difference between "data" and "audio" cd-r discs

I searched all over the site on this one, but didn't find this specific question addressed. I see some cd-r discs sold as "data" discs, and others for "audio". In my experience, data cd-r discs usually play fine when burned in audio cd format.

I've seen reference to those categories in these forums, but haven't seen an explanation of what the difference is. I assume that it has something to do with Red Book and/or Orange Book conventions. Any enlightenment that can be provided on this issue is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Audio cd's have an identification marker that is embedded onto the disk that can be recognised by consumer cd recorders. These recorders will not make a copy of copy. This applies only to "stereo equipment" cd recorders, not to computer cd burners, which by and large treat audio and data cds the same.

 

Praetor I am not sure what equipment you are using , but I have no problem burning data or video onto "Audio" CDRs.

 

I'd cast my experience in with kidmd - the only difference I've been able to discern with cd-r discs whose packages are labeled "data" is just that - the label. I need to check more carefully on the orange book vs. red book convention - there may be something there. But I've always been able to burn any data discs (mp3 files mostly) onto "audio" cd-r discs, no problem.

 

You only need buy "Consumer Audio" CDR's if you plan to use them in Standalone CD Recorders (Philips 779 etc,...). You are just wasting your money otherwise. Often the discs good quality, but only rated at 4x or 8x speed, so Error rates balloon above that.

Basically Consumer Audio CDR's are more expensive, because the RIAA takes a tax on each one, as you are going to be doing "mechanical copying" - i.e. Making up your own compilations from what you already have.

 

Yes, and if you try and burn a 'data' CD in a consumer hi-fi unit it says 'PROFESSIONAL?' on the LCD display.

 

If you use your PC for CD burning there is NO difference between audio and data CD's for burning anything i.e music, video or data - except of course the price!. Audio CD's are manufactured for certain standalone CD recorders that require that format for copying music. It's a rip-off in actual fact.

 

Just to reiterate what others have been saying, there is no quality difference between audio-CDRs and data-CDRs; however, if you have a standalone CD player/recorder, you may need to buy audio-CDRs because it checks for some coding on the CDR. (There's a way to trick it using a data CDR anyway.) The audio-CDR label is just more expensive because of the royalties being paid to the RIAA.

 

The Audio cd's are supposed to have a different geometry to the track to reduce audio errors

Data cd's should be fine for anything you are doing on the PC

 

....and pigs have a different geometry so they can fly.

 

emm, pigs can't fly...

If I get a chance tonite I'll try and unearth my orange book or the cd-r 'bible' to clarify my comment.

If you think about it, the geometry of the Stamper (that's the bit put in the moulding machine with which the clear blank disk with the track is made from) is different between the 74 minute, 80 min and now these 90 min disks, this means the geometry of the track between the 74, 80 and 90 min cd's are different.
Obviously more track length is added to the same diameter cd reducing the track pitch, affecting the area for the recording dye.
What I'm on about is that some of the audio cd-r had a more stable track geometry to reduce the errors associated with Audio reproduction

I use data cdr for my audio backups

 

How does the size thing work?
Example: if I have a CD-R that says it's 80 minutes/700 MB and the average audio quality is like around 10MB/minute, where does the extra 100MB come from? Shouldn't it be 80 minutes/800 MB?