.
I had the disaster with my CD burning while using CD Burner XP Pro3, it
seems there are access points (?) in some Opera disks I cloned and they
produced a gap in the middle of the singing. I have no idea how this
came about since I just clicked on Rip and then when that was done,
Burn. Unfortunately I did not actually check my copies until I had given
back the CD's so I can tell you I was disgusted. It now seems it may not
be so bad as some of my Symphony recordings with tracks etc., are
perfect. Perhaps my other opera clones are OK, so far I am afraid to
check.
Again my thanks,
--
Derrick Fawsitt

Derrick Fawsitt wrote:
In message , Rob
writes
The HD makes occasional clicks, and a mild mechanical hum during use.
Not too bad, and the nature of these things. When the fan kicks in it
is noticeable, not fantastically loud though. Good ventilation around
the back means it rarely comes on, but bear in mind the unit is very
deep, so siting can be an issue.

Seems very well built, never missed a beat, copies are very good. But
I don't use it as much as I might because the interface makes editing
tricky, or perhaps more accurately - difficult for me to remember.

It's been upgraded to a 250gb model (HD1500 - mine's a 160Gb, but
disks are easy to change, c.450UKP). If you're going this route I'd
take a look at the Cambridge HD CD recorder - although I think they're
both overpriced. HTH

Rob

Rob.

Can't thank you enough and excuse my delay in acknowledging your help. I
am not sure if the one in my local shop is the larger HD, I will have to
check.
I had the disaster with my CD burning while using CD Burner XP Pro3, it
seems there are access points (?) in some Opera disks I cloned and they
produced a gap in the middle of the singing. I have no idea how this
came about since I just clicked on Rip and then when that was done,
Burn. Unfortunately I did not actually check my copies until I had given
back the CD's so I can tell you I was disgusted. It now seems it may not
be so bad as some of my Symphony recordings with tracks etc., are
perfect. Perhaps my other opera clones are OK, so far I am afraid to check.
Again my thanks,

Hmmm - annoying!

If CD Burner is anything like Nero it produces a 2 second gap between
tracks by default, and it's likely this needed to be set to zero
*before* the rip. A better approach would have been to simply clone the CD.

I would suggest all is not lost. Try copying the copy and look for the
'gap between tracks' setting, and set it to zero. Alternatively, it
would be quite straightforward to 'stitch' the tracks together using
editing software. You're not alone with this btw - I learned the hard
way ;-)

The Yamaha isn't the best machine to use as a CD copier - copying
involves CD-HD-CDR, and certain limitations are built into the machine
that could prevent you doing a digital copy again. You could use the
digital (or analogue) output of an existing CD player to rip CDs, but
this does happen in real time.

A better standalone option might be a twin CD recorder although note the
'clicks' I encountered (above post) and the limitation of digital copies
of copies remains, as does the need to buy slightly more extensive audio
blanks.

If you don't need the convenience of the standalone unit and the hard
disk, the PC/MAC option remains more versatile.

Best of luck, and please post again if this doesn't make sense.

Rob

On Tue, 30 May 2006 18:06:27 +0100, Derrick Fawsitt
wrote:

I had the disaster with my CD burning while using CD Burner XP Pro3, it
seems there are access points (?) in some Opera disks I cloned and they
produced a gap in the middle of the singing. I have no idea how this
came about since I just clicked on Rip and then when that was done,
Burn. Unfortunately I did not actually check my copies until I had given
back the CD's so I can tell you I was disgusted. It now seems it may not
be so bad as some of my Symphony recordings with tracks etc., are
perfect. Perhaps my other opera clones are OK, so far I am afraid to
check.

Why didn't you just make a simple disk copy? Anyway, you've lost no
music. The gaps can easily be removed.

In message , Laurence Payne
writes
On Tue, 30 May 2006 18:06:27 +0100, Derrick Fawsitt
wrote:

I had the disaster with my CD burning while using CD Burner XP Pro3, it
seems there are access points (?) in some Opera disks I cloned and they
produced a gap in the middle of the singing. I have no idea how this
came about since I just clicked on Rip and then when that was done,
Burn. Unfortunately I did not actually check my copies until I had given
back the CD's so I can tell you I was disgusted. It now seems it may not
be so bad as some of my Symphony recordings with tracks etc., are
perfect. Perhaps my other opera clones are OK, so far I am afraid to
check.

Why didn't you just make a simple disk copy? Anyway, you've lost no
music. The gaps can easily be removed.

Thank you both for your time and help, unfortunately my original fear,
(not mentioned in my posts), was that I had a problem with my burner in
my PC. This was because one of my copies with ten tracks I discovered
had cracking noises in track nine. I assumed/hoped at the time this was
a "once off" as so much of the music and disks seemed OK. However, last
night my worst fears were realised in that having played one disk that
was perfect, I found more cracks and fizzes in yet another CD track so I
am afraid after all my hopes that all was better, I must now accept the
worst, namely I have a dodgy burner.

Now what to do with the number of copies I have done, (I am too
embarrassed to tell you how many), I have a dear friend with a lot of
time on his hands who can check them out for me and when I have
recovered my composure, no doubt he will let me know how many are
saveable. The irony is he has a MAC and has done me perfect copies in
the past.

Finally, up to now I have always used EAC, (Exact Audio Copy), but
although I found it did not let me down, I found the interface puzzling
every time I came back to it to make a copy.
You ask "why didn't I make a simple disk copy", that is exactly what I
set out to do so can you tell me the best way to do exactly that, mind
you, I have lost confidence in PC copies, hence my desire now, (having
lost my chance to get some good copies), to resort to a stand alone CD
burner or copier.
Sorry about all the rigmarole above but I felt it necessary to spell out
all the processes I went through and still ended up with no certain
copies of a lovely library of music.
--
Derrick Fawsitt

On Wed, 31 May 2006 09:26:01 +0100, Derrick Fawsitt
wrote:

Finally, up to now I have always used EAC, (Exact Audio Copy), but
although I found it did not let me down, I found the interface puzzling
every time I came back to it to make a copy.
You ask "why didn't I make a simple disk copy", that is exactly what I
set out to do so can you tell me the best way to do exactly that, mind
you, I have lost confidence in PC copies, hence my desire now, (having
lost my chance to get some good copies), to resort to a stand alone CD
burner or copier.
Sorry about all the rigmarole above but I felt it necessary to spell out
all the processes I went through and still ended up with no certain
copies of a lovely library of music.


The Yamaha CDR-HD1500 will work. But so will a properly working £20
burner on your computer. And the HD1500 is a very expensive solution,
with considerable disadvantages over a computer.

I wonder what went wrong? The burner may indeed be faulty. More
likely is a bad batch of media. Other possibilities are attempting to
perform other tasks while burning the CD, or burning at too high a
speed.

Do your bad copies refuse to play on the computer that made them, or
just on domestic hi-fi players? There may yet be hope :-)

In message , Laurence Payne
writes
On Wed, 31 May 2006 09:26:01 +0100, Derrick Fawsitt
wrote:

Finally, up to now I have always used EAC, (Exact Audio Copy), but
although I found it did not let me down, I found the interface puzzling
every time I came back to it to make a copy.
You ask "why didn't I make a simple disk copy", that is exactly what I
set out to do so can you tell me the best way to do exactly that, mind
you, I have lost confidence in PC copies, hence my desire now, (having
lost my chance to get some good copies), to resort to a stand alone CD
burner or copier.
Sorry about all the rigmarole above but I felt it necessary to spell out
all the processes I went through and still ended up with no certain
copies of a lovely library of music.


The Yamaha CDR-HD1500 will work. But so will a properly working £20
burner on your computer. And the HD1500 is a very expensive solution,
with considerable disadvantages over a computer.
But won't it also record from DAB radio, in my case I would find it so
useful for recording disks and concerts from the Proms etc.

I wonder what went wrong? The burner may indeed be faulty. More
likely is a bad batch of media.
I ran out of Benq blanks half way through my project and used Imation,
both have faults here and there.
Other possibilities are attempting to
perform other tasks while burning the CD,
No, definitely not.
or burning at too high a
speed.
Now that I cannot tell you or remember but it was set to select the
optimum speed itself.

Do your bad copies refuse to play on the computer that made them, or
just on domestic hi-fi players? There may yet be hope :-)
I have just played an offending track on my PC, same horrible noise as
though the needle had jumped or I had come to the end of the LP and
forgot to take up the arm. Also starts jumping to the next track.
In other words, as the chap in Dad's army says, "I am doomed, doomed",
and at one time, I did panic.
Nothing more I can do except thank you all and continue to leave the
"dead bodies" with a friend to bury them where I cannot see them.

I am still foolish enough to buy that Yamaha, I need someone to hold me
back.

--
Derrick Fawsitt

On Wed, 31 May 2006 19:09:06 +0100, Derrick Fawsitt
wrote:


The Yamaha CDR-HD1500 will work. But so will a properly working £20
burner on your computer. And the HD1500 is a very expensive solution,
with considerable disadvantages over a computer.
But won't it also record from DAB radio, in my case I would find it so
useful for recording disks and concerts from the Proms etc.



What, it has a DAB receiver built-in? If not, it will, if you attach
one. But so will your computer!

or burning at too high a
speed.
Now that I cannot tell you or remember but it was set to select the
optimum speed itself.

Ah. I suspect you were offered not an optimum speed but the fastest
available speed. That, along with on-the-fly copying, are, I'm
afraid, recipes for disaster when burning audio CDs.

The Yamaha will, indeed, restrict you to special "audio" CD blanks and
a low burn speed. But it's a high price to avoid you picking quality
blanks from a far wider range and manually choosing a moderate burn
speed. Actually, even with bulk-buy media at under 10p per disk I
rarely get coasters these days. And I burn a LOT of disks! Though I
do use the "verify" function in my burning software for critical jobs.
It takes time, but it's worth it.

In message , Laurence Payne
writes
On Wed, 31 May 2006 19:09:06 +0100, Derrick Fawsitt
wrote:


The Yamaha CDR-HD1500 will work. But so will a properly working £20
burner on your computer. And the HD1500 is a very expensive solution,
with considerable disadvantages over a computer.
But won't it also record from DAB radio, in my case I would find it so
useful for recording disks and concerts from the Proms etc.



What, it has a DAB receiver built-in? If not, it will, if you attach
one. But so will your computer!

or burning at too high a
speed.
Now that I cannot tell you or remember but it was set to select the
optimum speed itself.

Ah. I suspect you were offered not an optimum speed but the fastest
available speed. That, along with on-the-fly copying, are, I'm
afraid, recipes for disaster when burning audio CDs.

The Yamaha will, indeed, restrict you to special "audio" CD blanks and
a low burn speed. But it's a high price to avoid you picking quality
blanks from a far wider range and manually choosing a moderate burn
speed. Actually, even with bulk-buy media at under 10p per disk I
rarely get coasters these days. And I burn a LOT of disks! Though I
do use the "verify" function in my burning software for critical jobs.
It takes time, but it's worth it.
Thank you so much Laurence but my confidence is at a low ebb, I hesitate
to tell you how much I lost, both in a chance to enhance my library of
disks and also the amount of blanks I wasted, never mind the time I lost
also. However, "its an ill wind etc.", _ have made some more new friends
and learned a lot about what can go wrong. It was also so foolish of me
to copy so much without checking now and then as I went along, how could
I do such a thing. I can only plead that I did have to grab a few
minutes every day to clone another CD and did not want to waste cloning
time for checking time, Oh Dear|
Just one question that if I can have answered I might be prepared to
have a go again, what is a really safe speed to clone an audio CD and
also, I don't mind spending some money on fitting the Rolls Royce of CD
burners so that I can feel confident, I know it should not be necessary
but I need the boost. Can you give me a name and model number and once
again, I am so grateful to yourself and Rob for your help.
--
Derrick Fawsitt