Section 4. Advanced Features and PlexTools Professional
40
PX-716UF Installation and Users Manual
Using VariRec
This drive is equipped with VariRec (Variable Recording) technology, a
unique feature offered by Plextor that allows you to manually adjust the
drive's laser power during the recording process. VariRec operates both
for DVD and CD recording.
NOTE
: In order for you to actually perform the adjustment, VariRec must
be supported by the recording software you’re using. PlexTools
Professional is one recording application that supports VariRec.
Being able to adjust the laser power during the recording process can
have some definite advantages. For instance, depending on the
capabilities of your specific audio equipment, you may be able to
change the sound quality of your recordings to suit the equipment. Or
you may be able to correct compatibility problems that occur when
playing discs on certain audio players or older CD-ROM drives.
How the Default VariRec Setting Is Determined
In most cases you don’t have to worry about setting VariRec. The
setting is 0 (zero) by default, and this usually works best. This default
setting is determined by a combination of steps:
1. First, we test many types of recordable DVD±R and CD-R media in
our factory to determine the best write strategy (laser power and
other factors) for that media.
2. We include a catalog of the tested media and their write strategy in
your drive’s firmware. (This catalog is updated when you update
your drive by downloading new firmware from the Plextor web site.)
3. When you insert a recordable disc into your drive, Plextor’s
PoweRec technology automatically identifies the manufacturer,
model, and special features of the media, then adjusts the laser power
and writing speed so they’re at the optimum settings for that disc.
4. The drive uses OPC (Optimum Power Control) to further fine-tune
the laser power setting to the specific disc that is in your drive.
