|
|
There are a few features that you'll want in any CDR.
Disk at once (DAO): This allows tracks to flow into each other. If you don't have this feature or forget to use it, your disk will have two seconds of silence between each track. Without DAO, do not buy the drive for music.
Rewritable: With rewritable disks you can erase them and use them up 1000 times. Most audio CD players won't recognise the rewritable disks, their main value is for backing up files.
CD Audio Support: The drive must suppory CD-DA (Redbook Audio) or else you can't record music. Every drive I've seen did but there may be some old ones that didn't.
CD-ROM (Mode 1 and Mode 2): Data CD-ROM format also pretty much universal.
There are a few lesser used formats like Photo CD and CD-I. If you think you may use one of them, check before you buy.
Bundled software: Check to see what if any software comes with the drive. Check the web or ask in news groups if it will work for you.
SCSI vs EIDE: SCSI (skuzzy) is a much faster interface than IDE or EIDE, this makes it better than EIDE for CDR. However, with newer EIDE drives, the difference may not be worth the hassle of adding a SCSI host to your machine. EIDE drives are also considerably cheaper.
Buffer: This is the memory on the drive that holds data for the laser. Having more buffer reduces the chance of a "buffer under run", which means you ruined the disk. My last two drives were EIDEs a 2X with 1 meg and a 4X with 2 meg. The 2X (a Memorex 1622) never had a buffer under run in over 100 disks and so far the 4X (a Memorex 2642) has done over 300 just fine.
This is not a specific endorcement of Memorex drives, just my experience.
It's also a good idea to stick to name brands. Plextor, Hewlett Packard and Memorex drives have all gotten good reviews. If you need to know about a specific brand, check a FAQ sheet for your favorite MP3 group. If the information is not there, ask the news group. If the model has been out for a while, try a search at www.dejanews.com.
