Yamaha Introduces Introduces Industry's Fastest CD-RW Recorder

YAMAHA INTRODUCES INDUSTRY'S FASTEST CD-RW RECORDER: LIGHTSPEED RECORDERS DELIVER 16X WRITE/10X REWRITE/40X READ/40X AUDIO RIPPING

—Industry Leader Leap Jumps Competitors With the New Lightspeed CD-RW Recorder Family—

BUENA PARK, CA (October 6, 2000)—Yamaha Corporation of America announces the introduction of the industry's fastest internal and external rewritable CD recorders. The all-new, multi-platform LightSpeed™ CRW2100 Series models are capable of recording on CD-R discs at an industry-first top speed of 16X, writing a 74-minute CD in under five minutes; rewriting CD-RW discs at a top speed of 10X; and reading CDs at a sustained maximum rate of 40X. In addition, the CRW2100 Series allows users to rip audio CDs at a maximum speed of 40X—up to five times faster than conventional CD-RW recorders currently in the marketplace—allowing digital audio extraction of a 74-minute audio disc in less than 3 minutes. Ripping is the process of converting CD music tracks to WAV and MP3 files for creating music CDs on a PC.

CRW2100 Series: Industry's Fastest CD-RW

"Yamaha pioneered CD recording and is the industry standard in CD-RW recorders", states Tom Sumner, General Manager, Consumer Products Division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "The introduction of the CRW2100 Series reestablishes Yamaha's technology leadership in the CD-RW market. This breakthrough product will create even more consumer interest in a market which is already projected to grow by 85 percent this year."

To achieve the industry's fastest CD-R write speed, Yamaha developed the CRW2100 Series to take advantage of the partial Constant Angular Velocity (CAV) technology, a combination of CAV and standard Constant Linear Velocity (CLV), for optimum performance. To rewrite a CD-RW disc at up to 10x speed, the Lightspeed recorders use the full CAV recording method.

The CAV recording method keeps the disc rotation speed constant while adjusting the data transfer rate, depending upon which portion of the disc is being recorded. For writing CD-R discs, the CRW2100 Series uses CAV in the inner portion of the disc while using CLV in the outer portions in order to deliver a top writing speed of 16X. Also known as partial CAV, this method enables a significant increase in the data transfer rates while minimizing the load increase to the drive's mechanism.

"By applying partial CAV technology instead of the conventional CLV, our new recorders do not require additional time for controlling the rotation speed of the motor, allowing for faster, smoother recording", states Allen H. Gharapetian, Product and Marketing Manager, Consumer Products Division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "The CRW2100 series also applies Yamaha's exclusive PurePhase Laser System™ which, by compensating for the unwanted glare created on the disc surface during recording, improves jitter levels (deviation from correct signals) by over 25%, harnessing extra laser power previously unused".

In pursuit of perfecting reliability, Yamaha has also equipped the CRW2100 Series with Optimum Write Speed Control™. By checking a disc's capability and the recording conditions, this new technology allows the LightSpeed recorders to select the optimum writing speed to further improve reliability. The CRW2100 Series recorders also incorporate Yamaha's Waste-Proof Write Strategy™. Unlike other write strategies which rely heavily on data-links and error corrections, Yamaha's write strategy focuses on providing a robust, stable recording environment by combining a large buffer memory, CAV writing support for on-the-fly data backup, and specific fine-tunings to the recording software. This strategy maximizes harmony between the recorder and the PC, virtually eliminating buffer underruns and preventing waste of media.

The CRW2100 Series recorders offer an extra large 8 MB buffer memory—up to 4X larger than that of competitive recorders—virtually eliminating common buffer underruns. The new LightSpeed recorders are designed to take full advantage of the new, high performance 16X CD-R media to optimize record speed and reliability. Yamaha and other media makers have introduced 74-minute and 80-minute 16X CD-R media that is currently available.

The CRW2100 Series features four models: the internal CRW2100EZ using E-IDE (ATAPI) interface, the internal CRW2100SZ using Ultra SCSI (SCSI-3) interface, the external CRW2100SXZ using Ultra SCSI interface and the external CRW2100FXZ using IEEE 1394 FireWire™ technology. The FireWire connection provides simple installation, reliable performance and fast recording speeds. All models are currently available and compatible with IBM PC compatibles and Macintosh computers.

Since the late 1980s, Yamaha has been the leader in CD-recorder development, producing high performance recorders that are considered to be industry benchmarks. The company introduced the first programmable CD-recording system in 1988, the first 2X speed CD recording system in 1990, the first 4X half-height CD-R drive in 1993, the first 4X speed writing CD rewritable drive in 1997, the first 4X speed rewriting CD-rewritable drive in 1998, and the first 8x speed CD-rewritable recorder in 2000 .

The CRW2100 family of CD-RW recorders is available to resellers through a variety of major computer distributors, and to consumers through mail order catalogs, Internet resellers, and major computer retailers. The retail version, in the United States, is available directly from and only through Yamaha's Consumer Products Division, and includes a software bundle which features Adaptec class-leading Easy CD Creator™, Direct CD™ and Toast™, Adobe's ActiveShare™, Photo Deluxe™, plus the Neato™ CD Labeler Kit.

For product and sales information, contact Yamaha's Consumer Products Division, 6600 Orangethorpe Avenue, Buena Park, CA 90620; http://www.yamaha.com; telephone (714) 522-9011; or fax (714) 228-3913. Press contact: Giles Communications, telephone (914) 422-3800, x132.

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