I am trying to create a CD that when inserted into a stereo plays the audio files, but doesn’t show any of the data as a blank track, and when inserted in the PC, shows the data, but not neccessarily the audio.
I have been able to create a type of CD like is listed above, however when placed in my boombox, the first track is something ridiculously long and silent (that’s the pc data).
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
The best thing I can think of is to place the data track at the end. A decent burning program (Easy CD Creator 4, etc) should be able to do this. As far as I know, the data track will always be there when playing it in a stereo, showing up as blank, or some noise.
There is a way to do it, as I have two CD’s where someone took our music and data and made CD’s where the data track didn’t show on the stereo, and the cd tracks didn’t show when inserted into the PC. I don’t know how it was done, and am hoping someone might be able to shed some light on this subject.
Unfortunately, I cannot ask the original person how this was done.
I have done this before as well. Using Easy CD Creator, create a music CD like you normally would, but select the option at the bottom of the dialogue box that says, “create, but do not close CD” (I think that’s what it’s called. I’ll double check when I get home.) Then, copy your data files to the same disk, selecting to “close” the CD.
You need to create a CD with two “sessions” on it. Audio CD players, as a rule, only access the first session on a disk, so this should contain the music. Computer CD drives can access multi-session disks and usually default to accessing the first data session.
When some software like Easy CD Creator closes a disk it finalises all of the sessions and writes their header information to the surface. If the disk is not closed then more sessions (more data, more music etc) can be added.
So, as Demo says, write the music tracks first, but don’t close the disk. You should then be able to write a data session before finally running the close process.
If your burning software has a setting for “CD Extra”, try it.
I don’t know the specifics, but I believe the mass-produced music CDs with data tracks use CD Extra. Those are the ones that seem just like regular CDs until you put them in the computer, and they pop up a music video or a web site link.
I’m not familiar with CD Extra, but you can get the pop-up effect by putting an autorun.inf file in the root directory of the data session. It’s the same method as game CDs use to pop up the installer program when you insert it.
If you want to do this kind of thing either look at a game CD that does this or post what you want to do and I’ll try to reply with the details.
Cool you guys, I have some options. I have EZ CD Creator 4, and will be rebuilding my system shortly after X-Mas to test it out. Unfortunately, last night when booting up, my system detected physical problems on my drive, and scandisk was not able to fix them, nor will windows boot.
I’m stuck w/getting ready for the holidays and heading out before week’s end, but I will be returning and will let you know how it goes.
thanks
When I make a Picture vcd with Nero there is an option to store the original photos on the cd too. I wonder if it has that option for music too?
I don’t have a PC and therefore don’t know EZ CD Creator, but I know it’s the same company that makes Toast, and in Toast you burn the CD as an Enhanced Music CD.