CD
burning software is probably something a lot of you use everyday,
but never really cared to think much about it. Truth is, 99%
of the general PC end users probably just use whatever got
bundled with their off the shelf burner, or system.
Although
it's a cash cow for some manufacturers, the software they
license to CDR/CDRW manufacturers are usually stripped down
versions that provide basic funtionality. This again is alright
for the majority of users, but power users would probably
like a more feature rich bundle. Problem is, these full fledged
packages usually contain an unnecessary amount of useless
features, and bloat *cough*, like Roxio EZCD Creator. Nero
is a popular alternative, and has been my personal choice
for quite a while now.
Recently,
Stomp
dropped us a line, informing us that the latest version of
their CD authoring software may be of interest to us, and
our readers. We received our RecordNow Max v4.0 in the mail,
and since I was in the process of backing up my PC, this was
as good a time as any to try out some new software. A quick
look on their website revealed the features...
Easy to use interface
Burn DVDs (requires DVD burner or combo CD/DVD burner)
Includes DLA allowing you to read and write to a CDRW as if
it were a floppy disk
Unlimited MP3 ripping
Record to multiple burners simultaneously
ISO and global image file support
Create Video CDs (VCD) and bootable CDs
Create Mix Mode CDs
Converts MP3 music on the fly
There
were two things that immediately stuck out to me... MP3 ripping
and the ability to burn DVDs. Although there are some CD software
that can rip MP3s, I can't think of any that can burn DVDs.
Granted, you need to get a DVD burner, but at least the feature
is there should you need it.
Being
a retail package, it was nice to get an instruction manual.
It's no garbage "Thanks for buying our product",
and, "After installing, you're on your own to figure
out our wacked out interface", either. It actually explains
each part of the software quite clearly, and for the novice
user, you'll be burning CDs in no time.
I,
of course, put the manual aside and started installing. One
day, this blatent disregard for user instruction will come
back to haunt me, but not today, muahahahaha!! Erm, ok, back
to the review...
The
only thing worth noting about installation is the "Veritas"
splash screen. They aren't well known to the home consumer
market, but they're an authority at the enterprise level.
The fact that both Stomp and Veritas are business partners,
adds a lot of credibility to the application. Then again,
it could still suck, but we'll see about that.
You
have the option of installing RecordNow, and/or Veritas
StorageGuard. StorageGuard is a free utility that monitors
your drive for data that's unprotected since your last backup.
It's actually pretty useful if you don't want to backup stuff
that's already been backed up before.
Every
Microsoft OS is supported by RecordNow, except for the Server
versions. I did find this unusual, since Veritas cut their
teeth in the server market.
Much
like most modern CD authoring applications, everything is
wizard based. Unlike a few applications, RecordNow won't flood
your taskbar with a bunch of resource grabbing background
apps. Not much to say here. Simply start up the application,
and choose whatever task you want to do.
Before
we continue, it has been reported that if you have EZCD Creator
already installed, this software would not. Ours did, so I
can't confirm these reports.
CD
Copying
I
shouldn't need to remind you that you are obligated to follow
any End User License Agreement that is specified on the media
you are planning to copy. Illegal distribution of software
and music is very, very bad. Now, with that out of the way,
I usually make backups of software I don't want to lose. If
my dog chews on it, or I misplace it, I'd be screwed. RecordNow
Max makes CD copying a snap...
It's
pretty much step-by-step when using a wizard. Simply pop in
the CD you wish to backup, then the blank into the recordable,
and wait until it's complete. We managed to backup one game
CD without issue, but got stumped on another. The CD in question
has "errors" written into it, but I thought the
Plextor drive was the culprit. However, when we used CloneCD,
the game backed up correctly. Damn that copy protection!
Data
CD Creation
Other
than wizard menus, RecordNow Max also supports drag and drop.
Just open up an Explorer window, and drag the files you wish
to burn on CD, and click record. Recording speed was as expected,
about 5 minutes for a 650MB CD, which matches up nicely with
Nero, which is over 40 seconds faster than EZCD. 40 seconds
doesn't seem like a lot, but if you spend the afternoon burning
CDs...
Music
CD Creation
Music
CDs are a snap to make as well. If you choose to create a
CD from your MP3 collection, just drag-and-drop, or use the
wizard. For best sound quality, and minimal errors, we burn
at 1X, but the software allows you to use the maximum speed
your drive supports.
A
few features worth elaborating are burn-proof support, MP3
ripping capability, as well as the price. Provided your
CD burner supports it, coasters will remain a thing of the
past with this software.
Image
Property of Stomp, Inc.
MP3
ripping worked as advertised, and with the capability of
320Kb/sec bitrates, your MP3s will sound good. Speed-wise,
MP3s were ripped as fast as our Music Match software, though
a bit slower than Audiograbber. Finally, we have the price.
At a mere 50$, this is by far, one of the lowest price packages
we've seen. A downloadable version is only 40$, making this
a bargain.
Final
Words
If
you have a CD burner, which you probably do, then you know
you need software for it. For the most part, the software
you have will do the job. What makes Stomp's RecordNow Max
different then?
Some
of the high points are it's features. Typically, you'll
need separate software to do specific tasks, such as burning
DVDs, ripping audio, and of course burning CDs. Please be
aware that we weren't able to test the DVD authoring capabilities
due to the fact that, um, we don't have a DVD burner. RecordNow
does it all, and at a much lower price point. It's easy
to use, and doesn't flood your system with unnecessary bloat.
It isn't as fast as some other software, but it's a lot
faster than one of the most popular packages.
Things
aren't perfect though. There is some incompatibility with
systems with EZCD Creator installed (which isn't a bad thing
),
and it still hiccups with copy protected disks.
Anyone
who is serious about backing up data, or media should definently
check this out. You can grab a 30-day trial off there site,
and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Pros:
Speedy, easy to use, feature rich, well priced.
Cons:
Copy protected CDs are problematic, some incompatibilities
with 3rd party CD software.
