This section is intended to help you find answers to the most frequently asked questions that we respond to. If you cannot find your question listed, then please contact us today and we will be pleased to help.
View our glossary of terms. |
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What does CD-R stand for? |
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CD-R stands for CD-Recordable. Recordable CDs are WORM (Write Once, Read Multiple) media that work just like standard CDs. The advantage of CD-R over other types of optical media is that you can use the discs with a standard CD player. The disadvantage is that you can't reuse a disc. |
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What does CD-RW stand for? |
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CD-RW stands for CD-Rewritable allows you to erase discs and reuse them, but the CD-RW media doesn't work in all players. CD-Rewritable drives are able to write both CD-R and CD-RW discs. |
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Are these the same as normal CDs? |
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The CDs you buy in a store are pressed from a mold. CD-Rs are burned with a laser. They may look different (often green, gold, or blue instead of silver), they're less tolerant of extreme temperatures and sunlight, and they're more susceptible to physical damage. Whether CD-Rs or pressed CDs last longer is difficult to answer. You cannot record on pressed discs. |
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Can I create new audio and data CDs? |
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You can create CD-ROMs from data on your hard drive, and you can create new audio CDs from anything you can record into a WAV or AIFF sound file. The CD-ROMs you produce will play in ordinary CD-ROM drives, and the audio CDs you create will work in your home or car CD player. |
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Can I write CDs using my CD-ROM drive? |
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Writing to CD-Rs and CD-RWs requires a special drive. You can't write CDs with an ordinary CD-ROM drive. |
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Can I use it to copy my CDs? |
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Yes, both audio and data CDs can be duplicated. You can even create audio CDs that are compilations of other audio CDs (perhaps a personal "best of" disc). Bear in mind that most CDs are protected by copyright laws. If you are making multiple copies, however, using a manual duplicator or even a automatic duplicator will save time and give more reliable copies. |
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How much data can CD-R hold? |
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About 74 minutes of audio, or about 650MB of data.Some CD-R blanks can hold 80 minutes of audio, or about 700MB of data. |
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Can I copy DVDs with a CD recorder? |
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Not directly. CD and DVD are very different formats, so you can't write DVDs with your CD recorder. You may be able to convert the contents into a lower-quality format though. |
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What does DVD stand for? |
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DVD originally stood for Digital Video Disc but as it progressed to contain data and audio as well as video it has changed to Digital Versatile Disc. Some argue that there is no definitive answer to this, much like the answer to what does VHS stand for. |
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How are DVDs different to CDs? |
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Fundamentally, DVDs and CDs are the same, the same shape and size though often DVDs have a different coloured base. However, DVDs can store a much greater amount of data, audio or video than a CD. While CDs are 650mb, DVDs can store up to 8.5Gb of data (dual-layer). |
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What do I need to copy DVDs? |
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Our DVD copying / DVD duplicating units are all compatible with the common formats of DVD and will copy them directly from source to output. Our range includes manual copiers, automatic copiers and even DVD printers allowing you to identify your discs professionally. |
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What are all the different DVD formats? |
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As DVD has progressed a number of manufacturers have released formats, all of which have slight unique features. DVD-ROM is the basis holding all the data, DVD-Video determines how videos are stored on the disc and their compatibility with computers or DVD players. The different formats at the time of writing are:
- DVD-R / DVD-RW
- DVD-RAM
- DVD+R / DVD+RW
- DVD-VR (DVD-Video Recording)
- DVD+VR (DVD-Video Recording)
- DVD-AR (DVD Audio Recording)
- DVD-SR (DVD Stream Recording)
- DVD-A (DVD Audio)
- DVD+R DL / DVD+RW DL (DVD Dual Layer)
- Games consoles use different formats.
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How do I make a DVD? |
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There are two main ways to compile a DVD. One is to use the DVD burning drive in your PC. Most modern computers are equipped with a DVD burning drive enabling you to create Video files, Audio files or simply add data to a blank DVD. Alternatively, DVD recorders are available which allow you to record live television, video recorded footage or even VHS tape directly onto DVD in the same way it is possible to use a VCD to record VHS.
Once you have made your original, use one of our DVD copiers (which also copy CDs) to duplicate DVDs. |
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