CD-R Q&A

Q: Do CD-Rs Only Record Music?
A: That depends on the type of CD-R you purchase. If the CD-R logo on the disc cover contains the words “digital audio”, then that CD-R will only record audio files — music or voice. Otherwise the disc will accept audio or data files. A CD-R or CD-RW labeled “For Consumer Use” or “For Audio Only” or any similar phrase is physically the same as a regular CD-R or CD-RW, but has a special encoding required by consumer CD recorders. Some recorders use Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) encoding with audio, which makes it more difficult to make a digital copy of such a CD. A regular CD-R or CD-RW will not work in these machines. Consumer discs carry a higher price tag due to a royalty paid to performing rights organizations. Make sure you carefully inspect the label before you purchase anything.

Q: Are all CD-Rs the same?
A: No. There are two format types of CD-R. Consumer Grade (used for digital audio) and Professional Grade. It is important to know which type of disc your recorder or duplicator accepts. A Consumer Grade duplicator is not compatible with Professional Grade CD-Rs. Consumer Grade CD-Rs cost more money than the Professional Grade, so we don't recommend using these “digital audio” discs in professional recorders.

Q: Is there a difference between CD-Rs purchased at an office supply store labeled “data” vs. an “audio” CD-R?
A: Yes. Many data CD-Rs are just not up to industry standards for audio and may malfunction or damage equipment. The Bottom Line: If you are saving other-than-audio files onto disc, the data CD-Rs work great. If you are recording or copying audio files, it is important to buy the right disc. Look for the word “audio” on the packaging or in the specifications. All CD-Rs sold on the CCI Solutions website work great for recording audio.

Q: How long is the burn time to copy a CD-R?
A: The burn time is somewhat variable from machine to machine. Burn time is determined by the adding the sum of several factors and processes. The drive writing speed is the first factor. This is the specification you see in advertisements: i.e. 24x, 48x, 52x, etc. It is important to note that this does not mean that the machine can completely burn a CD-R at 24, 48, or 52 times faster than real time. Other factors in the burning process can vary the speed of copying, including the certified speed of the media; the ramp up/ramp down speed, which are physical factor involved in the laser addressing the different sections on the disc; and internal controller speed. Approximate figures for burn time on a full 80-minute, 700MB audio file are about 4 minutes at 24x, and about 3 minutes at 52x. The best way to determine the speed of any CD duplicator is to see the manufacturer’s specification regarding how many copies of a given size file can be burned in an hour — then do the math.

For answers to other questions about CDs, cassette tapes, DVDs and recording with any of these, contact our media specialists at 1-800-426-8664.