New improved and multi platform! (Roxio Easy CD Creator Platinum 5.0)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Roxio Easy CD Creator Platinum 5.0
Date:	17/01/02 (1023 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great software, Good improvements, Operating system now not a problem

Disadvantages: CD Copying is a let down.

You can now purchase version 5 of this tremendous piece of CD Writing software which seem to get better and better with each release.
This is the new version despite a name change. It was formerly known as Adaptec and is now called ROXIO. To me, it is always Adaptec and that is what I shall refer to it as here!
I have written a big article on version 4 which you can also read if you so desire.
In fact, If I had not acquired version 5 as a freebie, I would probably tried to get hold of it as it is a cracking piece of software.

To give the "layman" a brief introduction, Adeptec CD Creator 5 is the latest version of an already successful piece of CD copying software free with many non brand or less well known brand CD writers. Companies such as LG supply it as part of their CD writer package. Other larger organisations like Hewlett Packard prefer to supply their own CD Copying software which, I think, is nowhere near as good or reliable at copying discs.
It comes on a CD that autoruns when you insert it into your main cd drive.
Obviously, to use it you need a CD Writer, external or internal.

Installation.
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Installing ok CD Creator 5 is extrememely quick and simple. Follow the onscreen prompts when needed and you are ready to start creating.
A reboot is required to make it function properly as it has to register files in your registry. This is the same as Version 4.

Compatibility.
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As I have just had pointed out to me, and this is a big thing to leave out, Version 5 seems to be the only version availalbe that is compatible across all operating system platforms. CD Creator 4 is unable to work with XP as it has conflicts. Version 5 is reverse engineered so it will work with older systems such as Win95/98 and 2000.
Usage.
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The dull grey menu has been replaced by a sleek new interface. It makes any task simple and at the click of a butt
on.
A good use of colours makes it pleasing to the eye but not overwelming.
The last option is just for upgrading the software. Most users will not need this as it offers so many features already, the upgrade will be uneccessary.

The first actual copying option is called AUDIO

Audio.
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Audio launches the Easy CD creator application.
It gives you a normal window layout with the Usual File menu options on the main toolbar. It also has an excellent Help facility. You probably wont need this because it is pretty straightforward.
You can also preview tracks and songs here on the Track Menu.

In the main window, there are 3 sub windows.
The first one on the left hand side, displays the file structure on the computer. Here you can select the folder where you store the files for copying.
In the bigger window on the right hand side of the first one, the audio files contained in the selected folder are displayed.
These can be dragged and dropped into the bottom window which is displaying the contents to be copied to the CD.
A coloured bar along the bottom of the screen shows how much space has been taken up by the files to be copied. It also gives you a warning if the files will not be able to fit on the CD.
Once the required files are selected, pressing the Create CD button starts the copying process. It firstly checks the files to be copied for readability. This eliminates most problems on copying. It then begins writing the CD before closing the session. Once a session is closed, no more data can be written to that CD if it is a Record Once CD.
The whole process varies in length of time but I find it very quick.
Additional in version 5 is the ability to play media into your PC using your 'Line In' socket on your Sound Card. This allows you to record your older LPs or vinyl records straight onto your CDs without the need to convert the sound files. A great littl
e tool for the older musical conoisseur!

Data.
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This allows files stored on your computer to be copied onto CD. This is useful for applications too big to fit onto a Floppy disk and ideal for IT Developers that want to take their work home to finish.
This is my primary use for my drive.
You simply launch the CD Creator as before but using the DATA option. The windows and layout displayed are the same as for Audio and it is the same procedure.
Additional in version 5 is the ability to now create Videos and even multimedia slide shows on CD this is carried out under the DATA option.

CD Copier.
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This give the ability to do a straight copy of one CD to another.
The display gives you a list of devices to copy from and a list to copy to.

This is the one big let down of the software. I find it often fails to copy CD's. This applies to ones without Copy protection too. I have tried reducing the copying speed to negate this but even that does not help. I suggest Clone CD instead.(see conclusion)

Jewel Case Creator
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This is similar to a desktop publishing program crossed with Paint.
It allows you to produce the inserts for your CD cases. You can download some example cases from different web sites or make your own by importing pictures.
This is excellent for unsigned bands that want to produce their own demos.
If you are naughty and use www.cdcovers.cc to download your real artist covers for your copied CD's, this is the place to arrange them and prepare them for print. It prevents you requiring a CD artwork program such as NEATO to construct your album covers.

Conclusion.
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There are not many additions to version 4 that really make it stand out apart from the line in recording and ability to prepare other data files that were possible before such as the slideshows.
Ok, ther
e are good competitors such as Nero out there but I find this to be much more user friendly as you do not require to make a CD image before creating your tracks.
As it is free, I did not have to pay but I understand it retails for about £30-£40.
One service that I would not use it for is copying CD's. I find the failure rate has increased from VErsion 4 and that was high. If you want to solely copy CD's I can reccomend a program called Clone CD. This even gets around the most complex CD encryption such as Safedisk.

Summary: