Copying CDs Using CD Copier

What Kinds of CDs Can I Copy? • Using the CD-ROM as the Source Drive • Using the CD-Recorder as the Source and Destination Drive • Copying a CD • Copying Music and Mixed-Mode CDs • Making a Disc Copy • Making Multiple Copies • CD Information Properties • CD Drive Properties

What Kinds of CDs Can I Copy?

With CD Copier, you can make backup copies of almost any type of CD. The most common use for making a copy of a CD is to make a working copy of a CD and to archive the original in a safe place.

NOTE: CD Copier is designed to assist you in reproducing material in which you own the copyright or have obtained permission to copy from the copyright owner. Unless you own the copyright or have permission to copy from the copyright owner, you may be violating copyright law and be subject to payment of damages and other remedies. If you are uncertain about your rights, contact your legal advisor.

The following table lists the types of CDs that you can copy, as well as some notes for making those copies.

Type of CD Notes

Data n Some commercial CDs are designed to prevent copying, and will not allow you to make a copy. n Only single session data CDs can be copied in Disc-at-Once mode.

Music n The CD-ROM or CD-Recorder drive used as the source drive must support digital audio extraction. (Easy CD Creator tests your drive to determine its capabilities when the source CD is inserted.) n You can copy music CDs in Disc-at-Once mode if your CD-Recorder supports Disc-at-Once mode.

DirectCD n Some CD-ROM drives may not be able to read a CD made with DirectCD. If your CD-ROM drive is MultiRead capable, there should be no problems.

Mixed-Mode n Some mixed-mode CDs copy perfectly while others do not. If your mixed-mode CD cannot be copied, the CD may be formatted to prevent copying.

Enhanced CD n Copy enhanced CDs in Disc-at-Once mode; otherwise, some audio may be lost if there is less than a two-second gap between tracks on the source CD.

Photo CD n Requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of reading CD-ROM XA. Most current drives support this.

Video CD n Requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of reading CD-ROM XA. Most current drives support this.

Type of CD	Notes
Data	n Some commercial CDs are designed to prevent copying, and will not allow you to make a copy. n Only single session data CDs can be copied in Disc-at-Once mode.
Music	n The CD-ROM or CD-Recorder drive used as the source drive must support digital audio extraction. (Easy CD Creator tests your drive to determine its capabilities when the source CD is inserted.) n You can copy music CDs in Disc-at-Once mode if your CD-Recorder supports Disc-at-Once mode.
DirectCD	n Some CD-ROM drives may not be able to read a CD made with DirectCD. If your CD-ROM drive is MultiRead capable, there should be no problems.
Mixed-Mode	n Some mixed-mode CDs copy perfectly while others do not. If your mixed-mode CD cannot be copied, the CD may be formatted to prevent copying.
Enhanced CD	n Copy enhanced CDs in Disc-at-Once mode; otherwise, some audio may be lost if there is less than a two-second gap between tracks on the source CD.
Photo CD	n Requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of reading CD-ROM XA. Most current drives support this.
Video CD	n Requires a source CD-ROM drive capable of reading CD-ROM XA. Most current drives support this.

NOTE: Due to technical limitations of CD-ROM and CD-Recorder drives, not every type of CD can be copied perfectly. Problems can arise from both the source CD-ROM drive and the source CD. Select the Test option in the CD Copier Advanced Tab settings to determine if your system can successfully copy a CD.

Using the CD-ROM as the Source Drive

If you have a CD-ROM drive, you can copy directly from a source CD to a blank CD in your CD-Recorder. The CD-ROM drive is used as the source drive and the CD-Recorder as the destination drive.

NOTE: When you insert a CD into your source drive and select the drive in the Source and Destination tab, Easy CD Creator automatically tests both the drive and the CD. The tests determine whether the selected drive can successfully read the selected CD. If it cannot, an error message appears.

Using the CD-Recorder as the Source and Destination Drive

If you have only a CD-Recorder and no CD-ROM drive, you can copy a CD using the CD-Recorder as both the source and destination drive. Simply select the CD-Recorder as the drive in both the Copy From and Record To drop-down list boxes. This requires you have enough space on your hard disk to temporarily copy the contents of the source CD. See Making a Disc Copy.

NOTE: Making a disc copy speeds up the recording process and eliminates the need to swap the source and blank CD in and out of your CD-Recorder. When you make a disc copy, CD Copier copies the CD as a temporary image file on your hard disk, then records it to a blank CD.

Copying a CD

To copy a CD:

Start CD Copier. From the Easy CD Creator Project Selector window, click CD Copier.
Insert the source CD from which you want to make copies into your CD-ROM or CD-Recorder drive.
On the Source and Destination tab, select the drive containing the source CD in the Copy From drop-down list box.

NOTE: If you are copying directly from a CD-ROM drive, see Using the CD-ROM as the Source Drive.
Select the destination drive that contains the blank CD in the Record To drop-down list box. This is your CD-Recorder.
Make changes, if any, in Advanced tab settings.
Click Copy to begin recording a copy of your CD.

CD Copier begins copying the files and folders listed in your source CD to a blank CD. When the CD is finished, a final message box appears notifying you that the copying is complete.

Copying Music and Mixed-Mode CDs

Although most CD-ROM drives can play back music from a music CD, not all are capable of reading and copying music tracks in digital format.

Making a Disc Copy

You can speed up the recording process if you are making multiple copies of a CD by first making a disc copy. Making a disc copy also allows you to copy a CD if you have only a CD-Recorder and no CD-ROM drive in your system. The CD-Recorder is used as both the source and destination drive.

To make a disc copy:

Insert the source CD from which you want to make copies into your CD-ROM or CD-Recorder drive.
Select the drive containing the source CD in the Copy From drop-down list box.
Click the Advanced tab.

Under Disc Copy, select Copy Source CD to the Hard Drive First.

NOTE: You need enough available space on your hard disk to copy the source CD. A 74-minute blank CD typically holds up to 650 MB of data; an 80-minute blank CD up to 700 MB of data.

Select a different location on your hard disk if you do not want to record the image file to your Windows Temp directory (optional).
Click Copy.

CD Copier temporarily records the CD to your hard disk as an image file, then records it to the blank CD. CD Copier automatically removes the image file after the CD has been copied.

Making Multiple Copies

You can make multiple copies of a CD more quickly with CD Copier's Disc Copy feature if:

Space is available on your hard disk.
Your source CD-ROM drive is slow.
Your CD-Recorder serves as both your source and destination drive.

See Making a Disc Copy.

CD Information Properties

To view the CD Information properties:

From the File menu, select CD Information. The CD Information dialog box appears.

This dialog box displays information about the CD in the selected CD-Recorder or CD-ROM drive. It displays the CD type, how many sessions, and how many tracks are on the CD.
Click Help on the CD Information dialog box for details about the specific property settings.

CD Drive Properties

To view the CD Drive properties:

From the File menu, select CD Drive Properties. The CD Drive Properties dialog box appears.

This dialog box displays information about the CD-Recorder or CD-ROM drive, including the vendor, product ID, and firmware revision. It also displays the various features supported by the drive.
Click Help on the CD Drive Properties dialog box for details about the specific property settings.

Back to Contents Page