OTHER TECH

That's pretty straightforward, but things can get tricky in a compilation of tracks from various sources. The recorder provides several copying methods. For example, it can be set to automatically switch to analog recording if a track cannot be copied digitally, or to copy only digitally enabled tracks, or to make analog copies regardless of the SCMS flags. Here's another copyright-induced technical wrinkle: when you're duplicating a CD or burning a compilation, you can do a "digital move," which transfers data from the hard drive to a blank disc even if it's copy-protected, then automatically erases it from the hard drive.

Even with SCMS restrictions, the CDR-HD1000 offers terrific recording flexibility. You can record from an external source to either the hard drive or a CD-R or CD-RW, from a CD to the hard drive, or from the hard drive to a CD-R or CD-RW. You can also duplicate a CD, but you have to copy it to the hard drive first since the HD1000 has only one disc tray. That might sound complicated, but in practice operation is extremely simple. In fact, you can even select a synchronized mode so that recording (to either the hard disk or a blank CD) starts automatically when the source starts playback. Here's another nice feature - you can set the CDR-HD1000 to record for a timed duration and automatically create track markers at prescribed intervals. Unfortunately, it has no facilities for unattended timer-controlled recording, but you might be able to finesse this with a suitably versatile programmable remote control.

Once you've recorded data to the hard drive, you can edit the contents of virtual discs and tracks using straightforward, intuitive commands that are much like those used in MiniDisc recorders. For example, you can erase, combine, or divide discs and tracks, create track fade-ins and fade-outs, name and rename discs and tracks, and so on.

To check out the recorder's duplication prowess, I loaded the Dire Straits CD "On Every Street" (a 60-minute, 20-second recording) into the disc drawer and selected the Duplicate mode. This mode's default settings are digital-domain copying, 0-dB record level, and "Best Effort" copy speed (the fastest speed allowed by the copy conditions and disc type). I hit the Record button, and high-speed copying started, ran for about 6 minutes, then stopped, at which point the display advised me to "Change Discs." I swapped the original disc for a blank CD-R, and copying started automatically as soon as the drawer closed. Eight minutes later, the player finalized the disc, and I was the proud owner of a legal copy of "On Every Street."