Topic: "Overburning" audio CDs

[DSatz]

Hi. Just thought I'd ask around to see whether people here have any experience with this.

I recently recorded an opera performance that when mixed and edited, still runs about 30 seconds over the nominal time that my usual "80-minute" CD-R blanks can officially hold. My CD recording software (Nero) allows me the option of pushing this limit, but warns that the resulting discs may not work in all players.

Has anyone here explored this territory? Have you found players that had trouble playing the discs all the way to the end, or how much "extra" recording time could be used before such trouble occurred?

I've heard that some blanks are available with more than an 80-minute capacity--has anyone here used those, and if so, with what degree of success and/or difficulty?

Many thanks for any solid information.

--best regards

[yug du nord]

I've never used em....  but I've heard that the "over 80min. capacity" discs can not always be read in various CD players.  So, I've always stayed away from them personally.  YMMV.
I've used "overburn" in Nero before with what seemed like good results.  I've also received "overburned" discs from friends that I've always been able to play without problem.  Beyond that, I have zero "technical support" to offer.
So, from my personal experiences....  I'd choose the "overburn" method unless/until you get complaints from the recipients of said discs.  But as always....  YMMV.

[newplanet7]

I've never used the discs or was even aware they made discs for over the 80min limit.

However, I constantly over burn I think up to three or four minutes over the 80 minute limit
and never had any bad copies. I dig the nero for that.
I still burn every recording to audio disc. I know, I'm from the stoned ages. 

[datbrad]

I have had issues with skipping on some players when overburned discs come close to the 80 min mark. Not always, but occasionally.

[yltfan]

I've always been curious about the warning re: damaging your cd burner. Anyone know the likelihood of that?

[doodee]

I have had issues with skipping on some players when overburned discs come close to the 80 min mark. Not always, but occasionally.

'Bout the same experience here. I have noticed that on my particular computer overburning less than a minute and a half was fine and overburning greater than that time could be a crapshoot.

[macdaddy]

I have noticed that on my particular computer overburning less than a minute and a half was fine and overburning greater than that time could be a crapshoot.

+1


I don't recall any skipping issues during playback if und the ninety second mark, but really only used. Few players (the factory installed ones in my cars over the years.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

I'm curious why you ask this question...  Some thoughts of mine...

If you plan to listen on disc yourself on your own player, this should only be a technical concern for yourself.  I have to think that this question has arisen because you want to spread the show in some way (privately to the opera or otherwise)...

In this situation, I think I would try to slip in an extra trackbreak resulting in a 30sec track that could be could removed, if the person cannot overburn.  Crowd noise, intro, something...  They can still get 99% of the show, its just got anamoly...  Or they could burn the full show onto 2 discs...

If you can't do that, I would track it out for two 40min. discs.  If someone wants to try and overburn themselves they can do so, but the dumbie user may not even know they could overburn...

But I think it all depends on your target audience.  If it were me, and I was handing out CDRs to the opera members, I'd do a double-disc set.  If I was seeding on Dime, I would seed it as a "set" and let people burn however they wanted...

Terry

[rhinowing]

I've done it several times without issue. iirc you can't go over 82 minutes

[fmaderjr]

I've done it several times without issue. iirc you can't go over 82 minutes

Yes. I've done it up to 82 minutes several times with Nero 7 & the discs played perfectly in the 5 or so players they were tried in. Once I tried a bunch of seconds over 82 minutes and Nero didn't warn me of a problem, but the discs wouldn't work.

I wouldn't worry about doing 80:30 with Nero. After you do it, if it plays in your players, it should play in your clients'/friends' players.

[SmokinJoe]

I've done it in situations like that where I'm just seconds over... it seems to work fine in most players.  Think of a vinyl record... imagine you squeezed the grooves together just a little bit tighter to make more fit.  Supposedly some devices will croak if you try to squeeze that last little bit.  I haven't run into one.

On a side note, I think there is some seldom mentioned magical limit at 78minutes.  If you go to get a bunch of CD's replicated in a batch of 100 for example, they will make you sign a waiver if you exceed 78minutes.  I have my original living room CD player I have had since 1985, so that is "old school" long before anyone had home CD burners.  Then when CD-R's came out they were 74 minutes, then eventually 80 min CD-Rs came out.  This CD player isn't particular fussy about what you feed it, such as scratched CD's etc, different brands of CD-R, but it doesn't like CD-R's with more than 78minutes on them...

[rjp]

I have my original living room CD player I have had since 1985, so that is "old school" long before anyone had home CD burners.  Then when CD-R's came out they were 74 minutes, then eventually 80 min CD-Rs came out.  This CD player isn't particular fussy about what you feed it, such as scratched CD's etc, different brands of CD-R, but it doesn't like CD-R's with more than 78minutes on them...

Consider yourself lucky in that regard... my dad has a Technics unit from that era, and when it comes to CD-Rs, it's Taiyo Yuden or nothing. Anything other than a TY will result in skips and freezeups.

My luck with overburning has been poor as well, to the point that I don't overburn.

[coloartist]

I have used overburn on Nero many times. Worked fine for me.

[H₂O]

I have some no name 90 min CD-R's that I have burned up to 84 min on - The amount you can fit is determined by the drive - Only a handfull of drives approach the 90 min mark but most can get about 84 min or so.


If you want some I can mail them to you to try.