Data CD-R vs. "Audio" CD-R

I never really knew what the difference was between the two different CD-R types. I always thought is strange that Audio CD-R's were considered lower quality than Data CD-R's, but Audio CD-R's normally cost more. Well, I finally looked it up on the web and found this:

Quote:

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The difference with the Audio (consumer) disc is that
there is a flag written to the disk before you buy it.
The consumer CD recorders require this flag to be
present in order to record.

The reason these discs cost more is that there is a
Tariff included in the price of the audio cd. This
was imposed by the RIAA, I believe, just as it was
done with audio DAT tape. They collect money on these
formats ASSUMING that you and I will be using this to
copy copywritten material, and they want money for
that.

You can fake out a consumer CD recorder. This worked
on the old phillips units, your mileage may vary. The
trick involves first putting a consumer blank disc in
the recorder. The flag is read, and it thinks it is
ok to record. Then, pry the cd door open so that you
can exchange the consumer disc with a cheap blank disk
(but the cd recorder thinks the old disc is still
there). It will allow recording on the cheaper media
(if you were able to exchange the disk without it's
knowledge). Obviously this is a cumbersome process,
and it may have some shortfalls in quality.

CD recorders burn test spots on disks in order to
optimize the laser intensity appropriately for that
particular disk. Using this exchange process, the
test spots will be burned on the consumer disc, NOT
the cheap disk, so that the laser settings will not be
optimized for the cheap disk.

---

Looks like it's a ploy from out old pals at the RIAA.

Hmmm thats an interesting theory.... Could you post the link of the site you found this on please.

As much as I hate the RIAA I'm having trouble believing this story. I'd like to investigate.

Cheers
V$D$

AFAIK, its quite true and everyone also pays a peice to Sony Corp.


-Maestr0

I lost the link to the actual place I took that last quote, but here a few links with similar info:


http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/archive/t155767.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/supersat/30876.html

From here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/supersat/30876.html

Quote:

---

What does this mean to you? Digital Audio Tape recorders, DAT, and audio CD-Rs tapes are all taxed by the RIAA to recoup their "lost profits." Never buy an audio CD-R. Normal CD-Rs will work just fine, and the RIAA doesn't get a cut from the sale.

---

Bloody Hell!! Im never ever buying an Audio CDR again EVER!!! (not that I buy many)

Its Data CDs from now on for me!!

Breakology, Maestr0, you've changed my life and opened my eyes.. I thank you.

Surely there cant be hardly any difference between a Data and Audio CD recordable??

Cheers :D
V$D$

Hey , wait a minute !

I 've never bought an audio cdr ! I 've always recorded on the cheapest data cdr.I've never had any any problems with audio quality as well.Always used NERO and I've used it on both my philips and sony cdrw drives.They have never refused the disks either, must be doing something right !

:confused: Dr_Evil

hmm I wonder if they mean in domestic Cd Audio recorders? not computer Cd writers?

cheers

this is a very interesting thread. in my spare time, i do a lot of dj'ing using digital cd turntables. there are very many records that i enjoy that only come out on vinyl. i usually take the time to record these vinyl records to my computer, than burn the files to an audio cd so i can mix the discs instead of vinyl. usually, for this purpose, i purchase the expensive memorex audio cd's. i have always assumed that these discs are more expensive due to their "higher quality" over a normal data cdr. i have never realized that the extra cost was just money making the riaa pockets fatter, and not going toward a better product. i believe it is time to buy the cheap stuff.