Some inSync readers have asked us about specific disk format issues with regard to stand alone CD recorders, such as the Marantz CDR620.
There are two factors that affect what they can do: the CDR mechanism in the recorder and the software driving the recorder. Some people assume that a machine like a CDR620 can write Orange Book (see WFTD archive Orange Book) CD-ROM’s by connecting data to its S/PDIF port (this was proposed as a solution to archiving on a VS-880). These machines cannot write a CD-ROM disc unless they are connected via SCSI to appropriate computer software. The mechanism is certainly capable, but the software in the machine is not written to work that way and the S/PDIF protocol (see WFTD archive S/PDIF) is only used for audio in the first place. For the most part the software inside of a typical CD recorder is designed to make Red Book (see WFTD archive Red Book) CD’s only, though most do write in standard orange book audio format until the finalization has been done. It is possible, however, to make an audio CD backup of VS-880 data via the S/PDIF port in just the same way a DAT machine would, which solves the problem. One just needs to understand that the disc is an audio disc and not a true data disc, which for VS-880 purposes should be fine.