cd_disk
 

CD disk types

CD disk types

What is the difference between a CD-RW and a CD-R?
 

If you have a CD-RW then you can use both CD-R and CD-RW.  The rewriteable Disks (RW) can be used again.  The recordables (R) can be filled once and not written over.  There's a fair difference in price.  The principle is very much the same for floppies, zip disks and CDs.  You can rewrite on both the floppies and zip disks.  You can on the CD-RW disks if you reformat.  You cannot reformat on the R's and reuse them
 

CDR

The CDR is a write once, read many.  You can put data on, but cannot remove or reuse the disk.  You can add additional sessions if you have not reached the capacity of the disk.

CDRW

The CDRW is often used in a mode called packet writing.  This requires preformatting which takes 30-60 minutes, but then you can use it as you would a zip or floppy.  If you do not use this method, you can write (burn) just as you would a CDR, but you can later erase the contents and reuse the disk.  For more information about both, this is a very good help site:

http://www.cdrfaq.org/
 
 

Audio CDs

Music CD disks - Burning

The file on an audio disk is just a special format wav file.  Many of the burners will convert these to an appropriate standard for recording on a CD in audio format.  There are also some burners (Nero comes to mind) that will convert, on the fly, from mp3 to the audio format when burning.  There are a number of CD players now, both portable and not that will play mp3 files.  The advantage is that you can get considerably more information on a CD in mp3 format than with the wav/audio format.  The disadvantage is that for the pure audiophile, there is a small loss of quality in a mp3 format.  Just as there is some loss in a jpg vs. a tif graphic, there is the same small loss between a mp3 and a wav file.
 

When you assemble your music pieces, put them into one folder so that you can easily locate them.  Next, when you set up your burning program, DO NOT USE "Write on the Fly".  This requires that your software must convert, fill the burn buffer and burn all in one step.  If you don't have quite the horses or the memory, you will run into buffer underrun and create a *coaster* (unusable CD disk).  By creating the image as an intermediate, all of the conversions, assembly, etc are done first, then all your system has to do is to transfer the image via the buffer to the CD and you are much more certain that you will get a usable disk.  This is especially true with music as its critical that the feed to the CD be uniform.  This two step process is usually handled as one by most software so that you don't have to create, stop and then burn.

If you are using MP3 files......

MP3 files, if left as is, will not play on most CD players.
There are a few and more coming that will..  I use Nero and it will convert MP3 files to the proper audio format to create a music CD.  Its similar to a wav format, but not exactly the same.  Some programs will do the auto convert and others require that you convert it to the audio format before burning.  Use only CDR disks as the CD will not read CDRW disks.  If you want to transfer the cassette tapes, re-record them on the computer with either wav or mp3 format and then depending on the software, you may want to convert those wav files to mp3 before burning in the audio format.  Also, you need to pay attention to the format...  Audio CDs requires a certain record format for good sound and readability.  I believe that if you record the MP3 format in 128 Kbit/sec at 44 Khz in Stereo, you should have good CDs.

If you are converting from recording tape.....

Most audio cards have a line input so that you can record from various devices.  I don't record much music from tape, but have recorded several retirements and other occasions that I have then transferred to the computer and then to CD.  I take the output of the tape recorder and couple it to the line in.  Double click on the speaker in the system tray so that you can get to the full mixer/Volume control.  Click on Options and then the Advanced.  Also click on the Properties under the Options and make sure that the line in box is checked.  Click ok and then be sure that the box at the bottom of the line in (Mute) is unchecked.  You now have the capability of recording.  Start the Wave player/recorder (Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Sound Recorder.  Start the tape recorder and then click on the red recording button.  You will want to do a few trials of a short section until you get the volume level, etc that you want.  Once you have that set, back the tape up, click on the record button and then take the tape player off pause and sit back and record.

The only equipment required is a tape player and a cable to connect the output of the tape to the input of the audio card (connection is in the back of the computer).  Newer computers use a blue jack for the line-in [I think]).
 

Data CD's

CD Disk type and format

There is a question about rewriteable disks.  Discussion have indicated that they may not always interchangeable among different computers, i.e.  you may not be able to read CDs created on someone else's CDRW drive.

The biggest problem about rewriteables is that older CD drives (not CDR or CDRW) may not be able to read them.  I cannot read a CDRW in my laptop, but have no problem with the CDR disks.  As long as your drive can read your own CDRWs and you are using a drive and program that produces disks according to ANSI standards, there should be no problem in exchanging them with someone else.  If there is a problem, its nothing to copy a CDRW to a CDR (with the costs at less than $1 each and many times much less) and give the individual the CDR.  Anyone should be able to read these.  I am doing a disk currently for a retirement party for which I was master of ceremonies.  I have a tape of one of the attendees doing a ditty that he had written (he used to have his own band) and a few pictures that I was able to take.

The one problem in exchanging disks is when you want to go to a Mac.  If you strictly follow the ISO rules, it should be readable by both machines if the content is either text, html, or graphics (particularly JPEG).


 

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