Optical Disc Recorders

The Magneto Optical Disc (MOD) and CD (Compact Disc) recording formats represent significant milestones in digital data storage technology. Developed by Sony and Philips in the early 1980s, the CD format transformed the music industry by providing a high-quality, compact medium for storing audio data. CDs utilise laser technology to read and write data on a reflective disc, ensuring precise reproduction of sound without degradation. Similarly, the Magneto Optical Disc (MOD) format, developed by Sony and Hitachi, utilises magneto-optical technology for data storage. MOD discs employ a combination of laser and magnetic fields to read and write data, offering high reliability and longevity. While CDs revolutionised music distribution, MOD discs found applications in data backup, archival storage, and professional recording. Together, these formats have significantly influenced digital data storage and remain relevant in various industries despite advancements in technology. Update: we will now start including professional CD players to this listing.

Released in 1991
The Akai DD-1000 Magneto Optical Audio Recorder is a significant development in audio technology, known for its innovative digital recording and editing capabilities. Combining advanced technology with professional functionality, it has established itself as a key piece of studio equipment history.
Released in 1993
The EMT 982 CD Player is a professional-grade device designed for high performance and reliability. It offers front-loading, built-in loudspeaker and headphone outputs, separate controls for track and cue settings, auto cue functionality, varispeed with digital display, and memory for up to 100 CD cue settings. Its compact 2U design and advanced features make it ideal for professional use.
Released in 1996
The Studer D424 is a Magneto-Optical, 2 channel digital recorder with amazingly easy editing functions, suitable for all broadcasting, recording studio and theatre applications.
Released in 1996
Studer dedicated over twelve years to CD research and development and the Studer D741 CD Recorder, enhances and finalises their range alongside existing models like the D730, D731, D731 QC, and D732 CD Players. CD technology held a firm footing in broadcast and studio domains, with none rivalling its widespread use across both consumer and professional spheres.
Released in 1997
The Otari PD-20 is a high-quality, versatile 2-channel recorder and editor with extensive synchronisation, editing, and playback features, designed to replace traditional tape-based recorders in modern studios and broadcast environments.
Released in 1998
You’ve wanted professional CD recording for ages, you’ve needed it for even longer. But the ability to professionally master audio compact discs has until now been somewhat of a luxury, with only the very top studios and recording professionals having the kind of investment to purchase a CD mastering machine.
Released in 1999
By the late 1990s, there was a noticeable trend towards seeking superior sound quality in professional digital audio processing, resulting in a shift from using 16-bit systems to those with 20-bit resolution. Sony was at the forefront of this shift, having already introduced a CD Mastering system. Sony in 1999 unveiled the Sony PCM-9000 Digital Master Disc Recorder, which employs an MO (Magneto-Optical) disc as its recording medium.
Released in 1999
The Fostex CR300 is a highly engineered rack-mountable machine which offers state-of-the-art digital and analogue audio recording to both professional and consumer CD-R and CD-RW media via easy-to-use front panel controls.
Released in 2000
It’s simple. It’s fast. And it’s fully professional. It’s the Yamaha CDR1000 Professional Audio CD Recorder, a fully professional CD recorder that’s fully compatible with CD-R and CD-RW. Finally, the convenience of tape-based recording formats has come to the CD.
Released in 2000
The Alesis Masterlink ML-9600 High-Resolution Master Disk Recorder is a two-track hard disc recorder – literally, the state-of-the-art in do-it-yourself mixing and mastering systems.
Released in 2001
The Tascam CD-RW700 was Tascam’s budget-minded CD recorder, but features came first when the product was designed. Like most products in this price range, the Tascam CD-RW700 offered unbalanced I/O, and S/PDIF digital I/O in coax and optical format.
Released in 2001
The Tascam CD-RW2000 at the time of its release was the most advanced stand-alone CD recorder available. Building on the success of Tascam’s CD-RW700 and CD-RW5000, the CD-RW2000 came with a host of professional features, including comprehensive audio I/O, word sync input, call function for checking play cues, digital gain adjustment and digital fade in and fade out.
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