CD-r

[persianpower]

hey

i have close to 700 CD-R AUDIO CDS

ive had them for several years now

some of them, despite being kept in a leather binder, are noticeably starting to break down

Some have noticable smears on the shiny surface

Some have noticable jumps and skips in the playback

Some have a scratchy playback with a staticy sound not there before

My question is this

1) is there a program which will optimize my CD-R AUDIO CDS?

note: by optomize, i can also mean refresh, revitalize, rebuild and/or if absolutely neccessary, redo!

2) is there a physical tip or trick to keep my CDS from degrading?

note: Ive used iso prophyl achohol -71%. It doesnt remove scratches but it takes care of dust. I should mention though that exhaling on the CD can also remove dust. So whats the diff? Any other ideas anyone?

3) other than a software solution or a manual tip - any other CD-R AUDIO CD maintenance suggestions would be appreciated

thanks

p.s.

im still looking for free, safe, secure and stable web hosting service. I require several hundred megabytes of web space to upload. Anyone know good recommendations? Its best if the service doesnt have too many useless restrictions like 1kb/file transfer limit, etc..

[andsome]

I will stand corrected on this, but I don't think that you have improved matters by using isopropyl alcohol, it is a solvent, and has probably attacked the lacquer, I only ever use breath and a soft cloth.

[-pops-]

Definitely agree with andsome about the IPA.

Regarding smears and scratches, there is only one cause for this and I don't have to state what that is.

CDs and, for that matter DVDs, were at one time thought to be indestructible and would last in perfect playable condition for all time. This is now known not to be so and some of the early discs are delaminating (splitting into two or more layers), the reflective surface containing all the data is being attacked by various pollutants, plasticisers and solvents migrating from the clear plastic layers either side of the metallic film and also from the effects of components of the ink, print or adhesive on the top layer.

I am told that optical discs are not now recommended for valuable archives because of this instability.

I can only suggest that you keep an eye on the discs you have and ones that appear to be deteriorating, make a copy PDQ. Modern discs are much better and more stable than the early ones but still there is this inherent difficulty.

One final point: burned discs (rather than pressed commercial ones) have a dye layer which makes them sensitive to light. When they are not being used, store in a cool, DARK place away from damp but not too dry.

[Cpt James T. Kirk]

i have heard of a device called disk doctor that is supposed to polish out light scratches , dont know if this is any help on this matter. i agree with pops and andsome though, you should buy some new cds and make backups while you still can. myself, as far as backups of various prgs goes, i use cd/rw's. i only use cdr's when i want to burn music, so i can play them in other devices like car stereos and players, etc...

[-pops-]

Regarding CDRW's, I've only had disasters (some of humungous proportions) using these cursed things. They may be improved now but once bitten, twice - - -

[catgate]

Initially information was carved into rock and it lasted hundreds of thousand of years. Someone then started making marks in soft clay tablets, which was followed by making marks with pigment on vellum/parchment (animal skin), followed by papyrus (vegetable fibre). Each one, whilst being aclaimed an improvement, was less "permenant" that the one before. We have gone through pigment/dye on boiled and bleached wood pulp paper, which deteriorates, through retained impurities, and lasts much less than parchment(a few hundred years). We have moved onto dye/pigment on semi bleached mechanical wood pulp paper, which deteriorated and goes brown in a only a few decades. Now we have hit the jackpot with ephemeral electrons, doing things, that are impossible according to neuclear physics and the uncertainty principal, with material formed from solidified gases.....and you expect permenance?????

[deuces wild]

By saying CD-R I am assuming these are copies of the originals. If so, just make another copy. What brand do you normally use?

[persianpower]

no these are burnt AUDIO cds made years ago

the original music files have long since been deleted from my HDD

they are mostly MAXELL and SONY Cd-Rs

i kept them in a leather binder under my bed for years

only some of them have jumps, skips and hisses

others are fine

oh well

i always knew i could turn them back into mp3 and reburn them

just though there might be a program i didnt know about.

[andsome]

Initially information was carved into rock and it lasted hundreds of thousand of years. Someone then started making marks in soft clay tablets, which was followed by making marks with pigment on vellum/parchment (animal skin),  followed by papyrus (vegetable fibre). Each one, whilst being aclaimed an improvement, was less "permenant" that the one before. We have gone through pigment/dye on boiled and bleached wood pulp paper, which deteriorates, through retained impurities, and lasts much less than parchment(a few hundred years). We have moved onto dye/pigment on semi bleached mechanical wood pulp paper, which deteriorated and goes brown in a only a few decades. Now we have hit  the jackpot with ephemeral electrons, doing things, that are impossible according to neuclear physics and the uncertainty principal, with material formed from solidified gases.....and you expect permenance?????

Can you just imagine the technology required to carve the noughts and ones onto a CD made from a lump of rock, and then spin it at a couple of hundred RPM. We already complain about the cost. :D :D

[deuces wild]

no these are burnt AUDIO cds made years ago

the original music files have long since been deleted from my HDD

they are mostly MAXELL and SONY Cd-Rs

i kept them in a leather binder under my bed for years

only some of them have jumps, skips and hisses

others are fine

oh well

i always knew i could turn them back into mp3 and reburn them

just though there might be a program i didnt know about.

And all of them are doing this or just a few?

[doug]

What about re-rightable rocks?

[andsome]

What about re-rightable rocks?

Even more difficult. You would have to re carve on top of the old carvings.

[-pops-]

What about re-rightable rocks?

Even more difficult. You would have to re carve on top of the old carvings.

Fill the carvings with concrete.

[andsome]

What about re-rightable rocks?

Even more difficult. You would have to re carve on top of the old carvings.

Fill the carvings with concrete.

That would make the rock CD even more difficult to spin.

[persianpower]

nobody cares about my cds anymore

the hissing has affected 25% of the CDS

i cherish these cds

[-pops-]

Apologies for your thread going off topic.

I'm not sure about what you can do except for re-recording and attempting to filter out the background hiss. I'm fairly sure the deterioration is caused by the phenomena I described above and I don't think there is anything that can be done to the discs themselves in an effort to rescue them.

I am not familiar with audio clean up programs except insofar as I know of their existence. I hope someone can come along and offer you a rescue package.

[andsome]

The problem is that without extremely sophisticated equipment, when you remove the hiss you would also remove the higher frequencies, and the recording would be extremely dull. This is the problem with reissues of old music that has been cleaned up, it always sounds on the artificial side, and their equipment costs millions.