How to Create a CD

The compact disc may be 30 years old, but it is still one of the most reliable ways to store digital data. Even with DVD and other memory storage solutions available on the market today, CDs are still very common and are still one of the industry’s most accessible and most affordable standards for storing data. Creating a CD is easy, but some people may not know how to start backing up data or creating audio CDs and video CDs. Here’s a quick guide to show you how to create a CD.

What You Need

“Burning” is a term often used to refer to creating compact discs. A precision laser beam literally “burns” data on the reflective surface of the CD, in the form of small dents on the layer of polycarbonate plastic sandwiched in protective plastic. Here are the equipment and tools you need to start creating your own CDs:

• CD burner. A CD burner is a device used to burn and read compact discs from a computer. The speed and efficiency of a CD burner is denoted by the set of numbers on its label. A high-end 52/32/52 CD burner can burn a recordable CD in 52x speed, can burn a rewritable CD in 32x speed, and read CDs in 52x speed. When buying a CD burner, you may also want to buy an additional CD-ROM drive to preserve the lifespan of the CD burner.
• Software. Most modern operating systems and multimedia programs come with bundled software and functionalities for recording CDs. It’s still best to have a program dedicated to creating compact discs.
• Blank CDs come either as recordable CDs (CD-R) or rewritable CDs (CD-RW). CD-R can only be recorded once, while CD-RW can be recorded multiple times. You can also buy these CD media in different colors or shapes.

Creating an Audio or Video CD

When you create an audio or video CD, you need to use a CD-R. CD-RW is not recognized by older CD players, so you need to use CD-R for the task. Make sure that the CD-R you’re using is clean and free from cracks, chips, or dirt embedded in the CD.

1. Organize your track lists and videos you intend to burn before writing them into the CD. It helps to have a handwritten list of your tracks on hand to avoid confusion.
2. Use CD-burning or CD creation software like Nero or Roxio to start compiling the tracks into the CD. You should be absolutely sure that the tracks are lined up the way you want them to be played. Remember that once you burn an audio CD or video CDs, there’s no way you can alter the track arrangement or replace tracks.
3. Check the settings of the CD creation method before burning the CD. Make sure that you’re burning a closed-session CD, so that an older CD player can recognize the medium.
4. Wait for the burn process to be completed and test the CD.

Creating a Data CD

When burning a data CD, it may help to have both CD-Rs and CD-RWs handy. CD-RWs spare you the extra expense and bulk of CD-Rs, and you can erase them just in case anything goes wrong with the burning process.

1. Organize your files just as you would do a track list with an audio CD.
2. Use CD-burning or CD-creation software to burn the data on the CD. For blank CDs in a computer running Windows XP or Vista, you can simply drag-and-drop the files from the hard drive into the CD.
3. If you’re sure you’re not going to add more data on the CD in the future, turn on the option for a closed-session CD.
4. Wait for the burn process to be completed and test the CD.

While not all your CD-burning projects will be successful, you have the advantage in having a cheap, easy-to-use medium for creating audio, video, and data storage media. With these tips for creating CDs, making a multimedia disc or backing up your files is made easier and and much more convenient.