CD Bunson Burners, Inc.

CD-R Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is CD-R?

A: CD-R means Compact Disc-Recordable. You can record data to a CD-R disc, but once you have recorded it you cannot erase it. A similar type of recording technology is CD-RW (Compact Disc-Rewritable), which differs from CD-R technology in that it allows you to write and erase content on the disc. CD-R discs are compatible with a broader range of players, including both CD-ROM drives and CD players, while CD-RW discs can only be read on CD-RW drives.

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Q: What is the difference between CD-R and CD-ROM?

A: CD-ROM discs are not recorded, but are pressed using a glass master. This process is referred to as replication. CD-R discs, on the other hand, are individually recorded using a laser. This process is referred to as duplication. CD-ROM authors will often first create a CD-R disc, which is then used to create the glass master that is used to press a run of CD-ROM discs. CD-ROM discs tend to be produced in large runs (in the thousands), while CD-R discs tend to be produced in much smaller runs (in the hundreds, at the most). CD-ROM discs are more permanent than CD-R discs, which are more vulnerable to damage to the recording substratum.

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Q: How long is a CD-R disc?

A: The CD technology was first used for audio discs; therefore, the length of a CD-DA (audio CD), CD-ROM, or CD-R disc is stated in minutes. There are two sizes of CD-R discs, one 74 minutes long and the other 80 minutes long. The length in minutes is equivalent to the amount of time it would take to play the disc on a single-speed CD player. On a CD-ROM or CD-R disc, 74 minutes is equal to about 650 MB (or about 665 million bytes) of data, while 80 minutes is equal to about 700 MB (or about 715 million bytes) of data.

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Q: How do I back up an audio CD?

A: To make a copy of an audio CD (CD-DA), so that you can play the copy in your CD player, you need to record the disc in a single session and close the disc when you are finished recording. If you record the disc using multiple recording sessions or do not close the disc, you will only be able to play the disc in a CD player or CD-ROM drive that is multisession capable.

To make a copy of an audio CD using Adaptec Easy CD Creator™ 4:

  1. Create an Image File:


    1. Click the Start button and select Programs, Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4, and Create CD.


    2. Click the Audio CD button.


    3. Insert the audio CD you want to copy in your CD-ROM or CD-R drive. Click on the first track to highlight it. Hold down the Shift key and click on the last track to highlight all of the tracks. Click the Add button on the Toolbar.


    4. Select File, then Create CD Image. Change to the folder where you save your image files (or you can create a folder for this) and then save your image file, ending the file name with a .cif file extension. For instance, type myimage.cif as the name of your image file.


    5. The message "CD created successfully" will be displayed when the image file has been successfully created. Click the OK button.


  2. Select Recording Options:


    1. Insert a blank (unrecorded) CD-R disc in your CD-R drive.


    2. Select File, then Create CD from CD Image. Double-click the image file you just created.


    3. Select the Write Speed at which you wish to record. For instance, for a faster recording time, select 4x (600 KB/sec); for a safer but slower recording time, select 2x (300 KB/sec).


    4. Select the Number of Copies. To make only a single copy, leave 1 selected as the number of copies.


  3. Select Advanced Options:


    1. If the Advanced options are not displayed, click the Advanced button.


    2. Select the Create option you want to use: Test Only, Test and Create CD, and Create CD. Note: Test and Create will take longer, but is less likely to result in burning a coaster; Create CD is faster, but riskier. (A "coaster" is a CD-R disc that is only good for putting your drink on it.)


    3. Select the Write Method you want to use. For recording an audio CD, select Track-At-Once and Close CD. (Note: If you select Close Session and Leave CD Open, you will only be able to play the CD-R disc you are creating in a CD-ROM drive or CD player that is multisession capable.) Click OK.


    4. The message "CD created successfully" will be displayed when the image file has been successfully recorded to the CD-R disc. Click the OK button.


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Q: Can I batch process recording jobs?

A: CD-R Auto Pilot, which is bundled with the CD-R Blaster, the autoloader version of our multidrive CD-R duplication system, lets you create a text batch file that lists the characteristics of a recording job. Here is an example: 

[CD-R Blaster Job]
Job Name =             Contact Database
Image File =           F:\contacts.cif
Label File =           F:\Label templates\contacts.lbl
Merge File =           F:\contacts.mrg
Type =                 Disk-At-Once
Session =              Single
Disk =                 Close
Number of Discs =      20
Verify Type =          None
CRC32 =                FFFFFFFF
Serialize =            No
Serial Number Field =  1
Serial Number Start =  123
Serial Number Step =   1

To run the batch file, simply save it as an ASCII text file in the CD-R Blaster spool folder with a .job file extension (contacts.job, for instance). When you run CD Auto Pilot, it will automatically process and execute your recording job without your having to set any parameters or properties. For further guidance on using CD-R Blaster's batch job processing capabilities, see that software's Help file.

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Eddie Lopez
E-Mail: elopez@cdbunsonburners.com

© Copyright 2003 by CD Bunson Burners, Inc. All rights reserved.