Packet Writing

The CD Maker 2000 Pro package includes the “FileCD” program, solely provided for packet-writing use. FileCD uses ISO 9660 as the main file system structure, with UDF space allocation and defect management and Packet Writing.

FileCD users can add files incrementally to a CD-RW disc, delete files or folders from a disc randomly, and rename files or folders already written to the disc. Moreover, discs written by FileCD can be read back by any CD-RW drive with an ISO 9660 compatible operating system.

The preparation for writing files to a CD starts with CD formatting (an analogy from the floppy-disk era). You can choose between the Quick format and the Full format option. The “Quick format” option can be used for reformatting an erasable disc. “Full format” can be used for blank discs. You can also verify the disk after formatting, a somewhat time consuming process which, however, offers an extra level of protection against defective media. Before proceeding with the formatting process you may give a label name to the disc. After formatting you can easily add files to it. Just drag and drop the selected files from the windows explorer to the FileCD window. You can also rename and delete the files by simply using your mouse.

We did not test the relevant features for recorded-once disks, as we think this is a rarely used case.

Several enhancements, such as support for other manufacturers’ UDF formats, are expected to be added to the basic program’s functionality in the near future.

Conclusions

NTI’s CD Maker 2000 proved to be a very good general purpose recording application. Almost every feature a normal user will ever need is right a click away from his/her mouse. Some tools and add-ons further enhance the program’s functionality.

The application’s performance can be judged according to the options chosen, their usability, and the pre-recording time spent for “housekeeping” and verification tasks. In this latter area CD Maker 2000 lagged a few seconds when it came to pre-mastering data disks. We can not offer, however, at this time a definite judgment at this particular issue. We intend to offer our readers a full fledged comparison in this era among several well known recording applications in the near future.

Recording gurus might miss a few options, but surely they will find their way by using specialized applications or even develop their own (if not done this already:)