This page was provided by a correspondent. To the extent that I have information on standalone recorders, the information is correct. I also take full responsibility for the footnote. For the rest, I am only the relay for the following.
My experience has been with three models: Philips CDR-765, Tascam CD-RW 500 and HHb 800. The basic principle is that consumer models such as the Philips will only work with Digital Audio or "audio" discs. An audio disc is basically the same as a data disc except that it has a flag in the ID info track of the ATIP which identifies it as an "audio" CD. It carries a higher price tag because of the royalty added to consumer audio media like cassettes, VHS tapes etc. to reimburse the "industry" for copyright infringement. Data CDs are cheaper because they are not considered media for consumer use where copyright infringement is going to be a primary concern. Professional level CD-Rs can use data discs because of the anomalous law that says that assumes only consumer equipment will be used for infringement. The Philips could be tricked by swapping a conventional data disc for a Digital Audio disc at the right point in the cycle; these units are no longer on the market.
Pro and consumer recorders also differ in the handling of SCMS - the "copy bit" with values of 00 for unlimited copies, 01 for one more digital copy, 11 for no more digital copies allowed. Consumer audio hardware will write 01 on the first burn, and then on a copy of anything sourced as 01 will write 11 so no more copies can be made. Pro audio gear will almost always write 00 and ignore 01 and 11 so you can make copies through optical or coax digital connections; AES/EBU digital connections don't pass SCSM info so are always ready to copy.
There's also a new level of standalones, the so called "prosumer" - hybrids of consumer and pro hardware. Priced in the $500 - $700 range, you get lower cost of the initial unit, ability to use data discs, and in some cases no SCMS. The Tascam 500 is a studio unit (about $750 new) which I hooked up with a coax digital connection to my CD player for copying. Since it records in real time, a 74-minute CD takes 74 minutes to create. It syncs track IDs so the CD will be ID'd exactly like the original - very handy for letting it record and coming back an hour later to switch discs.
Footnote: There have been reports that Digital Audio media do not record correctly in some computer CD-Rs. While their higher price without payoff makes them unlikely choices when not needed, you should be aware that they may not work in your computer-based recorder.
E-mail me at cdrecording@mrichter.com
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