HHB CDR850 (2)

Do you all remember this infamous ad...

Combining exceptional sound quality, features and ease of use in a stylish, solidly engineered package, the HHB CDR850 has become the first choice in CD recording with audio professionals the world over. Recording on both conventional write-once CD-R media and CD-RW rewritable discs, the CDR850 uses four simple record modes and a logical, intuitive menu system to make CD recording as easy as cassette or DAT recording. With precision converters and advanced circuit design ensuring excellent sound quality, the CDR850 is engineered without compromise for a lifetime of professional studio use.

A comprehensive array of input and output connectors is provided; both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA phono analogue line inputs and outputs, optical and coaxial SPDIF digital inputs and outputs and an AES/EBU digital input. The output level from the CDR850 is switchable from +4dBu to -8dBu via the front panel menu, providing flexibility when connecting to other audio equipment, both professional and consumer. The digital output may also be switched off from the menu.

The CDR850 has four recording modes available. Modes 1 and 2 are manual analogue and digital, where the CDR850 behaves in a similar way to a conventional cassette deck. Modes 3 and 4 are digital synchro modes, in which all CD, DAT, MD, DVD and DCC index points are automatically transferred to CD tracks during recording. Audio may be recorded track by track, or an entire disc at once. The CDR850 can be set to automatically trigger a new track number when the audio input reaches a certain level, or track starts can be entered manually by pressing the front panel button. Copying of index points is also allowed when recording from sample CDs, where there may be a new index point every few seconds in each track. The auto finalize function enables a table of contents (TOC) to be automatically written on the disc, making the recorded CD playable on any consumer CD player.

An on-board sample rate converter accepts incoming digital signals from 32-48kHz, making the CDR850 ideal for use when cloning from digital audio workstations, 32kHz or 48kHz DATs and professional varispeed CD players. The sample rate converter may also be switched off to allow a 44.1kHz digital input to be recorded unprocessed.

The flexible SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) employed by the CDR850 provides total control over copy protection status. As this is a professional recorder, the copy protection status at the digital input is ignored, but can be set on the recorded disc. With copy protection enabled, the material on your disc can’t be copied. The copy protection status can also be set to allow only one copy or multiple copies.

Many other features are also accessible through the CDR850’s front panel, including fade in / out, and an auto pause function, where the recorder can be set to pause after playing a track. This feature will be indispensable to broadcasters, since it provides a way of ensuring perfect playback of the required track. Tracks may also be accurately cued up for replay. Constant status feedback is provided at a glance by a large LED above the CD tray; lighting green when in play, red when recording and orange when erasing rewritable media.

• Uses low-cost CD-R and rewritable CD-RW discs
• All functions easily accessible from the front panel menu
• Four one-touch recording modes; 2 manual, 2 automatic
• Switchable sample rate converter accepts any sampling frequency from 32kHz to 48kHz, including varispeed
• Copies all CD, DAT, MD, DVD and DCC track starts
• Complete user control over SCMS
• Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA phono analogue I/O
• +4dBu / -8dBu switchable balanced analogue outputs
• AES/EBU input and SPDIF digital I/O (coaxial and optical)
• Auto finalize function
• Level margin indicator with 1dB increments
• Tri-coloured LED to indicate play, record and erase status
• Playback auto pause facility
• Four levels of erase for CD-RW
• Full infra-red remote control supplied
• 2U rack-mountable