CD and DVD Recording for Dummies, Second Edition

Editorial Review
Most new PCs and Macs today are equipped with the latest in recording and storage equipment: CD-RW and DVD-R/RW drives. Even if your computer is a little older, you can still join the revolution with add-on hardware and software. You can record music and movies, store photos and data, and organize things you want to preserve for posterity, safely and easily.

CD and DVD Recording For Dummies®, Second Edition, takes the frustration out of choosing and using these cool recording systems. This easy-to-follow guide will help you find what you need and use it efficiently, and it covers all the newest equipment. You’ll discover how to

Choose and install a CD or DVD recorder
Pick the best software for your needs
Store large data files safely on CD
Use EasyCD and DVD Creator and Toast
Record mixed media disks
Create electronic photo albums, baby books, genealogies, and more

Once upon a time, videotape, vinyl record albums, and floppy disks were state of the art for preserving movies, music, and data. The superior durability and capacity of CDs and DVDs have made these tools as obsolete as the washboard, but never fear. CD and DVD Recording For Dummies®, Second Edition, makes it easy to

Transfer your favorite VHS movies to DVD
Preserve those classic LPs on CD
Archive records and data files, and safely store treasured family photos
Ask the right questions when shopping for CD or DVD recording hardware and software
Record original material, copy and erase rewriteable disks, and make backups of important data
Add menus to your disks, label them, and care for them properly
Record a bootable CD-ROM

Customer Reviews

CD & DVD recording - 2ed

2008-08-13
For someone who is a real novice I suspect that there is a lack of basic information to get that person started. For someone who is a step above a novice the book (latest edition) is already badly out of date and still doesn't cover popular software written years before the publication data (e.g., Pinnacle Clean). It does not cover any of the problems one encounters with music recording. It simply tells you how to transfer files from your computer to a CD or DVD and because that is simply a matter of clicking on buttons for software included on most computers it doesn't help.

You have to be a real Dummie to get this book

2007-09-29
You have to be a real dummy to get this book. If you have the Internet you can get this book for free (File-Sharing,) or just google it and check out some sites. I'm still cussing to this day for getting this junk. This book doesn't tell you anything that the burning software of your choice won't tell you. If you think I'm lying then fine, get the book but, be ready to start cussing. Hell I'm cussing as I type...

For Learners

2007-01-31
This information is very helpful and especially understandable. My only problem with is was that there is too much information and sometimes that causes confusion

Clear and easy to learn about the new world.

2006-11-05
I am not a beginner, yet the new CD and DVD Recording issues have become part of my world. I am thrilled with the opportunities it presents to Dummies like me. So when selecting something easy, I thought the Dummy books were right up my alley. I was right. This book talks in a down to earth style that doesn't intimidate me. It makes me think I'm not such a dummy after all. Now when I purchase DVD Plus and Minus R and RW I have a better idea what to buy.

CD and DVD Recording for Dummies

2006-08-02
IT WAS A GOOD INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR THE GENERAL AREA OF CD AND DVD RECORDING.

How Not to Deal with Controversy

2006-03-04
Most new PCs and Macs today are equipped with the latest in recording and storage equipment: CD-RW and DVD-R/RW drives. Even if your computer is a little older, you can still join the revolution with add-on hardware and software. You can record music and movies, store photos and data, and organize things you want to preserve for posterity, safely and easily.

Choose and install a CD or DVD recorder
Pick the best software for your needs
Store large data files safely on CD
Use EasyCD and DVD Creator and Toast
Record mixed media disks
Create electronic photo albums, baby books, genealogies, and more

Transfer your favorite VHS movies to DVD
Preserve those classic LPs on CD
Archive records and data files, and safely store treasured family photos
Ask the right questions when shopping for CD or DVD recording hardware and software
Record original material, copy and erase rewriteable disks, and make backups of important data
Add menus to your disks, label them, and care for them properly
Record a bootable CD-ROM

Today’s CD and DVD recorders can produce everything from superb sound quality to original movies you can play on your DVD player. CD and DVD Recording For Dummies® will get your recording career going in a jiffy.

CD and DVD Recording for Dummies 2005-09-16
I purchased the book in order to help with a presentation I was doing to my not so computer literate co-workers. I found the book helpful in assisting me to put certain focal items in lay person's terms, and some additional information to help keep my presentation interesting. I am glad I purchased it. Warning, if you are a computer guru, stay clear, not for the advanced at heart.

CD DVD Recordings 2005-08-02
With the help of this book I am able to do some proceedures I could not or did not understand this book helped me out on all required directions needed to complete the application I was doing. Well worth the price and information is well defined. With information and correct proceedures in front of me helps out alot.

Easy to read and good info! 2003-12-06
First off this book is NOT a guide to pirating. If you need to learn how to copy DVD movies look elsewhere, but the book does show you how to rip songs from a music CD.

With that understood, this book explained a lot I did not understand before. Ever wonder what settings you need to burn one type of CD or another? Apple owners will like that the author crosses platforms here and writes about Toast as well. I really liked the chapter on adding HTML menus to a CD or DVD to make it easier to use, since I've never seen this info in any other recording guide.

Although you learn Easy CD 5, it's not much different from the new version and I think this Dummies book is still a good pick. I recommend it all the time to friends who are just learning how to burn their first music CDS.

One Word...Worthless!!! 2003-11-25
This book does tell you how to record CD/DVD's and whatnot, for Easy CD Creator? That is a HORRIBLE progam for recording CD/DVD's you CANNOT even bypass the Copyright movies (To back up your PURCHASED movies that you already own). Just SIMPLY download, SOME are even FreeWare (Meaning that the program WILL cost you nothing, but I suggest buying a GOOD CD/DVD Recording program, like Nero they are ALWAYS supplied with the User Manuals if you need help. So WHY pay for this book.
Save the money and just BUY a good CD/DVD recording software program. In my opinion, Nero's actually the ONLY CD/DVD Recording program worth the money (MSRP $70.00) AND it comes WITH a User Manual AND Technical Support; Beside the fact that you can make movies, back-up, anything! Does this book have technichal support and cover ALL good CD/DVD Recording programs?
Like I said I bought this book, and like a lot of reviews here I found it to be pointless. It was just easier to Purchase a progam but..well it's up to you. Hope I was able to help.