Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can CD-R be used for audio?
Yes, CD-R discs can be used for audio. They are designed to write discs in the official Compact Disc-Digital Audio (CD-DA) Red Book format, which is compatible with any CD audio player.
2. How much audio can a CD-R hold?
A standard CD-R can hold up to 650MB or 74 minutes of audio. This is based on the Orange Book standard, which ensures compatibility with CD-R drives, computer CD-ROM drives, and audio CD players.
3. Can you play a CD-R in a car CD player?
Playing CD-Rs in car CD players can sometimes be a challenge. CD-RWs have lower reflectivity and may not be readable by all car CD players. To ensure compatibility, it is recommended to use high-quality CD-R media and burn the audio CDs at a slower speed.
4. What do I need to play a CD-R?
CD-R discs can be read on almost any computer CD-ROM drive, CD-R or CD-R/RW recorder, and MultiRead-compliant DVD-ROM drive or recorder. They closely mimic the optical characteristics of pressed CDs, allowing for broad compatibility.
5. What device will play a CD-R?
CD-R discs are compatible with most consumer electronics devices, including portable, car, and set-top CD audio players, as well as MultiPlay-compliant DVD-Video players and recorders.
6. Why do some burned CDs not play?
Some burned CDs may not play due to format compatibility issues. Older players may not support CDs burned in MP3 format, and not all players can handle CD-RW discs. It is recommended to burn CDs as "Audio CD" format for better compatibility with a wider range of CD players.
7. Should I burn a CD as MP3 or audio?
For older CD players that cannot read MP3 format, it is best to burn CDs as "audio" format. However, for newer CD players and DAISY players, burning files as "data" instead of "audio" is recommended.
8. Do all CD players play CD-R?
Not all CD players support the playback of CD-R discs. Some CD players are designed to only play commercially-produced CDs. The compatibility of CD-R discs depends on the type of recordable CD media used (CD-R or CD-RW) and the specific CD player.
The best source format to use when creating an audio CD is WAV. MP3 files are compressed from CD audio quality, while converting a 44.1 kHz WAV file to CDA format ensures no noise, distortion, or coloration in the sound.
