Plextor ships ML recorder!

August 20, 2001

CDRinfo reports that Plextor will present at December or early next year a ML (Multi-Level) recorder. The ML format should be a bridge to the era of recordable DVD and a ML disc can contain about 2 GB of data.

The recorder is able to write these discs at 36 speed, but is also able to write CD-R discs at 12 speed.

What is ML:

TDK describes ML format as "...not a replacement for recordable DVD drives. The ML format is a bridge to the era of recordable DVD. For the next several years, however, there will be a tremendous demand in the market for a format that extends and enhances CD storage, speed and value. MultiLevel Recording technology can be transferred to the DVD platform, where it will offer similar gains in recording capacity and write speed.

Plextor PX-ML3630 product *possible* features:

12x writing, 10x re-writing and 32x reading (CD format)

36x writing, 30x re-writing and 32X reading (ML format)

ATAPI/FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface(s)

4MB buffer

Supports BURN-Proof

Supports 12cm (2GB), 8cm (650Mb) and 6cm(?) (200mb) ML-R/RW media

Supported reading formats: CD, CD-R, CDR-W, ML-ROM, ML-R, ML-RW, DVDROM(???), DVD movies(???)

Supported writing formats: CD-R, CD-RW, ML-R, ML-RW

Transfer rate 27 Mbits/sec (using 8x spindle rate base)

Laser Diode: 780 nm

Objective Lens: 0.50 NA

Min length Mark: 600 nm

Data bit Length: 0.24 um

Track Pitch: 1.6 um

Well this is another technology, we already have Sony's double density format. This format is backed by 2 big players on the market, Plextor and Yahama, but I'm very curious if there's anyone waiting for this, it probably depends on the price...

Source: CDRinfo