Backing up .mp3s
 

Is it better to burn them to a CD-R or use a packet writing program like ahead's InCD to drag-and-drop them onto a CD-RW?

If it's just for backup, burn them to CDR. It's cheaper, and PacketCDs can't be read on all drives.

yeah, and plus with the CD-R you dont have to worry about anyone erasing your data:up:

use the cdr, they cost less then $.20 each and you can fit a few hundred on one cd. Pick up a mp3 player for your car and you can listen to these backups for hours on end.







shoutcast shells, business shells, discounted web hosting

All valid points above, but don't forget the added flexibility of using InCD to backup as you go along, rather than in batches of 650 or 700 Mb.

Up to you I guess :)

I'm still new to using CD burning software (I use Nero), but can't you leave a CD-R open and add stuff to it later? If not, what is the difference between a closed CD-R and one where the session is still open?

I believe open-session CD-Rs cannot be played on stereos (that would mainly apply for Audio CDs) but don't quote me, because I'm not 100% sure on that.

an open cd will not be able to play on a normal cd player. You need to close it before the cd can be id'd by the lazer.






discounted webpage hosting and shells

My stereo doesn't play .mp3 files anyway so an open session CD wouldn't make a difference. I'm really just looking to back my sh*t up, because a few months ago, before I had a CD burner, I lost everything on my harddrive, including about 3 gigs worth of .mp3s. Now that I'm re-building my collection I want to make sure I don't lose it.

CDR all the way. And not a cheap-ass brand, get quality media :)

What's the difference between cheap CD-Rs and more expensive ones? I don't really know that much about the technology.

A known brand like Verbatim for instance ensures you that the cd won't be unusable after you used it two times ;)

Probably there's no difference at all: once i read that there are only 5 or 6 makers. it's just a matter of commercial brands.

surely some cdr are better time and scratch resistant, but i can't assure you that they are the most expensive ones!!

Twilightseer, are you talking CD-Rs or CD-RWs?

CDR.

I've never heard of a problem like that with CD-Rs. When you say "unusable after you used it two times" are you referring to listening to the disc or do you mean burning in more than one session?

BTW, I like your avatar. Always have but never got a chance to say.

I'd just burn them the normal way, and add a new session to the disc each time you want to add more mp3s. I don't like Packet writing, as you get less space out of a CD. If you're not going to be deleting any of them, then I'd say a standard multisession disc is by far the best way to go. CDRs are far cheaper than CDRWs too

There is a huge, huge, huge difference between various brands of CDRs. Read this first to understand how a CD is burnt. Cheap CDs are less ppaque then higher-quality ones. Certain drives will be unable to read them because the laser will go right through the disc. Also, because the reflective surface is of cheaper quality, it will fade with exposure to strong light (sunlight, CD-reading laser). This renders the CD useless in about 1-2 months. You can expect archival quality cds to be still readable in 100 years.

hmm... the easiest way IMHO is to pick up a spare 4gb or 8gb drive (can be had for less then $15can if you look around) and simply keep all your MP3's on it, or if your really neurotic, get two, and if it comes down to it, keep them in seperate machines and share them over the net. I've always kept my music on a seperate drive from my system files, and in the 5yrs it's been acumulating i have yet to lose it through accidental means (i format the drive from time to time as my choice in music changes).

Another tip I can I can give you is how to record working playlists with your cd's.

Prepare a folder, store all your mp3's in sub folders.
then use winamp to make your playlists and record the m3u files in the root folder you created.
then burn the entire folder to a cd.
The playlist will work since the files addresses stored in them are relative to the folder not to the drive.:up:

I sort all my mp3 files by date created, then burn them to cdr. That means any new files i download or rip dont get backed up more than they need to. I have about 12 cd's full of mp3 files to date and i find that's the best way to keep them in order.

I want to get a tape backup drive for backing up my MP3's. Last time I used Cd's I used 10 discs worth and now It'd probably be 20. I have a separate 5 gig HD with half of my MP3's on and another partition with the others on. I only lost them all when messing with a partition which made my D: drive (the MP3 one) my c: drive without me noticing :mad: