Aug 1, 2001 12:00 PM, Robert Hanson

Primera Technology offers the Composer Optical Disk Duplicator, an affordable solution for short-run CD-R duplication tasks. The Composer is available with or without the optional Signature III color printer or the Inscripta^™ Thermal CD Printer. The Composer interfaces with a host PC (Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000 compatible) and is designed to duplicate (at speeds up to 12x) and print without an attendant. The unit ships with the PrimoCD software suite, which handles both duplication and printing duties. The test unit included the Signature III printer, and the entire package lists for $2,495.

Setting the unit up is a “no-brainer.” All one has to do is set the printer up on its stand, attach it to the back of the duplicator and remove a few pieces of Styrofoam from the underside of the robotic arm that secure it for shipping. Installing the software, attaching all of the necessary cables and dealing with SCSI conflicts can prove to be a bit of a headache. But once up and running, the unit performed pretty much without a glitch.

I found the most efficient way to use the Composer was to split up the tasks, first duplicating the CDs and then printing the labels. The unit will copy about seven CDs an hour and will continue copying as long as its blank CD-R bin is refilled. The printing process is much quicker (about a minute per disc) and, as with the duplication process, the printer will keep rolling unattended. Splitting up the process seemed to take a bit of the load off the CPU and get things going a little quicker.

Other available options include a DVD version and a print-only version. Some users might also opt to use another Windows-based graphics program. All in all, the Composer is a slick and very affordable product that would make a handsome addition to any midlevel or project studio.

Primera Technology; www.primeratechnology.com; 763/475-6676.

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