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(More customer reviews)First of all, let me say that I was very surprised just how easy and professional Nero software handled my CD burning tasks.
And Now, the plain truth,you know how it is! We all don't have 30 hours to read over the enclosed digital manual. Futhermore, with so many applications on my computer it will take me several years to really utilize the power of all my software suites. When I intially purchased my current computer: IBM 500 MHz P3, 256Mb,17HD windows 98. My Sony 4X cdwriter was bundled w/ Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4.
I have been using Easy CD4 for about 3 years without ever making a so called "coaster". However, I have only made direct CD copys or created a Audio CD from scratch. Again, never having any sort of problems. But when I was told by a friend that I could also make "mixed mode CDs" (A.K.A. Extra CD,Extended CD and CD Plus)I said what?? What is a mixed mode CD.
After diving into the Easy CD4 manual, sure enough there was the documentation and how to notes. After doing some reading and reviewing I finally said forget it. Too much toggling back and forth between the help file and the software. Later, while on the internet. I was reading a review about buring Video CD's and the like. I said WOW, I can do that with Easy CD4? Once again I dove into the manual but this time I couldn't find any documnetation with regards to burning Video CD's. Before I go on, some quick notes and review:
Some basic stuff you can do today with a CD burner: Create
1. CD-ROM - a CD with computer data
2. Audio CD - a CD with Audio tracks such as WAV or MP3 files.*If burned using a CD-R, Music can be played on a computer,aconsumer DVD player and almost all Consumer CD players.*If burned using a CD-RW, Music can be played on a computer, some DVD players and most likely won't play on your consumerCD player be it Home or Automotive. - - *Applies only to CD'scontaining Wav. audio files/tracks.
3. Mixed Mode CD - a CD with Audio Tracks followed by computerdata, such as a video file or web page. This is very similiarto some current music cds that will have an artist's music anda short music video - refered to as Enhanced CD
4. VCD or SVCD - a CD containg video files. "Video Compact Disc""Super Video Compact Disc" The latter will contain video filesin the form of the MPEG2 format. ( Better Resolution then Super Video Tape but less than DVD ) In addition, a SVCD cancontain a slide show of picture files such as a jpeg file thatyou create and organize in any order.
5. Hybrid CD - a CD that can be played on a Windows OS or aMac OS platform.
7. Etc.
Why?? You ask have I bothered to list all of these types of CD formats. Because, I think software engineers should design software and GUIs that enable the user to get the most out of their product. After all, we all shelled out the money. The last thing we want to do is have to pay again for an additional reference book, video tutorial or evening seminar. After 3 years of using Adaptec CD Burning software I was only using perhaps 80% of its potential worthiness. However, with Nero 5.5, new tasks with regards to CD burning was brought to my attention in less than 3 days while simply navigating through the software and wizard. Moreover, I was able to create all of the CD's listed above in less than 2 days. Many of which, Adaptic does not support. In short, Nero has a great little wizard that aids you through the CD burning process. then, when you become more of an audio engineer you can go it alone and utilze even more editing and authoring tools. This is just some of the stuff that made me smile within the Nero Burning software:
1. Recognizes both of my CD recorders and their properties.
2. I can now designate the pause time between audio tracks 2,3,45 etc. seconds between tracks.
3. You can burn CD text info onto your CD which many high endHome CD players recognize.
4. Several audio filters to manipulate your audio sound.
5. If you are a DJ and mix cd tracks so as to have no pause between tracks you can create a track list eventhough you have one long audio track. The track pointer can be put exactly where you want it.
6. You can fomart a CD-RW, then while working on your computer, if you want to write a file to a CD you simply Drag & Drop over your CD-RW drive and the file will be burned. Takes 2 seconds and you continue doing whatever.
7. Ever have this problem. You burned a audio cd. You listen to it and some tracks are either louder or softer in volume than others. With Nero you can make all tracks have the same volume
Finally, this list can continue for at least 6 more points. Without question Nero has won me over. My hat goes off to the German Software Engineers who designed and created this CD Burning software. Thanks......Nero
Click Here to see more reviews about: Nero 5.5
Nero Burning offers a complete audio-editing and CD-burning solution, and even lets you design and print cover art for your new CDs. It all starts with the Nero Wave Editor, which offers non-destructive editing that lets you try many options and undo all changes. A range of audio-processing options gives you complete control over your audio files before you record them to disc. A real-time "audition" lets you select and hear effects in real time, as your sound file plays. Preset Manager lets you save your frequently-used settings. There are also features for sample format conversion, anti-aliasing filters, dithering, and noise shaping.
You can design your own CD graphics quickly and easily with Nero's updated Cover Designer, which helps you produce professional-looking layouts for your CD booklets and inserts. Cover Designer includes assorted graphic effects, customizable design templates, multi-/maxi-album support, and predefined paper stocks. The Nero MPEG-1 video encoder allows you to make VCD and SVCD discs from MPEG files, and convert AVI video to MPEG via a drag-and-drop interface. Your disc will then be ready to be burned as a Video CD, playable on your PC or in compatible DVD players.
You can also add onscreen menus to your Video CDs and Super Video CDs. These menus are like cover pages for your discs, making it easy to select tracks for playback. And Nero 5.5's audio plug-in interface makes it easy to create your own custom-written support files (DLLs) for the new formats of your choice. (Programming knowledge and extra third-party tools required.) If you're a programmer or software developer, you can now use Nero 5.5's embedded API to add Nero Burning's powerful CD-writing functions to your own applications.
