Did I make a boo-boo?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tucci
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Tucci

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I just bought a brand new CD-R drive from ebay for about $100. Apparently it comes with installation software. The auction was almost over and people I had asked said that a new CD-R drive costs about $230 so I bid really quickly.

I found out that I got it and then some previously unthought of questions popped into my head.

1# Will I be able to mix directly from my four-track to the CD-R without special software?

2# Will I have to take out the regular CD-Rom drive that is in the computer right now in order to install the CD-R drive?

3# The drive is 2x8 speed. Does that mean it writes at 2speed and reads at 8speed?

Much thanks to anyone who can answer these questions. I hope I didn't burn my $100 for no avail.

Tucci
 
You will not be able to record directly to the CD-R drive.

But you can download GoldWave ( www.goldwave.com ) save the file, then burn a CD-R with your authoring software. It will convert the .wav file into a CDDA file while burning the disk. I am sure that the installation CD came with some software for burning CD-R's. If not, you can probably download something that will work.

If you still have a IDE spot left on your mother board you should not have to remove your regular CD drive. Motherboards limit you as to how many IDE devices you can have installed on the computer. If you don't have an IDE spot left, you will need to remove you CD drive. But unless you are running a bunch of hard drives and like a Zip drive, you should have a spot left for the burner.

Yes, 2X write speed, 8X read speed. I don't think you will be using this drive for loading software. But wait!!! It could mean 2X re-write and 8X write speeds also. Is it a CD-R/W type drive???

Ed
 
Tucci:

I am pretty sure you can find 'em much cheaper than $230, but $100 sounds like a good deal to me.

1. You will need to mix from your 4-track to your hard drive, and then from your hard drive to CD-R.

2. You can have both on the same PC. One you set as the master, the other as slave to it. You do this through a jumper switch on the back of each drive. The ribbon cable connected to your existing CD-ROM has another connector on it where you can attatch your CD-R. The tricky part is that you have to make sure none of the DMA (I really don't know what the hell these are) settings are the same for the drives.

2x8 probably means 2X rewritable, 8X recordable. If it does read at only 8X, then it probably wasn't such a good deal because that's pretty slow.

dmc
 
Yes, install the drive on the same IDE port as your existing CDROM drive. Note that some CDR drives have issues with this though. e.g. Some prefer to be master, and I would suggest this regardless. Follow the instructions carefully if it comes with them.

2x8x...hmm...if that's all that was said then you have no choice but to assume that you got a CDR drive, not a CDRW drive. 2x8 would imply 2X write and 8X read in which case the drive was barely worth 100 bucks. For less than 200 dollars you can have a brand new 4x4x24x drive and a 4x2x40x drive can be had in the $170 range if you look real hard.

If they left out a number and it's a 2x2x8 then you got an "ok" deal. If it's a 2X write 8X rewrite deal then it's magical and you should hang on to it. If it's 8X write 2X rewrite deal then you got a GREAT deal. If it's simply 2x8 (2X write 8X read) then you got the shaft.

8X is the highest writing speed I've seen to date...and the read speed is always included in the equation. 8X write and 2X read wouldn't make sense, so expect a 2x8 CDR drive in the mail.

Slackmaster 2000
 
ya... me too. I just nabbed a Ricoh 2x2x6 scsi deal and overlooked the scsi part. I am totally at a loss where to plug things. I am told I need a scsi card but this machine is an internal drive. it has a bloomin 50 pin harness scsi jack and I am cableless. should I ditch it and try again or is it worth it to nab the card and harness?
 
Hell even, just pay the $150 for a good scsi controller and install that puppy. With a scsi CD-R you are going to be way cool. You can actually get stuff right off a CD with that drive. SCSI is known to be quite superior in audio applications.

Ed
 
Shucks.

I have a feeling that I got the shaft. Hmmm, well, if it wasn't a good deal maybe I can resell it over ebay as a CD-R drive "never used" and get most of my money back.

Thanks a lot for your help fellas.

Tucci
 
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