zack371
03-08-2004, 10:53 PM
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY HOSS (dead links to be removed soon)
========================
Common Terminology
========================
DAO = Disk At Once
This is by far the preferred method of burning all CDR/RW discs.
Especially audio, you will need to have an entire CD ready for burning and this will
finalize the disc so that no more data or audio can be burnt to the disc.
This allows all CD readers the ability to read the disc.
With most software burning in this mode will also eliminate the 2 sec gap for audio tracks
Remember you must finalize/close an Audio CDR in order for it to be read in standard CD Players!
TAO [AKA - SAO] = Track At Once
This is similar to DAO but writes only one track at a time instead of an entire disc.
Some burners do not support DAO so must use this setting instead.
With certain software when using the optional filters, it will be necessary to burn in this mode in order to give the software time to process the data before burning it.
It is also used by several Clone type copying programs to allow more CDR's the ability to copy CD's 1 to 1. In that case it is known as SAO or Session At Once
Multi-Session Recording
Allows you to record more than once to a CDR or CDRW disc.
These are known as 'Sessions'
However it should be used for data only, as audio recorded in this fashion will not be able to be played in any but a PC type CD-ROM. A Regular CD Player will only be able to read/play the last session burned.
And you must “Import” the previous session in most burnware. Read your help files first!
Buffer Underuns
This is one of the most common error's you will see with older CDRW drives.
And is caused when the CDRW's buffer does not receive data fast enough from the source to maintain a steady uninterrupted burn.
If the Buffer's resources become to low, the burn will fail.
Solve this by slowing down the write speed and/or selecting the option to copy/image the data or music to your Hard Drive prior to burning.
Also close all applications that are running in the back round.
On the fly copies will result in errors and audio noise, skips, chirps, etc, much of the time due to Buffer Underuns. Unless you have a fast system and a CDROM capable of high DAE speed extraction.
Learn more here -> Cyrus-troy's Buffer Underuns (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/buffer.htm)
DAE = Digital Audio Extraction
This is the term that refers to how fast your CDROM or CDRW can process and extract audio. The faster the better, this is the most important factor for being able to copy Audio OTF (On The Fly)
The Minimum DAE of your CD-ROM determines how fast you can burn Audio OTF.
You will also need a small margin of overhead, a good rule of thumb is about 1 1/2 times the burn speed.
Some drives are much better at this than others and the Maximum x speed of the drive often has little to do with it!
Luckily there is a site with a comprehensive listing of DAE Speed for most popular drives.
They also have a test application for Downloading that will allow you to test your drives DAE plus the Quality of the Audio it extracts
Go Here -> CD Speed’s DAE Results Table (http://www.cdspeed2000.com/go.php3?link=daeresults.php3)
OTF = On The Fly
The Term referring to the direct copying of an Audio or Data CD from your CD-ROM to your CDRW without storing/imaging the data to your Hard drive first.
ASPI
Well, let's just say it's a Virtual SCSI Driver that allows Windows to communicate with your CDRW. And along with Firmware, is the only Driver needed by a CDRW.
Windows supplies the rest by default.
However you need to update it once in a while.
Go here for the Latest Version and the Utility to Check the Status and Date of your current ASPI Layer -> ASPI Check (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/downloads.htm)
Also ASPI installation can give you problems if you have no Adaptec software installed. In that case try using Force ASPI from here -> Force ASPI (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/downloads.htm)
And if you care to read more in depth about ASPI go here -> ASPI Drivers Explained (http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~aa571/aspi.htm)
Win2k also presents its own set of problems when it comes to ASPI layers. So read here for an Essay on what to do by Yaa -> Yaa's Win2k ASPI Essay (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/yaa2.htm)
AIN = Auto Insert Notification
This is what notifies Windows that you have inserted a CD into one of your drives and runs it automatically.
It is a very good idea to disable this function when a CDRW has been installed.
Especially once you have several burning apps installed on your PC. It can and will cause problems.
Find out how to do this here -> Cyrus-troy's DMA, AIN, Article (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/dma.htm)
DMA = Direct Memory Access
This allows your device to load data directly into memory.
Thereby lessening the burden on your CPU.
If your CDRW will function properly with DMA enabled, than by all means do so!
However it is a tricky one to deal with. Some burners and systems will function better
with it disabled, but most new systems and CDRW drives require it to be enabled on ALL drives! This includes your Hard Drives.
If you are having problems burning try changing the current setting on your PC.
Find out how here -> Cyrus-troy's DMA,AIN Article (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/dma.htm)
*NOTE – The above applies to Win98/ME for WinXP you need to read here
WinXP FAQ by Hoss (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=27788)
Also if you have a Motherboard that uses a VIA Chipset with the 4 in 1 Drivers you will need to follow another procedure. See this for more info…
http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6832
*NOTE- Since we seem to be having a lot of this I thought I would add that the Sync Data Transfer should also be DISABLED. Unless you have a SCSI burner.
You will find this option right next to the DMA box.
TOC = Table Of Contents
All Data CD's will need to have one of these written to it. Like the FAT (File Allocation Table) on a Hard Drive, it lets the drive know where on the disc the files are located.
Firmware
This does several things in relation to how a device works. It will control support for 80 minute CDR's, Software, Write Strategy, etc...
So update it as necessary. You will usually find updates at your burner manufactures website in the support area.
However make sure you get the one made specifically for your CDRW!
And since improper installation of firmware can cause major problems, do this only when you gain an ability your burner does not currently have!
If you are going to Flash your Firmware, here’s a few tips… Disable DMA prior to flashing the drive and reboot. If your system is currently overclocked, go into the BIOS and take it back to the default setting first.
There is also a recent trend in using 'Hacked' Firmware to either change the Make of a CDRW or even Upgrade its Maximum Burning Speed. This is also known as 'Overclocking" the CDRW.
While it is quite possible to do this successfully, please read and research this as much as possible before doing so!
It is fraught with dangers! You may or may not be able to go back to the original firmware and can end up with a piece of junk for the garbage man to collect!
And here are a few of the other places you can look. ->
Farzeno Firmware Page (http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/firmware/)
Cdr-Info's list (http://www.cdrinfo.com/firmware/index2.shtml)
CD Media World's List (http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_firmwares.shtml)
Ahead/Nero's List (http://www.ahead.de/en/firmware.htm)
CD Servers (http://www.cdr.cz/rekordery/)
Complete Glossary of Terms (http://www.ahead.de/en/helptool/137.htm)
Want to Learn even More Terminology?
Brought to you from Ahead Software
Every Term Imaginable!
Rebadged Burners List (http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq05.html#S5-1)
From Andy McFadden
Since many of the CDRW's we purchase are made by another Company,
this is known as 'Rebadging'
There are only really 7 or 8 Companies that actually manufacture CDRW Drives!
Andy has compiled a nice list helping you to determine who really makes your burner and what model it's based on.
=================
Hints & Tips
=================
Defragment your Hard Drive Frequently when Burning.
Record in DAO or TAO Mode.
Image/Copy Audio and Data to your Hard Drive Before Burning with older drives.
Attempt On the Fly Audio Copying Only if your CDROM is Capable of High DAE Rates.
Data is Not So Tricky.
Close All Other Apps when Burning if you have al older slower system and are having problems.
Set Burn Speeds Relatively Slow
4x-8x and work up from there. Find out what works best for your system and setup.
Generally the Slower You Burn, The Better Results you Will Obtain.
I Highly Recommend Renaming These VXD Files
It Will Save You Some Possible Headaches!
CDRW Checkup List (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6832)
Correct installation for a CDRW.
Read here -> How to Install a CDRW by Yaa (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/yaa1.htm)
The above link contains a few nice pictures to help you along
Our M8 Darkman has also put together a very nice post containing a wealth of information on this Here -> Darkman's Installing and IDE Burner (http://www.bst-secure.com/cdrg/showthread.php?t=70)
Need to Find Places to get All the Burning Software & Utilities out there?
Go Here -> Burning Software, Utilities & Links (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6816)
==========
Media
==========
Use only good branded CDR's and CDRW's.
Might cost a tad more but beats making coasters.
What works best for some may not for you!
This is one area you may need to experiment in. Some CD players are very particular on what brand and color they like best.
And CDRW burners seem to have better results with one brand vs. another. Here's a small list of CDRW's and what they don't like.
From CDR Info & Ahead (http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Articles/Specific.asp?ArticleHeadline=CD%20Protection%20Ove rview&Series=0)
Want to Read some of Our Experiences?
Go Here -> CDR/CDRW Media- The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/005028.html)
*link is non working
Audio Only CDR's
It is a common misconception that these are somehow better at copying audio.
This is NOT true.
They are made for the stand alone console audio copiers and have an extra charge included to reimburse the record industry for the right to copy audio with these devices!
Don't waste your money buying these!
80 Min CDR vs. 74 Min CDR
For the most part 80 min's will work fine. However your drive needs to support them.
Your firmware version will sometimes determine this, so check for an update if it cannot write on 80 min CDR's.
And some readers will have a more difficult time starting and finding audio tracks with 80 min's.
I wish to extend a special thanks to Cyrus-troy and Yaa for the use of their essays and help.
____________________________________________
========================
Common Terminology
========================
DAO = Disk At Once
This is by far the preferred method of burning all CDR/RW discs.
Especially audio, you will need to have an entire CD ready for burning and this will
finalize the disc so that no more data or audio can be burnt to the disc.
This allows all CD readers the ability to read the disc.
With most software burning in this mode will also eliminate the 2 sec gap for audio tracks
Remember you must finalize/close an Audio CDR in order for it to be read in standard CD Players!
TAO [AKA - SAO] = Track At Once
This is similar to DAO but writes only one track at a time instead of an entire disc.
Some burners do not support DAO so must use this setting instead.
With certain software when using the optional filters, it will be necessary to burn in this mode in order to give the software time to process the data before burning it.
It is also used by several Clone type copying programs to allow more CDR's the ability to copy CD's 1 to 1. In that case it is known as SAO or Session At Once
Multi-Session Recording
Allows you to record more than once to a CDR or CDRW disc.
These are known as 'Sessions'
However it should be used for data only, as audio recorded in this fashion will not be able to be played in any but a PC type CD-ROM. A Regular CD Player will only be able to read/play the last session burned.
And you must “Import” the previous session in most burnware. Read your help files first!
Buffer Underuns
This is one of the most common error's you will see with older CDRW drives.
And is caused when the CDRW's buffer does not receive data fast enough from the source to maintain a steady uninterrupted burn.
If the Buffer's resources become to low, the burn will fail.
Solve this by slowing down the write speed and/or selecting the option to copy/image the data or music to your Hard Drive prior to burning.
Also close all applications that are running in the back round.
On the fly copies will result in errors and audio noise, skips, chirps, etc, much of the time due to Buffer Underuns. Unless you have a fast system and a CDROM capable of high DAE speed extraction.
Learn more here -> Cyrus-troy's Buffer Underuns (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/buffer.htm)
DAE = Digital Audio Extraction
This is the term that refers to how fast your CDROM or CDRW can process and extract audio. The faster the better, this is the most important factor for being able to copy Audio OTF (On The Fly)
The Minimum DAE of your CD-ROM determines how fast you can burn Audio OTF.
You will also need a small margin of overhead, a good rule of thumb is about 1 1/2 times the burn speed.
Some drives are much better at this than others and the Maximum x speed of the drive often has little to do with it!
Luckily there is a site with a comprehensive listing of DAE Speed for most popular drives.
They also have a test application for Downloading that will allow you to test your drives DAE plus the Quality of the Audio it extracts
Go Here -> CD Speed’s DAE Results Table (http://www.cdspeed2000.com/go.php3?link=daeresults.php3)
OTF = On The Fly
The Term referring to the direct copying of an Audio or Data CD from your CD-ROM to your CDRW without storing/imaging the data to your Hard drive first.
ASPI
Well, let's just say it's a Virtual SCSI Driver that allows Windows to communicate with your CDRW. And along with Firmware, is the only Driver needed by a CDRW.
Windows supplies the rest by default.
However you need to update it once in a while.
Go here for the Latest Version and the Utility to Check the Status and Date of your current ASPI Layer -> ASPI Check (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/downloads.htm)
Also ASPI installation can give you problems if you have no Adaptec software installed. In that case try using Force ASPI from here -> Force ASPI (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/downloads.htm)
And if you care to read more in depth about ASPI go here -> ASPI Drivers Explained (http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~aa571/aspi.htm)
Win2k also presents its own set of problems when it comes to ASPI layers. So read here for an Essay on what to do by Yaa -> Yaa's Win2k ASPI Essay (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/yaa2.htm)
AIN = Auto Insert Notification
This is what notifies Windows that you have inserted a CD into one of your drives and runs it automatically.
It is a very good idea to disable this function when a CDRW has been installed.
Especially once you have several burning apps installed on your PC. It can and will cause problems.
Find out how to do this here -> Cyrus-troy's DMA, AIN, Article (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/dma.htm)
DMA = Direct Memory Access
This allows your device to load data directly into memory.
Thereby lessening the burden on your CPU.
If your CDRW will function properly with DMA enabled, than by all means do so!
However it is a tricky one to deal with. Some burners and systems will function better
with it disabled, but most new systems and CDRW drives require it to be enabled on ALL drives! This includes your Hard Drives.
If you are having problems burning try changing the current setting on your PC.
Find out how here -> Cyrus-troy's DMA,AIN Article (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/dma.htm)
*NOTE – The above applies to Win98/ME for WinXP you need to read here
WinXP FAQ by Hoss (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=27788)
Also if you have a Motherboard that uses a VIA Chipset with the 4 in 1 Drivers you will need to follow another procedure. See this for more info…
http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6832
*NOTE- Since we seem to be having a lot of this I thought I would add that the Sync Data Transfer should also be DISABLED. Unless you have a SCSI burner.
You will find this option right next to the DMA box.
TOC = Table Of Contents
All Data CD's will need to have one of these written to it. Like the FAT (File Allocation Table) on a Hard Drive, it lets the drive know where on the disc the files are located.
Firmware
This does several things in relation to how a device works. It will control support for 80 minute CDR's, Software, Write Strategy, etc...
So update it as necessary. You will usually find updates at your burner manufactures website in the support area.
However make sure you get the one made specifically for your CDRW!
And since improper installation of firmware can cause major problems, do this only when you gain an ability your burner does not currently have!
If you are going to Flash your Firmware, here’s a few tips… Disable DMA prior to flashing the drive and reboot. If your system is currently overclocked, go into the BIOS and take it back to the default setting first.
There is also a recent trend in using 'Hacked' Firmware to either change the Make of a CDRW or even Upgrade its Maximum Burning Speed. This is also known as 'Overclocking" the CDRW.
While it is quite possible to do this successfully, please read and research this as much as possible before doing so!
It is fraught with dangers! You may or may not be able to go back to the original firmware and can end up with a piece of junk for the garbage man to collect!
And here are a few of the other places you can look. ->
Farzeno Firmware Page (http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/firmware/)
Cdr-Info's list (http://www.cdrinfo.com/firmware/index2.shtml)
CD Media World's List (http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_firmwares.shtml)
Ahead/Nero's List (http://www.ahead.de/en/firmware.htm)
CD Servers (http://www.cdr.cz/rekordery/)
Complete Glossary of Terms (http://www.ahead.de/en/helptool/137.htm)
Want to Learn even More Terminology?
Brought to you from Ahead Software
Every Term Imaginable!
Rebadged Burners List (http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq05.html#S5-1)
From Andy McFadden
Since many of the CDRW's we purchase are made by another Company,
this is known as 'Rebadging'
There are only really 7 or 8 Companies that actually manufacture CDRW Drives!
Andy has compiled a nice list helping you to determine who really makes your burner and what model it's based on.
=================
Hints & Tips
=================
Defragment your Hard Drive Frequently when Burning.
Record in DAO or TAO Mode.
Image/Copy Audio and Data to your Hard Drive Before Burning with older drives.
Attempt On the Fly Audio Copying Only if your CDROM is Capable of High DAE Rates.
Data is Not So Tricky.
Close All Other Apps when Burning if you have al older slower system and are having problems.
Set Burn Speeds Relatively Slow
4x-8x and work up from there. Find out what works best for your system and setup.
Generally the Slower You Burn, The Better Results you Will Obtain.
I Highly Recommend Renaming These VXD Files
It Will Save You Some Possible Headaches!
CDRW Checkup List (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6832)
Correct installation for a CDRW.
Read here -> How to Install a CDRW by Yaa (http://www.cyrus.troy.btinternet.co.uk/yaa1.htm)
The above link contains a few nice pictures to help you along
Our M8 Darkman has also put together a very nice post containing a wealth of information on this Here -> Darkman's Installing and IDE Burner (http://www.bst-secure.com/cdrg/showthread.php?t=70)
Need to Find Places to get All the Burning Software & Utilities out there?
Go Here -> Burning Software, Utilities & Links (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6816)
==========
Media
==========
Use only good branded CDR's and CDRW's.
Might cost a tad more but beats making coasters.
What works best for some may not for you!
This is one area you may need to experiment in. Some CD players are very particular on what brand and color they like best.
And CDRW burners seem to have better results with one brand vs. another. Here's a small list of CDRW's and what they don't like.
From CDR Info & Ahead (http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Articles/Specific.asp?ArticleHeadline=CD%20Protection%20Ove rview&Series=0)
Want to Read some of Our Experiences?
Go Here -> CDR/CDRW Media- The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (http://www.cdrom-guide.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/005028.html)
*link is non working
Audio Only CDR's
It is a common misconception that these are somehow better at copying audio.
This is NOT true.
They are made for the stand alone console audio copiers and have an extra charge included to reimburse the record industry for the right to copy audio with these devices!
Don't waste your money buying these!
80 Min CDR vs. 74 Min CDR
For the most part 80 min's will work fine. However your drive needs to support them.
Your firmware version will sometimes determine this, so check for an update if it cannot write on 80 min CDR's.
And some readers will have a more difficult time starting and finding audio tracks with 80 min's.
I wish to extend a special thanks to Cyrus-troy and Yaa for the use of their essays and help.
____________________________________________