CD/DVD CREATION  

Each of the computers in the Imaging Annex computers is equipped with a CD/DVD burner and CD/DVD creation software. This equipment and software may not be used to duplicate material covered by copyright or licensing agreements and should only be used in compliance with Macalester College's copyright policy.

Roxio Easy CD Creator is available on the Imaging Annex PC computers. This program has many different project types designed to create a wide variety discs. The three projects you will most likely use are dataCD, musicCD, and the CD Copier. The names are fairly self explanatory. Data CD’s hold any kind of file and can be accessed like a disk. Music CD’s can be played on a computer or CD player*. And the CD Copier makes an exact duplicate of another CD. This program can also be used to create DirectCD format CDRW’s.

Roxio's Toast Titanium is available on the Imaging Annex Macintosh computers. Many formats for burning are available, but the ones you will likely need are data and audio. Toast can also make exact copies of another CD. Toast also allows you to prepare a CD for compatibility with a Macintosh, PC, or a hybrid able to be read by both types of computers. Also found on the two Macs are DVD burners. While the DVD-R drivers are not supported by the Library Lab, Toast does have the ability to burn to a DVD.

SOME TIPS FOR BURNING CD/DVDs...

Imaging Annex computers are set to burn at 4x, 8x, or 12x speed. If you’re not sure which one to use, try 8x, which is the default. It has very little chance of error, and is still fairly fast. There are a few things to consider when choosing your burning speed.

What speed can the CD/DVD itself handle?
Most CD’s will say either on the case, the packaging or the CD itself, what speeds it can burn at. (something like 1x-16x, or a list). The speed you try to burn at must be within that range, for it to work.

What kind of CD is it?
The standard for music CD’s is 4x because not all CD players can play CD’s burned at higher speeds. For data CDs, it depends on other factors.

Where are the files I'm burning?
If they are on the hard drive, the computer needs less time to access them and can therefore burn faster. If the files are not on the hard drive, you should not burn at any speed higher than 8x.

What else is the computer doing?
Running any other programs on a computer while it is burning will consume resources. If you are going to burn at 12x, you should close out all other programs while it is burning, and even at lower speeds you should use other programs sparingly.