CD Studio

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a disc be read by CD Studio's CD recorder?

Since the CD recorder is attached to a separate SCSI chain within the CD Studio, it is not possible to access a disc in the CD recorder from your host. The only communication possible between the CD Studio and the CD recorder takes place when your premastered image is being recorded onto the CD in the CD recorder. This operation is called by the MakeDisc software, and is controlled by CD Studio.

Can CD Studio be used to duplicate CDs?

Place the source CD into an external CD reader. Use dd, defining the input file to be the raw CD reader device name, and the output file to be CD Studio's tape device name. This transfers all of the information on the source CD to CD Studio. You may then use the mt fsf command for your platform and OS to record onto a blank CD. An example of the command to this is:

dd if=/dev/raw_cdrom_input_device of=/dev/studio_output_device bs=32k

Some open source discs may indicate an I/O error under certain UNIX implementations or verions. The I/O error is normal, and simply indicates that the last of the information from the source CD has been read. You should compare the numbers reported for records in and records out; if they are the same, or they are within one record of each other, there is nothing to worry about. Some versions of the UNIX OS will not report an error.

Does CD Studio need special drivers?

CD Studio uses native drivers that are included with your OS. UNIX operating systems include native support for tape drives, and CD Studio will usually emulate an ATT type, auto-rewind style, high density 8200 Exabyte tape device. Certain operating systems such as HP-UX do not include for this type drive; in those instances, CD Studio is modified to emulate a drive that is supported under the OS.

Can I preview the premastered image once it has been sent to the CD Studio?

CD Studio includes a "mountback" feature that allows you to preview the disc image prior to recording. Some UNIX platforms and OSs support this mountback feature. If reference to your platform and OS are not listed in the manual, call YMI Technical Support at (909) 426-4860 for more details.

Mountback is also supported under Windows NT. If your UNIX OS supports multiple LUNs, chances are you will be able to take advantage of mountback. CD Studio+ does not currently support mountback.

After premastering and cutting a new image, the CD-ROM contained the data from the previous job. Why did this happen?

Your host system may not have sent the rewind command to the Studio properly. If your OS supports the mt tape erase command, you can try erasing the image, rewind, then premaster again. If you cannot use the erase command, try sending the mt rewind command once or twice, then premaster and cut again.

Another possibility is that the tape device that you are using is not an auto-rewind style tape device. If not, then send the mt tape rewind command to the Studio controller before and after any CD Studio operation.

You may also want to veryify that your data set is REALLY what you think it should be. Go to the path specified as your MakeDisc Base Directory and double check.

Finally, if all of the above does not help, put the Studio controller into purge mode and premaster again.

How do I place the Studio controller in purge mode?

Locate the 8-position DIP switch block at the back of the unit. Check that switch 7 on, then power-cycle the Studio. You should hear the one beep, and the hard drive LED indicator should flash. This completes the purge procedure. You can leave switch 7 on for normal operation.

What does purging do?

Purging resets the firmware, clear the data pointers on the hard drive, and writes a test pattern to each and every block on the hard drive. The teste pattern overwrites any premastered image that was present on the hard drive. After purging, the Studio controller is ready for a disc image and the test pattern will be overwritten.

Why didn't the hard drive LED come on during purging?

Firmware prior to 0.97a does not support purging. (Firmware level is listed on the back panel of CD Studio.)

Why is the hard drive LED constantly lit during normal operation?

Check the cabling, termination, and SCSI IDs of all equipment on your SCSI chain. Verify that cables are connected and seated properly. If the light stays on, try disconnecting all external devices from your host except CD Studio. Also disconnect any peripherals attached to the Studio's "WRITER" port. Power-cycle the Studio. If the light stays on, disconnect CD Studio from your host completely and power-cycle it again. If the light is still on, call YMI Technical Support at (909) 426-4860.

If the light goes off at some point in the above procedure, start reconnecting the other devices one at a time. It's possible that one of your other pieces of equipment attached to CD Studio, or the cable used to attach it is damaged.

Why did CD Studio generate an error message saying that I cannot write the buffer to the output device?

You may be using the wrong device name for CD Studio. Check your tape device nodes and ensure that you are giving MakeDisc the correct tape device.

Host system glitches can also cause this. The best way to recover is to halt your host; bring down all external CD Studio peripherals such as disc transporters/autoloaders, printers, and CD recorders; power-cycle the CD Studio; wait 45 seconds after hearing the Studio beep; restart the Studio peripherals; reboot your host; bring up MakeDisc and try premastering your image again.

What does the following message mean during premastering: "Finished with media 1; insert new media and press return?"

Check to make sure that you have set the Output Device/File Size at 650 Mbytes, the maximum amount of data able to be recorded on a standard 74-minute piece of media. If you were to set this number to 400 Mbytes, for example, and your image size was actually 450 Mbytes, you would see the above error message.

If you have set your Output Device/ File Size to 650 Mbytes, and you see the error message, you are probably trying to premaster an image that is too large to fit onto a single CD. You should check the size of your data set, modify it by making it smaller, and try premastering again.