Not too long ago, I reviewed Click-n-Burn 2.0, from Stomp, Inc. It is a CD recording suite which you can use to record all types of CDs. Now, I am taking a look at RecordNow MAX, recording software that operates much like Click-n-Burn, but with the added ability of doing DVD recording. When it comes to program operation, this software operates much like Click-n-Burn.
The Wizard
RecordNow has the standard Stomp layout I am accustomed to. Upon opening up the software, the full application appears in the background while the program wizard opens up automatically. The wizard in RecordNow has a nice visual appeal to it and the options for this different types of burns are prominently displayed for your selection. You can choose to make an exact copy, a music CD or a data CD. I noticed that the Video CD and Mixed-Mode CD are not available in the wizard, although they are provided as options in the full application. Making an exact copy will just copy files from a source CD to your CD burner. The option for Music CDs will allow you to make a CD from audio files (like MP3s), compile a CD from various tracks from other music CDs, or to create a CD specifically for MP3 players. Creating a data CD via this wizard is quite easy. Only 3 steps. When choosing file folders to burn, you can also select multiple files at once via the wizard, a problem I see is rectified from Click-n-Burn where you could only select one file or folder at a time.
There are a few issues with the wizard that need to be addressed. While I like the overall design of the wizard, some of the interface looks a bit grainy. The rounded corners of the interface, such as the HELP button, need to be anti-aliased so as to look better. That is just my inner programmer talking. I notice these things. Secondly, I noticed that the wizard is very CPU intensive. When the wizard was open, the CPU usage shot up to 100% even if I wasn’t doing anything. No matter where you are in the wizard and no matter what you are doing, your CPU is being fully utilized. This doesn’t make much sense to me. If someone is doing a lot of CD burning and does not have proper CPU cooling, this could result in some heating issues and possibility instability of the PC as a result.
Recording Formats
RecordNOW MAX truly supports a lot of different recording formats. While not all of them are available in the wizard, all are available in the full-mode application, of course. Let me run through each and address a few of the options:
- Copy – Simply make full copies of a CD in your source CD drive. You can specify the number of copies, the recording speed, and whether you want testing and verification performed on the recording. I like the fact that you can choose when to insert your source CD as opposed to the wizard which just opens the CD drive by itself, even if that’s not really what you mean to do.
- Image – Record a CD from a CD image file, such as an ISO image of Global Image (GI) file.
- Data CD – Create a CD using data files or folders from any other drive. You have all the standard options (mentioned under Copy). Adding files to the burn window can be done via a drag-and-drop from Explorer, or from the Browse window opened via RecordNOW. The window to choose files is a bit on the small side and it always seems to default to the Desktop folder, at least for me. Stomp should use the larger-style file selection window as in the same such window for choosing music files when doing a music CD. This window will be larger, provide quick access to My Documents, Desktop, etc. There are a number of options available for making data CDs. You can specify the recording type and file system type for both CDs and/or DVDs. You can also create bootable CDs.
- Music CD – I like the way you can create music CDs with this software. I find it very intuitive for me. You simple click the Add Audio Track button and choose the source audio. Then you can click the CD Text button to fill in track names and various other text for this format. Then you burn. Couldn’t be easier.
- Mixed Mode – For creating CDs that contain data for the computer, but also will work as a standard audio CD in a CD player. The interface for making this CD is an exact mixing of the Music CD interface and the Data CD interface, one atop the other. Makes perfect sense to me.
- Video CD – For creating CDs of this particular video format from source MPEG files.
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