MicroBoards Technology CD Disc-to-Disc Office Copier II Reference Manual
Orbit II Stand Alone
CD Disc-to-Disc Office Copier
Reference Manual
Revision I
Orbit II Disc-to-Disc Copier Reference Manual – Revision I
Orbit II Stand Alone 48X CD-to-CD Office Copier with Burn Proof
Table of Contents
Section 1 Introduction: 3
Section 2 Setting Up your CD-R Copying Area: 4
Section 3 CD-R & CD-RW Media Recommendations: 5
Section 4 CD, CD-R, and CD-RW Master Considerations: 7
Section 5 Installation & Setup: 9
5.1 Inspecting the shipment for Damage 9
5.2 Unpacking the Orbit II and verifying shipment contents 9
5.3 Installing the Orbit II: 10
5.4 Initial Orbit II Copying System Checks: 13
5.5 Navigating the Orbit II Menu Tree: 13
5.6 Loading & Unloading CD-Rs: 17
5.7 CD-R Handling Tests: 22
5.8 Writer and Reader Test: 23
6.0 Basic Orbit II Operations : 25
6.1 Copy CD-to-CD?: 25
6.2 Copy and Compare?: 26
6.3 Compare CD?: 27
6.4 Copy CD+G 27
7.0 Advanced Orbit II Operation: 28
Section 8 Maintenance 29
8.1 Routine Maintenance: 29
Section 9 Troubleshooting: 30
Section 10 Prior to Calling for Assistance 31
Section 11 References 32
11.1 Warranty 32
11.2 Technical Support Telephone #: 32
11.3 Regulatory Agency Approvals: 32
11.4 Specifications: 33
Attachment A Orbit II Menu Tree Error! Bookmark not defined.
Attachment C Orbit II Error Messages 37
Attachment D What is BurnProof? 38
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Section 1 Introduction:
Thank you for purchasing this Microboards Technology Orbit II Stand Alone CD-to-CD Office Copier. Your
new Orbit II System provides state of the art 48x duplication speed for both CD-Audio and CD-ROM discs.
Orbit II also incorporates “Burn Proof” technology to prevent wasting CD-R media due to buffer under runs.
We are confident you will be impressed with how easy it is to Setup and operate this unit. Your complete
satisfaction is our primary goal, so please contact our Technical Services Group if you have any questions,
comments, or suggestions.
The Microboards Technology Orbit II is a stand-alone CD-to-CD Office Copier designed to feed up to 50
CD-Rs or CD-RWs into its CD-R/CD-RW Writer. With your Orbit II you can record all common CD-Audio or
CD-ROM formats, and accumulate accepted or rejected discs without operator attention. (See section 11.4
Specifications for a list of CD formats supported by your new Orbit II.) The Orbit II is designed for ease of
use in an office copier environment. The Orbit II is so easy to use its basic operating instructions are
contained on a single page. Your system includes a colorful laminated copy of the basic operating
instructions that you can hang on a wall near the unit.
The Orbit II Stand Alone CD-to-CD Office Copier is the ideal solution for users who require unattended
copying of all common CD formats. Because it is a stand-alone system, Orbit II does not require the
support of a personal computer. Orbit II CD-to-CD Copier users do not need computer skills. If you can
use a paper document copier, you can use an Orbit II.
All Microboards Technology CD-R Systems share disc singulation components; and use industrial grade
CD-R/CD-RW Writers and Readers, control keypads, and LCD displays. Because it is based upon
Microboards Technology Professional Series Systems, your Orbit II will provide years of trouble-free
service, even if you use it continuously.
Your Orbit II can use CD, CD-R, or CD-RW discs as masters. It can copy your masters on to blank CD-R
or CD-RW discs. If you use CD-RW discs they must be blank. Orbit II cannot erase, or over-write, CD-RW
media. Pre-written CD-RW discs will be placed on the Reject side.
We at Microboards Technology strongly discourage the illegal copying of content in violation of
copyright laws. Our equipment will not defeat copy protection. Make sure the copies you produce
conform to copyright regulations, and function properly in target systems, before you distribute
them.
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Section 2 Setting Up your CD-R Copying Area:
A clean and orderly work place is required to consistently produce high quality copies. We suggest you
locate your Orbit II Stand Alone CD-to-CD Office Copier in an office like environment free of dust and
debris. Any contamination that gets on the CDs, CD-Rs, or CD-RWs you use as masters or blanks can
cause rejects that will reduce your yield and increase your cost. Even worse than yield loss is the
possibility that a CD-R you duplicate will not work in your customer’s CD Drive. Dust and debris will also
increase Orbit II system maintenance, and possibly shorten the service life of your Orbit II CD-to-CD Office
Copier
After you have selected a clean working environment for your Orbit II, you should allow enough tabletop
space around the unit to properly organize the flow of masters, blank media, duplicated discs, and process
rejects. In the example photograph below, workflow is from right to left. Blank discs waiting for copying are
on the right of the Orbit II, along with a clearly labeled container for rejects. Completed copy jobs and
masters are to the left of the Orbit II. Remember; it is sometimes difficult to tell if an unlabeled CD-R has
been duplicated. It is virtually impossible to identify the content of a duplicated CD-R until it is labeled or
printed. An organized workspace is the key to controlling the quality and consistency of your CD-R copy
process.
Temperature in your CD-R copy area should be between 65 and 85 degrees F. (18 – 29 degrees C.)
Humidity should be maintained between 30 and 80 % RH, if possible. CD-R copying can be performed
outside these recommended limits, but operator comfort and process yield may be affected.
In our sample CD-R copying Setup above we are keeping each completed copying job on a separate
spindle, with the master disc on top of the stack. This keeps the master available for quality control
“compare” tests. The master also clearly identifies the contents of each stack.
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Section 3 CD-R & CD-RW Media Recommendations:
By selecting a Microboards Technology Orbit II CD-to-CD Office Copier, you have purchased the finest
CD-R Copying hardware and operating system available. The second most important choice you will make
is selecting the media to use in your copying process. This section provides a brief overview of media and
presents our recommendations for media selection.
When CD Recordable technology was introduced there were only two dye formulations, cyanine and
pthalocyanine, and all CD-Rs had gold reflecting layers. Your basic media color choices were “green” or
“gold”. Most of the discs sold were “branded”, which means they carried the name of their manufacturer or
distributor. These early CD-Rs were expensive, and there were durability and interchange concerns.
Today there is a third dye formulation called AZO, reflecting layers may be either gold or silver (sometimes
called “platinum”), shades of blue have been added to the spectrum of colors, and “bulk” packaging has
joined branded product on dealers shelves. The term “bulk packaging” refers to CD-Rs that are sold on a
shrink-wrapped spindle rather than in individual packages. Bulk packaged CD-Rs do not usually carry their
manufacturer’s name. Unidentified bulk packaged CD-Rs are usually cheaper than branded products. The
most expensive media is individually packed in jewel cases and labeled with the manufacturers name.
Recently, CD-RW (re-writeable) media has joined the CD product family. Re-writeable discs use a different
recording technology than write once CD-Rs. Because of this they are more expensive, record at lower
speeds, and may not function properly in older CD-Audio or CD-ROM Drives. Many CD-RW discs are
written in a format called “packet writing” which the Orbit II does not support. You may use CD-RW discs
that are not packet written as masters for your Orbit II Copying System, but make sure you understand
their limitations before you duplicate blank CD-RW discs. (Special note, Orbit II will detect CD-RW media
and automatically select the proper writing speed.)
The growth of CD-R and CD-RW usage has lured new vendors into the marketplace. Some of these
newer manufacturers may not have the manufacturing experience, or quality control procedures, required
to assure consistent recording and playback performance. The CD-R media recommendations that follow
will help you select CD-Rs that will maintain a consistent copying process and minimize your production
costs.
If your new Orbit II is your first CD-to-CD Office Copier, obtain a quantity of branded discs from a
manufacturer you know or is recommended to you. At this point, do not worry about the cost of the CD-Rs.
You will be using them to establish a performance reference for your copying process. We suggest you
obtain at least 50 of these branded CD-Rs. If you have previous CD-R copying experience select 50 CD-Rs
from a manufacturer you have had good results with in the past. If you need assistance in selecting a
reliable media source, contact the Microboards Technology Support Department.
Use this group of CD-Rs as you follow the sections of this manual that cover setting up and using your new
Orbit II Copying System. The sequence we provide will show you how to qualify the mechanical
performance, recording performance, and playback performance of this sample group. After samples from
this initial group of CD-Rs have completed the qualification procedure, you should set the remaining discs
aside as a media reference. If you encounter copying problems you can use a CD-R from your reference
group to determine if you have a media or an equipment problem. A known good reference CD-R will be
your basic troubleshooting tool.
Our recommended media qualification procedure includes copying, comparing, and testing on target
systems. After you have established your reference media you may continue to use that manufacturer’s
product, or you may qualify other sources using the same procedure.
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Section 3 — CD-R Media Recommendations: (cont.)
Although you cannot select CD-R media based upon color alone, there is a correlation between
“reflectivity” and media performance. The CD or CD-R drives that read the CD-Rs you duplicate project a
laser beam through the thickness of the plastic disc. The laser beam is reflected by the metallic coating on
the back of the CD-R and returns through the thickness of the plastic to the drive’s optical detector. For
CDs, the minimum reflectivity specification is 70%. CD-Rs are permitted to have slightly less reflectivity.
Their minimum specification is 65%. Hold a commercial CD up to a light. Place your fingers a few inches
behind the CD. You will typically not be able to see the shadow of your fingers looking through a CD. For
CD-Rs to work in a large number of CD or CD-R drives they should have similar reflectivity and opacity.
Reflectivity and opacity become increasingly important as read drive speeds increase. A modern 48x read
drive requires more reflectivity than an 8X read drive. It is best to avoid CD-Rs that are less reflective
and/or opaque than the CD-Rs you are using as your reference sample.
CD-RW media has about ½ of the signal strength of CD-R media, even though they may appear to be
highly reflective. The lower signal strength of CD-RW media is one of the reasons they may not work in
older CD-Audio, CD-ROM, or CD-R Drives. Recognizing the need for CD-RW compatibility, Compact Disc
media and drive manufacturers met and established a specification that is intended to assure CD-RW
interchange capability. Products compliant with this new specification carry a “MultiRead” qualified label on
their faceplate, or in their product manual. CD-RW media should only be used in CD-Audio, CD-ROM, CDR, or DVD Drives that have MultiRead certification.
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Section 4 CD, CD-R, and CD-RW Master Considerations:
A “master” is the CD, CD-R, or CD-RW disc you are making a duplicate of. There are ethical as well as
functional considerations in the selection and use of masters. We at Microboards Technology discourage
the unauthorized copying of proprietary material. Our copying systems will not defeat copy protection
schemes. If you try to duplicate copy protected material, the Orbit II may either not read the master in, or
may read the master in but produce copies that are not readable in a “target” system. (A target system is
the unit the CD or CD-R was intended for i.e. PC’s with Windows 98, Power PCs or G3s/G4s with OS-9,
etc.) If you have problems duplicating a CD or CD-R, one of the possibilities is the presence of copy
protection. Try duplicating a master that does not have copy protection before assuming there is
something wrong with your Orbit II Copy System.
There are a large number of formats included in the various “color books” that define CD technology. The
simplest and most common forms are CD-Audio discs, that contain only music, and CD-ROM discs which
contain only computer data. There are CD formats for specific games, Karaoke, video, graphics, and
photographs. It is also possible to combine different formats on one CD or CD-R. Examples include CDAudio albums with computer video, and CD-ROMs with audio and video tracks. Section 11.4 Reference
Information – Specifications lists the formats supported by the Orbit II Stand Alone CD-to-CD Office Copier.
You may be generating your own masters, or providing a copy service using masters supplied by your
customers. In either case you should be aware of the possibility that a master does not conform to all of
the requirements of the appropriate format specification. There are many pre-mastering software
packages that allow users to assemble their own CD-Rs. Most CD-R Writers sold as computer peripherals
include some form of pre-mastering software. The most common problem we have seen is creating a
master using the “back up” utility that comes with most CD-R Writers, instead of the “pre-mastering” utility.
Back Ups are intended for one purpose only, to be restored by the same utility that created it. Back up
utilities, and many file copy utilities, write small quantities of information called “packets” to the CD-R. This
makes the CD-R act like a floppy diskette or hard disk drive. Packet written discs are not suitable for
use as masters on your Orbit II CD-to-CD Office Copier. Your Orbit II will only duplicate masters that
conform to all of the appropriate Color Book format requirements. Properly written CD-RW discs may be
used as masters in Orbit II’s Reader or blanks in Orbit II’s Writer.
If you have problems reading in a master, the first thing you should do is read in a known good master. If
your known good reference master reads in, the new master may have copy protection or format problems
that the Orbit II will not tolerate. Try to redo, or ask your customer to redo, the master. Make sure all of the
pre-mastering software instructions are understood and followed. If this does not solve your problem
contact Microboards Technology Technical Services for assistance. We have equipment that can analyze
any CD format and identify deviations from appropriate Color Book specification. Please note that there
may be a charge for our CD analysis services.
Conscientious CD-to-CD Office Copier users implement a quality assurance program that typically includes
the following steps. They follow this procedure before duplicating a large lot from a master they have not
used previously.
1. Perform a virus scan on the master disc. (The Orbit II CD-to-CD Copier is virtually immune to
viruses, but it could pass a virus through to the duplicates.)
2. Test the master disc on a target system:
• Listen to an Audio Disc
• Watch a Video CD
• Test a CD-ROM on an appropriate PC
• Verify the master disc’s content and version number
3. Make one duplicate of the master on the Orbit II
4. Using the Orbit II, compare the duplicate to the master disc.
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5. Test the duplicate on a target system:
• Listen to an Audio Disc
• Watch a Video CD
• Test a CD-ROM on an appropriate PC
• Verify the master disc’s content and version number
Steps 4. and 5. should be repeated, on a sample basis, during the production of each large lot of
duplicates.
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Section 5 Installation & Setup:
The installation and Setup of a Microboards Technology Orbit II Stand Alone Copying System is so simple
you may be tempted to proceed without referring to this manual. Unless you already use a Microboards
Technology Copying System we suggest that you take the few extra moments required to follow our
recommended unpacking, installation, and Setup procedure. During Orbit II CD-to-CD Copy System Setup
you will learn how to use our menu driven operating system. You will use the control keypad to configure
your Orbit II for basic copying and to determine if the unit has sustained any internal damage during
shipment.
5.1 Inspecting the shipment for Damage
Your Orbit II CD-to-CD Office Copier is supplied in one shipping carton. If the outer carton shows signs of
shipping damage, notify the shipping company immediately. They are responsible for the condition of the
shipment. Contact Microboards Technology Technical Services Group prior to unpacking any equipment
that is received in damaged shipping cartons.
If the shipping cartons do not show any signs of damage, unpack the Orbit II.
5.2 Unpacking the Orbit II and verifying shipment contents
The Orbit II shipping carton should contain the following items:
• Orbit II CD-to-CD Office Copier
• Orbit II external Power Supply
• An AC Power Cord
• Microboards Technology warranty registration card and extended warranty information
If any of these items are damaged or missing contact the Microboards Technology Technical Services
Group.
Save all of the Orbit II packaging material. You will need the packing material if you ever move your
Orbit II, or have to send it in for servicing. Returning an Orbit II for servicing without its original
shipping container will void your warranty!
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5.3 Installing the Orbit II:
Prepare a properly sized workspace. Make sure you have cleared the area where your Orbit II CD-R /
CD-RW copy system will be located. We recommend a desktop height surface, in an office-like
environment, at least 36 inches wide and 18 inches deep. This will allow space on each side of the
unit for blank media, masters, rejects, and processed discs. There should be at least 24 inches of
clearance above the work surface.
24 inches
36 inches
15 inches
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5.3 Installing the Orbit II - cont:
Place the Orbit II CD-to-CD Office Copier on the work space with its back panel accessible to you:
Make sure the switch on the external Power Supply is OFF
Insert the DC output connector of the external Power Supply in the rear panel DC receptacle
Connect the external Power Supply to an AC Receptacle, but do not turn it on yet.
Rotate the assembled Orbit II Copy System so its control panel is facing you, and position the Power
Supply as shown in the photograph below.
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Orbit II Disc-to-Disc Copier Reference Manual – Revision I
5.3 Installing the Orbit II - cont:
Slide out the Accept basket until it snaps into place.
Your Orbit II Copy System is now assembled and ready for its initial system checks.
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