Comments on: 4x Maximum Write Speed On CD-R/W Discs? http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:43:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Nigel http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-32288 Nigel Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:19:01 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-32288 I have almost the opposite problem to you. I am desparately trying to make excellent quality Audio CDRs and the trouble is that most new burners have 16x or greater burn speed and it cannot be reduced lower. I have tried three different new burners and 4 different types of media. Its almost like someone is trying to stop people burning audio CDRs anymore. Ask most people and they think the write speed is controlled by the burning software application e.g. Nero, not so, the software only allows you to choose from what the burner tells it is available. I have found through research that burning audio CDRs (not to be confused with MP3s which are data CDRs) at speeds greater than 4x introduces errors which can take the form of noise, bad stereo balance/levels etc. this commonly means that if you try to play the CDR on portable CD players or in the car that you experience playing quality issues. There are two problems getting reliable results today: 1) Finding a burner which can burn at 4x on CDR media. 2) Finding CDR media which will accept 4x burning. Everyone is so worried about speed, nobody worries about high quality recordings. I feel they are missing the point. MP3 has done the world a great dis-service, regardless of how convienient it is. Burning high quality audio CDRs is made harder because there is no automatic verification available which works, you have to listen to the recording on a number of different players due to its analog nature, although if you can burn at 4x you do get consistent results. Next time your in the store, try finding out the slowest speed the burner will record audio CDRs and you'll see that manufacturers don't even advertise this fact. You have to call their tech support to find out. Why is nobody in the press picking up on this development? Does nobody want high quality audio CDRs anymore? Surely I'm not the only one :-) I have almost the opposite problem to you.

I am desparately trying to make excellent quality Audio CDRs and the trouble is that most new burners have 16x or greater burn speed and it cannot be reduced lower. I have tried three different new burners and 4 different types of media. Its almost like someone is trying to stop people burning audio CDRs anymore.

Ask most people and they think the write speed is controlled by the burning software application e.g. Nero, not so, the software only allows you to choose from what the burner tells it is available.

I have found through research that burning audio CDRs (not to be confused with MP3s which are data CDRs) at speeds greater than 4x introduces errors which can take the form of noise, bad stereo balance/levels etc. this commonly means that if you try to play the CDR on portable CD players or in the car that you experience playing quality issues.
There are two problems getting reliable results today:
1) Finding a burner which can burn at 4x on CDR media.
2) Finding CDR media which will accept 4x burning.

Everyone is so worried about speed, nobody worries about high quality recordings. I feel they are missing the point. MP3 has done the world a great dis-service, regardless of how convienient it is.

Burning high quality audio CDRs is made harder because there is no automatic verification available which works, you have to listen to the recording on a number of different players due to its analog nature, although if you can burn at 4x you do get consistent results.

Next time your in the store, try finding out the slowest speed the burner will record audio CDRs and you’ll see that manufacturers don’t even advertise this fact. You have to call their tech support to find out.

Why is nobody in the press picking up on this development?

Does nobody want high quality audio CDRs anymore?

Surely I’m not the only one :-)

]]> By: Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-23360 Rich Menga Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:17:57 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-23360 The technical and accurate name for CD-RW is Compact Disc ReWritable. I say it as read/write because people seem to understand that better. If I start explaining Compact Disc-Recordable as a WORM (Write Once Read Many) optical medium compared to CD-RW which isn't, people get totally confused, so I stick with read/write. The technical and accurate name for CD-RW is Compact Disc ReWritable. I say it as read/write because people seem to understand that better. If I start explaining Compact Disc-Recordable as a WORM (Write Once Read Many) optical medium compared to CD-RW which isn’t, people get totally confused, so I stick with read/write.

]]> By: Janette http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-23313 Janette Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:57:45 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-23313 "... CD-RW (that’s Read/Write by the way)". I thought it meant "Re-writeable". “… CD-RW (that’s Read/Write by the way)”. I thought it meant “Re-writeable”.

]]> By: Drew http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-15694 Drew Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:27:47 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-15694 Dude, do you really think a 'tech guy' who writes for a 'tech site' wouldn't have known the write speed of his own burner before wasting time to type the post up? Seriously.... Dude, do you really think a ‘tech guy’ who writes for a ‘tech site’ wouldn’t have known the write speed of his own burner before wasting time to type the post up?

Seriously….

]]> By: JuanMarco http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-15665 JuanMarco Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:58:02 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-15665 I have a Maxell 12X High Speed CD-RW and Verbatim 12X-24X UltraSpeed CD-RW dude check your hardware does your drive have at least a High Speed or Ultra Speed label on the compact disc rewritable logo? by the way 12X and up to 24X aren't pricey they about $2 each here in Canada and less for bundled or spindle pack I have a Maxell 12X High Speed CD-RW and Verbatim 12X-24X UltraSpeed CD-RW dude check your hardware does your drive have at least a High Speed or Ultra Speed label on the compact disc rewritable logo?

by the way 12X and up to 24X aren’t pricey they about $2 each here in Canada and less for bundled or spindle pack

]]> By: Drew http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-15103 Drew Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:37:20 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-15103 On the flip side, burning at a slower speed (while truly a pain in the ass) provides better quality burning in the end. This is especially true when it comes to DVD's. Slower = Best. On the flip side, burning at a slower speed (while truly a pain in the ass) provides better quality burning in the end.
This is especially true when it comes to DVD’s.
Slower = Best.

]]> By: Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-15102 Rich Menga Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:32:18 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-15102 Yep. There's 12x versions also (kinda pricey though). Yep. There’s 12x versions also (kinda pricey though).

]]> By: Saverio http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/comment-page-1/#comment-15097 Saverio Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:23:01 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/4x-maximum-write-speed-on-cd-rw-discs/#comment-15097 All the CD-RW I've been using were and are 4x, ALL of them. I didn't know 10X RW disc even existed. :-o All the CD-RW I’ve been using were and are 4x, ALL of them. I didn’t know 10X RW disc even existed. :-o

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