Prerecorded
DCC tapes were produced by Philips-related recording companies such as
PolyGram. A few hundred titles were initially available at the debut of
the DCC format in 1992. The music available was intended to suit all tastes,
with selections ranging from Chopin to Soundgarden. The sound quality
of these tapes is excellent. Blind tests conducted using these tapes showed
a clear preference of many listeners over other digital formats such as
the CD or Minidisc. Specs on these tapes include a S/N ratio equal or
greater than 92 dB, a dynamic range equal to or greater than 95 dB, THD
less than or equal to 0.003%, and channel separation equal to or greater
than 95 dB. The DCC format itself seems especially suited to bands like
U2 and Soundgarden. Prerecorded DCC tapes have track markers embedded
in the recording to seperate the tracks, and have the artist name, tape
name, and track names included in the tape, which are displayed on the
DCC900’s front panel while it is playing.
User
tapes are blank tapes that can be 45, 60, 75, 90, or 105 minutes in length.
They are purchased blank and are recorded by the user in the same way
analog blank tapes are. These user tapes are available from a variety
of manufacturers, including TDK, Fuji, JVC, BASF, and Philips. When recording
from an analog source, the DCC900’s D/A converter converts the analog
signal into digital form and saves the information as digital. Track markers
can be added to digital recordings made from analog sources from the DCC900’s
front panel. When recording from a digital source (either coaxial or optical),
track marks are added automatically, but this process can be overridden
by the user as needed. After all recording has been completed, all tracks
can be automatically renumbered using the "renumber" function
if some track markers became out of sequence during the recording process.
Super-user
tapes are similar to user tapes in that they come in lengths of 45, 60,
75, 90 or 105 minutes. These tapes also allow for the input of album title,
track title and artist information. These tapes were part of the “second
generation” DCC line and therefore cannot be edited with text information
on the DCC900. All DCC cassettes incorporate a sliding tab to prevent
accidental erasure of the tape, replacing the “break-off tab” system used
in analog tapes.
DCC tapes are not very easy to come by;
however they are still available from a few distributors. To see a list of
places where DCC tapes can be found, please go here.
Prerecorded
DCC tapes were produced by Philips-related recording companies such as
PolyGram. A few hundred titles were initially available at the debut of
the DCC format in 1992. The music available was intended to suit all tastes,
with selections ranging from Chopin to Soundgarden. The sound quality
of these tapes is excellent. Blind tests conducted using these tapes showed
a clear preference of many listeners over other digital formats such as
the CD or Minidisc. Specs on these tapes include a S/N ratio equal or
greater than 92 dB, a dynamic range equal to or greater than 95 dB, THD
less than or equal to 0.003%, and channel separation equal to or greater
than 95 dB. The DCC format itself seems especially suited to bands like
U2 and Soundgarden. Prerecorded DCC tapes have track markers embedded
in the recording to seperate the tracks, and have the artist name, tape
name, and track names included in the tape, which are displayed on the
DCC900’s front panel while it is playing.
User
tapes are blank tapes that can be 45, 60, 75, 90, or 105 minutes in length.
They are purchased blank and are recorded by the user in the same way
analog blank tapes are. These user tapes are available from a variety
of manufacturers, including TDK, Fuji, JVC, BASF, and Philips. When recording
from an analog source, the DCC900’s D/A converter converts the analog
signal into digital form and saves the information as digital. Track markers
can be added to digital recordings made from analog sources from the DCC900’s
front panel. When recording from a digital source (either coaxial or optical),
track marks are added automatically, but this process can be overridden
by the user as needed. After all recording has been completed, all tracks
can be automatically renumbered using the "renumber" function
if some track markers became out of sequence during the recording process.
Super-user
tapes are similar to user tapes in that they come in lengths of 45, 60,
75, 90 or 105 minutes. These tapes also allow for the input of album title,
track title and artist information. These tapes were part of the “second
generation” DCC line and therefore cannot be edited with text information
on the DCC900. All DCC cassettes incorporate a sliding tab to prevent
accidental erasure of the tape, replacing the “break-off tab” system used
in analog tapes.
