Part1 - Part2 - Part3 - Part4 - Single Page

[comp.publish.cdrom] CD-Recordable FAQ, Part 1/4

Archive-name: cdrom/cd-recordable/part1
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: 1999/07/18
Version: 2.13

Send corrections and updates to Andy McFadden (fadden@netcom.com).  If you
have a question you'd like to see answered in here, either post it to one
of the comp.publish.cdrom newsgroups (if you don't have the answer), or
send it to fadden@netcom.com (if you do).

If you're reading this on a web page and want to check out the newsgroups,
check out the following with a news reader.  If you don't have one, you
can read news and search for past articles on http://www.dejanews.com/:

  news:comp.publish.cdrom.hardware
  news:comp.publish.cdrom.software
  news:comp.publish.cdrom.multimedia

Different HTML versions of this FAQ are available from:
  http://www.fadden.com/cdrfaq/
  http://www.faqs.org/faqs/cdrom/cd-recordable/part1/preamble.html

The text version of this FAQ is posted to Usenet and archived in four parts
(if you're missing one of the Usenet-posted sections, get it from here):
  ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.publish.cdrom.hardware/

Some translations are available (may be slightly out of date):
  Italian: http://computer.digiland.it/1346/
  French:  http://perso.wanadoo.fr/marc.kergomard/gravure.html

If a Usenet news posting appears to be cut off at the bottom, and you read
news with a browser like Netscape Navigator, you may need to increase a
buffer size.

Please DO NOT post copies of the HTML version on your web site.  I keep
getting e-mail from people reading versions that are several months old.
You should include a link to the www.fadden.com site instead.


Contents
========

[0] Introduction
[0-1] Legal noise (disclaimers and copyrights)
[0-2] What does this FAQ cover?
[0-3] What's new since last time
[0-4] Is the FAQ only available in English?
[0-5] Appropriate use of the newsgroups
[0-6] I'm having trouble, how do I ask for help?

[1] Simple answers to simple questions
[1-1] What's CD-R?  CD-RW?
[1-2] Are they identical to normal CDs?
[1-3] Can I create new audio and data CDs?
[1-4] Can I use it to copy my CDs?
[1-5] How much can they hold?
[1-6] Can I just copy files onto a CD-R like I would to a floppy?
[1-7] What can you tell me about DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, etc?
[1-8] What's the cheapest recorder and best place to buy media?
[1-9] Can I get step-by-step installation and use instructions?
[1-10] How do I learn more?

[2] CD Encoding
[2-1] How is the information physically stored?
[2-2] What is XA? CDPLUS? CD-i? MODE1 vs MODE2?  Red/yellow/blue book?
[2-3] How do I know what format a disc is in?
[2-4] How does CD-ROM copy protection work?
[2-5] What's a multisession disc?
[2-6] What are subcode channels?
[2-7] Are the CD Identifier fields widely used?
[2-8] How long does it take to burn a CD-R?
[2-9] What's the difference between disc-at-once and track-at-once?
[2-10] Differences between recording from an image and on-the-fly?
[2-11] How does an audio CD player know to skip data tracks?
[2-12] How does CD-RW compare to CD-R?
[2-13] Can DVD drives read CD-Rs?
[2-14] Should I wait for DVD-R?
[2-15] What are "jitter" and "jitter correction"?
[2-16] Where can I learn more about the history of CD and CD-R?
[2-17] Why don't audio CDs use error correction?
[2-18] How does CD-R compare to MiniDisc?
[2-19] What does finalizing do?
[2-20] How are WAV/AIFF files converted into Red Book CD audio?
[2-21] What does MultiRead mean?
[2-22] If recording fails, is the disc usable?
[2-23] Why do recorders insert 00 bytes at the start of audio tracks?
[2-24] How many tracks can I have?  How many files?
[2-25] Will SCMS prevent me from making copies?
[2-26] Is a serial number placed on the disc by the recorder?
[2-27] What's a TOC?  How does it differ from a directory?
[2-28] What's an ISO?  A CIF?  BIN and CUE?
[2-29] Why was 74 minutes chosen as the standard length?

[3] How Do I...
[3-1] How do I copy a data CD?
 [3-1-1] Why can't I just do a block copy like a floppy?
[3-2] How do I extract tracks from, or copy all of, an audio CD?
[3-3] How do I get rid of hisses and clicks on audio CDs?
[3-4] How do I copy game console discs (e.g. Playstation, Dreamcast)
[3-5] How do I get long filenames onto a disc?
 [3-5-1] ISO-9660
 [3-5-2] Rock Ridge
 [3-5-3] HFS
 [3-5-4] Joliet
 [3-5-5] Romeo
 [3-5-6] ISO/IEC 13346 and ISO/IEC 13490
[3-6] How do I use a CD-i disc on a PC?
[3-7] How can I extract disc and track titles from an audio CD?
[3-8] How do I write more than 74 minutes of audio or 650MB of data?
 [3-8-1] How well do 80-minute CD-R blanks work?
 [3-8-2] How can I exceed the stated disc capacity ("overburning")?
[3-9] How do I put photographs onto CD-ROM?
 [3-9-1] How do I create a PhotoCD?
 [3-9-2] How can I set up a photo album on CD-ROM?
[3-10] How do I make a CD that will work on a PC or a Mac?
[3-11] How do I access different sessions on a multi-session CD?
[3-12] How do I transfer my records or cassettes to a CD?
[3-13] How do I transfer an audio DAT tape to CD?
[3-14] How do I put audio and data on the same CD?
[3-15] How do I make a bootable CD?
[3-16] How do I convert home movies into video on CD?
 [3-16-1] How do I create a VideoCD from AVI or MPEG files?
[3-17] How can I burn several copies of the same disc simultaneously?
[3-18] Can I make copies of copies?
[3-19] How can I compress or encrypt data on a CD?
[3-20] Can I do backups onto CD-R?
[3-21] How do I change the CD icon?  How does Windows autorun work?
[3-22] How can I be sure the data was written correctly?
[3-23] How do I copy Audio Karaoke/CD+G discs?
[3-24] How do I copy a CD-ROM with 3GB of data on it?
[3-25] How do I get my CD-R pressed into a real CD?
[3-26] How do I make a CD without that two-second gap between tracks?
[3-27] How can I record RealAudio, MIDI, and MP3 on CD?
[3-28] How do I add CD-Text information?
[3-29] Can I distribute a web site on a CD-ROM?
[3-30] How do I clean my CD recorder?
[3-31] Is it better to record at slower speeds?
[3-32] Where do I get drivers for my CD recorder?
[3-33] Can I copy discs without breaking the law?
[3-34] Can CD-Rs recorded at 2x be read faster than 2x?
[3-35] How do I make my CD-ROM work on the Mac, WinNT, and UNIX?
[3-36] How do I put "hidden tracks" and negative indices on audio CDs?
[3-37] Do I need to worry about viruses?
[3-38] How do I cover up a bad audio track on a CD-R?
[3-39] How do I duplicate this hard-to-copy game?
[3-40] How do I erase or format a disc?
[3-41] How do I equalize the volume for tracks from different sources?
[3-42] How do I make a bit-for-bit copy of a disc?
[3-43] How do I put punctuation in CD-ROM volume labels?

[4] Problems
[4-1] What does "buffer underrun" mean?
 [4-1-1] What's the deal with Windows Auto-Insert Notification (AIN)?
 [4-1-2] What's all this about Win95 VCACHE settings?
[4-2] I can't get long Win95 filenames to work right
[4-3] I can't read the multisession CD I just made
[4-4] Write process keeps failing N minutes in
[4-5] Why did my CD-R eject between the "test" and "write" passes?
[4-6] My CD-ROM drive doesn't like *any* CD-R discs
[4-7] How do I avoid having a ";1" on my ISO-9660 discs?
[4-8] I keep getting SCSI timeout errors
[4-9] I'm having trouble writing a complete disc
[4-10] What's the CDD2000 Write Append Error / spring problem?
[4-11] Getting errors reading the first (data) track on mixed-mode CD
[4-12] My recorder ejects blank discs immediately
[4-13] I'm getting complaints about power calibration
[4-14] My Adaptec 2940 pauses after finding my recorder
[4-15] I can't see all the files on the CD-R
[4-16] My multi-session disc only has data from the last session
[4-17] I'm getting SCSI errors
[4-18] Why doesn't the copy of an audio CD sound the same?
 [4-18-1] Why doesn't the audio data on the copy match the original?
 [4-18-2] The audio data matches exactly, why do they sound different?
[4-19] Digital audio extraction of a track is slightly off
[4-20] I can't play extracted audio files by double-clicking in Win95
[4-21] I can't read an ISO-finalized packet-written disc
[4-22] I'm finding corrupted files on the CD-ROMs I write
[4-23] Having trouble playing an audio CD in a home or car player
[4-24] Having trouble using a CD-ROM on somebody else's machine
[4-25] I can't copy a VideoCD
[4-26] The test write succeeds, but the actual write fails
[4-27] I can no longer erase a particular CD-RW disc
[4-28] Trouble formatting CD-RW discs with DirectCD for Windows 2.0a
[4-29] I can't write CD-Rs after installing Windows 98
[4-30] I can't use the copy of a CD-ROM after installing Windows 98
[4-31] The disc I was writing with DirectCD is now unreadable

[5] Hardware
[5-1] Which CD recorder should I buy?
 [5-1-1] Yamaha
 [5-1-2] Sony
 [5-1-3] Smart & Friendly
 [5-1-4] Philips
 [5-1-5] Hewlett-Packard (HP)
 [5-1-6] Plasmon
 [5-1-7] Kodak
 [5-1-8] JVC
 [5-1-9] Pinnacle
 [5-1-10] Ricoh
 [5-1-11] Pioneer
 [5-1-12] Olympus
 [5-1-13] Optima
 [5-1-14] Mitsumi
 [5-1-15] DynaTek Automation Systems
 [5-1-16] Microboards of America
 [5-1-17] Micro Design International
 [5-1-18] MicroNet Technology
 [5-1-19] Procom Technology
 [5-1-20] Grundig
 [5-1-21] Plextor
 [5-1-22] Panasonic
 [5-1-23] Teac
 [5-1-24] Wearnes
 [5-1-25] Turtle Beach
 [5-1-26] Creative Labs
 [5-1-27] Taiyo Yuden
 [5-1-28] Memorex
 [5-1-29] Hi-Val
 [5-1-30] Dysan
 [5-1-31] Traxdata
 [5-1-32] Acer
 [5-1-33] Waitec
 [5-1-34] BTC
 [5-1-35] Caravelle (Sanyo)
 [5-1-36] Micro Solutions
 [5-1-37] Pacific Digital
[5-2] How long do CD recorders last?
[5-3] What kind of PC is recommended?
[5-4] What kind of Mac is recommended?
[5-5] Which standard CD-ROM drives work well with CD-R?
[5-6] What kind of HD should I use with CD-R?  Must it be AV-rated?
[5-7] What SCSI adapter should I use with a CD recorder?
 [5-7-1] Adaptec - 1510/1522A/1540/1542CF
 [5-7-2] Adaptec - 2840/2910/2920/2940
 [5-7-3] ASUS - SC-200/SC-875
 [5-7-4] Diamond - FirePort 20/40/40dual
[5-8] Can I use a CD recorder as a general-purpose reader?
[5-9] To caddy or not to caddy?
[5-10] Can I burn CDs from a Jaz drive?  Tape drive?
[5-11] What is "Running OPC"?
[5-12] What's the story with stand-alone audio CD recorders?
[5-13] What's firmware?  How and why should I upgrade my recorder?
[5-14] How well do ATAPI (IDE), parallel-port, and USB recorders work?
[5-15] How should I configure my system for an ATAPI CD recorder?
[5-16] How important is CD-RW?
[5-17] What is an "MMC Compliant" recorder?
[5-18] What should I use to record from a UNIX system?

[6] Software
[6-1] Which software should I use?
 [6-1-1] Adaptec - Easy-CD, Easy-CD Pro, and Easy-CD Pro MM ("ECD")
 [6-1-2] Adaptec - CD-Creator ("CDC")
 [6-1-3] Gear Multimedia - GEAR
 [6-1-4] Adaptec - Toast
 [6-1-5] CeQuadrat - WinOnCD
 [6-1-6] Young Minds, Inc. - SimpliCD
 [6-1-7] Golden Hawk Technology (Jeff Arnold) - CDRWIN
 [6-1-8] Optical Media International - QuickTOPiX CD
 [6-1-9] Creative Digital Research - CDR Publisher
 [6-1-10] mkisofs
 [6-1-11] Asimware Innovations - MasterISO
 [6-1-12] Newtech Infosystems, Inc. (NTI) - CD-Maker and CD-Copy
 [6-1-13] Cirrus Technology/Unite - CDMaker
 [6-1-14] Hohner Midia - Red Roaster
 [6-1-15] Dataware Technologies - CD Author
 [6-1-16] CreamWare - Triple DAT
 [6-1-17] MicroTech - MasterMaker
 [6-1-18] Angela Schmidt & Patrick Ohly - MakeCD
 [6-1-19] Optical Media International - Audiotracer
 [6-1-20] Jörg Schilling - cdrecord
 [6-1-21] Prassi Software - CD Rep and CD Right
 [6-1-22] Nero Software - SubIgnition
 [6-1-23] Dieter Baron and Armin Obersteiner - CD Tools
 [6-1-24] PoINT - CDwrite
 [6-1-25] PoINT - CDaudio Plus
 [6-1-26] Adaptec - Easy CD Creator Deluxe ("ECDC")
 [6-1-27] Padus - DiscJuggler
 [6-1-28] Ahead Software - Nero
 [6-1-29] CharisMac Engineering - Discribe
 [6-1-30] István Dósa - DFY$VMSCD
 [6-1-31] RSJ Software - RSJ CD Writer
 [6-1-32] James Pearson - mkhybrid
 [6-1-33] JVC - Personal Archiver Plus
 [6-1-34] Adaptec - Jam
 [6-1-35] VOB - CD-Wizard
 [6-1-36] Sonic Foundry - CD Architect
 [6-1-37] Eberhard Heuser-Hofmann - CDWRITE
 [6-1-38] CeQuadrat - JustAudio!
 [6-1-39] Digidesign - MasterList CD
 [6-1-40] Thomas Niederreiter - X-CD-Roast
 [6-1-41] Jesper Pedersen - BurnIT
 [6-1-42] Jens Fangmeier - Feurio!
 [6-1-43] Asimware Innovations - HotBurn
 [6-1-44] DARTECH, Inc - DART CD-Recorder
 [6-1-45] Interactive Information R&D - CDEveryWhere
 [6-1-46] DnS Development - BurnIt
 [6-1-47] Andreas Müller - CDRDAO
 [6-1-48] Tracer Technologies - (various)
[6-2] What other useful software is there?
 [6-2-1] Optical Media International - Disc-to-Disk
 [6-2-2] Gilles Vollant - WinImage
 [6-2-3] Asimware Innovations - AsimCDFS
 [6-2-4] Steven Grimm - WorkMan
 [6-2-5] Cyberdyne Software - CD Worx
 [6-2-6] Paul Crowley CD-ROM Productions - CD-R Diagnostic
 [6-2-7] DC Software Design - CDRCue Cuesheet Editor
 [6-2-8] Astarte - CD-Copy
 [6-2-9] Frank Wolf - CDR Media Code Identifier
 [6-2-10] Logiciels & Services Duhem - MacImage
[6-3] What is packet writing software?
 [6-3-1] Adaptec - DirectCD
 [6-3-2] CeQuadrat - PacketCD
 [6-3-3] SmartStorage - SmartCD for Recording
 [6-3-4] Gutenberg Systems - FloppyCD
 [6-3-5] VOB - InstantWrite
[6-4] What's UDF?
[6-5] Do I want to do packet writing?
[6-6] I want to write my own CD recording software
 [6-6-1] PoINT - CDarchive SDK
 [6-6-2] Golden Hawk Technology (Jeff Arnold)
 [6-6-3] Gear Multimedia - GEAR.wrks
 [6-6-4] VOB - CD-Wizard SDK
[6-7] What software is available for doing backups?
 [6-7-1] Adaptec - Easy-CD Backup
 [6-7-2] D.J. Murdoch - DOSLFNBK
 [6-7-3] Dantz - Retrospect
 [6-7-4] Veritas - Backup Exec
 [6-7-5] Ghost Software - Ghost
 [6-7-6] PowerQuest - Drive Image Special Edition for CD-R
 [6-7-7] Centered Systems - Second Copy
 [6-7-8] FileWare - FileSync
 [6-7-9] Novastor - NovaDISK
 [6-7-10] Adaptec - Take Two
 [6-7-11] NTI - Backup NOW!

[7] Media
[7-1] What kinds of media are there?
[7-2] Does the media matter?
[7-3] Who manufactures CD-R media?
[7-4] Which kind of media should I use?
[7-5] How long do CD-Rs last?
[7-6] How much data can they hold?  650MB?  680MB?
[7-7] Is it okay to write on or stick a label on a disc?
[7-8] How do CD-Rs behave when microwaved?
[7-9] What can I do with CD-R discs that failed during writing?
[7-10] Where can I find jewel cases and CD sleeves?
[7-11] What's "unbranded" CD-R media?
[7-12] How do I repair a scratched CD?
[7-13] What's this about a Canadian CD-R tax?
[7-14] Can I create 80mm (3-inch) CD-singles?
[7-15] Where can I find CD-ROM business cards?

[8] Net Resources and Vendor Lists
[8-1] Information resources
[8-2] Magazines and other publications
[8-3] Net.vendors

[9] Contributors


The last-modified date of each section is shown below the Subject line.
The date format used is YYYY/MM/DD.  The date stamps were added on
1998/04/06, so you won't find any older than that.