Diminishing File Quality with CD-R's, what do you think ?

[xXgambitXx]

i got into the habit of reformatting my computer every couple of months. i have this collection of mp3's that i always carry over, about 2 or 3 gigs worth. i always end up burning them to a cd-r which is no big deal and copying them back over, the collection changes a lot so i end up burning new cd's ever time. my question is: does this Degrade the quality of the files, kind of like the way a copy of a xerox doesn't look as good as the original. i'm thinking about getting a small hard drive just to store these songs on but cd-r's work fine for me now though. i just want to know if constantly copying copies of mp3's and other files will degrade the quality of the file or if it's a perfect copy. also do you think that the Quality of the CD-R's would have an effect. i haven't had noticed any problems with this so far but i was just curious. any help/opinions would be useful.

 

[Viper GTS]

Since you're talking about digital data storage, the copies should be identical.

Unlike analog data, there is little room for distortion. The data is either there or it isn't.

Bit errors will result in corrupted files.

Viper GTS

 

[Pauli]

.mp3 files are just digital files like any other computer file. If it burns correctly, it should be exactly the same as the original. No bits get lost, no quality change.

 

[Mday]

if you are going to use CDRs, and expect them to be usable in a year... make 2 copies. keep one copy readily available.

put the other locked in a temperature\humidity controlled environment.

 

[Shooters]

Why don't you just create a separate partition for your mp3s?

 

[nortexoid]

shooters knows what's up.

create two partitions (or more)...one with your OS, and the other for your MP3s...when u format your OS next time, u can just leave your MP3s alone.

also, digital file copying should produce 100% identical copies with absolutely no degredation in quality...after all, it's just copying over software code...it's analogous to cutting cookies with a cookie cutter...the cutter will always produce identical copies of cookies, no matter how many times u cut/copy...ok, i suppose a better analogy is a content-based one...where u have ifnromation on a piece of paper, and u copy that info. over to another piece of paper by writing it out in pen...100% of the info is on the other page, and degredation of quality is irrelevant...the content is reproduced all the same (whether u wrote it in red pen or blue pen, etc.)

 

[Dre]

I prefer to backup my MP3's on a spare harddrive which i disconnect from my computer and keep in the closet.

 

[Katana]

<< shooters knows what's up.

create two partitions (or more)...one with your OS, and the other for your MP3s...when u format your OS next time, u can just leave your MP3s alone.
>>



Yep, that's what I do. It is so much easier than haveing to burn the mp3s everytime you reinstall the OS, plus you don't have to worry about the CDRs going bad or getting wrecked.

 

[IS300]

<< Bit errors will result in corrupted files. >>



So if a copy results in bit errors, and thus corrupted files, will the PC somehow let me know that this has occurred?

Or do I have to try playing the burned cdr and see if it will play or not, in order to find out if it's been corrupted?

 

[Katana]

The software that you are using to burn the mp3s should tell you if there were errors.

 

[BFG10K]

does this Degrade the quality of the files, kind of like the way a copy of a xerox doesn't look as good as the original

No, the whole point of going digital is so that copies are 100% accurate and identical to the originals.

Of course you can get data transfer errors for various reasons but that's not related to the whole analogue/digital paradigm in any way so that's another issue altogether.

 

[sak]

<< I prefer to backup my MP3's on a spare harddrive which i disconnect from my computer and keep in the closet. >>



talk about over protective. what do u do with ur wife or girlfriend?

 

[Brian23]

He prolly locks her in the closet with his MP3s and his teddy...... for safekeeping!