Hi, i have a Pioneer pdr-w839 disc to disc recorder, the formats it records onto is cd-r, cd-rw. The problem i have is it wont record onto pc cd-r or cd-rw blank discs, it just says 'pro...

Hi,
It sounds like you haven't followed the last step to the burning procedure. All you need to do once you've completed burning your disc is to Finalize the disc. Read below why you need to finalize as well as the steps to follow in order to finalize the disc.
Hope this helps ;)
How to Finalize Finalizing is writing the TOC (table of contents) on a disc so a CD player can recognize the number of tracks, the total time for each track, and their location on the disc. A recorded disc must be finalized to playback on a standard CD player. Once finalized a CD-R disc can be played on CD players that support CD-R playback. CD-RW discs can only be played on CD players that support CD-RW playback. Consult your CD player owner's manual to confirm supported formats. Finalizing is necessary to: • be able to play a recorded CD-R or CD-RW disc on a CD player • prevent further recording on a disc • avoid erasing tracks on a CD-RW disc • record text information onto a disc you record Notes: • A finalized CD-R disc can never be recorded onto again. • A finalized CD-RW disc can be unfinalized for more recording. • The CDR300 can play back unfinalized CD-R or CD-RW discs. • SYNC REC+FINAL mode automatically finalizes.
Here are the steps in order to Finalize your disk
1 Push Stop. The display shows the number of tracks and their total playing time. 2 Push FINALIZE. FINALIZE is displayed for about 3 seconds.

I'm pretty sure it's in the manual and it IS a requirement of ALL consumer CD audio recorders that blank media will have Music or Audio printed right on them. In theory part of their purchase price goes to some kind of pool for compensating the recording artist (as a group) for the (implicit) loss of revenue these recorders allow. Strangely, that was never a limitation imposed on CD burners or PC's so that horse has long ago left the barn.

That's just a MONITOR indication. It means you can SEE the audio from the selected input on the record level meters for adjustment or other reasons. It won't prevent you from recording. Set your levels then hit RECORD, let it set itself up and calibrate to the disc, start your source and hit Play or Pause to start recording to the disc.

Yes. Iif you get an audio CD recorder like a Pioneer PDR-509, HHB-30, for example, you can record from any number of sources onto a CD in as many sessions as you like until you finalize it.

Hi John
You should be able to record without the remote control; make sure you have a blank disc in place, then press the 'RECORD' button on the front; it should go into recording standby mode. When you want to start recording, press the button below the REC BALANCE buttons (the play/pause button, marked with a triangle and a II symbol) and this should get you going.
Try it and get back to me if not.
Hope it works!
Kev

http://www.service.pioneer-eur.com/peeservice/RegistrInstrMan.nsf/(CountDownloadinInstructionManuals3)?openagent&ID=168E74C4D7385310C1256DDE0037597C&Attachment=PRE1269_PDR-555RW.pdf

(This link was already posted in the answer to another question)

I experienced this problem a long time ago, i believe that it was because i tried to use a normal data cd-rw but the unit only reads audio discs. It has to be a cd-rw for audio only (will say cd-rw audio on the disc, whereas if it is a data disc it will simply say cd-rw.) Hope this helps..

I had the same problem and found that I was using the wrong type of CDs. If you look on the CD you have to use the CD that says Compact disc digital audio Recordable or Compact disc digital audio Rewrittable. After I used the Digital ones I could record on it. I then tried the CD on the PC and it worked. You can look on the top of the unit and see the information if you still have it. Hope this helps you.

hello poopig1, after further review, I meant to describe this: look for a pinhole in the area of the CD tray to insert a pin...similar to the same pinhole you see on a PC's cd player to eject the tray manually. If there is none, then try this: Open the cover and find the motor that, when turning, performs the tray ejection. Then, turn that motor by hand until the entire tray (or cartridge) is ejected. Then power up and observe the events.

look for a small pinhole and insert a pin while powered up to reset the device