Forum Home Forum Home > Other music related lounges > Tech Talk
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Burned CD’s short lifespan.
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedBurned CD’s short lifespan.
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
krusty View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: September 27 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1777 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Burned CD’s short lifespan.
    Posted: January 11 2006 at 08:25
If you have ever made a backup of your favorite CD or made a compilation of your fav. tunes, that CD is probably on borrowed time according to this research
http://computerworld.com/hardwaretopics/storage/story/0,1080 1,107607,00.html

In fact it could last as little as 2 YEARS!!!

I can confirm this as well. I have had a CD writer since about 1996 and during that time I have been sampling my vinyl & tape so I can move it to audio CD.
Well all those early CD's I have made are sounding quite crap now, almost like when you have a bad needle on vinyl.
I'm starting to feel like I have wasted my time now.





Edited by krusty
Humanism
Back to Top
Bob Greece View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 1823 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 08:39

I keep my songs as MP3 files on the computer and back them up occassionally. That way, they don't degrade on CDs.


Back to Top
JayDee View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: September 07 2005
Location: Elysian Fields
Status: Offline
Points: 10063 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 09:50

I have my MP3s on my PC, and i do back them up using CDRs and RWs.

Yeah, i can relate.

Back to Top
Peter View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: January 31 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 9669 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 11:10

ShockedYikes!

Yeah, I have a couple of older burned CDs that were a gift, that won't play any more.Ouch

The ones I usually buy are Verbatim. I don't know how long they'll last (going on 3 - 4 years now), but on the back of the box it says: "Archival life up to 100 years" (though that's hard to believe, in light of the posted article).Ermm

No more cheapo CDs for me!Stern Smile

Anyway, thanks for the "heads up," krusty!Smile



Edited by Peter
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
Back to Top
Snow Dog View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 11:16

Id better check mine, but I think they still play fine

 
Back to Top
Tony R View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: July 16 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 11979 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 11:36

Some do's and dont's:

DO:

  • Handle discs by the outer edge or the centre hole
  • Use a non solvent-based felt-tip permanent marker to mark the label side of the disc
  • Keep dirt or other foreign matter from the disc
  • Store discs upright (book style) in original jewel cases that are specified for CDs and DVDs
  • Return discs to their jewel cases immediately after use
  • Leave discs in their spindle or jewel case to minimize the effects of environmental changes
  • Remove the shrink wrap only when you are ready to record data on the disc
  • Store in a cool, dry, dark environment in which the air is clean -- relative humidity should be in the range 20% - 50%  and temperature should be in the range 4°C - 20°C
  • Remove dirt, foreign material, fingerprints, smudges, and liquids by wiping with a clean cotton fabric in a straight line from the centre of the disc toward the outer edge
  • Use de-ionised (best), distilled or soft tap water to clean your discs.  For tough problems use diluted dish detergent or rubbing alcohol.  Rinse and dry thoroughly with a lint-free cloth or photo lens tissue
  • Check the disc surface before recording


Don't:

  • Touch the surface of the disc
  • Bend the disc
  • Store discs horizontally for a long time (years)
  • Open a recordable optical disc package if you are not ready to record
  • Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity
  • Expose discs to extreme rapid temperature or humidity changes
  • Expose recordable discs to prolonged sunlight or other sources of UV light
  • Write or mark in the data area of the disc (area where the laser "reads")
  • Clean in a circular direction around the disc.

Quality media is essential too.You can expect high standards from Verbatim who have developed significantly improved, more sensitive and more stable dyes and reflective materials that virtually eliminate data loss during high-speed read/write processes and enhance long-term reliability.

It also makes sense to backup to as many different media as you can.I back up my music and picture files to DVD and to an exterrnal hard-drive.I also have two internal hard drives on my PC and a complete backup of my whole PC on DVDs which I update yearly and re-do.

 

 



Edited by Tony R
Back to Top
Sean Trane View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator

Prog Folk

Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 20241 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 12:02
Originally posted by Peter Peter wrote:

ShockedYikes!

Yeah, I have a couple of older burned CDs that were a gift, that won't play any more.Ouch

The ones I usually buy are Verbatim. I don't know how long they'll last (going on 3 - 4 years now), but on the back of the box it says: "Archival life up to 100 years" (though that's hard to believe, in light of the posted article).Ermm

No more cheapo CDs for me!Stern Smile

Anyway, thanks for the "heads up," krusty!Smile

I never hadthe problem yet, as I use a hi-fi burner and Maxell Music CD-rs 80 mins
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
Back to Top
chopper View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Essex, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 20030 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 13:31
How do Verbatim know that their CDs will last for "up to 100 years"?

This is a general worry of the digital age. Even if a CD with some MP3 files on it does last for, say, 10 or 20 years, how do we know we'll still have the technology around then to play them? The same thing goes for all my family videos.

And don't forget, hard drives don't last forever either!
Back to Top
krusty View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: September 27 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1777 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 14:51
I am guilty of buying cheap unbranded CDR's to backup CD's or put MP3's onto, I have been using DVD-R's for a while now but I should imagine they will suffer the same degradation.

Chopper raises an interesting point though, will there be audio cd, dvd or mp3 players in 10yrs time anyway.
I have a cupboard full of betamax videos that I can no longer play (yes I bought a betamax)
On the videos are lots of Old Grey Whistle Test performancies (Fairport Convention, King Crimson, Rory Gallagher, Captain Beefhart, etc) plus some tube episodes and because I don't have a player, I can't watch them

This is what could happen in the future, as Chopper said with your favorite tunes or your family video, you may still have the media but no device to play it!
Humanism
Back to Top
Suki View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: September 21 2005
Location: Israel
Status: Offline
Points: 134 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 14:57

Originally posted by krusty krusty wrote:

I am guilty of buying cheap unbranded CDR's to backup CD's or put MP3's onto, I have been using DVD-R's for a while now but I should imagine they will suffer the same degradation.

Chopper raises an interesting point though, will there be audio cd, dvd or mp3 players in 10yrs time anyway.
I have a cupboard full of betamax videos that I can no longer play (yes I bought a betamax)
On the videos are lots of Old Grey Whistle Test performancies (Fairport Convention, King Crimson, Rory Gallagher, Captain Beefhart, etc) plus some tube episodes and because I don't have a player, I can't watch them

This is what could happen in the future, as Chopper said with your favorite tunes or your family video, you may still have the media but no device to play it!




Same with me. I'm also using DVDRs to burn my music. If I'm not mistaken, DVD lasts longer then normal CD.. Even if it doesn't, although the waste of money, I can still have my music organized in any order I like.

 
Back to Top
Tony R View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: July 16 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 11979 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 15:22

Originally posted by krusty krusty wrote:

I am guilty of buying cheap unbranded CDR's to backup CD's or put MP3's onto, I have been using DVD-R's for a while now but I should imagine they will suffer the same degradation.

Chopper raises an interesting point though, will there be audio cd, dvd or mp3 players in 10yrs time anyway.
I have a cupboard full of betamax videos that I can no longer play (yes I bought a betamax)
On the videos are lots of Old Grey Whistle Test performancies (Fairport Convention, King Crimson, Rory Gallagher, Captain Beefhart, etc) plus some tube episodes and because I don't have a player, I can't watch them

This is what could happen in the future, as Chopper said with your favorite tunes or your family video, you may still have the media but no device to play it!




You can by a DVD Recorder/VHS Combi and transfer your tapes to DVD!

This one's £150.
Back to Top
fcoulter View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie
Avatar

Joined: December 31 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 44 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 16:41
Originally posted by Tony R Tony R wrote:

Originally posted by krusty krusty wrote:

I am guilty of buying cheap unbranded CDR's to backup CD's or put MP3's onto, I have been using DVD-R's for a while now but I should imagine they will suffer the same degradation.Chopper raises an interesting point though, will there be audio cd, dvd or mp3 players in 10yrs time anyway.I have a cupboard full of betamax videos that I can no longer play (yes I bought a betamax)On the videos are lots of Old Grey Whistle Test performancies (Fairport Convention, King Crimson, Rory Gallagher, Captain Beefhart, etc) plus some tube episodes and because I don't have a player, I can't watch themThis is what could happen in the future, as Chopper said with your favorite tunes or your family video, you may still have the media but no device to play it!



You can by a DVD Recorder/VHS Combi and transfer your tapes to DVD!



This one's £150.



Unfortunately, as a VHS/DVD combo unit, it won't work with Betamax, which is a completely different and incompatible format.
Fredrik V Coulter
Back to Top
King of Loss View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: April 21 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Status: Offline
Points: 16442 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 16:47

Now you know what this means?

My 650 burned cds will rot!

Back to Top
horza View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: August 31 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 2530 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 18:35
Bloody marvellous !!
Originally posted by darkshade:

Calling Mike Portnoy a bad drummer is like calling Stephen Hawking an idiot.
Back to Top
goose View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 20 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 4097 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2006 at 20:11
Originally posted by Suki Suki wrote:

Originally posted by krusty krusty wrote:

I am guilty of buying cheap unbranded CDR's to backup CD's or put MP3's onto, I have been using DVD-R's for a while now but I should imagine they will suffer the same degradation.Chopper raises an interesting point though, will there be audio cd, dvd or mp3 players in 10yrs time anyway.I have a cupboard full of betamax videos that I can no longer play (yes I bought a betamax)On the videos are lots of Old Grey Whistle Test performancies (Fairport Convention, King Crimson, Rory Gallagher, Captain Beefhart, etc) plus some tube episodes and because I don't have a player, I can't watch themThis is what could happen in the future, as Chopper said with your favorite tunes or your family video, you may still have the media but no device to play it!


Same with me. I'm also using DVDRs to burn my music. If I'm not mistaken, DVD lasts longer then normal CD.. Even if it doesn't, although the waste of money, I can still have my music organized in any order I like.


 

If anything, DVDR (and +, - or whatever crazy symbols they put in these days) will likely less time than CDR, since I'm pretty sure the tracks are less wide, so it's easier for them to become misaligned (sorry, I'm not using the right words because it's 1am )
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

How do Verbatim know that their CDs will last for "up to 100 years"?

This is a general worry of the digital age. Even if a CD with some MP3
files on it does last for, say, 10 or 20 years, how do we know we'll
still have the technology around then to play them? The same thing goes
for all my family videos.

And don't forget, hard drives don't last forever either!


So you should back up to a lossless format than you can then re-encode to a newer format without any change whatsoever
Back to Top
MikeEnRegalia View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: April 22 2005
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 21196 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2006 at 08:47

I don't use CDs or DVDs for these purposes anymore. If you burned a lot of audio CDs, the best solution would be to make backups by ripping them in a lossless format and storing the files on  DVDs. If you use the Windows Media Player (wma lossless), you'll always be able to copy them from the DVD to the harddisk and then burn them again.

And be sure to copy the DVDs each year, just to be on the safe side.
Recently listened to:
Back to Top
Bob Greece View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 1823 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2006 at 09:08

Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

How do Verbatim know that their CDs will last for "up to 100 years"?

I think they work on the assumption that if something goes wrong you

  • will have forgotten about the guarantee
  • never knew about it in the first place
  • won't know how to go about getting a replacement
  • couldn't be bothered to send the CDs back
  • won't have any means to play CDs anyway

Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

This is a general worry of the digital age. Even if a CD with some MP3 files on it does last for, say, 10 or 20 years, how do we know we'll still have the technology around then to play them? The same thing goes for all my family videos.

You probably won't be able to find a CD player that plays MP3 but MP3 has one big advantage over previous storage methods - it's the first software storage method and the previous methods were all hardware based so it should be easier to copy and replay MP3 in future than it is to copy and replay LPs. The same goes for MPEG videos.



Edited by Bob Greece


Back to Top
JayDee View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: September 07 2005
Location: Elysian Fields
Status: Offline
Points: 10063 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2006 at 09:19
Originally posted by King of Loss King of Loss wrote:

Now you know what this means?

My 650 burned cds will rot!

this means were both dead,

or am i the only one?

Back to Top
Tony R View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: July 16 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 11979 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2006 at 11:22

Originally posted by krusty krusty wrote:

I am guilty of buying cheap unbranded CDR's to backup CD's or put MP3's onto, I have been using DVD-R's for a while now but I should imagine they will suffer the same degradation.

Chopper raises an interesting point though, will there be audio cd, dvd or mp3 players in 10yrs time anyway.
I have a cupboard full of betamax videos that I can no longer play (yes I bought a betamax)
On the videos are lots of Old Grey Whistle Test performancies (Fairport Convention, King Crimson, Rory Gallagher, Captain Beefhart, etc) plus some tube episodes and because I don't have a player, I can't watch them

This is what could happen in the future, as Chopper said with your favorite tunes or your family video, you may still have the media but no device to play it!




The betamax tapes can be transferred to VHS. There are places that will do this for you and I am pretty certain that you can buy something that will allow you to do it at home.

The Betamax Vs VHS incompatibility is unusual.There was a problem foreseen because of the +R and -R formats of DVDs but most players accept both and most burners can use either format.No doubt the same thing will happen with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

There is no chance that CDs and DVDs will be obsolete in 30 years.Whether they are still desirable is another matter.
Back to Top
krusty View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: September 27 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1777 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2006 at 11:44
Originally posted by Tony R Tony R wrote:

Originally posted by krusty krusty wrote:

I am guilty of buying cheap unbranded CDR's to backup CD's or put MP3's onto, I have been using DVD-R's for a while now but I should imagine they will suffer the same degradation.

Chopper raises an interesting point though, will there be audio cd, dvd or mp3 players in 10yrs time anyway.
I have a cupboard full of betamax videos that I can no longer play (yes I bought a betamax)
On the videos are lots of Old Grey Whistle Test performancies (Fairport Convention, King Crimson, Rory Gallagher, Captain Beefhart, etc) plus some tube episodes and because I don't have a player, I can't watch them

This is what could happen in the future, as Chopper said with your favorite tunes or your family video, you may still have the media but no device to play it!




The betamax tapes can be transferred to VHS. There are places that will do this for you and I am pretty certain that you can buy something that will allow you to do it at home.

The Betamax Vs VHS incompatibility is unusual.There was a problem foreseen because of the +R and -R formats of DVDs but most players accept both and most burners can use either format.No doubt the same thing will happen with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

There is no chance that CDs and DVDs will be obsolete in 30 years.Whether they are still desirable is another matter.



mmmm, bold statement at the end there
I remember Bill Gates stating no one would need more than 640Kb of RAM

I think Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will be the last iteration of optical storage in disk form.
Future storage will be solid state memory and probably look a lot like credit/smart cards.
Just a guess, but likely.

I do agree about the VHS Vs Betamax being unusual and the possibility of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD co-exsiting for some time, as both camps are set to release there products this year.
Humanism
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.316 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.