Burning your own gets easier ... and more complex

Article Abstract:

Astarte's $359 Toast CD-ROM Pro 3.0.3 is a superior CD-ROM mastering software package that provides optimum speed while eliminating the requirement for the creation of physical disc images. Toast 3.0 features intelligent drag-and-drop which it unfortunately overuses while creating shared hybrids. Creative Digital Research's $495 CDR Publisher HyCD 4.7 features extensive cross-platform capabilities that allow for the creation of ISO/HFS hybrid discs. CDR Publisher can be downloaded from CDR's Web site in a demo version that can be unlocked into the full program once payment is made over the Internet. Pinnacle's Micro CD Burner 2.3 features a pop-up source volume menu for file selection with good documentation and clear and concise configuration options. CD Burner cannot, however, create single-session, shared or custom shared hybrid discs. Young Minds' $285 SimpliCD provides a simple interface which allows for the initiation of new sessions while prior sessions are left open on the desktop.

Computer storage devices, Software multiproduct review, CD-recordable drive, CD-R drives, CD-RW drives, Pinnacle, CD-ROM mastering software, Astarte Computer Systems Inc., Creative Digital Research Inc., Young Minds Inc., CDR Publisher HyCD 4.7 (CD-ROM mastering software), Toast CD-ROM Pro 3.0.3 (CD-ROM mastering software), Young Minds Simpli-CD (CD-recordable drive), Pinnacle Micro CD Burner 2.3 (CD-recordable drive)

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Audio tools shun DSPs

Article Abstract:

Audio authoring software is improving dramatically, taking advantage of more powerful CPUs. At the same time, audio professionals are moving away from solutions that require digital signal processing (DSP) add-in boards. Adobe Premiere will follow this trend, being enhanced with audio plug-ins from Waves. Earlier versions of Waves' software required a DSP card, but the new plug-ins will run solely on the Macintosh's CPU. Waves is able to offer real-time four-band parametric EQ on a Power Macintosh. Several other offerings have made similar moves. The Deck II multitrack recorder/editor from OSC now runs in native mode on the Power Mac. Audio engineers are also getting a better file management solution for audio projects, which often contain thousands of files. A small product being offered by Digidesign, called Region Munger, removes much of the manual work involved in managing and updating audio files.

Technology development, Audio software, Digital signal processors, Sound/audio software, Digital signal processor, Signal processing, Sound board/audio device, Technology Information

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Audio to go: PCMCIA sound cards

Article Abstract:

PCMCIA sound cards give laptops lightweight sound capabilities, but often performance is lower than that of full-size desktop sound cards. I/O Magic's $249 Tempo lacks a functioning MIDI input, and the internal contacts tend to jam the connectors. Also, line output is not enough to drive headphones or unamplified speakers without distortion. IBM's $265 PCMCIA 16-bit Audio Adapter uses the laptop's CPU for software-based MIDI wavetable synthesis, and provides better audio quality. Although there is some digital noise, the card can record and play CD-quality audio and sound fairly well. Turtle Beach's $159 Audio Advantage is not comparable to the company's highly-regarded desktop sound cards. Although it includes a good installer and a generous set of bundled software, playback is prone to static and gaps. Audio connections are unreliable, any small tug against the cable will strain the connector.

International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Display adapters, Sound/graphics board, Turtle Beach Systems, I/OMagic Corp., I/OMagic Tempo (Sound board), IBM PCMCIA 16-Bit Audio Adapter (Sound board), Turtle Beach Systems Audio Advantage (Sound board)

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