Which CD mastering application?

farss wrote on 2/1/2004, 6:18 PM

I've 24 programs to master to 24 CDs. I've split the programs into tracks and done some very basic Eq to cut down the noise (much of the material came off cassette) and converted to 16 bit 44.1KHz using Vegas (some of it was already in that format, some at 16/48KHz).
So far so good, well apart from a few late nights, now I was planning on using CDA to burn the CDs. Problem is I think the client may want me to include CD text which rules out CDA. Other choice is Nero.
Now as I understand it going from 16/44.1 to cda is simply a data encoding process, no resampling is involved. Clients usual mastering house uses Waveburner Pro by the way.
Is there any possible way that using Nero versus CDA will have any effect on the final quality?
I've seen a few people suggest using Nero, my only concern is I'm going to seem a bit 'low rent' using Nero instead of CDA. From my understanding of the process it matters naught but I'd like to be 100% certain.
I'll be burning using a Plextor burner onto Audio Master grade CDs and neither of those are budget priced items and I believe that will have more bearing on the outcome than using CDA or Nero.
Sorry for so many questions but this is my first 'gig' in this area and with 12,000 CDs to be pressed off these masters I'd hate to screw up.

Comments

farss wrote on 2/1/2004, 8:45 PM

Well I just spoke with the client and seeing as how it's only spoken word they don't want any CD text so it'll be CDA for sure.
Still I'd like to get some input in this question, just for next time.

Rednroll wrote on 2/2/2004, 10:18 PM

The quality would be the same between CD Architect and Nero, that's the beauty of digital. Some might argue and say, "CD Architect burns a Redbook Compliant Disc". Yes, this is true, but the whole Redbook compliancy feature, is more of a marketing scam. All audio CD's are redbook compliant.....otherwise they wouldn't play in a standard CD player. There's only a few things that a CD has do to obey to be redbook compliant, and Nero does all of them for an audio CD. Actually, the redbook specification has a lot more to do with the physical dimensions than anything else. Thus, proves the marketing scam, if the app says it "burns a redbook compliant" CD, because the app didn't have anything to do with making the physical dimensions of the CD. If anyone would like to disagree, then I will open up my CD Redbook specification book.

farss wrote on 2/3/2004, 4:06 AM

Thanks Red,
I'd kind of thought that, the only area I could see any app. falling down on the job was encoding the error correction bits and by todays standards what's on an audio CD isn't overly advanced.

As the only Redbook I have was written by Chairman Mao I really can't comment on just how much of a 'scam' the whole deal is, I got CDA for free with SF7 and certainly it does seem to carry some weight in the indusrty, now that may be as valid as saying you're not a real video editor because you don't use an Avid system but it is nice (for once) to not get derisive looks when you tell the client what tool you'll be using.