Primera Bravo Disc
Publisher
(Automated
Optical CD Duplication & Printing System)
- The Bravo Disk
Publisher is an automated CD burner & Disk printer, all in one. It is
the size of an Inkjet printer (MSRP $1995) Internet $1339.
- Bravo can
simultaneously copy, record and print most standard CD formats, including
Re-Writable CD’s, Video-CD’s. It uses white or silver printable-surface
disks, (no more messy stick on labels). Printable CD-R disks range in
price from .20 to .80 cents each, when purchased in quantities of 50 or
100. Compatible disk types include: CD-R, CD-RW, CD-Audio (CD-DA),
Video-CD, MP3 to CD-Audio, most other industry-standard CD formats)
- The Bravo has
a robotic disk transporter arm that picks up each disk from the input bin
and drops it into the recorder tray. After it records, the arm will move
the disk to the printing tray. Once it loads the recorded disk into the
printer tray, it will load the next disk in the record drive, and start
recording to the next disk. Simultaneous recording, and printing, this cuts the job time almost
in half. When it’s done printing, the robotic arm delivers the disk
to the output bin. The bins hold up to 25 disks. A one-disk job is as easy
as a 25-disk job.
- The Data
Recording Drive is rocket fast, a GCE-8520B (drive specs: 52X 24X 52X). It
can burn a 650Mb music CD in about 2 minutes.
- The Ink Jet printer
works simultaneously with the recorder once the first CD is done recording
it will start printing directly to the printable disk’s surface. Most
high-resolution print jobs will take less than two minutes. At its highest resolution (2400X1200
DPI) it takes about 3 minutes to print a full sized picture on the disk.
The SureThing CD Labeler software has artwork and text templates.
You can use clipart, or copy and paste picture files, and add text.
- I ran a 700Mb
CD-R job of ten disks; it averaged about 3.5 minutes per disk. The
software estimates the approximate time at the start of the job, pauses
for 5 seconds between disks to allow halt of the job, and plays a tune
when the job is complete. The publisher can also test each disk for
errors, as it records. If it finds a bad disk, it will kick the bad disk
out the front slide, and continue the job.
- The bravo can perform disk to disk exact
copy, or using the software, build files to be recorded. It has a DJ burn
mode, for music mix tracks including: MP3’s. It has Data file mode, and
Video (VCD) modes.
- Load the input
bins, with up to 25 disks, press go, and walk away. When you return, the
output bin is full of completed disks. The artwork and text is aligned the
same, for quick placement into jewel cases.
- Setup and
software installation was a snap using the Quick setup guide. Simply hook
up the USB (v1.0) cable for the printer/ robotics, FireWire cable for the
CD Burner, and 12 volt DC power cable.
- Put the
software CD in, and the software’s auto-run guides you through the
installation. I was burning and printing professional looking CD’s in less
than an hour.
- The bundled
Prassi Primo mastering, and Sure Thing Label graphics editor are loaded
with features, and very easy to use. Both Primo and SureThing have
“wizards” that suggest the steps. Advanced users can switch to full mode,
and create custom jobs from scratch. Color Ink cartridges cost about $35,
and last a long time since the CDs printable surface is small. After
publishing 40 disks the color ink level is at 70%, and Black Ink is at
98%.
·
The
Prassi Primo mastering software will walk you through the job steps using the startup wizard, the printer program is
integrated with the Prassi software. Jobs can be setup with or without printing
or recording. When launching the program it will default to the folders and
setups from the previous job. All jobs can be saved, recalled, modified, and
started with several clicks of a mouse.
- Bravo Works
with Windows based PC’s: Win2K or XP, it won’t work with Win95/98/Me.
There is also a Mac G-4 model available (Internet price $1775). Primera
has DVD model too. (MSRP $2495)
·
Bravo is
the perfect tool for any business that desires to record multiple CD media,
data, or catalog disks. It will pay for its self in no time with total cost of
under a dollar per disk. It’s Rated for continuous
duty, and comes with a one year warrantee.
·
I also recommend the Bravo for serious
artistic folks that want to create professional quality, custom designed: Music-CDs,
Video-CDs, Home Movies, VCD Slide shows, and most other optical disk media.
·
My wife,
who has average computer skills, was able to create a picture slide show with
musical accompaniment of a recent trip. She pasted a jpeg picture into the
SureThing printer program and put it all together using the Primo software,
burned six CD-R’s, and mailed them to relatives. We are considering purchase of
our “review”
Bravo, so we can publish family home movies, slide shows, and music mix disks.
·
Add on
options include: Mini CD and Business card CD adaptor $199, and 50 disk Kiosk. Check
back here soon to view additional info on the available options, and additional
review.
·
Check out
Primera’s web page for additional info, optional
accessories, and other Primera Products at
http://www.primeratechnology.com/
Review of the Bravo, by Alan Judd. Thanks to Ron Rosberg
the “gadget Guru” for the
opportunity to review this fine product. Listen to Ron Rosberg’s segment
of the Bravo on the O’Donnell
Computer show on KSFO AM 560.
The Windows
Media file Archive of Ron’s segment starts at 26 minutes. Right click on this
archive LINK,
and “save target as” to be able to fast forward to Ron’s bravo segment.
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