All There is to Know About CDs

Though times have changed, and millions now get their audio and video via streaming platforms, CDs and DVDs still remain quite prevalent. Blank CDs are still a cost-effective, versatile way to store and eventually share data in different forms.

What you may not have known is just how many different blank CD types there are out there. With a little bit of helpful information, you will know all there is to know about them and how useful they can actually be.

What is a Blank CD?

There are plenty of different blank CDs out there, so it can be a bit confusing to know what it is in the first place. Though it is thought of as a form of nostalgic technology, CDs are actually still an effective way to store and share data of all kinds.

Though we largely think of them when talking about storing music or video, CDs can actually do a lot more than that. As it turns out, they can be used to store important files, burn music, create photo albums, and so much more. With a little thought and creativity, a blank CD can wind up being one of the best gifts ever given.

The Different Types of Blank CD

If you think that blank CDs are all the same, think again. As it turns out, there are several different types to be aware of, each offering a different set of benefits.

CD-R

Perhaps the single most common type, CD-R is short for “Compact Disc-Readable.” Though these discs are easy to find, they can only be used once. If you are looking for permanent storage or to record specific albums or videos, these are perfectly fine to use.

CD-R’s have a much lower capacity to them than something like a DVD-R (more later). You are generally only going to get around 650-700MB on the average CD-R. That said, they are compatible with nearly every kind of computer drive or CD player you are going to run into.

CD-RW

Short for “Compact Disc-ReWritable,” these are a bit more versatile compared to CD-R’s. These discs can be written multiple times, sometimes even to an unlimited amount. You can simply erase what’s on the disc and rewrite the data as you need.

The only problem with CD-RW discs is that they aren’t nearly as universally compatible. There is a decent chance that your CD-RW disc will not be quite as compatible with drives and CD players, so just beware. They also have a relatively low drive capacity, similar in that regard to CD-R’s.

DVD-R

These discs, short for “Digital Versatile Disc-Recordable,” rose in popularity not long after CD-R and CD-RW. They came to be because there wasn’t as of yet a solution for storing video. Though they initially were used to store video files, they have become even more versatile.

DVD-R’s are compatible with nearly all computer drives and DVD players, which makes them great for storing larger files like videos. They also hold anywhere from 4.5GB to 9GB on a single disc, making them perfect for software installations as well.

BD-R

The final evolution in blank CDs. Short for “Blu-Ray Disc-Recordable,” these are significantly more advanced than anything that came before it. The capacity for storage is much higher, going from 25GB to 50GB for dual-layer discs.

BD-R discs are generally used for large data sets and high-definition videos. They are compatible with most Blu-Ray players as well. Those who still use discs for file and media storage will likely default to BD-R because of the versatility and data storage size.