HP Compaq Presario SR1500AN, Compaq Presario SR1520AN, Compaq Presario SR1560AN, Compaq Presario SR1599AN Creating Manual

Creating Data, Audio, and Video Discs on your PC

This document contains important information about creating data, audio, and video discs on your PC, including:

• Creating Audio and Data Discs

• Creating Video Discs and Movies

This document updates the information found in your Getting Started Guide. Please keep this document with your PC documentation for future reference. Refer to the Getting Started Guide for additional installation information.

For additional assistance or information, you can go to the HP Technical Support Web site at: http://www.hp.com/support

The information in this document is subject to change without notice.

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Table of Contents

Creating Audio and Data Discs ....................................................... 1

Erasing Rewritable Discs Before Recording ...................................................... 2

Working with Audio CDs .............................................................................. 2

Verifying audio disc recorded without errors ............................................... 3

Audio CD tips ......................................................................................... 3

Creating audio CDs................................................................................. 4

Creating jukebox discs............................................................................. 4

Working with Data DVDs and CDs ................................................................. 5

Verifying data disc recorded without errors................................................. 5

Data disc tips .......................................................................................... 6

Creating data discs.................................................................................. 6

Copying a DVD or CD .................................................................................. 7

Archiving Files on a CD or DVD ..................................................................... 8

Working with Image Files.............................................................................. 8

Creating an image file ............................................................................. 9

Burning from an image file ....................................................................... 9

Disc Labeling with LightScribe ........................................................................ 9

LightScribe requirements......................................................................... 10

Burning a LightScribe label with Sonic Express Labeler ............................... 10

Burning a LightScribe label after burning with iTunes.................................. 11

Using adhesive disc labels...................................................................... 12

Compatibility Information ............................................................................ 12

Disc Features and Compatibility Table .......................................................... 13

Optical Drive Quick Reference Table ............................................................ 14

Software Quick Reference Table................................................................... 15

Tabl e of Co nte nts iii

Creating Video Discs and Movies .................................................. 17

Before You Begin Capturing Video ............................................................... 17

Sonic MyDVD Video Projects ....................................................................... 18

Creating a Video Project ............................................................................. 18

Adding files to a video project ................................................................ 19

Capturing video to a video project .......................................................... 19

Adding slide shows to a video project ..................................................... 20

Adding submenus to a video project........................................................ 20

Editing the style of a video project........................................................... 21

Editing movie files ................................................................................. 21

Burning a video project to disc................................................................ 22

Creating a Video Project with Direct-to-Disc Wizard ....................................... 23

Video Quality and Disc Size........................................................................ 24

DVD Recording Time .................................................................................. 25

iv Creating Data, Audio, and Video Discs on your PC

Creating Audio and Data Discs

This chapter contains the procedures you must perform to record (or burn) music and data files to recordable CD and DVD discs. It also includes information about labeling your discs using the LightScribe labeling technology included on select models.

For information about recording video files to DVDs, see “Creating Video Discs and Movies” on page 17.

Your PC includes one or more CD, DVD, or combination optical drives capable of recording. Additionally, your PC may include the following software programs for recording to CDs or DVDs:

• iTunes

• Windows Media Player

• Sonic MyDVD Plus (select models only)

• Sonic DigitalMedia Plus

• Windows XP

These programs include features that enable you to copy, archive, and manage music and data files and then record the files to CDs or DVDs. You can also use iTunes or Windows Media Player to download and copy music files to a portable device or memory card.

IMPORTANT: HP supports the lawful use of technology and does not endorse or encourage the use of our products for purposes other than those permitted by copyright law.

NOTE: Burn is an industry term used to describe the recording of information onto a DVD or CD. Optical recording uses a laser beam to place information onto the disc, thus the term burning.

Creating Audio and Data Discs 1

Erasing Rewritable Discs Before Recording

Previously recorded files on CD-RW, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW discs must be erased before recording new files. CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R discs cannot be erased.

To erase a rewritable disc in Sonic DigitalMedia Plus:

1 Open the DigitalMedia Plus program by clicking Start, All Programs,

Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home.

2 Click Tools and then Erase Disc.

3 Insert the rewritable disc you want to erase. 4 Click the Quick Erase or Full Erase option, and then Erase Disc.

Working with Audio CDs

Sonic DigitalMedia Plus enables you to create audio CDs that play in your car or home CD player, and on PCs. You can create two main types of music CDs:

• Uncompressed — Typical CD format like you would purchase on a

commercial CD. This type of CD will hold 10 to 20 songs depending on their length.

Uncompressed files can be burned on CD-Rs (which play in most home and car stereos, DVD players, and computers) or CD-RWs (which play only in some stereos, DVD players, and computers).

The procedure for creating this type of CD is described in “Creating audio CDs” on page 4.

•Compressed — Files are burned to a disc using a compressed file format

(MP3, WMA, or M4A). The smaller file format enables you to fit approximately ten times as many songs onto the disc (depending on length and format).

Compressed files can be burned to CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVDs, DVD-RWs, or DVD+RWs (select models only). Compressed files can only be played on computers, CD players, or DVD players that support the file format you use to create the disc (MP3 is most commonly supported). For file format compatibility, check the documentation for the device where you intend to play the disc. You may hear a slight loss of sound quality using compressed audio files.

The procedure for creating this type of CD is described in “Creating jukebox discs” on page 4.

2 Creating Data, Audio, and Video Discs on your PC

For more compatibility information, see “Disc Features and Compatibility Table” on page 13.

Both Sonic programs create closed-session music CDs, which means you must record all music files on one CD in one recording session. Music files can be recorded repeatedly on a rewritable CD-RW disc, but all previously recorded files must be erased first. CD-R discs cannot be erased.

IMPORTANT: HP supports the lawful use of technology and does not endorse or encourage the use of our products for purposes other than those permitted by copyright law.

Verifying audio disc recorded without errors

When copying or burning audio files to CD, it is recommended that you use Sonic DigitalMedia Plus because it includes a feature that confirms that your disc has been created without errors.

This data verification feature is enabled by default.

To check the status of the write verification feature in DigitalMedia Plus:

1 Open the DigitalMedia Plus program by clicking Start, All Programs,

Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home.

2 Click Tools, and then Options.

3 In the Options window, click Copy. 4 Ensure the Verify copied data discs option is checked. 5 Click OK.

Audio CD tips

When recording music files, it is important to note that:

• To play your music CD in a home or car stereo, it needs to be recorded as a

music CD in CD audio (CDA) format, not as a data CD.

• As you add music files in the recording session, DigitalMedia Plus calculates

and displays the amount of recording time available to record additional music files.

• You can’t record song titles unless you make an exact copy of a music CD in

your collection.

Creating Audio and Data Discs 3

• If your recording fails, manually select a slower recording speed, if available,

each time you make a recording. Refer to the Help menu in your selected software program for more information about selecting a slower recording speed.

• If you try to record more than a standard CD can hold, a message displays

warning you that all the tracks may not fit on your disc.

IMPORTANT: HP supports the lawful use of technology and does not endorse or encourage the use of our products for purposes other than those permitted by copyright law.

Creating audio CDs

To create uncompressed audio CDs using Sonic DigitalMedia Plus:

1 Open the DigitalMedia Plus program by clicking Start, All Programs,

Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click the Audio tab and then Audio CD. 3 Do one or more of the following:

• Click Add Music and navigate to music stored on your PC.

• In the Quick Find panel, click Scan to automatically search your PC

for songs.

• Insert a CD and add songs from it.

4 Select the songs you want to record, and then click Add. 5 Click the Burn icon when you have added all the audio files to your

music CD project. 6 When prompted, insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc. If you want to

play your music CD in your home or car stereo, use a CD-R disc.

CD-RW discs may not play in some stereos. 7 Click OK.

You can get detailed online help by clicking the Help menu and then selecting Help.

Creating jukebox discs

To create compressed (jukebox) music CDs or DVDs using Sonic DigitalMedia Plus:

1 Open the DigitalMedia Plus program by clicking Start, All Programs,

Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click the Audio tab, and then Jukebox CD/DVD. 3 Do one or more of the following:

• Click Add Music and navigate to music stored on your PC.

• In the Quick Find panel, click Scan to automatically search your PC

for songs.

• Insert a CD and add songs from it.

4 Creating Data, Audio, and Video Discs on your PC

4 Select the songs you want to record, and then click Add. 5 Click the Burn icon when you have added all the audio files to your

music CD project.

6 When prompted, insert a blank disc.

DVD discs can store significantly more music files than a CD. Jukebox discs can only be played on computers, CD players, or DVD players that support the file format you use to create the disc (MP3 is most commonly supported).

For file format compatibility, check the documentation for the device where you intend to play the disc.

7 Click OK.

You can get detailed online help by clicking the Help menu, and then selecting Help.

NOTE: DigitalMedia Plus scans for all audio files, even the sounds from your operating system. If you don’t want to display some of these sounds, you can select the Options icon (wrench), and then select Audio. Select Hide Audio Files

Shorter Than (in seconds), and then type the number of seconds, and click OK.

Working with Data DVDs and CDs

Unlike audio CDs and jukebox DVDs, data DVDs and CDs can be recorded in multiple sessions.

Verifying data disc recorded without errors

When copying or burning data files to DVD or CD, it is recommended that you use Sonic DigitalMedia Plus because it includes a feature that confirms that your disc has been created without errors.

This data verification feature is enabled by default.

To check the status of the write verification feature in DigitalMedia Plus:

1 Open the DigitalMedia Plus program by clicking Start, All Programs,

Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home.

2 Click Tools and then Options.

3 In the Options window, click Data. 4 Ensure the Verify data written to the disc after burning box is checked. 5 Click OK.

Creating Audio and Data Discs 5

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