CD-R Drive User Guide

CD-R is a short name for "CD-Recordable" compact disc. Recordable CDs are WORM (Write Once, Read Multiple) compact discs that can be written and read by CD-R drives and also ordinary CD-ROM drives. You can use a CD-R drive attached to the RealVideo Encoding PC to save encoded video files into a CD-R disc1.

The process of saving or recording a file into a CD-R disc is sometimes called 'burning'. In the RealVideo Encoding PC, burning is done by a software called Adaptec EasyCD Creator Deluxe.

The following describes how to use the Adaptec EasyCD Creator Deluxe to burn a file onto your CD-R .

Note 1: You can bring your own CD-R disc or purchase them at the Computer Centre General Office (Room RR-223).

The Adaptec EasyCD Creator Deluxe Main Window

Let's briefly discuss the different components of the main window. This is where you create, start and stop a recording process.

cdr_0.gif (17533 bytes)

The top section of the window is a toolbar. You can create, save and start a recording process.

In the middle section, there are 2 Windows Explorer-like areas.  The upper area shows your files and directories in your harddisk; while the lower area is a CD Layout showing what files are being recorded into the CD-R disc.

The bottom section of the window is where you monitor the CD-R disc space. The white bar shows how much disc space you will use.

The entire recording process is divided into 3 parts:

  1. Creating a CD Layout
  2. Customizing CD Creation
  3. CD-R Testing & Recording

Preparing to record a CD-R

Before you begin the recording process, you should make sure that:

  1. the files to be recorded are on the harddisk of the PC.
  2. the CD-R drive is properly connected and is working correctly.

    3.  
The CD-R drive is placed just behind the monitor of the MPEG-1 Video Encoding PC (in RR-104). It is an external disk drive and black in colour.

To check the drive connectivity:

  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Try to find Drive W: with icon looks like cdr_b.gif (1341 bytes), in Windows Explorer.
  3. If you find that drive, it means that the CD-R drive is connected properly, then you can go to step 6.
  4. If you CANNOT find that drive, you should switch on the CD-R drive and reboot the PC.
  5. After rebooting the PC, open Window Explorer and find Drive W: again. Then, go to step 3.
  6. Insert your CD-R disc into the CD-R drive.

Note 2: You can locate the power switch at the back of the CD-R drive. When the power is turned on, a green LED lights up at the front panel of the CD-R drive.

Creating a CD Layout

You need to tell the Adaptec EasyCD Creator what are going to be recorded into the CD-R disc. This process is called Creating a CD Layout.

  1. Start Adaptec EasyCD Creator and a Adaptec EasyCD Creator Wizard opens. (If you have already opened Adaptec EasyCD Creator or the wizard does not open, click the pulldown menu File->Wizard)

    2.  

     

    cdr_1.gif (15203 bytes)
     

  2. Select Data CD option and click Next button.

    3.  

     

    cdr_2.gif (12735 bytes)
     

  3. Find the folders and files to be recorded and click the Add Now button.

    4.  

     

    There is a bar near the bottom of the window. It shows how much space is left in your CD-R disc.

    Click the Next button.

    cdr_3.gif (13775 bytes)
     

  4. Select Perform the test option and click the Next button.

    5.  

     

    cdr_9.gif (13324 bytes)

    You can select Create CD now and then the Finish button to record the file onto the CD-R disc immediately. (Then go to D-R Testing & Recording), or, you can select Create CD later and then click Finish.

    You will be taken back to the main window.

    In the main window, you can add or remove folders and files to be recorded into your CD-R disc.

    To add a folder or file:

    1. find folder or file from the upper area of the middle section in the main window.
    2. drag and drop it to the lower area of the middle section in the main window.
    To remove a folder or file:
    1. select folder or file you want to remove from the lower area of the middle section in the main window.
    2. press Delete button from the keyboard.

Customizing CD Creation

  1. Click the REC button (indicated by a green arrow below) from the main window.

    2.  

     

    cdr_a.gif (9834 bytes)

    A CD Creation Setup dialog appears.

    cdr_4.gif (9839 bytes)cdr_5.gif (12309 bytes)
     

  2. In the General  and Advanced tabs on the right side, select settings as shown below.


    3. In General tab:

    1. CD Recorder: E: Pinnacle RCD 4x4
    2. Write speed: 2x 300KB/sec.
    3. Options: Test and create CD
    In Advanced tab:
    1. Track-at-Once: Close Session and Leave Disc Open

      2.  
  3. Click the OK button and the CD-R Testing & Recording phases will begin.

CD-R Testing & Recording

  1. The CD Creation Process dialog opens.

    2.  

     

    cdr_6.gif (9059 bytes)cdr_7.gif (9381 bytes)
     

  2. After the Testing Phase, the process will go to the Recording Phase.

    3.  

     

    Time taken to finish the 2 phases are roughly the same. If the Time Remaining in Testing Phase shows 22:00 minutes, it means that the whole process (Testing Phase and Recording Phase) needs 44 minutes to complete.
     

  3. On completion,  the CD Creation Process dialog will tell you: 'CD created successfully.'

    4.  

     

    cdr_8.gif (9833 bytes)


Author: George Poon
File created: September, 1999