Faster Than The Speed Of Light, Yamaha Introduces The Award Winning Lightspeed2™

FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT, YAMAHA INTRODUCES THE AWARD WINNING LIGHTSPEED2™–INDUSTRY'S FIRST 20X FAMILY OF CD R/RW'S

—LightSpeed2™ Delivers 20X Write/10X ReWrite/40X Read/40X Audio Ripping—

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BUENA PARK, CA (September 17, 2001)—Yamaha Electronics Corporation announces the introduction of the industry's first 20X internal and external ReWritable CD recorders. Honored with PC World's "Best Buy" Award, and C/Net's "Editor's Choice" the LightSpeed2™ CRW2200 Series models are capable of recording on CD-R discs at a top speed of 20X, writing a full CD in under four minutes; rewriting CD-RW discs at a top speed of 10X; and reading CDs at a sustained maximum rate of 40X. In addition, the CRW2200 Series allows users to rip audio CDs at a maximum speed of 40X—up to 66 percent faster than conventional CD-RW recorders currently in the marketplace—allowing digital audio extraction of a 74-minute audio disc in less than three minutes.

"Yamaha continues to be a leader in the CD recording industry," states Allen H. Gharapetian, general manager, Multimedia Products Division, Yamaha Electronics Corporation. "We have also included an external USB 2.0 model in this series. This breakthrough product will create even more consumer interest in a market that is already projected to grow by 42 percent this year."

LightSpeed2™ CRW2200 Series

To achieve 20X CD-R write speed, Yamaha developed the CRW2200 Series to take advantage of Partial Constant Angular Velocity (P-CAV) technology, a combination of CAV and standard Constant Linear Velocity (CLV) technology, for optimum performance. 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.

"Unlike other high-speed CD-RW recorders, our Lightspeed2™ recorders do not compromise quality for speed," says Gharapetian. "By employing Partial CAV, our CRW2200 maintains a constant and controlled rotation speed during recording to the inner tracks on the disc. This reduces vibration that prevents data corruptions."

In addition to utilizing conventional CLV recording at 2X, 4X, 8X, and 10X in rewriting mode, the CRW2200 also supports the 4X-10X CAV mode. This permits high-speed random writing/reading of data and realizes floppy disk-like ease of operation using packet writing.

Yamaha CRW2200 CD-RW recorders will also be the first CD recorders to use the Yamaha SafeBurn™ System with its exclusive Triple Protection Architecture™. The SafeBurn System provides the new recorders with an advanced buffer underrun control system, an 8MB buffer and Yamaha's Optimum Write Speed Control™ which, by checking a disc's capability and the recording conditions, allows LightSpeed2™ recorders to select the optimum writing speed to further improve reliability.

With SafeBurn™ advanced buffer underrun control technology, if data transfer is delayed and memory in the buffer drops below a critical level, recording is suspended until the buffer has regained sufficient memory, after which the recording restarts virtually seamlessly from the point at which it was suspended. This new buffer underrun protection uses a combination of Oak Technology digital signal processor (DSP) and Yamaha's own digital signal and analog front-end processing chips, integrating the two cutting-edge technologies to achieve the highest level of data continuity possible.

While most buffer underrun protection systems prevent buffer underrun errors, the frequent activation of such systems would normally extend the time required for the completion of disc writing and could affect the disc's reliability. The Lightspeed2™ recorders are equipped with an 8MB buffer memory—four times larger than that of its competitors—to ensure stable and efficient recording, and to minimize the incidence of suspension of recording caused by buffer underrun.

Another component of the SafeBurn system is the Optimum Write Speed Control function that automatically adjusts writing speed to the optimum level for each unique blank disc used, addressing issues regarding recording CD-R disc's compatibilities for high speed recording. CRW2200 recorders check the characteristics and conditions of the inserted disc and automatically select the maximum optimum writing speed for the disc to ensure data reliability when the disc is read back by CD-ROM drives or CD players. Here again, Partial CAV permits greater flexibility in speed selection in the 12X-20X speed ranges, considerably enhancing recording efficiency. CRW2200 Series recorders also incorporate features that ensure reliable recording onto a wide range of media, such as Running Optimum Power Calibration (ROPC) to ensure that optimum laser output power is adjusted for each disc.

In pursuit of perfecting reliability, Yamaha has also equipped the CRW2200 Series with an award winning new software suite for both IBM and Macintosh compatibles, designed to enhance CRW2200's superfast write/rewrite and audio ripping abilities. The new CD Mastering software included in CRW2200 Series includes Ahead Software's award-winning Nero 5.5™, along with the new InCDTM for packet writing, NeroMIX™ for audio ripping, Nero Wave Editor for audio file editing, and Nero Utility kit™ to troubleshoot other components of the system including CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives used for digital audio extraction. Also included in CRW2200 external format models are Ahead Software's NeroMAX for CD Mastering using Macintosh computers. All U.S. retail pack LightSpeed2™ recorders also feature Adobe's PhotoDeluxe 4.0 and Adobe ActiveShare (for IBM) and PhotoShop LE 5.0 (for Mac) digital imaging products. Also included is Neato MediaFace II 2.1 for label printing and MusicMatch software, which includes an audio ripper, MP3/CD player software and several other useful functions.

Yamaha's new LightSpeed2™ family features five models: the internal CRW2200EZ using E-IDE (ATAPI) interface, the internal CRW2200SZ using Ultra SCSI (SCSI-3) interface, the external CRW2200SXZ using Ultra SCSI interface, and the external CRW2200FXZ using IEEE 1394 FireWire™ technology are currently shipping; and the external CRW2200UXZ with USB 2.0 interface will be available in the fall. The FireWire connection provides simple installation, reliable performance and fast recording speeds. All models are compatible with IBM PC. The external drives are compatible with Macintosh computers.

For product and sales information, contact Yamaha Electronics Corporation, Multimedia Products Division, 6660 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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