Where can I find information about disk burning?
The CD-Recordable FAQ (www.cdrfaq) is an excellent resource full of information about CD-Rs and CD-RWs. For DVD burning, a DVD-FAQ can be found at http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html.
What do the letters, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW mean?
CD-R stands for compact disk recordable. CD-R disks can best be thought of as “write once” disks. You can copy or burn to them once and cannot add any more data later.
CD-RW stands for compact disk re-writable. Because CD-RWs are re-writable, you can copy some files to a disk today; add more files tomorrow; erase some of the files the day after tomorrow and write over existing files.
DVD stands for stand digital video disk
DVD-R stands for digital video recordable disk. Like the CD-R, a DVD-R is considered a “write once” disk.
DVD-RW is a rewritable DVD and works much like a CD-RW disk.
Based on the above discussion, CD-RW or DVD-RW disks are the best choice, right?
If you are using a CD or DVD to back up data, a CD-R or DVD-R may be a better choice because the data is more permanent. Also, if you are creating music CDs or DVD movie disks that will be used on a CD or DVD player, the RW variety disks may not work on these players. Lastly, if you are creating disks to give to someone else, remember that not everyone has a CD or DVD burner in their computer. The R disks have the widest compatibility.
What is the difference between CD and DVD disks?
DVD disks can hold many times the data that a CD can. CDs can hold around 650 megabytes (MB). DVDs can hold 4.7 gigabytes (GB) or about 4,700 MB. Put another way, DVD disks can hold about two hours of video. New technologies are pushing the capacities of DVD disks even further. Dual layer DVDs can hold roughly twice the data of a conventional single layer disk. Blu-ray disks, which are now being pushed by a number of manufacturers, can hold 27 GB in the single layer format and 50 GB in dual layer. A competing disk type, HD DVD, can hold around 15 GB. These newer standard DVD disks can only be used in drives designed to handle them.
What do I need to burn a CD or DVD?
First, you need drive that can do the burning. A CD-ROM drive will not do the job. A CD-RW drive will burn and read CDs but not DVDs. What gets confusing is many computers come with a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. These drives can burn CDs but can only read DVDs. A DVD-RW drive can burn or read both CDs and DVDs. To create dual layer, Blu-ray or HD DVDs, a drive designed to specifically to handle these disks is required.
In addition to the drive, you may need disk burning software to actually burn the disks. Windows XP knows how to burn CDs without any special software. Older versions of Windows require disk burning (or authoring) software in order to burn CDs or DVDs.
Common examples of disk burning software include Nero, Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator, and Sonic RecordNow! Like the drives, some disk burning software can only burn CDs. Other software programs can burn both CDs and DVDs.
Because Windows XP knows nothing about burning DVDs, DVD burning software is required to burn DVDs.
While Windows XP is able to burn CDs on its own, many people find commercial disk burning software easier to use. These software packages often have features not available in Windows. In addition to simply copying data to disks, commercial disk burning software also has the ability to do specialized things like create music CDs and DVD movie disks. Because of these features, many name brand computers come with disk burning software already installed.
The commercial software programs may include a utility that does packet writing. Nero calls its packet writing utility InCD. Roxio calls theirs DirectCD. Packet writing allows writing (i.e. saving or burning) data to a CD-RW or DVD-RW disk numerous times.
One thing that gets many people into trouble is they may attempt to install, for example, both Nero and Roxio on their computers. They might do this because they like features in both programs but neither has all the features they want. Having two different packet writing programs on the same computer usually does not work. The two programs will fight with each other over who gets to control the disk writing process.
What is the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R disks?
Up until about 2003, the pluses and minuses (true geeks call it a dash) made a big difference. Drives that could burn DVD-R disks could not handle DVD+R disks and vice versa. Any computer or DVD burner made after 2003 should be able to handle either type of disk. From a performance standpoint, the two disk types are considered comparable. An important point to remember is some applications require one type of DVD disk or the other. Because of this, it is good idea to check your application’s documentation to make sure what kind of disk you should be using.
Are some brands of disks better than others?
The answer to this depends on the kind of drive you have. Some drives are not picky at all and will be able to burn successfully no matter what brand of disk you use. Other drives are very particular and will only work well with certain brands. For some reason, these kinds of drives do not like Memorex brand disks. Also, so-called house or store brand disks have been known to create problems for people using them. Thus, if you have a drive that appears to be picky, it would be best to stick with a good name brand other than Memorex.
Does the color of the disks make any difference?
Some people believe certain color disks do work better than others. A review of various sources suggests there is no evidence to support this theory. That said, if you are having problems burning disks successfully, switching to a different color of disk might be worth considering.
What is the best way to label optical disks?
The simplest and cheapest way to label disks is with a soft or felt tip marker. Ballpoint pens are frowned upon because they can damage the disks. For a more professional look circular labels are available that can be printed on an inkjet printer. There are specialized printers that, when using printable disks, can print directly onto the disk. Hewlett Packard is pushing a new technology, called LightScribe, in which labels can be etched directly onto the disk in the same drive in which the disk was burned.
What about the speed markings on disks and drives?
There are two different speed markings to discuss here. The speed marking on the drive is the fastest speed at which the drive can successfully burn. The speed marking on a disk package is the fastest speed at which that particular disk can be burned.
The speed rating on a drive is the maximum speed at which the drive can burn. Most modern drives can adjust their burning speed to meet the ability of the computer to successfully burn a disk. This is why you might see your disk being burned at a speed less than what is stamped on the drive.
Further complicating the issue is the fact speed markings on CD burners are not the same as speed markings on DVD burners. For example, a DVD burner can be rated to burn DVDs at 8x. The same drive might be rated to burn CDs at 48x. The main thing to remember is the higher the drive’s speed rating, the less time you’ll spend waiting for that drive to burn a disk.
As for the speed rating on a disk, you should look for disks that are rated to be burned at a speed equal to or higher than the speed rating on the drive you have. In other words, it would not be a good idea to try to burn a disk rated at 24x in a drive designed to burn at 48x. If you do, you’ll most likely end up creating a decorative coaster!
When optical disks first came on the scene, many were under the impression that as long as you avoided physically damaging the disks, they would last virtually forever. The horrible truth came out several years later when people discovered their disks, many only a couple of years old, were no longer usable. The truth is disks can and do deteriorate over time. Just how much time you’ll have depends on a variety of factors. Some have suggested silver colored disks have shorter useful lives because the aluminum coatings they use are subject to corrosion. There is some evidence living near salt water (i.e. southwest Florida) can contribute to a disk’s early demise. Common sense measures like handling disks carefully and storing them in their sleeves or jewel cases are good ideas that can help your disks last longer.
One last point: the R disks have been shown to have considerably longer lives than their RW cousins. For this reason, if you are using disks as data backups or simply to store data you cannot afford to loose, the R disks are a better choice.
What is the best way to clean a disk?
The shortest answer to this is, if a disk plays without any problems, it is best not to try cleaning it. If the disk cannot be read successfully, try removing fingerprints and smudges using a soft, dry cloth. It is best to rub the disk from the center outward toward the outer edge. If a disk is badly scratched, some have had success using car wax or toothpaste to remove the scratches. If, when you hold a disk up to a light, you can see scratches through the disk label, chances are the disk cannot be saved and should be discarded.
How do I copy records to CD's?
Copying records to your PC does come up often. Here is my condensed version of
how to make good digital recordings from your records. (I still have a box full
of 1/2 speed master and direct to disk vinyl albums in the closet) I put some of
the albums on eBay last year and a few sold for as much as $80.00 each!
If you have a record player AND it is attached to an receiver you can take a
line level output from the receiver and go directly into the audio input of your
PC. You will probably need an adapter cable with the red and white RCA jacks on
one end and stereo mini plug on the other for your PC.
If you don't have a receiver and want to go directly from the Turntable to the
PC you will need a phono pre-amp to PC ($30.00 to $50.00(www.phonopreamps.com)
Records are recorded with a RIAA curve and will sound very tinny if you don't
use a pre-amp.
Next you'll want some software convert the audio input from the albums into
mp3 or wma files and help break the album sides into individual song tracks.
It also can help remove pops and hisses. Magix, Microsoft's Plus Analog
Recorder, Pinnacle Systems, vinylstudio, and some shareware/freeware programs
will help you.
If you don't have a turntable, there are even some new USB turntables and ones
with built in pre-amps that plug directly into your PC $100.00 and up.
You'll want to experiment with the volume levels to make sure you keep the input
level from being too loud. Adjust the input source and/or the windows sound
settings.
You can then burn the music to CDs using Nero, Roxio or some of the other CD
burning programs.
Jim Roach