Andy McFadden's CD-Recordable FAQ - Section 1

Last-modified: 1997/09/14
Version: 1.11

[1] Basics [1-1] What's CD-R? [1-2] Are they identical to normal CDs? [1-3] Can I use it to copy my CDs? [1-4] How much data do they hold? [1-5] Can I just copy files onto a CD-R like I would to a floppy?

Subject: [1] Basics

These are intended to be brief (if somewhat incomplete) answers to basic questions. More detailed information can be found later in the FAQ.

Subject: [1-1] What's CD-R?

CD-R is short for "CD Recordable". Recordable CDs are WORM (Write Once, Read Multiple) media that work just like standard CDs. The advantage of CD-R over other types of optical media is that you can use the discs with a standard CD player. The disadvantage is that you can't reuse a disc.

A related technology called CD Rewritable (a/k/a CD-E or CD Erasable) is expected to be available in 1997. These discs will work like CD-Rs, but will be erasable as well.

Subject: [1-2] Are they identical to normal CDs?

The CDs you buy in a store are pressed from a mold. CD-Rs are burned with a laser. They look different (green, gold, or blue instead of silver), they're less tolerant of extreme temperatures and sunlight, and don't last as long. (But they still last a very long time.)

Subject: [1-3] Can I use it to copy my CDs?

Yes, both audio and data CDs can be duplicated.

Bear in mind that most CDs are protected by copyright laws. You are allowed to make an archival backup of software, but the same doesn't necessarily hold true for music. http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/bad_laws/dat_tax.html has some relevant information and pointers.

Subject: [1-4] How much can they hold?

About 74 minutes of audio, which is about 650MB of data.

Subject: [1-5] Can I just copy files onto a CD-R like I would to a floppy?

Yes and no. The process is usually a bit more involved than that, and requires special software that (usually) comes bundled with the drive.

You don't need to write everything all at once, but when you're doing the writing you can't interrupt the drive, and you can't reclaim the space you've used. A certain amount of space is lost every time you stop and start again.

Newer "packet writing" software and CD-RW (rewritable) drives let you do this more easily, but the discs created may be unreadable by other systems.

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