CD Recorder versus CD Burner, the topic gets deeper.
“What’s the advantage of using one of those high-end CD recorders (e.g. $1500 or more) over using a program like JAM to write audio files on one of the less expensive CD recorders? Is there a difference in quality or data integrity, or is it merely an issue of features (such as digital audio inputs, etc)?”
There is a past tech tip that answers part of your question (see TTOTD 8/6/98). The main thing to get from that tech tip is a clear understanding of the distinction between a CD Recorder and a CD Burner.
There is functionality in some of the more advanced programs and machines that Jam doesn’t have, but in general it is a very capable program and we do recommend it. Marantz claims that their CDR640 recorder has tighter timing accuracy than other models, which reduces the need for remastering prior to mass CD duplication (see inSync 5/21/99 for more about that). So there can be some specific and important differences from product to product, some of which may only matter to people doing a specific type of work. In a very general sense, however, the advantage of the hardware-based systems is mostly convenience. They have digital I/O and A/D converters built right in. One can make a perfectly good disc directly from the multitrack without having to go through the extra gyrations of getting the stuff into the computer. Further, it is possible to burn a disc while leaving the computer free to do other things, such as any tasks it might need to perform during mixdown. On the other hand the “tweakbility” of the computer-based systems are nice for some people. And if you already have your files in the computer anyway, its just as easy to burn a CD from the computer as it is to use a CD recorder. Of course a CD burner and software are less expensive because a lot of the hardware that is part of a CD recorder isn’t necessary. It’s much easier to build a user interface in software than it is hardware. This is one of those topics where you may be best served by talking to one of our sales engineers, as they can probe for some of the subtle concerns you may have that could sway the decision one way or the other.