[Dixielandjazz] Recording the music

[Dradjazz at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/19/10 12:19:26 PM, 
dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com writes:


> Stick to For Music Only (or something like that) labeled blank 
> CDs...staying
> away from For Data Recording, you will have a better chance of decent
> material.  Yes, I would go for brand names.  For store bought blanks, I 
> use
> Philips CD-R, 700 MB, 80 min. disks.  Recording on an stand-alone CD
> recorder which records in real-time (meaning 70 minutes of music takes 70
> minutes to record) assures less chance of faults.  Recording on Data CD's 
> at
> multiple speeds is a less secure way of doing it, and you can end up with
> the odd skip (drop). Look into a stand alone recorder.  It'll cost you a
> bit, but you can record then without the use of your computer.
> 

Sorry Jim, I can't agree with you there.   There is no real physical 
difference between "music only" and "data" CDs.   "Music only" CDs were introduced 
due to legislation at the behest of the music industry worried about piracy 
and copy protection.   Though there is no copy protection, with Music Only 
CDs a portion of the sale price is paid into a fund to support the music 
industry.

Hence, most non-porfessional "stand alone" audio CD recorders have been set 
up to prevent recording to data CDs.

There are differences between brands of data CDs (dye formulae, write 
speeds), though allmost all brands (Major names, house brands, and generic 
suppliers) source from a small number of Far East manufacturers.   As a 
professional I use some professionally branded media (Taiyo-Yuden) for certain 
applications, as they seem to have better quality control, though in practice I've 
never been able to prove any difference from commercially available product.

There are individuals and organizations that do run tests on CD brands, and 
there are brands that are better than others, though again, they can change 
suppliers and formulas without notice and tests can quickly go out of date. 
  TDK for instance, who produced fine audio cassettes, was prone to produce 
many (non-fatal) CD errors early on, though those tests are now out of 
date.   On the other hand I've had excellent luck with Memorex CD-R media, 
though I was never crazy about their cassettes

As a practical matter, it just harder for some CD PLAYERS to recognize and 
read writable (& RW) CDs compared to manufactured (mold injected) discs, 
though over time more CD players/readers have been made compatible with   wider 
range of writable media.   

It should also be noted that CD-R is more vulnerable to physical 
deterioration due to surface scratching, chemical aging (10+ years) and other physical 
damage such as direct exposure to strong ultra-violet light.

Hope this info is helpful to list mates.

Dave Radlauer
JAZZ RHYTHM Radio
JAZZHOTBigstep.com