Syntrillium Backup Forums :: View topic - Click Free CD-R/RW Drive

koaptec · Posts: 8

Just getting started with CE2k digital audio editing. Reading the Help sections saw that some CD-Rs add clicks. Would appreciate any user experience... on the 10x or > CD-R/RW drives that do Not. Thanks!

jonrose · Location: USA Posts: 2901

I'm not quite sure what you're asking here, as a CD burner really only writes what you tell it to. That is, unless you have some kind of burner software that really sucks...and there's a lot of that out there!
;-)

If you really intend to burn audio at high speeds, it is imperative that you use discs suited to your particular burner. Really, this is always true, just more so for higher speeds. I can't stress that point enough.

On the other hand, perhaps you are confusing this issue with what happens when doing multiple writes to an audio CD-R (NO!), as opposed to writing an entire disc at once (the only method which really works for a Red Book Standard Audio disk, anyway). The only time you can do multiple writes is if you're archiving your .wav data (or data from other apps), NOT when creating a CD-A.

Or, perhaps, along this same line (again, this would be a sucky software issue) you are using a program which forces a standard, 2-second pause-time between the audio tracks, whether you want it to or not - this is common with a lot of these "do-it-all" data/audio CD burner software apps which are bundled with burners available to the consumer. They turn the laser off and on, causing audible clicks.

I believe a lot of folks out here are using a burner app called Nero (??? - if that's incorrect, help me out here, folks!) and having very good success with it.

I've been using CD Architect for a long time and it seems to suit my needs very well (warning... $$$ for that one).

I strongly suggest that you write your final audio CD's at 2X. Particularly if you're shipping one off to a duplication house (don't forget a breakout sheet!).

All the best... -Jon
:-)

koaptec · Posts: 8

J... as a CE Newbie am Not really sure either! Read in the Help section that certain CD-R drives add a click after each track--maybe it is when you burn 1 track at a time which is what we would like to do on a RW so can reuse them like tape or a HD until get it Right.

jonrose · Location: USA Posts: 2901

Okay, as noted in my first reply, I think this is a burner application issue, then. Some will force a pause time in between tracks - turning the laser off, then back on - causing audible clicks.
I really don't believe this is a hardware issue, it is more likely due to the burner app. Find one that has a "disc-at-once" option and use it.

All the best... -Jon
:-)

beetle · Location: USA Posts: 2591

Clicks can be created at the track transition points if you burn CD-R's track-at once because the method produces a higher number of errors. CD-R's made in this fashion are NOT red-book-standard and may have problems being played in some CD roms or CD players.

The clicks can be attributed to the DC bias being off. They can also be introduced by the player trying to read the non-wav data on the disc as wav information. The burning software may have written it to the disc. The way around this is when saving your work in Cool Edit, uncheck the box that prompts you for saving non-audio information.

It is usually better to use CD-R's for music, not CD/RW's, as CD/RW's are not stable. Some users report no problems but if you are working with something important you don't want to take a chance. Besides, with the price of write once-only CD-r's these days, there is no reason to not use them, evenm temporarily!

Jon is correct that the best way to write CD's is with the disc-at-once method. Most CD burning programs will do this but you have to set it to do so, as most programs default to track-at-once for the convenience of the novice user.

Burning at disc-at-once will yield a Red-book standard CD-R with lower errors. This means you will have to have all of your tracks onto the hard drive first and burn your Cd all at once.

Edited by - beetle on 05/07/2001 7:07:23 PM

koaptec · Posts: 8

J... and B... Thanks for the info! What about storing a project on a dedicated (data only) HD until it is ready to burn to a CDR?
I can think of a number of possible advantages--you have faster access, can store multi vers...

beetle · Location: USA Posts: 2591

A CD-R will hold about the same amount of information as data as .wav, provided your files are uncompressed. They also take the same amount of time to load up.

The only advantage I can see for storing them as data files is to maintain the file's integrity.