Re: [ARSCLIST] On site CD duplication

[Lou Judson <loujudson@xxxxxxx>]

There is this:

http://www.microboards.com/new/article.php/20050706093025116

which switched from one deck to the other automatically. I have done 
lots of this with cassettes and have friends and associates who do it 
with CDs now.... But though realtime CD recording is efficient, one 
bump on the recorder and your disc is spoiled, so always use at least 
two! I try not to do realtime CD burning due to this fragility, but 
this unit will do the multiple disc run nicely.

One good way to do it is with the new generation of Compact Flash 
recorders; using two of them, you begin the second one recording, stop 
the first, pull the CF card and slip it into a reader on the Mac, and 
burn your CD fron there (this can happen quite quickly) to go in the 
duplicator. If you pre-print the CD blanks it can be quite 
professional... and then you have it in the Mac for later processing.

Recording to the iBook with Mbox will not allow you to work with the 
files until you stop recording. But PT can do WAV and AIFF, and can 
export MP3 if needed.

Aks if these leaves you with more questions!

Lou Judson • Intuitive Audio
415-883-2689

On Jan 22, 2006, at 10:38 PM, Susan Balsam wrote:

> I'm putting together a feasibility study for an organization that 
> wants to do on-site CD duplication at seminars in Europe that are a 
> main speaker plus audience participation. In past years, they have 
> offered only audio cassettes on site. Has anyone had experience making 
> this transition? I could use some advice.
>
> The existing digital recording setup is a line out from the PA mixer 
> to a Compaq laptop w/external audio interface, using SoundForge for 16 
> bit / 44.1 kHz WAVs direct to external HD. There are also 3 older 
> model CD burners available (brand unknown), but I am thinking that 
> interrupting that process to burn CDs for masters may not be the way 
> to go.
>
> I'm wondering about running another line out from the board to a 2nd 
> laptop dedicated to making masters for the duplicating team (a Mac 
> iBook G4 is available). Can anyone recommend a good external audio 
> interface for the G4? Cost and portability are factors, as this system 
> would be carried over from the states. So far the MBox w/ProTools LE 
> looks good. I want to keep it very simple.
>
> Questions:
> --Can the sound files be saved while the live recording continues or 
> will the operator have to wait for a break?
> --Can ProTools be set up to automatically save a sound file, say every 
> 30-35 mins, open a new one and continue recording?
> --Will burning a master (through the USB port to an external CD 
> burner) affect the live recording?
> --What is the best format for European players? With ProTools can I 
> record directly to other formats besides WAV, such as AIFF? There 
> won't be time to convert files and I would like the smallest possible 
> since it is only spoken word.  I understand many players will not read 
> MP3s.
>
> The other option I am looking into is to record directly to a 
> standalone CD recorder in the rack. My concern there is in missing 
> pieces of the live recording.  Any recommendations on a direct-to-CD 
> system where there is no lost time? Do dual systems exist, where, for 
> example, after 80 mins. the recording switches to a 2nd tray and the 
> first tray can then be finished separately?
>
> Finally, any recommendations for duplicating equipment would also be 
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks for your help and advice.
> --Susan