HELP

Audio Discs versus Data Discs

Audio CD

An audio CD is similar to a music CD that you buy online or in a store: it can be played on any standard CD player (such as a CD deck or a portable CD player. Music is stored on Audio CDs as uncompressed (essentially WAV) digitally encoded files. When compressed audio files (RealAudio, MP3, etc.) are transferred to an audio CD, RealPlayer makes temporary uncompressed copies of each song before the CD is burned. This increases the time it takes to create the CD and requires up to 700Mb of free hard drive space.

Audio CDs can confidently be burned only onto CD-R media. While some CD players can read CD-RWs, not all are capable. You can use CD-RW with RealPlayer, but you should check with the manufacturer of your home or car CD player before burning CD-RWs for use in any of these devices.

Data Disc

A data disc is similar to a CD or DVD that is used to install software on your computer: it is just data/files. Use this feature to backup or store your media files. RealPlayer compatible files (RealAudio, MP3, etc.) from your local drives can be burned directly onto a data CD. During burning, the files are copied to the disc just as they are, without conversion or modification. RealPlayer can also organize the files in folders based on artist and album. (See CD Burner details.)

Data discs may be created using CD-R or CD-RW media.

MP3 Disc

An MP3 CD is a specialized type of data disc. All files copied to an MP3 disc will be, if needed, converted to MP3 format. Like the Data CD, files can be organized into folders. Media files on the MP3 CD can be accompanied by M3U formatted playlists, which are used by some MP3 players to play the MP3 files on the disc. When placed in an MP3 compatible CD or DVD player, MP3 discs are played like any audio CD.

MP3 Discs can be created using CD-R or CD-RW media.