Feurio Questions & Answers - Explanation of
Terminology:
Overburning
It seems to have become really fashionable to squeeze the last bit out of the
hardware (even taking the risk of it causing operational errors). Overpulsing
processors is now "old hat", now overburning CD-Rs is fashionable. This means
that more data is burned on the CD-R than will actually fit on it.
What happens when you "overburn?"
Normally a CD-R has got a fixed maximum play time. This maximum play time is
stored on the CD-R and can be read by the CD recorder; Feurio!® can query
the maximum playing time from the CD writer. The maximum play time is displayed
in the status field.
Well, recently the question arose what would happen if you simply ignored this
maximum play time and were just cheeky enough to send more data to the writer.
If you do this, 2 things can happen:
First of all there is a so-called "Leadout-areaFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT" after the
data area. This leadout areaFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT represents something like a "conclusion"
to the CD. The Leadout areaFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT normally occupies a play time
of ca. 90 seconds.
The CD writer does not normally start with the leadout areaFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT
until it has finished recording the data (see below).
So if more data is written, then the last data is written in what is really the
"Leadout areaFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT". This of course means there is not enough room
for the leadout areaFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT; so the leadoutFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT can
not be written completely.
However an incomplete leadoutFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT is not really a problem; most
audio CD players do not need the leadoutFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT as far as I know.
So, when you do this, you create a CD which does not comply with the specifications
for an audio CD but as a general rule still works (but there is no guarantee
for this)!
The second possibility is that the manufacturer of the CD-R has been a bit overcautious
with the data he has provided and that there really is still room at the end
of the CD-R - in this case the recording continues without any problems.
To what extent you can overburn a CD however can only be tested (this depends
on both the CD burner and the CD-R).
CAUTION: CDs are always burned from the center to the edge, i.e. the very last
data is written right on the outside edge of the CD. Although you may find that
recording on the outermost areas still works, it may still lead to read errors,
as it is possible that these areas may not be "handled" correctly!
What can happen? - The CD-Writer refuses to start the recording
Before starting the CD recording, the CD writer is sent a list of the tracks
to be written. The CD writer could check this list and thereby discover that
the CD is "too long" and refuse to start recording. In this case, there is no
way to "overburn" the CD.
- The CD-Writer ignores further data
The CD-Writer could also "notice" that it has reached the end of the free area
and just ignore further data. So when playing the CD, the track would just be
incomplete.
- The CD-Writer ends the recording with an error message
The CD-Writer tries to record the data (and then the LeadoutFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT)
normally. As soon as the "end" of the CD is reached, the recording is finished
with an error message.
If the error message occurred during the LeadoutFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT, then the
LeadoutFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT has not been written completely but it should still
be possible to use the CD.
If the error message occurred in the data area, then too much data was burned
and the last track will be incomplete.
- The CD-Writer could get damaged
(It is very unlikely but it has to be mentioned)
When "overburning", the CD-Writer and the CD-R are being operated outside their
specification. This could even lead to the writer being damaged.
At this point, remember the old "Atari-times". The disks actually had 80 tracks.
And then someone had the idea that you could have 81 or 82 or 83 tracks which
of course would mean more memory.
The result was: Some drives could manage 80 tracks, some even 86. Of course the
disks with 86 tracks on them did not run on the drives which could only manage
80 tracks, on them the head then hit the back (which was no doubt not very beneficial
for the head); on one drive the head supposedly even fell out of the guide mechanism.
I personally do not believe that this could happen to a CD-Writer but who knows.
- The recording can not be played correctly
As already said: When you "overburn", you write on areas of the CD which were
not meant for writing on -> no-one can guarantee that they can be read correctly.
The LeadoutFAQ_VOCABLE_LEADOUT is often also cut off so that a correct audio
CD is not created. Whether every CD player will be able to read it can therefore
not be guaranteed.
WARNING:
You "overburn" at your own risk.
This could damage the CD-R or even the CD writer,
this also creates CD-Rs which do not comply with the specifications for Audio-CDs
and therefore may not work on all CD-Players!
FOR THIS REASON WE EXPRESSLY DO NOT RECOMMEND
OVERBURNING!
See also:
Questions and Answers - Explanation of terminology
Questions and Answers - Main Page
You are the 114. visitor of this page (today: 3)