What to look for in a blank CD-R

How to choose the right CD blank for our recordings? The current offer in the market is ranging from really cheap discs to (unexplainable) expensive ones, so what is the difference? This article will show you what to look for in a blank CD-R.

Capacity, size and format

Capacity The first parameter to check when looking for blank discs is the capacity of the discs. With 640Mb outdated, the current standard size is 700Mb, enough for 74 minutes of music. However, 800Mb discs can be found, too, claiming to allow for 85 minutes, at a cost. If you need higher capacities (and music is not your target), you should look for blank DVDs, instead. Size However, the named 700Mb are standard size for 12cm discs. Smaller sizes are also available, either 8cm round (which hold up to 200Mb, depending on manufacturer) or visit-card sized, with capacities around 50Mb.

Surface finish

Two main surface finishes can be found: bare plastic or printable surface. Bare plastic surface may include some silk-screen printing (brand, logos) and it can be marked with appropriate soft-tip pens. Printable DVDs or CDs discs are usually blank, allowing for full customisation of the marking, either by laser (through LightScribe technology) or ink-jet printing. In this latter case, the surface is typically covered with a white, porous surface. Currently, ink-jet printers can achieve professional-looking CDs, so they are perfect options for small batches of your band's recordings, for example.

Durability / life expectancy

Normal CD (or DVD) discs do degrade with time. There is a risk of data loss after a few years (even months, in cheapest discs!). This is both caused by oxidation of the plastic support (which gets translucent and produces some read errors) and the metal film itself, where data is recorded. Some manufacturers produce discs with precious metals (silver, gold) that resist ageing, assuring data life times of over five years. Of course, these discs are much more expensive and rare to find.

Storage

Finally, the last parameter to consider when buying blank media is packaging, also related to the final storage of the media. Even when buying a 50-disc pack is environmentally-friendly (less plastic per disc), people may require hard plastic boxes (CD case) for archiving or distribution of the CDs. In between, cardboard or plastic envelopes can be found in the market, or rather single-CD slim boxes. Every option will add some cents or pennies to the final price.