By means of the image mastering API, Windows XP allows you to master CDs in the CD-R or CD-RW formats by using simple drag-and-drop functionality and the CD Writing Wizard. Once you have selected the files to copy to CD and initiate the writing process (see Figure 3), the operating system first pre-masters the complete image on your hard drive, and then streams the data to your CD burner for recording. Pre-mastering effectively minimizes the buffer underruns that generate errors in the recording process and render media useless.
F
igure 3. Image files selected for copying to CD, prior to pre-mastering.
The specific formats supported are Redbook audio and data discs using both Joliet and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9660 file systems. A data disc generally has both file systems on the same disc. This allows the disc to be read by all Microsoft operating systems, the Apple Macintosh and other operating systems, and on portable MP3 players, as they all support at a minimum ISO 9660. The API architecture allows for future expansion of the set of supported formats.
To create an audio CD, Windows XP offers several options. You can either copy from a source CD to a CD-R or CD-R/W disc, or pick individual sound files from your music library and use conventional copy-and-paste methods or the options provided in the Windows XP task menu to transfer to CD (see Figure 4 below). Alternatively, you can use the Windows Media™ Player 8 application (which comes installed on Windows XP) to copy your audio files to CD in Redbook format, which can be read by any standard CD player.
F
igure 4. You can copy music to CD using the Music Tasks menu of Windows XP.
Windows XP uses “track-at-once,” which means that once files are written to CD, they cannot be individually deleted or modified, even if they are on a CD-R/W format disc; CD-R/W format discs can, however, be erased completely for reuse.
To create a Redbook-format audio CD from source files in WMA, MP3, or other supported audio formats, you need simply open the folder in which you keep your music, select the files you want to copy to CD, and click the Copy to audio CD option in the Music Tasks menu (see Figure 4 above). This will open Windows Media Player, which is used to translate the files into Redbook audio and then burn them onto the CD through the image mastering API. You can also go directly to the Copy Music to CD or Portable Device tab in Windows Media Player and select songs from there.
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