CD burning

SRV wrote on 8/10/2001, 11:22 AM

I read on this forum somewhere that someone recommends burning audio CD's at 2X. What difference does it make? If I burn them at 12X isn't it exactly the same in the end? Doesn't it do it bit for bit? If it is just a issue of it completing successfully (which mine always does... I have burn proof, never makes coasters :>) Additionally does it matter what brand or type of CDR I use? I have just been buying the 100 stack Imation brand 16X (silverish green bottoms) cheepies because I can get them from my uncle with the PC store for $15 per 100 (he usually just hands them to me for free). I have tried different burn rates and can tell no sonic or fidelity differences in my un scientific "blind" tests. Thanks, this is a great forum.

Comments

edna6284 wrote on 8/10/2001, 11:34 AM

You're completely right, theoretically. What you haven't accounted for is the reliability of the medium that you use.

Some CDs use different formulations than others. Sometimes the color of the formulation is different from others. The lower the contrast between a burned bit and a not-burned bit on a CD, the greater the chance of a misinterpreted bit. Different CD readers are calibrated to handle these contrasts differently, so you will find that with some readers and CDs you won't be able to even play your music (or read your data). With others it works every time. There are always error rates while reading data, and all of these factors affect the error rate.