Getting Started

Getting started

Note: This Help file explains the features available in RecordNow! and RecordNow! Deluxe. Some of the features and projects detailed in the Help are only available in RecordNow! Deluxe. Click here to connect to a Web site where you can learn more about upgrading to RecordNow! Deluxe.

Welcome to RecordNow! by Sonic, your gateway to the world of digital music, video, and data recording. With RecordNow! you can make perfect copies of your CDs and DVDs, transfer music from your CD collection to your computer, create personalized audio CDs containing all of your favorite songs, and much more. In addition, a full suite of data and video recording programs by Sonic can be started from within RecordNow! to back up your computer, create drag-and-drop discs, watch movies, edit digital video, and create your own DVDs. Some of these programs may already be installed on your computer. Others are available for purchase. This Help file is divided into the following sections to help you quickly find the information you need:

 Getting started — Learn about System requirements, Getting help, Accessibility, and Removing RecordNow!.

 Things you should know — Useful information for newcomers to digital recording.

 Exploring RecordNow! — Learn to use RecordNow! and find out more about associated programs and upgrade options.

 Audio Projects — Step-by-step instructions for every type of audio project.

 Data projects — Step-by-step instructions for every type of data project.

 Backup projects — Step-by-step instructions for backup projects.

 Video projects — Step-by-step instructions for video projects.

 Utilities — Instructions on how to erase and finalize a disc, how to display detailed information about your discs and drives, and how to create disc labels.

 Saving projects — Learn how to save projects and load saved projects.

 Options — Personalize RecordNow! by setting Options that match your recording requirements and personal style.

 Tips and Tricks — Advice that will help you get the most from RecordNow!.

 Troubleshooting — Answers to common problems.

RN720 - ENU

Page 1 Getting started > System requirements System requirements This version of RecordNow! is compatible with the operating systems listed below. For more specific information, click the link for the operating system used by your computer:

 Windows 98 Second Edition

 Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium

 Windows XP Home, Professional, and Media Center editions

Page 2 Getting started > System requirements > Windows 98 Second Edition

Windows 98 Second Edition

 Hard drive with at least 15 MB of free space for installation (700 MB of free space is recommended for storing temporary files)

 32 MB RAM, or more

 Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater for reading Help files

 Macromedia Flash browser plug-in 6.0 or greater for viewing portions of the Help

 A CD or DVD recorder equipped with BURN-Proof technology. Click here to connect to the Sonic Web site where you can view a complete list of supported drives.

 For 8x speed recorders, or slower:

o 133 MHz processor, or faster

o Bus-mastering EIDE controller

o DMA enabled on the hard drive

 For 10x speed recorders, or faster:

o 300 MHz processor, or faster

o Bus-mastering EIDE controller

o DMA enabled on the hard drive

Page 3 Getting started > System requirements > Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium

Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium

 Hard drive with at least 15 MB of free space for installation (700 MB of free space is recommended for storing temporary files)

 64 MB RAM, or more

 Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater for reading Help files

 Macromedia Flash browser plug-in 6.0 or greater for viewing portions of the Help

 Windows Media Player 7.1 or greater to obtain song titles from the Internet and for WMA support

 Windows Media Player 9.0 or greater for playlist support

 A CD or DVD recorder equipped with BURN-Proof technology. Click here to connect to the Sonic Web site where you can view a complete list of supported drives.

 For 8x speed recorders, or slower:

o 150 MHz processor, or faster

o Bus-mastering EIDE controller

o DMA enabled on the hard drive

 For 10x speed recorders, or faster:

o 300 MHz or faster processor

o Bus-mastering EIDE controller

o DMA enabled on the hard drive

Page 4 Getting started > System requirements > Windows XP Home, Professional, and Media Center editions

Windows XP Home, Professional, and Media Center editions

 Hard drive with at least 15 MB of free space for installation (700 MB of free space is recommended for storing temporary files)

 128 MB RAM, or more (256MB or more for double-byte language systems)

 Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater for reading Help files

 Macromedia Flash browser plug-in 6.0 or greater for viewing portions of the Help

 Windows Media Player 7.1 or greater to obtain song titles from the Internet and for WMA support

 Windows Media Player 9.0 or greater for playlist support

 A CD or DVD recorder equipped with BURN-Proof technology. Click here to connect to the Sonic Web site where you can view a complete list of supported drives.

 For 8x speed recorders, or slower:

o 233 MHz processor, or faster

o Bus-mastering EIDE controller

o DMA enabled on the hard drive

 For 10x speed recorders, or faster:

o 300 MHz or faster processor

o Bus-mastering EIDE controller

o DMA enabled on the hard drive

Page 5 Getting started > Starting RecordNow! Starting RecordNow! To start RecordNow!:

 Select RecordNow! or RecordNow! Deluxe from the program list available on your Windows Start menu.

 Select Launch RecordNow! when I start my computer from RecordNow!'s Options dialog box. (See General options for more information.)

 Right-click a file or folder. Hold your cursor over Send To on the shortcut menu, then select RecordNow! or RecordNow! Deluxe.

Page 6 Getting started > Getting help Getting help If you have a question while using RecordNow!, there are several places you can turn for answers. The most complete source of information is this Help file. It contains a table of contents and an extensive index. The Help file also includes a Search tab that will display a list of topics containing the words you select.

To open the online Help:

 Click the Help button and select RecordNow! Help from the shortcut menu.

 Press the F1 key on your keyboard any time RecordNow! is the active program on your computer screen.

Using the Help file When using the Help file, there are a couple important things to remember:

 RecordNow! is available as a retail product. It is also bundled with many new computers. Your version may not include all of the features described here.

 This Help file covers the features available in RecordNow! and RecordNow! Deluxe. References to RecordNow! apply to both products. References to RecordNow! Deluxe apply only to RecordNow! Deluxe.

 To change the size of the text in the RecordNow! Help file, close the Help file and open Internet Explorer. Click the View menu in Internet Explorer, select Text Size, and chose a different text size option. Reopen the RecordNow! Help file.

Other sources of help

 The ReadMe file — This text file contains late-breaking information about RecordNow!. It can be opened by navigating to the RecordNow! application using the Windows Start menu. A typical path might be: Start > All Programs > Sonic > RecordNow! > Readme.htm. The exact path will vary depending on your operating system and computer manufacturer.

 Extended Pop-up Help — Hold your mouse cursor over almost any feature in RecordNow! and a small text window will open explaining the purpose of that feature. Once you become familiar with the program, these extended pop-ups can be turned off using the setting on the General panel of the Options dialog box.

 Explain Buttons — Throughout the RecordNow! application you will encounter Explain buttons. Click any of these buttons to open a Help topic that explains the feature you are using in more detail.

 Technical Support on the Web — If you have an Internet connection, this selection on the Help menu will take you to the RecordNow! technical support site, where you will find answers to frequently asked questions, additional product information, and technical support.

 Associated Programs — Some projects are performed by software that is started from within RecordNow!. In many cases, these associated programs have their own Help files with additional information about the project you are performing.

Note: The technical support link is not available on all versions of RecordNow!.

Page 7 Getting started > Accessibility Accessibility RecordNow! has been designed with a commitment to accessibility. It is compatible with Microsoft's accessibility utilities and many third-party assistance products. Keyboard shortcuts are available for all major operations.

Note: Some graphic elements used in this program are not handled correctly by all screen readers. If possible, set your screen reader to move your mouse pointer to the active program button. This will allow your screen reader to read the extended pop-up help for each button in RecordNow!. See General options for information on enabling extended pop-up help in RecordNow!.

Other topics:  Navigation and keyboard shortcuts

 High contrast settings

Page 8 Getting started > Accessibility > High contrast settings

High contrast settings Some users find it easier to view RecordNow! when the high contrast display settings are enabled for their computer monitor.

To set your monitor to high contrast mode:

1. Click the Windows Start menu and open Control Panel.

2. Double-click Accessibility Options.

3. Click the Display tab.

4. Click in the Use High Contrast checkbox.

5. Click Settings if you wish to select an appearance scheme. RecordNow! supports High Contrast #1, High Contrast #2, High Contrast Black, and High Contrast White. 6. Click OK.

Note: Some Windows systems support other methods for changing the contrast settings of your display. For the best results with RecordNow!, follow the steps listed here.

Other topics:  Navigation and keyboard shortcuts

Page 9 Getting started > Accessibility > Navigation and keyboard shortcuts

Navigation and keyboard shortcuts Program functions can be accessed from the keyboard without using a mouse. RecordNow! follows standard Microsoft navigation techniques and keyboard shortcuts.

Navigation Screen navigation from the keyboard is typically achieved using the Tab key to move from function to function, the arrow keys to select options within a function, and the Enter key to activate your selection.

The current active area of the screen is enclosed with a rectangle formed by dotted lines. Pressing the Tab key moves the rectangle to the next active area.

Tip: Holding down the Shift key and pressing the Tab key reverses the tabbing order, making it easy to return to the last active area of the screen.

Keyboard shortcuts RecordNow! uses a standard system of accelerator or "hot" keys to provide keyboard access to many program functions.

To activate a program function from the keyboard:

1. Begin by noting that all function names and all program options have a single letter underlined. If the underlines are not visible, press the Alt key.

2. Hold down the Alt key and press the letter on the keyboard that is underlined in the item you wish to access. To activate the Burn button, for instance, you would press Alt+B.

The following table lists some of the keyboard shortcuts frequently used with RecordNow!: Frequently used keyboard shortcuts

To do this ... Press these keys ...

Cancel a project or operation Esc

Open Help F1

Duplicate a mouse click Use the Tab and arrow keys to reach the desired function or menu item then press Enter.

Duplicate a right-click of the mouse Use the Tab and arrow keys to reach the desired program function or menu item then press Shift + F10.

Open the Start menu Windows logo key Open Windows Explorer Windows logo key + E Other topics:  High contrast settings

Page 10 Getting started > Removing RecordNow! Removing RecordNow!

To remove RecordNow!:

 Select RecordNow! from the Add or Remove Programs option available in the Windows Control Panel. (In some operating systems, this feature is called Add/Remove Programs.)

Windows will remove all files associated with RecordNow! from your computer. For additional information on removing programs from your computer, please see your Windows documentation.

Page 11 Things you should know

RecordNow! makes it easy to create recordings using your CD or DVD recorder. The topics below describe terms and concepts you may want to know before using RecordNow!:

 What is an audio CD?

 What is a data disc?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

 What is disc layout?

 Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files?

Page 12 Things you should know > What is an audio CD? What is an audio CD? An audio CD is a compact disc that can be played on any CD player. RecordNow! can make audio CDs from the most common audio formats — WAV, MP3, or WMA (Windows Media Audio) — or directly from another disc. Here are some interesting facts about audio CDs:

 Audio CDs can be played on your home or car stereo as well as any computer equipped with a CD-ROM and using a program such as Windows Media Player.

Note: Some DVD players cannot read CD-R media and some CD players cannot read CD-RW media.

 Most audio CDs can hold 74 or 80 minutes of music and up to 99 tracks.

 Audio CDs created with RecordNow! are closed session CDs, which means that once the recording is complete no more information can be written to that disc. This prevents accidentally overwriting the music on your disc.

 Audio CDs are great for creating compilations of your favorite songs gathered from your audio files and CD collections. Audio CDs are created using the Audio CD for Car and Home CD Player project. If you use MP3 files to create an audio CD, RecordNow! will automatically convert them into the audio CD format so your new disc can be played on any CD player.

RecordNow! can also be used to create a special type of disc called a Jukebox CD. On a Jukebox CD, your MP3 and WMA files are not converted to the audio CD format. Because your MP3 and WMA files remain compressed, a Jukebox CD can contain many more songs than an audio CD. However, Jukebox CDs can only be played on computers and music players that can read MP3, WMA, or WAV files. Jukebox CDs are created using the Jukebox CD project. For more information, see Audio Projects. Other topics:  What is a data disc?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

 What is disc layout?

 Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files?

Page 13 Things you should know > What is a data disc? What is a data disc? A data disc is a CD or DVD used to store electronic data, such as the files and applications that reside on your computer's hard drive. Here are some facts you should know about data discs:

 Unlike audio CDs, data discs are used to store files that are readable only by a computer. Data discs cannot be played on your home or car stereo — even if audio files are on the disc.

 Single-layer data DVDs can typically hold up to 4.7 GB of information and can be read with any appropriate DVD drive. Dual-layer discs can typically hold up to 8.5 GB of information.

 A data CD can hold up to 700 MB of information and can be accessed with any computer equipped with a CD-ROM drive or CD recorder.

 A data disc is great for backing up your hard drive or storing important information such as your taxes, reports, and spreadsheets.

 Because of its portability, a data disc is very useful for sharing multimedia presentations, graphics, reports, and other business information with colleagues or customers.

 You can add or append information to a data disc again and again until it is full. If you're using rewritable discs, RecordNow! offers you the choice of appending or erasing and rewriting your disc. Other topics:  What is an audio CD?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

 What is disc layout?

 Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files?

Page 14 Things you should know > What is an optical recorder? What is an optical recorder? An optical recorder is a hardware device that uses a laser to optically write information to disc media (either CD or DVD). There are distinct types of recorders, however, and you should be aware of the differences. The following table describes some of these differences. Optical recorders compared

Device type Function

CD recorder Can read or write to either CD-R or CD-RW media. DVD recorder Can read and write to CD-R, CD-RW, and appropriate DVD media. Other topics:  What is an audio CD?

 What is a data disc?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

 What is disc layout?

 Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files?

Page 15 Things you should know > What are the different types of disc media? What are the different types of disc media? There are many different types of disc media. Which one you use depends on the hardware you have available and how you are using the information on the disc. The following table compares the different types of disc media. Media Types

Function CD-R CD-RW DVD Recordable DVD Rewritable

Can be written to only once Yes No Yes No Can be erased and written to repeatedly No Yes No Yes Can be read by any CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW drive, or any home or car stereo Yes No No No Can be read by most DVD players No Yes Yes Yes Can be read by most DVD-ROM drives Yes Yes Yes Yes Other topics:  What is an audio CD?

 What is a data disc?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

 What is disc layout?

 Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files?

Page 16 Things you should know > What does "burning a disc" mean? What does "burning a disc" mean? Burning is an industry term used to describe the recording of information to a CD or DVD. Optical recording uses a laser beam to place information onto the media, thus the term "burning." The terms "burn" and "record" are used interchangeably throughout this Help file. Other topics:  What is an audio CD?

 What is a data disc?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

 What is disc layout?

Page 17 Things you should know > What should I know about recording speeds? What should I know about recording speeds? Many things can influence the speed of your recordings. This topic provides a brief overview of the subject and includes tips that will help you achieve the best results with RecordNow!.

Understanding speed Recorder drives are rated by the maximum amount of data they can successfully transfer per second. This rating usually appears as a multiplier: 1x, 2x, 4x, 48x. etc. A larger number generally means a faster drive. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Today are there many types of drives. Some allow you to record to both DVD and CD discs. Some drives support write-once media, some support rewritable media, and some support both. And for each variation a drive supports, there may be a maximum read, write, and rewrite speed. In addition, CD and DVD discs have their own speed ratings. These ratings usually appear as a range of drive speeds the disc can support.

RecordNow! takes care of it Before you burn a disc, RecordNow! automatically gathers information about your drive and your disc, checks your option settings, and selects the best recording speed for your project. Here are some simple suggestions that will help you achieve the best results with RecordNow!:

 Make sure the discs you buy are compatible with your drive. Double-check the disc format and the disc speed.

 If you experience a recording failure, you may be able to resolve the problem by manually selecting a slower recording speed. For more information, see General options.

 With RecordNow! it is possible to manually select a recording speed that is higher than the rated speed of your disc. If RecordNow! detects such a conflict, it will automatically adjust the recording speed downward to match the best speed for your disc.

 Use clean media. Scratches and dirt slow down your recordings and can lead to recording failures.

 Upgrade your USB connection. If your new, external USB 2.0 drive is connected to a USB 1.1 port on an older computer, you will not be able to achieve top recording speeds. Upgrade kits are widely available. Other topics:  What is an audio CD?

 What is a data disc?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What is disc layout?

 Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files?

Page 18 Things you should know > What is disc layout? What is disc layout? Disc layout is the physical arrangement of information recorded onto your disc. For example, when creating an audio CD, RecordNow! allows you to customize the sequence, or order, of your tracks. Other topics:  What is an audio CD?

 What is a data disc?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

 Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files?

Page 19 Things you should know > Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files? Where can I find MP3, WAV, and WMA files? MP3, WAV and WMA files are frequently found and downloaded from Internet sites and can be created from your own CDs. WMA files can be created using newer versions of Windows Media Player. MP3 files can be created with some versions of RecordNow! and all versions of RecordNow! Deluxe. For information on how you can upgrade RecordNow! to create MP3 files, select the audio project titled Upgrade — Convert Audio CDs to MP3s.

Keep in mind that most commercially available music and most computer applications are protected by copyright laws.

Note: You will not be able to burn the WMA files created with Windows Media Player unless the options for copying CDs are set correctly. To learn more, consult the Windows Media Player Help file.

Other topics:  What is an audio CD?

 What is a data disc?

 What is an optical recorder?

 What are the different types of disc media?

 What does "burning a disc" mean?

 What is disc layout?

 What should I know about recording speeds?

Page 20 Exploring RecordNow!

RecordNow! can be used to perform a wide range of disc recording projects. The topics below introduce you to the RecordNow! work area and explain how to use the program. They also explain how associated programs, some of which may already be installed on your computer, can be used to extend the power of RecordNow!:

 The RecordNow! work area

 Starting a new project

 Intelligent drag-and-drop

 Staging projects

 Progress indicators

 The complete list of RecordNow! projects and utilities

 Associated programs

Page 21 Exploring RecordNow! > The RecordNow! work area The RecordNow! work area The first time you open RecordNow!, you will see the basic console with a large project window open beneath it. The Project Window contains a Welcome message, links to frequently-used projects, and links that open several useful utilities. The first illustration below describes the basic features of the console. The second illustration describes the Project Window: The RecordNow! console

Disc status information.

Selected recorder drive.

Change recorder drives or refresh your drive list using the drop-down menu that appears when you click the drive name or this triangle.

Click here to minimize the RecordNow! console.

Click here to maximize the RecordNow! console.

Click here to open the Help menu.

Click here to open the Options panels.

Click here to open a saved project.

Click one of these tabs to start a project. The choices (from left) are Audio, Data, Backup, and Video.

Click the Home tab to access the Label Disc, Erase Disc, Get Disc Information, and Finalize Disc utilities.

Click here to open your drive tray. (On some drives this button can also be used to close your drive tray.)

The Bit Budget displays the disc space used by your project. The Home tab project window

Page 22 The active project tab is highlighted.

Links to frequently used projects.

Click a link to create a disc label, erase a disc, get detailed information about your disc and drive, or to finalize a disc.

Resize the Project Window by dragging any edge.

The name of the active project or project window.

Click here to open or close the Project Window.

Click here and drag to move the RecordNow! application to a different location on your screen.

Click here to open the Sonic Web site. (Internet connection required.) Other topics:  Adjusting the size of RecordNow! on the screen

Page 23 Exploring RecordNow! > The RecordNow! work area > Adjusting the size of RecordNow! on the screen

Adjusting the size of RecordNow! on the screen The RecordNow! console and Project Window can be resized using the following methods:

 Click on the edge of the Project Window and drag with your mouse to resize the window.

 Click on the small triangle at the upper right-hand corner of the Project Window to open or close the window.

 Click any project tab to display the full Project Window.

 Click the Minimize button to move RecordNow! to the Windows taskbar. Click on RecordNow! in the taskbar to restore the program to its previous size.

 Click the Maximize button to have RecordNow! fill your computer screen. Click the Restore Down button to restore the program to its previous size.

Page 24 Exploring RecordNow! > Starting a new project Starting a new project Before starting most projects, it's a good idea to insert the blank or appendable disc you are planning to use into your recorder drive. This gives RecordNow! a chance to analyze your disc, determine its format and capacity, and measure the amount of data it already contains. This lets you take advantage of several progress indicators built into the program. Inserting a disc first also helps RecordNow! make smarter choices as you select and complete your projects. The next step is to choose a project. When you click on a project tab, the Project Window displays a list of available projects. On the RecordNow! console you will see the five tabs described below:

Home

Audio

Data

Backup

Video

When the Data tab is clicked, for example, projects related to data discs are displayed. When the Audio tab is clicked, projects related to audio discs are displayed. To begin a new project, click on its description in the Project Window. Other topics:  How projects work

 Intelligent drag-and-drop

 Opening a saved project

 Opening projects from a previous version of RecordNow!

Page 25 Exploring RecordNow! > Starting a new project > How projects work

How projects work When you click on a project description in the Project Window, one of several things will happen:

 If RecordNow! can perform the project without help, the project will continue in the Project Window. Follow the instructions and complete the project.

 If RecordNow! needs an associated program to perform the project and the program is detected on your computer, RecordNow! will open the associated program for you. While you complete the project, RecordNow! will remain open in the background.

 If a project requires that you upgrade your version of RecordNow!, you will be directed to a Web site where you can obtain the associated program. How projects work: an audio project

The symbol of a musical note tells you that the active project is an audio project.

The amount of space or recording time available on your disc is displayed.

Use the View and Find drop-down menus to Find and Display your audio files

The Music on System window is on the left; the Music to Burn window is on the right. The center divider can be dragged left or right to enlarge either window.

The Burn button. Click to begin recording. Other topics:  Associated programs

Page 26 Exploring RecordNow! > Intelligent drag-and-drop Intelligent drag-and-drop The fastest way to start a project with RecordNow! is to insert a blank or appendable disc into your recorder drive and drag the files you wish to record directly onto the Bit Budget, the graphic representation of a disc on the left side of the RecordNow! console. See The Bit Budget for more information.

The Bit Budget is circled in the illustration above.

RecordNow! will analyze the files and select an appropriate project. For example, if you drag a folder of music files to the Bit Budget, RecordNow! will start an Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player project. (Intelligent Drag-and-Drop can be customized. See Audio options for more information.)

Tip: You can add files to an open project even if the project window is closed. Make sure the correct project title is displayed, and drag the files to the Bit Budget.

The table below lists the projects that are automatically started when different types of files are dragged onto the RecordNow! Bit Budget.

Intelligent Drag-and-Drop

File type dragged to RecordNow! Resulting action or project

Audio files only (including playlists) Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player (This can be changed to Jukebox CD. See Audio options for more information.)

Mixed file types Data Disc

Graphic and photo files only Data Disc

Video files only Data Disc

Hard disk drive letter Starts Simple Backup or Backup MyPC if either program is installed. If not, you will be directed to a Web site where you can obtain the associated program. CD or DVD drive letter Exact Copy project begins in RecordNow!, unless the disc in the drive is copy protected. An image file created in the RecordNow!, Global-Image or ISO format. (RecordNow! and Global-Image files are identical in format have the .gi file name extension. ISO files have the .iso file name extension.) Burn Image

Things to remember when dragging files to RecordNow!:  Before you begin, insert a disc into the drive you wish to use. Make sure the correct drive is displayed on the RecordNow! console. Use the drive drop-down menu to change drives.

 As you drag files over the Bit Budget, your mouse cursor will change to include a plus symbol (+) letting you know it is OK to drop the files.

 If you include a data file with a group of audio files, RecordNow! will assume you want to create a data disc. If your goal is to create an audio CD, cancel the data project and try again. This time only drag audio files.

 Once you have started a project, you can add files by dropping them on the RecordNow! Bit Page 27 Budget or on the Project Window.

 If you drop more than one image file on the Bit Budget, RecordNow! will start a Data Disc project.

Page 28 Exploring RecordNow! > Intelligent drag-and-drop > Drag-and-drop with DLA

Drag-and-drop with DLA One of the programs associated with RecordNow! is DLA (Drive Letter Access), a utility that lets you add files directly to CD and DVD discs. If DLA is installed on your computer and you insert a disc formatted by DLA into your drive, you will be able to copy files directly to the disc by dragging them to the Bit Budget, the graphical representation of a disc on the left side of the RecordNow! console.

When a disc formatted by DLA is inserted into your recorder drive, you are notified on the RecordNow! console. In the illustration above, the "Bit Budget" is circled.

Note: CDs created with packet-writing software such as DLA (Drive Letter Access) cannot be copied. DVDs created with DLA can be copied. DLA is not shipped with all versions of RecordNow!.

Page 29 Exploring RecordNow! > Staging projects Staging projects You may have up to four projects open at the same time as long as each project is on a different project tab. This means you could set up a data project, an audio project, a backup project, and a video project without burning any of them. If you need to quit RecordNow!, all or most of your projects will still be there when you reopen the application, even if you do not save the projects. (A message will appear if any of your projects cannot be remembered.) A yellow dot on a project tab is a reminder that you have an unfinished project on that tab.

The yellow dots represent unfinished audio and data projects.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when staging projects:

 You can only burn one project at a time.

 While burning a project, you cannot work on any other projects.

 To cancel a pending project, open the project and click the Cancel button.

 To save a pending audio or data project, open the project and click the Save button . If there is no Save button on the project window, the project cannot be saved. See Saving a Project for more information.

 Utilities on the Home tab cannot be staged. While Erasing or Finalizing a disc, RecordNow! cannot perform any other functions. The following projects are not remembered when you quit RecordNow!:

 Projects that add data to a disc already containing data.

 Bootable data disc projects. See Making a bootable CD or DVD for more information.

 Audio compilations that include songs or files from other discs.

Tip: The feature that allows RecordNow! to remember pending projects can be turned off. See General options for more information.

Page 30 Exploring RecordNow! > Progress indicators Progress indicators RecordNow! displays the free space on your data discs, the recording time remaining on your audio CDs, and the total size of the files you have selected. A progress bar is also displayed to let you know how long each burn will take.

The Bit Budget This graphical representation of a disc shows the disc capacity that would be consumed by the current project. When the gray indicator has moved completely around the circle, the files selected for the project would completely fill the disc. For best results when using the Bit Budget, insert a blank or appendable disc into your recorder drive before starting your project.

The arrow shows the progress indicator moving around the disc.

The free space indicator This indicator within the RecordNow! console displays the amount of free space remaining on data discs, and the amount of recording time remaining on audio CDs. If you add more files than the disc can hold, the free space indicator will alert you.

The free space indicator

Note: RecordNow! allows you to add more files to a project than will fit on the disc currently in your recorder drive. This gives you the opportunity to transfer the project to a higher capacity disc, if you have one available. However, you will not be allowed to burn a disc if the files you have selected exceed the disc's capacity unless the Overburn option is selected. See General options — Advanced panel for more information. (Advanced Options are not available on all versions of RecordNow!.)

Page 31 Exploring RecordNow! > The complete list of RecordNow! projects and utilities The complete list of RecordNow! projects and utilities The following tables list all of the projects available with RecordNow! and the software necessary to run them. Not all projects or project tabs are available with all versions of this program. This Help file includes step-by-step instructions for each of the projects performed by RecordNow!. Associated programs such as DLA and MyDVD have their own Help files. To learn more about a particular project, click on the project link.

Note: Once you have upgraded RecordNow! by purchasing and installing an associated program, the corresponding Upgrade suggestion will no longer appear in your project list.

Home tab utilities

Project description Required software

Label Disc. See Making a disc label for more information. Sonic Express Labeler

Erase Disc. See Erasing a disc for more information. RecordNow!

Get Disc Information. See Disc information for more information. RecordNow!

Finalize Disc. See Finalizing a disc for more information. RecordNow!

Audio projects

Project description Required software

Audio Disc for Car or Home CD Player. See Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player for more information. RecordNow!

Exact Copy. See Making an exact copy of an audio CD for more information. RecordNow!

Jukebox CD. See Making a Jukebox CD for more information. RecordNow!

Convert Audio CDs to MP3s. See Convert audio CDs to MP3 files for more information. RecordNow! or RecordNow! Deluxe

Listen to Audio CD. See Listen to an audio CD for more information. Uses your default audio player

Upgrade — Convert Audio CDs to MP3s RecordNow! Deluxe

Data projects

Project description Required software

Data Disc. See Making a data disc for more information. RecordNow!

Data Image. See Making a data image for more information. RecordNow! Page 32 Exact Copy. See Making an exact copy of a data disc for more information. RecordNow!

Backup projects

Project description Required software

Exact Copy. See Making an exact copy for more information. RecordNow!

File Archive. See File Archive for more information. RecordNow! or RecordNow! Deluxe

Save Image. See Saving an image for more information. RecordNow! or RecordNow! Deluxe

Burn Image. See Burning an image for more information. RecordNow! or RecordNow! Deluxe

Backup Entire System. See Backup entire system for more information. Simple Backup or Backup MyPC

Upgrade — Backup Your Computer Simple Backup or Backup MyPC

Video projects

Project description Required software

Video Disc. See Making a video disc for more information. MyDVD or DVDit!

Exact Copy. See Making an exact copy of a video disc for more information. RecordNow!

Watch DVD Movie. See Watching a DVD movie for more information. CinePlayer

Upgrade — Get the Best Playback Quality CinePlayer

Upgrade — Create Slideshows and Movies MyDVD Other topics:  How projects work

 Associated programs

Page 33 Exploring RecordNow! > Associated programs Associated programs Several projects available within RecordNow! can only be completed if a separate software program is detected on your computer. Some of these programs may already be installed. Others are available for purchase. Projects that require additional software are identified with the word Upgrade. Click on an Upgrade project to open a Web site and obtain more information. (An Internet connection is required.) Associated programs that can be started from within RecordNow! include:

 DLA — Drag files from your hard drive to a CD or DVD disc as easily as you would to a hard drive or floppy disk.

 Simple Backup — Back up all of your valuable files with just a few clicks of the mouse.

 Backup MyPC — Take complete control over when to backup, what to backup, and where to backup your files.

 MyDVD — Make great-looking home videos and business presentations using video from your camcorder or VHS.

 DVDit! — Create interactive video content on your computer and publish it on DVD.

 CinePlayer — Watch DVD and Video CD movies with this intuitive, feature-rich video playback software.

 Sonic Express Labeler — An easy-to-use label maker. Other topics:  How projects work

Page 34 Audio Projects

The following topics provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete the audio projects offered by RecordNow!:

 Making an exact copy of an audio CD

 Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player

 Making a Jukebox CD

 Convert audio CDs to MP3 files

 Listen to an audio CD

Note: Some projects and features may not be available with this version of RecordNow!.

Page 35 Audio Projects > Making an exact copy of an audio CD Making an exact copy of an audio CD The Exact Copy project makes a duplicate of your master disc, transferring the disc layout of the original disc to your CD. If you have a single CD or DVD drive, RecordNow! will copy your master disc to a temporary location on your hard drive. You will then be asked to insert a blank or rewritable disc, and the data will be copied from your hard drive to the disc. To successfully copy a disc, your hard drive must have enough space available to store this temporary file. If you have more than one CD or DVD drive, you may be able to copy your master disc directly to a blank or rewritable disc in your second drive.

For your convenience, the Exact Copy project is available on each of RecordNow!'s project tabs. Audio, data, backup, and video discs can be copied using any of the available Exact Copy projects.

To make an exact copy of a disc:

1. Click the Audio tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of audio projects.

2. Click Exact Copy in the Project Window.

3. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the Project Window.

A progress screen will inform you when the project has been completed.

4. If you wish to make another copy of the master disc at this time, remove the newly recorded disc from your recorder, replace it with a blank or rewritable disc, and click Make Another.

5. Click Done when you are finished recording. Remove the discs from your drives and store them in a safe place.

When using the Exact Copy project, keep the following issues in mind:  Some CDs and DVDs are created with copy-protection features and cannot be copied.

 CDs created with packet-writing software such as DLA (Drive Letter Access) cannot be copied. DVDs created with DLA can be copied.

 Before a -R or -RW disc that contains multiple recording sessions can be copied to an -RW disc, the destination disc must be completely erased. This can take 30 minutes or more. Other topics:  Selecting music files

 Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player

 Making a Jukebox CD

Page 36 Audio Projects > Selecting music files Selecting music files RecordNow! easily creates custom audio CDs from the WAV, MP3, and WMA files on your hard drive and from songs on your CDs. Before creating an audio CD, familiarize yourself with the features of the File Selection window. File Selection Window

Feature Function

View drop-down list Use this list to determine which files are displayed. Choose All Files, By Artist, By Album, By Genre, By Playlist, or On Drive.

Find drop-down list Select Scan for Music to have RecordNow! automatically search your hard drive for valid music files. Select Browse... to navigate to the songs you wish to record.

Music to Burn window Displays songs selected for recording.

Up and Down buttons Arrange the order of your songs in the Music to Burn window by selecting a song then clicking the green Up or Down arrows.

CD Properties button Click this button to open a dialog box where you can enter CD Text, pre-gaps, and other audio properties.

Remove button Clicking Remove deletes the highlighted song title from your list but does not affect any files on your hard drive.

Add button Select songs from the Music on System window, then click the Add button to move them to the Music to Burn window.

Preview button Click to hear a selected audio file. Page 37 Music on System window Create an audio project by selecting songs from this window and moving them to the Music to Burn window. Other topics:  Making an exact copy of an audio CD

 Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player

Page 38 Audio Projects > Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player RecordNow! can record songs from CDs and from files stored on your computer to a single CD that can be played in almost any car or home CD player. This is ideal for creating "Best Of" CDs. This topic is divided into four sections:

 Starting the project

 Adding songs already stored on your computer

 Adding songs from CDs

 Completing the project

Starting the project 1. Select a recorder using the drive drop-down menu on the RecordNow! console.

2. Insert a blank disc or rewritable into your recorder drive.

3. Click the Audio tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of audio projects.

4. Click Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player in the Project Window.

5. The File Selection screen appears. Continue by following the steps below:

Adding songs already stored on your computer 1. Open the Find drop-down menu and select Scan for Music to have RecordNow! search your hard drive for valid music files.

Tip: Two options are available to make scanning for music more efficient. One tells RecordNow! to skip short audio files. The other lets you restrict the search to a single directory. See Audio options for more information.

2. When RecordNow! has located all of the valid music files on your system, you can sort your music by selecting a category from the View drop-down menu in the Music on System window.

3. Select the files you wish to add from the Music on System window and click the Add button.

The selected files are moved to the Music to Burn window.

Note: Clicking Remove deletes the highlighted song from your list but does not affect any files on your hard drive.

4. Arrange the song order in the Music to Burn window by either:

Selecting a song and then using the green up or down arrows

Selecting a song and dragging it to a new position.

Tip: You can rename any song in the Music to Burn window by selecting the file and clicking once on its name. Then press F2 and type a new name. If your CD recorder supports CD Text, the new name will displayed.

Adding songs from CDs Page 39 1. With the File Selection Window displayed, insert a music CD into your recorder drive.

2. RecordNow! will display the songs on your CD.

3. Select the songs you wish to add from the Music on System window and click the Add button.

The selected files are moved to the Music to Burn window.

4. To add songs from a second CD, eject the first CD and repeat steps 1-3.

5. Arrange the song order in the Music to Burn window by either:

Selecting a song and then using the green up or down arrows

Selecting a song and dragging it to a new position.

Note: As you select songs from an audio CD, RecordNow! temporarily stores them on your computer hard drive. You may need up to 700 MB of free space on your hard drive to successfully select all the songs on an audio CD.

Completing the project When the songs are arranged in the Music to Burn window as you desire, you are ready to complete the project. 1. Make sure a blank or rewritable CD is in your recorder drive.

2. Click the Audio Track Properties button to add CD Text and product codes or to set pre-gaps. See CD properties and CD Text for more information.

3. Click the Burn button .

4. A progress bar appears, and RecordNow! records your disc. You cannot create other projects while a burn is in progress. 5. Once the disc has been created, you can make another disc with the same file list by replacing the newly recorded CD with a blank disc and clicking Make Another.

6. To save this project so the same file list can be easily selected in the future, click Save. (For more information, see Saving a Project.)

Note: If your project contains songs that were copied directly from other CDs, you will not be able to save the project.

7. Click Done when you are finished recording. Remove the discs from your drives and store them in a safe place. Other topics:  Selecting music files

 Making an exact copy of an audio CD

 Making a Jukebox CD

Page 40 Audio Projects > CD properties and CD Text CD properties and CD Text

Note: Some projects and features may not be available with this version of RecordNow!.

Use the Edit CD Properties dialog to input CD Text, add pre-gaps, and enter UPC and ISRC identifiers for your audio CDs. For a more detailed discussion of CD Text and audio properties, see About CD Text and About CD properties.

Note: Audio Properties and CD Text are only available on the Audio CD for Car and Home CD Player project.

Setting CD Properties

RecordNow! offers several methods for setting CD properties. The two-step method described here is quick and easy. See Tips for entering audio properties and CD Text to learn other methods that might better suit your work style. 1. Open a new or saved Audio CD for Car and Home CD Player project. See Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player to learn how to create an audio CD project. 2. Move the songs you wish to record to the Music to Burn window, and select one of them.

3. Click the CD Properties button.

The Edit CD Properties dialog box opens. Notice that it has two tabs titled Track and Album. The Album tab is used to enter properties that are the same for the entire album. The Track tab is used to enter properties that vary from track to track.

4. Select the Album tab.

5. Enter properties that are the same for the entire album. Performer, Composer, and UPC settings can be quickly entered for every track on the album using this tab. 6. Click OK.

7. Double-click on the first track in the Music to Burn window.

The CD Properties dialog opens with the Track tab selected.

8. Enter any CD Properties that are unique to this track, such as Track Title.

9. Click OK.

10. Repeat steps 7-9 for each track.

11. When you have finished setting CD Properties and entering CD Text, click the Burn button to record the project or click the Save button to save the project.

Tips for entering audio properties and CD Text  Track titles can be entered directly in the Music to Burn window by clicking once on a track title and pressing F2 on your keyboard. Type the new track title and press the Enter key.

 You can enter audio properties for several tracks at once. Select more than one track in the Music to Burn window and click the CD Properties button. Any changes you make in the CD Properties dialog will affect all of the selected tracks.

 If the Edit CD Properties dialog is opened when more than one track is selected, some settings may display the phrase Multiple Values. This means at least two of the selected tracks have Page 41 different values for the same setting. For example, the pre-gap for one track might be set at 2 seconds, and the pre-gap for another track might be set at 0. Click on the Multiple Values entry only if you wish to reset the setting for all the selected tracks and enter a new setting. Other topics:  About CD Text

 About CD properties

Page 42 Audio Projects > CD properties and CD Text > About CD Text

About CD Text When you play a commercial music disc in your computer using a program such as Windows Media Player, the name of the disc, the performer, and the names of all the songs are usually displayed. In most cases, this text is not contained on the disc itself. Your music player downloaded it for you from a large online music database. What if you don't have an Internet connection? What if your disc cannot be found in the database or your media player does not recognize the songs on your disc? Instead of song titles, you will see "Track 1," "Track 2," and so on. Instead of the performer's name, "Unknown Artist" or "Audio CD" will appear in its place. RecordNow! lets you store song information directly on the discs you burn so it is always displayed correctly. This text is stored in a special location and is called CD Text. Some disc drives will even display CD Text about each song as it is played. A disc can contain 5,000 characters of Western language CD Text or 2,500 characters of double-byte text. The Japanese, Chinese, and Korean versions of RecordNow! include an option that allows CD Text to be entered using either double-byte character sets (DBCS) or Western language text. See Audio options — Advanced panel for more information.

Use the Edit CD Properties dialog box to set pre-gaps and enter CD Text Other topics:  CD properties and CD Text

 About CD properties

Page 43 Audio Projects > CD properties and CD Text > About CD properties

About CD properties The CD Properties dialog box can be used to set pre-gaps, and enter ISRC and UPC information.

What is a pre-gap? A pre-gap is the period of silence that usually separates songs on a disc. Most commercial audio CDs separate songs with a two-second pre-gap. When copying a typical music CD, two-second pre-gaps may be fine. But if you are recording a live concert, you may want to set the pre-gaps to zero.

What is ISRC? ISRC stands for International Standard Recording Code. This 12-digit code is used for identifying individual audio tracks to help ensure the proper payment of royalties.

What is UPC? UPC stands for Universal Product Code. This unique number is usually found near the product bar code. One of its uses is to track the sales of commercial audio CDs. Other topics:  CD properties and CD Text

 About CD Text

Page 44 Audio Projects > Making a Jukebox CD Making a Jukebox CD RecordNow! can create a special type of disc called a Jukebox CD. On a Jukebox CD, your MP3 and WMA files remain compressed. Jukebox CDs can contain many more songs than a CD created using the Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player project. However, Jukebox CDs can only be played on computers and music players that can read MP3, WMA, or WAV files. Jukebox CDs are created using the Jukebox CD project.

When you insert a Jukebox CD into your computer, it begins automatically. The songs play in the order you set using RecordNow!.

To make a Jukebox CD:

1. Select a recorder using the drive drop-down menu on the RecordNow! console.

2. Insert a blank disc into your recorder drive.

3. Click the Audio tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of audio projects.

4. Click Jukebox CD in the Project Window.

The File Selection screen appears.

5. Open the Find drop-down menu and select Scan for Music to have RecordNow! automatically search your hard drive for valid music files.

Tip: Two options are available to make scanning for music more productive. One tells RecordNow! to skip short audio files. The other lets you restrict the search to a single directory. See Audio options for more information.

6. When RecordNow! has located all of the valid music files on your system, you can sort your music by selecting a category from the View drop-down menu in the Music on System section.

7. Select the files you wish to add from the Music on System window and click the Add button.

The selected files are moved to the Music to Burn window.

Note: Clicking Remove deletes the highlighted song from your list but does not affect any files on your hard drive.

8. Arrange the song order in the Music to Burn window by either:

Selecting a song then using the green up or down arrows

Selecting a song and dragging it to a new position.

9. Make sure a blank CD is in your recorder drive.

10. Click the Burn button .

11. A progress bar appears, and RecordNow! records your disc. You cannot create other projects while a burn is in progress. 12. Once the disc has been created, you can make another disc with the same file list by replacing the newly recorded CD with a blank disc and clicking Make Another. Page 45 13. To save this project so the same file list can be easily selected in the future, click Save. (For more information, see Saving a Project.) 14. Click Done when you are finished recording. Remove the discs from your drives and store them in a safe place. Other topics:  Selecting music files

 Making an exact copy of an audio CD

 Making an audio CD for a car or home CD player

Page 46 Audio Projects > Using playlists Using playlists

Note: Windows Media Player 9.0 or greater is required to enable playlist support. If you have an earlier version of Windows Media Player on your system, By Playlist will not appear as an option on the View drop-down list. Free upgrades of Windows Media Player are available on Microsoft's Web site. Playlist support is not available for Windows 98 or Windows ME.

Most music players allow you to create playlists — files containing the titles and locations of the digital music you enjoy. When you select a playlist, the music player finds the songs and plays them in order. RecordNow! lets you use playlists to make quick work of your audio recording projects. With RecordNow! you can:

 Start an audio project by dragging one or more playlists to the Bit Budget. This automatically adds all the songs in the playlist. See Intelligent drag-and-drop for more information.

 Scan for playlists on your system and view the song titles they contain. See Scanning and viewing playlists for more information.

 Rearrange songs within a playlist and burn them to a disc. See Burning playlists for more information.

Note: RecordNow! supports playlists with the following file name extensions: .m3u, .asx, and .wpl.

Page 47 Audio Projects > Using playlists > Scanning and viewing playlists

Scanning and viewing playlists

Note: Playlist support is not available for Windows 98 or Windows ME.

RecordNow! can scan your computer and create a list of all your valid music files and playlists. When you click on the name of a playlist, RecordNow! will scan it and list all of the tracks it contains.

To scan for playlists and view their contents:

1. Click the Audio tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of audio projects.

2. Click Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player or Jukebox CD in the Project Window.

The File Selection screen appears.

3. Open the Find drop-down menu and select Scan for Music to have RecordNow! automatically search your hard drive for valid music files. 4. When RecordNow! has located all of the valid music files on your system, you can sort your music by selecting a category from the View drop-down menu in the Music on System section. Select Playlists to view only playlists.

5. To review the contents of a playlist, click the folder icon next to its name.

Note: RecordNow! supports playlists with the following file name extensions: .m3u, .asx, and .wpl.

Other topics:  Using playlists

 Burning playlists

Page 48 Audio Projects > Using playlists > Burning playlists

Burning playlists

Note: Playlist support is not available for Windows 98 or Windows ME.

When a playlist is recorded, each song referenced in the playlist is recorded as long as RecordNow! can find it on your computer. If RecordNow! cannot find a song, it will not be recorded, and you will not be notified.

To burn a playlist:

1. Place the playlist in the Music to Burn window.

To do this, select a playlist in the Music on System window and click the Add button. You can also drag the playlist directly to the Bit Budget.

2. Add any additional audio files you would like to record.

3. Arrange the song order by either:

Selecting a song then using the green up or down arrows

Selecting a song and dragging it to a new position.

4. Make sure a blank CD is in your recorder drive.

5. Click the Burn button .

6. A progress bar appears, and RecordNow! records your disc. You cannot create other projects while a burn is in progress. 7. Once the disc has been created, you can make another disc with the same file list by replacing the newly recorded CD with a blank disc and clicking Make Another.

8. To save this project so the same file list can be easily selected in the future, click Save. (For more information, see Saving a Project.) 9. Click Done when you are finished recording. Remove the discs from your drives and store them in a safe place. Other topics:  Using playlists

 Scanning and viewing playlists

Page 49 Audio Projects > Convert audio CDs to MP3 files Convert audio CDs to MP3 files The audio files on most music CDs offer excellent quality at the expense of a large file size. One way to reduce the size of those files is to use RecordNow! to convert them to the popular MP3 file format. MP3 files can be played on most computers and portable music players. Jukebox CDs containing MP3 files can be played on many newer home entertainment systems. See Making a Jukebox CD for more information. RecordNow! also gives you the option to convert audio CDs to WAV files. WAV has long been a standard Windows sound format. However, it offers little compression and can result in large file sizes. Today it is commonly used for short sounds, such as system beeps and sound effects.

Note: If this project is not available with your version of RecordNow!, it can be obtained by upgrading to RecordNow! Deluxe. Click the Upgrade — Convert Audio CDs to MP3s link on your list of Audio projects for more information.

To convert audio CDs to MP3 or WAV:

1. Insert an audio CD into your recorder drive.

2. Click the Audio tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of audio projects.

3. Click Convert Audio CDs to MP3s in the Project Window.

The File Selection screen appears. Each song on the audio CD is listed by track number and is preceded by a checkbox. By default, all of the checkboxes are selected.

4. Use the checkboxes to select songs to convert. If a check mark does not appear next to a song, it will not be converted. 5. Click the Save To button to select a location to store your MP3 files.

6. Click the Settings button to choose a file format (WAV, MP3, or MP3 VBR) and quality level. For a detailed explanation of RecordNow!'s quality settings, see MP3 quality: constant bit rate or variable bit rate?.

7. Click the Convert button to begin converting your audio files.

8. Once the files have been converted, click Done to return to the audio projects list or Convert Another to start a new Convert Audio CDs to MP3s project.

Note: RecordNow! uses the LAME encoder to convert audio CDs to MP3s. You can learn more about this open source encoder at www.mp3dev.org.

Page 50 Audio Projects > Convert audio CDs to MP3 files > MP3 quality: constant bit rate or variable bit rate?

MP3 quality: constant bit rate or variable bit rate? MP3 encoders achieve their high level of compression by removing sounds that most people can't hear. The more a file is compressed, the more audio data the encoder removes. At some point, even the casual listener will notice a drop in quality. The audio quality of the MP3 files created by RecordNow! is set using the Quality drop-down list on the Settings dialog box. This dialog box appears when you click the Settings button on a Convert Audio CDs to MP3 Files project.

Use the Quality drop-down list to set the bit rate of your MP3 files.

RecordNow! lets you choose from several quality levels in two formats: constant bit rate and variable bit rate (VBR). Bit rate refers to the flow of data passing through the MP3 encoder in kilobits per second (Kbps). Higher bit rates generally result in lower compression, higher quality, and larger file sizes. The following table explains the difference between variable bit rate (VBR) and constant bit rate. Variable vs. constant bit rates

MP3 (constant bit rate) MP3 VBR (variable bit rate)

The Basics The bit rate remains the same throughout a recording. The bit rate is automatically adjusted upward during complex sections of a recording (less compression). The rate is adjusted down during less demanding sections (more compression).

Pros File size is easier to predict. More devices and media players can play MP3 files recorded at a constant bit rate. The quality of the recording is consistent throughout. File size is usually smaller than with a comparable constant-bit-rate setting.

Cons The quality of the recording may decline during complex passages. File size is usually larger than with a comparable variable-bit-rate setting. File size is difficult to predict and can be large for some complex recordings. Fewer devices and media players can play MP3 files recorded using a variable bit rate.

Options available in RecordNow! 320 Kbps (Best) 256 Kbps (Better) 192 Kbps (Better) 128 Kbps (Good) 96 Kbps (Average) VBR (Best Quality)

VBR (Better Quality) Page 51 VBR (Average Quality)

MP3 quality and file size The table below lists the constant bit rate settings available in RecordNow! (in kilobits per second). As you can see, the quality setting affects the amount of music you can record on a disc or hard drive.

The trade-off between quality and file size

MP3 quality (larger is better) Hours of music per GB of storage capacity

96 Kbps 24.8 128 Kbps 18.6 196 Kbps (CD quality) 12.5 256 Kbps 9.3 320 Kbps 7.5

Page 52 Audio Projects > Listen to an audio CD Listen to an audio CD This project starts your default music player.

1. Click the Audio tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of audio projects.

2. Click Listen to an Audio CD in the Project Window.

3. Your computer's default music player will start.

Page 53 Data projects

A data disc is a CD or DVD used to store electronic data, such as the files and applications that reside on your computer's hard drive. Unlike audio CDs, data discs are used to store files that are readable only by a computer, and cannot be played on your home or car stereo — even if audio files are on the disc. The following data projects are available:

 Making a data disc

 Making a data image

 Making an exact copy of a data disc Some versions of RecordNow! also give you the option to make bootable data discs. For more information about this feature, see Making a bootable CD or DVD.

Page 54 Data projects > Making a data disc Making a data disc

To create a data disc:

1. Select a recorder using the drive drop-down menu on the RecordNow! console.

2. Insert a blank or appendable disc into your recorder drive.

3. Click the Data tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of data projects.

4. Click Data Disc in the Project Window.

The File Selection Window appears.

5. Before adding files to a disc, consider how you would like the files organized. RecordNow! allows you to create new folders directly on your disc. These folders can be named, and files can be moved directly into them. You will find it easier to organize your discs if you create these folders before you begin adding files.

See Organizing files on a data disc for more information.

6. Select the files you wish to record using one of the following methods:

o Click Add Files and Folders and navigate to the files you want to copy. Click once on the files to select them, then click the Add button.

o Drag files directly from a directory window to the RecordNow! screen. (See Dragging files to an open project for more information.)

o Right-click the File Selection Window, and choose Add Files and Folders from the shortcut menu.

o Right-click a file or folder, and choose Send To > RecordNow! from the shortcut menu.

If you wish to remove any files from your list of files to record, highlight the files, then click the Remove button . Removing files from your data project will not remove these files from your hard drive.

If you would like to give your disc a name, click on the Volume Label text box then type a new name for your disc.

Volume Label text box

7. To save this file list so the same list can be easily selected in the future, click Save. (For more information, see Saving a Project.) You will have another chance to save the project after it is burned.

8. Click the Burn button to begin recording data to your disc.

9. A progress bar appears, and RecordNow! records your disc. You cannot create other projects while a burn is in progress. Page 55 10. If you want another copy of your files, remove the newly recorded disc, insert another blank or appendable disc into your recorder, then click Make Another.

11. Click Done when you are finished recording. Remove the discs from your drives and store them in a safe place.

When creating data discs, keep the following important issues in mind:  Write-once DVD media can only be appended if the correct compatibility setting was selected in the Options menu. See Data options for more information.

 The Data Disc project can be used to add data to an appendable disc that already contains data. RecordNow! will automatically display the previously recorded contents of an appendable disc as long as the disc is in the recorder drive before a Data Disc project is started. If you forget to insert your disc before starting a Data Disc project, click the Load Disc button. RecordNow! will examine the disc and display its contents in the Project Window. See Using the Load Disc button for more information.

Tip: There are two other ways to start a Data Disc project. You can drag data files to the RecordNow! Bit Budget (see Intelligent drag-and-drop for more information) or you can open a saved Data Disc project (see Opening a saved project for more information).

Other topics:  Using the Load Disc button

 Organizing files on a data disc

 Adding and removing data from a data disc

Page 56 Data projects > Making a data disc > Using the Load Disc button

Using the Load Disc button The Data Disc project can be used to add data to an appendable disc that already contains data. RecordNow! will automatically display the previously recorded contents of an appendable disc as long as the disc is in the recorder drive before a Data Disc project is started.

If you forget to insert your disc before starting a Data Disc project, click the Load Disc button. RecordNow! will examine the disc and display its contents in the Project Window.

Load Disc button

Page 57 Data projects > Making a data disc > Organizing files on a data disc

Organizing files on a data disc RecordNow! lets you copy files and folders to a data disc with as much — or as little — organization as you desire. You can add individual files to a disc with no directory structure. You can add entire folders and maintain the directory structure within them. Or you can create an entirely new directory structure on your disc and then add files or folders to those new directories. The File Selection Window includes several familiar buttons to help you organize your discs: Disc organization tools

Button Function

Displays the previous file directory

Moves up one file directory

Creates a new folder on your disc

Removes the selected file or folder In addition, the RecordNow! File Selection Window displays the following information about each of the files included in your recording: Name, Size, Type, Path, and Date Modified. To view all of the file information, it may be necessary to enlarge the RecordNow! application window or adjust the width of each column of information.

The column dividers in the File Selection Window (marked with red circles) can be dragged left or right to better display information about each file. Other topics:  Adding and removing data from a data disc

Page 58 Data projects > Making a data disc > Adding and removing data from a data disc

Adding and removing data from a data disc RecordNow! allows you to add and remove files from a disc that already contains data. Files can be added or "appended" as often as you like until the disc is full. You can also remove files, in a manner of speaking. The Remove button completely removes file names that have been selected but not yet recorded. It can also be used to make already recorded files invisible to your computer. For more information, see Understanding the Remove button.

To add data to a data disc:

 Follow the same steps outlined in Making a data disc.

To remove data from a data disc:

1. Highlight the file or files you wish to remove from the list in the File Selection Window.

2. Click the Remove button .

A dialog box will appear asking if you are sure you want to remove the selected items.

3. Click Yes.

4. Click the Burn button.

Note: Clicking the Remove button does not affect any files on your hard drive.

Understanding the Remove button As you begin to create a data disc with RecordNow!, the names of the files you add appear in the File Selection Window. RecordNow! doesn't actually copy the files to a disc until after the Burn button is clicked.

If you add a file and then wish to remove it before the recording process begins, use the Remove button to delete the name of the file from the File Selection Window. The file will not be recorded and no disc space will be used by the deleted file. The Remove button can also be used to hide files that have already been recorded to a data disc. In this case, the files are not actually erased, but they can no longer be seen or read by your computer. The disc space occupied by these hidden files cannot be recovered for new recordings. A couple of other things worth noting:

o As you add and remove files, the space used on your disc is displayed on the File Selection Window.

o Removing all of the files from a rewritable disc with the Remove button is not the same as erasing the disc. When a rewritable disc is erased with RecordNow!, nearly all of the space on the disc becomes available for a new recording.

o Clicking Remove does not affect any files on your hard drive.

o The Remove button available during the creation of audio CDs does not allow you to remove files already recorded to a disc. You must start with a blank disc to create an audio CD.

Renaming files and folders The files and folders you record to a data disc can be renamed in the File Selection Window. Renaming files will help you avoid accidentally overwriting older files that have the same names. Page 59 To rename a file or folder in the File Selection Window:

1. Select the file or folder by clicking once on its name and pressing F2.

2. Type a new name and press Enter.

Files on the disc are not renamed until after the Burn button is clicked and your disc is successfully recorded. Renaming files on a disc does not affect any files on your hard drive. Other topics:  Organizing files on a data disc

Page 60 Data projects > Making a bootable CD or DVD Making a bootable CD or DVD

Note: Some projects and features may not be available with this version of RecordNow!.

RecordNow! allows you to create a bootable CD or DVD from a bootable floppy disk or from an image on your hard drive. A bootable CD or DVD can be used to start your computer if your operating system becomes damaged. It can also be used to perform maintenance and repair operations in DOS. For the advanced computer user, bootable discs can provide a level of flexibility and customization not available from the recovery discs provided with most modern computers.

Note: For best results, use boot floppies created by your Windows operating system. The Windows Help file explains how to create bootable floppy disks. Boot floppies created using third-party software are not supported by RecordNow!.

To create a bootable CD or DVD:

1. Select a recorder using the drive drop-down menu on the RecordNow! console.

2. Insert a blank disc into your recorder drive.

3. Click the Data tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of data projects.

4. Click Data Disc in the Project Window.

5. Click the bootable disc icon in the data disc toolbar.

The Bootable Disc dialog box appears.

The bootable disc icon is circled in the illustration above.

6. To create a bootable CD or DVD from a floppy disk, follow these steps:

a. Insert a bootable floppy disk into your floppy disk drive.

b. Select Bootable floppy disk in drive A:

c. Click the OK button.

d. An image file is created from the boot floppy and is added to the File Selection window.

7. To create a bootable CD or DVD from an image on your hard drive, follow these steps:

a. Select Bootable image on hard drive.

b. Click the Browse button and navigate to the image file using the Select Image dialog box. When you have selected an image file, click the Add button.

c. Click the OK button to add your selection to the File Selection window. Page 61 8. Add additional files to your project, if desired.

9. Click the Burn button to begin recording data to your disc.

Page 62 Data projects > Making a bootable CD or DVD > Tips for creating a bootable CD or DVD

Tips for creating a bootable CD or DVD

Note: Some projects and features may not be available with this version of RecordNow!.

Consider the following when creating a bootable CD or DVD:

 Test your boot floppy before using it to create a bootable CD or DVD.

 RecordNow! allows you to use 1.44 MB or 2.88 MB bootable floppy disks.

 Most modern computers support bootable CDs or DVDs, but many older computers do not.

 Your computer may need to be told to start from a CD or DVD drive by changing the settings in the BIOS setup. Refer to your computer's operating instructions for more information.

 You can only create bootable discs from blank discs. The bootable disc icon will not be available if the disc in your drive contains data from a previous recording.

 RecordNow! selects an emulation format based on the size of the image you select:

o If the image is 1.44 MB or less, RecordNow! will create a bootable CD or DVD that your computer sees as a 1.44 MB floppy disk. When you start your computer using this bootable CD or DVD, the disc will automatically be assigned drive letter A:.

o If the image is between 1.44 and 2.88 MB, RecordNow! will create a bootable CD or DVD that your computer sees as a 2.88 MB floppy disk. When you start your computer using this bootable CD or DVD, the disc will automatically be assigned drive letter A:.

o If the image is larger than 2.88 MB, RecordNow! will create a bootable CD or DVD that your computer sees as a hard disk partition. When you start your computer using this bootable CD or DVD, the disc will automatically be assigned drive letter C:.

 When using the image of a disc partition to create a bootable CD or DVD, keep in mind that the image must fit on a single disc.

 When you create a bootable CD or DVD from a floppy disk, an image of that floppy disk is stored temporarily on your hard drive with the file name fboot.img. You can use this image to create additional boot CDs or DVDs. Keep in mind that this file will be overwritten each time you create a bootable CD or DVD from a floppy disk.

Page 63 Data projects > Making a data image Making a data image The Data Image project creates an image file from the files you select and saves that image file on your hard drive. This image file can be used to create CD or DVD discs that contain all the original files included in your Data Image project. For a more detailed discussion of image files and image file types, see Understanding image files.

The Data Image project window

To create a data image:

1. Click the Data tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of data projects.

2. Click Data Image in the Project Window.

The Data Image Window appears.

3. Select the files you wish to include using one of the following methods:

o Click Add Files and Folders and navigate to the files you want to include. Click once on the files to select them, then click the Add button.

o Drag files directly from a directory window to the RecordNow! screen. (See Dragging files to an open project for more information.)

o Right-click the File Selection Window, and choose Add Files and Folders from the shortcut menu.

o Right-click a file or folder, and choose Send To > RecordNow! from the shortcut menu.

If you wish to remove any files from your list, highlight the files, then click the Remove button . Removing files from your data image project will not remove these files from your hard drive.

4. Select a disc format from the Type drop-down menu. If your image will be burned to CD discs, select CD. If your image will be burned to DVD discs, select DVD.

Caution: Images formatted using the CD setting cannot be burned to a DVD. Images formatted using the DVD setting cannot be burned to a CD. Page 64 5. Click the Browse button.

The Save As dialog box opens.

6. Select a destination for the image file and give it a meaningful name. Select a file type from the Save as type drop-down list. (See Understanding image files for more information on image file types.) 7. Click the Save button on the dialog box to confirm your selections.

8. Click the Save button on the RecordNow! Project Window.

9. A progress bar appears, and RecordNow! creates your data image. You cannot work on other projects while the data image is being created. 10. When the image has been successfully created, a completion screen appears. Click Done. Other topics:  Data image tips

 Making a bootable CD or DVD

 Burning an image

Page 65 Data projects > Making a data image > Data image tips

Data image tips

 Use the Save Image project to create an image file from an existing disc. Use the Data Image project to create an image file from files on your computer or on a networked drive. See Saving an image for more information.

 See Burning an image for instructions on how to create a disc from an image created with the Data Image project.

 Images formatted using the CD setting cannot be burned to a DVD. Images formatted using the DVD setting cannot be burned to a CD.

 The Data Image project cannot be used to create a bootable disc image. See Making a bootable CD or DVD for information on creating a bootable disc image.

 RecordNow! does not limit the amount of data you can add to a Data Image project. This means it is possible to create a data image file that contains more data than you can fit on a CD or DVD disc. Avoid this problem by monitoring the Space Used indicator on the Data Image project window.

 Naming conventions can serve as a useful reminder when creating image files. The default naming convention used by RecordNow! includes the destination disc type, the date of creation, and the time of creation. Other topics:  Making a data image

Page 66 Data projects > Making an exact copy of a data disc Making an exact copy of a data disc The Exact Copy project makes a duplicate of your master disc, transferring the disc layout of the original disc to your CD or DVD media. If you have a single CD or DVD drive, RecordNow! will copy your master disc to a temporary location on your hard drive. You will then be asked to insert a blank or rewritable disc, and the data will be copied from your hard drive to the disc. To successfully copy a disc, your hard drive must have enough space available to store this temporary file. If you have more than one CD or DVD drive, you may be able to copy your master disc directly to a blank or rewritable disc in your second drive.

For your convenience, the Exact Copy project is available on each of RecordNow!'s project tabs. Audio, data, backup, and video discs can be copied using any of the available Exact Copy projects.

To make an exact copy of a disc:

1. Click the Data tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of data projects.

2. Click Exact Copy in the Project Window.

3. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the Project Window.

A screen will inform you when the project has been completed.

4. If you wish to make another copy of the master disc at this time, remove the newly recorded disc from your recorder, replace it with a blank or rewritable disc, and click Make Another.

5. Click Done when you are finished recording. Remove the discs from your drives and store them in a safe place.

When using the Exact Copy project, keep the following issues in mind:  Some CDs and DVDs are created with copy-protection features and cannot be copied.

 CDs created with packet-writing software such as DLA (Drive Letter Access) cannot be copied. DVDs created with DLA can be copied.

 Making a disc label

Page 67 Backup projects

A variety of backup projects can be started from within RecordNow!. Some require that an associated program be installed on your computer. If the necessary software is detected, the associated program will start when you click a corresponding project in RecordNow!. If the software is not detected, the project name will be replaced with a Web link you can use to obtain the associated program or upgrade your version of RecordNow!. Click on a topic below to learn more about these Backup projects:

 Making an exact copy

 File Archive

 Saving an image

 Burning an image

 Backup entire system

Note: Some projects and features may not be available with this version of RecordNow!.

Page 68 Backup projects > Making an exact copy Making an exact copy The Exact Copy project makes a duplicate of your master disc, transferring the disc layout of the original disc to your CD or DVD media. If you have a single CD or DVD drive, RecordNow! will copy your master disc and store the data to a temporary location on your hard drive. You will then be asked to insert a blank or rewriteable disc, and the data will be copied from your hard drive to the disc. To successfully copy a disc, your hard drive must have enough space available to store this temporary file. If you have more than one CD or DVD drive, you may be able to copy your master disc directly to a blank or rewriteable disc in your second drive.

For your convenience, the Exact Copy project is available on each of RecordNow!'s project tabs. Audio, data, backup, and video discs can be copied using any of the available Exact Copy projects.

To make an exact copy of a disc:

1. Click the Backup tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of backup projects.

2. Click Exact Copy in the Project Window.

3. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the Project Window.

A progress screen will inform you when the project has been completed.

4. If you wish to make another copy of the master disc at this time, remove the newly recorded disc from your recorder, replace it with a blank or rewriteable disc, and click Make Another.

5. Click Disc Label to make a label for your disc.

6. Click Done when you are finished recording. Remove the discs from your drives and store them in a safe place.

When using the Exact Copy project, keep the following issues in mind:  Some CDs and DVDs are created with copy-protection features and cannot be copied.

 CDs created with packet-writing software such as DLA (Drive Letter Access) cannot be copied. DVDs created with DLA can be copied.

 Making a disc label

 File Archive

 Burning an image

Page 69 Backup projects > File Archive File Archive This project lets you easily copy important files from your hard disk to multiple CD or DVD discs for safekeeping. RecordNow! will automatically spread the files across as many discs as necessary and create an index you can use to find each saved file. Begin by selecting the types of files you wish to archive: Email, Financial, Music, Photos, and Productivity. Then click the Scan button to have RecordNow! scan your hard drive and place the files you have selected in the Archive window.

You are then free to add additional files or delete any of the files RecordNow! selected for you. Click the Burn button to begin recording. The following topics explain this project in more detail:

o Selecting files to archive

o Using the file archive calendar

o Limits on large files

o File archiving tips

o Step-by-step instructions

Page 70 Backup projects > File Archive > Selecting files to archive

Selecting files to archive RecordNow! makes it easy to archive many of the most common types of files by letting you select from the following categories: Email, Financial, Music, Photos, and Productivity. When you select one or more of these categories and click the Scan button, RecordNow! will scan your hard drive for the types of files you have selected and place them in the Archive window.

RecordNow! will select files based on the following criteria:

o Email: All files with the following file name extensions — .pst, .msg, .att, .mbx, .mim, .mime, .mlm, .wcm.

o Financial: All files with the following file name extensions — .qdb, .qmd, .mn4, .mny, .tax, .txf, .qbw.

o Music: All files in your My Music folder and all others with the following file name extensions — .wav, .mp3, .wma, .ogg.

o Photos: All files in your My Pictures folder and all others with the following file name extensions — .jpg, .jpeg, .tif, .tiff, .bmp.

o Productivity: All files in your My Documents folder (except those in your My Pictures, My Videos, My DVDs, or My Music folders) and all others with the following file name extensions — .xls, .doc, .ppt, .pps, .pdf, .rtf, .mpp, .wps, .wks, .wp, .wpd, .wp6. After RecordNow! scans your hard drive, you can manually add or delete any files you wish using the Archive window. If you prefer, you can entirely bypass the scanning feature and select all of your files manually.

Tip: To view a list of file name extensions included in each file selection category, hold your mouse over the name of the category in the RecordNow! Project Window.

Tip: The Scan option available on the advanced Backup options panel allows you to limit File Archive scans to a single directory. See Backup options — Advanced panel for more information.

Other topics:  Using the file archive calendar

 Limits on large files

 File archiving tips

 Step-by-step instructions

Page 71 Backup projects > File Archive > Using the file archive calendar

Using the file archive calendar The File Archive project includes a calendar that can save you time by limiting the files you archive. On the left side of the Project Window under the words Changed since is a checkbox and a larger box containing a date. By placing a check mark in this checkbox, you are telling RecordNow! to scan only for files that have been modified since the date shown. When you open the File Archive project, the date of your last file archive will be automatically entered for you. To change the date, click the date box. A calendar appears. Use the controls on the calendar to change the date.

Note: If no check mark appears in the calendar checkbox when you press the Scan button, RecordNow! will select files without regard to when they were last modified.

Other topics:  Selecting files to archive

 Limits on large files

 File archiving tips

 Step-by-step instructions

Page 72 Backup projects > File Archive > Limits on large files

Limits on large files RecordNow! can create large archives that fill many discs, but cannot copy a single file across more than one disc. This means there are limits to the size of the files you can archive. These limits are somewhat smaller than the full capacity of your discs.

Tip: To backup files that won't fit on a single CD or DVD, use the Backup Entire System project. This will start Simple Backup or Backup MyPC or connect you to an Internet site where you can get information on how to purchase the award-winning Backup MyPC.

Other topics:  Selecting files to archive

 Using the file archive calendar

 File archiving tips

 Step-by-step instructions

Page 73 Backup projects > File Archive > File archiving tips

File archiving tips

 All of the discs used in a File Archive project must be the same general format — DVD or CD.

 In a multi-disc File Archive project, RecordNow! assigns files based on the size of the first disc you use. If your first disc has a capacity of 650 MB, for example, no more than 650 MB will be burned on any subsequent disc, even if it has a larger capacity. This also means that no disc in a project can have a smaller capacity than the first disc used in a project.

 Discs used in a File Archive project are closed once they are recorded. If you used write-once discs, you will not be able to add additional data.

 If you are using a drive that records to both CD and DVD discs, you will be given the option to switch to DVD discs after pressing the Burn button if you have selected a file that will not fit on a single CD.

 The results of a Scan represent the files on your computer at that moment. If new files are added to your computer between the time you press the Scan button and the time you press the Burn button, the new files will not be recorded.

 When a Scan is finished, the file categories selected in the Scan for window no longer appear. If you wish to repeat a scan — for Music files, for instance — you must first remove the Music folder from the Archive window. To do this, select the folder you wish to remove, then click the Remove button . That file category will reappear in the Scan for window on the left. Clicking Remove does not affect any files on your hard drive.

 After RecordNow! scans your hard drive, you can manually add or delete any files you wish using the Archive window.

 To view a list of the files on a File Archive disc, open the .html file placed on the disc by RecordNow!. The name of the file will match the Archive name you typed into the Volume Label text box when setting up the project. If you did not give the Archive a name, RecordNow! created a name for you based on the date and time the Archive was burned. Other topics:  Selecting files to archive

 Using the file archive calendar

 Limits on large files

 Step-by-step instructions

Page 74 Backup projects > File Archive > Step-by-step instructions

Step-by-step instructions

To archive files with RecordNow!:

1. Select a recorder using the drive drop-down menu on the RecordNow! console.

2. Insert a blank disc into your recorder drive.

3. Click the Backup tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of backup projects.

4. Click File Archive in the Project Window.

5. In the Scan for window, click once on each category of files you would like to archive. The choices are Email, Financial, Music, Photos, and Productivity.

6. If desired, place a check mark in the Changed since checkbox to limit the scan to files that have been modified since the last time you completed a File Archive project.

7. Click the Scan button.

RecordNow! will scan your hard drive and place the files it finds in the Archive window.

8. Manually add any additional files you wish to archive. Remove any files you do not wish to record.

The number of discs required to complete your project will be displayed on the RecordNow! console.

9. Type a meaningful name for the Archive in the Volume Label text window. If you do not give the Archive a name, RecordNow! will create a name based on the date and time the files are burned. 10. Click the Burn button to begin recording.

A progress screen will inform you when the project has been completed.

11. Click Disc Label to make a label for your disc.

12. Click Done when you are finished recording. Other topics:  Selecting files to archive

 Using the file archive calendar

 Limits on large files

 File archiving tips

Page 75 Backup projects > Saving an image Saving an image The Save Image project creates "images" of your discs and saves them on your hard drive. These image files can be used to create new copies of your discs whenever you wish. For a more detailed discussion of image files and image file types, see Understanding image files.

To create a disc image:

1. Click the Backup tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of backup projects.

2. Click Save Image in the Project Window.

3. Choose a drive from the drop-down list in Step 1 of the Project Window. If your system has only one drive, its name will be automatically displayed. 4. Insert the disc you wish to make an image from into your disc drive.

5. Click the Browse button.

The Save As dialog box opens.

8. Click the Save button on the RecordNow! Project Window.

A message will appear when the image file has been successfully created.

9. Click Done.

Note: If you attempt to create an image larger than 2 GB, RecordNow! will automatically divide the image into more than one file. This avoids conflicts with file systems that cannot accommodate large files.

Page 76 Backup projects > Burning an image Burning an image The Burn Image project creates discs from image files saved on your hard drive.

To record a CD or DVD from an image file with RecordNow!, the image file must be in one of two file formats: ISO or RecordNow!. (RecordNow! image files were formerly known as Global Image files.) To learn more about these file types, see Understanding image files.

To record a disc from an image file:

1. Click the Backup tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of backup projects.

2. Click Burn Image in the Project Window.

3. Select an image file to burn using one of the following methods:

o Click the Browse button and navigate to the image file on your hard drive.

o Click in the text box directly above the Browse button. A list of the last five image files you've created with RecordNow! will appear. Choose a file from the list.

Note: By default, image files created with RecordNow! are stored in your My Documents folder.

4. Choose a recorder drive from the drop-down list in the RecordNow! console or from the drop-down list in Step 2 of the Project Window. If your system has only one drive, its name will be automatically displayed. 5. Insert a blank or rewritable disc into your recorder. If the image file was formatted for use on a CD disc, you must insert a blank or rewritable CD. If the image file was formatted for use on a DVD disc, you must insert a blank or rewritable DVD. 6. Click the Burn button.

Page 77 Backup projects > Understanding image files Understanding image files RecordNow! can take a set of files on your hard drive or the information stored on a CD or DVD and convert it into a single file called a disc image. That image file can then be used to reproduce the source material on a CD or DVD. By having the image file stored on your hard drive, you free up the source disc or source files for other uses. You can also send the image file across a network so other people can record their own copies.

Image file types There are several image file types or formats. The makers of RecordNow! have created a format known as RecordNow!. These RecordNow! files contain not only the data files on a disc, but the exact placement of those files, their folder structure, read and write properties, and much more. Files in this format can be recognized by the .gi file name extension. (RecordNow! image files were formerly called Global Image files.) Some mastering products cannot read RecordNow! files, however. This could cause a problem if someone needed to create a disc from your image and they did not have the RecordNow! software program installed on their computer. For this reason, RecordNow! offers the option to create images of data discs in a less complete, but more compatible, format known as ISO. Files in this format can be recognized by the .iso file name extension. The availability of the ISO image option depends on the type of disc (CD or DVD), the size of the file, and the number of tracks on the disc.

Page 78 Backup projects > Backup entire system Backup entire system Selecting this project starts either Simple Backup or Backup MyPC. If neither program is detected on your computer, an Upgrade project appears. Click on the Upgrade project to open a Web site and obtain more information about Backup MyPC. Both Simple Backup and the more feature-rich Backup MyPC offer a suite of tools that let you easily back up and restore the files on your computer. Other topics:  Associated programs

Page 79 Video projects

A variety of video projects can be started from within RecordNow!. Some require that an associated program be installed on your computer. If the necessary software is detected, the program will start. If the software is not detected, you will be directed to a Web site where you can obtain the associated program. Click on a link below to learn more about these video projects:

 Making a video disc

 Making an exact copy of a video disc

 Watching a DVD movie

Note: Some projects and features may not be available with this version of RecordNow!.

Page 80 Video projects > Making a video disc Making a video disc RecordNow! can be used to start two best-selling DVD creation and editing applications, MyDVD and DVDit!. If one or both of the programs are detected on your computer, your project list will include a Video Disc project.

If MyDVD and DVDit! are not detected, the project name will be replaced with a Web link you can use to obtain the associated program or upgrade your version of RecordNow!

To begin a video disc project with RecordNow!:

1. Select a recorder using the drive drop-down menu on the RecordNow! console.

2. Insert a blank or appendable disc into your recorder drive.

3. Click the Video tab on the RecordNow! console.

The Project Window displays a list of video projects.

4. Click Video Disc in the Project Window.

If only MyDVD is installed on your computer, MyDVD will start.

If MyDVD and DVDit! are installed on your computer, MyDVD will start.

If only DVDit! is installed on your computer, DVDit! will start.

Note: Some versions of RecordNow! come with a version of MyDVD that can only be used to create video CDs. For information on upgrading to the full version of MyDVD, click here to visit the Sonic on-line store.

Other topics:  Associated programs

Page 88 Saving projects

Many of the audio and data recording projects you create with RecordNow! can be saved. RecordNow! doesn't actually save copies of all the files; it saves the list of files in your project and their location on your computer. This makes it easy to recreate a project in the future. This version of RecordNow! can also open Saved Jobs and Favorites created from earlier versions of RecordNow!, RecordNow MAX and RecordNow DX. The following topics explain how to save projects and how to open saved projects:

 What can be saved

 Saving a Project

 Opening a saved project

 Deleting a saved project

 Modifying a saved project

 Opening projects from a previous version of RecordNow!

Page 89 Saving projects > What can be saved What can be saved The following projects can be saved. Please note any limitations:

 Audio CD for Car or Home CD player

Limitation: The project can be saved as long as none of the files must be temporarily stored on your hard drive to create the disc.

 Jukebox CD

 Data Disc

Limitation: The project can be saved as long as there are no previously recorded files on the disc. Other topics:  Saving a Project

 Opening a saved project

 Deleting a saved project

 Modifying a saved project

Page 90 Saving projects > Saving a Project Saving a Project

To save a project before it is burned:

1. Start one of the following projects

o Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player

o Jukebox CD

o Data Disc

2. When you are ready to save the project, click the Save button on the Project Window.

A Save As dialog box appears.

Note: If your audio project includes files that must be temporarily stored on your hard drive, you will not be able to save the project. See What can be saved for more information.

3. Type a meaningful name for your project in the text window.

4. By default, the project file will be stored in your My Documents directory. Select a different location, if desired. 5. Click OK.

The project you just saved is added to the list that appears when you click the Open button on the RecordNow! console. There is no limit to the number of projects you can save.

To save a project after it is burned:

1. After RecordNow! burns a disc, a message appears in the Project Window stating the project has been successfully completed. Click the Save button below this message.

A Save As dialog box appears.

Note: If your audio project consists of files that must be temporarily stored on your hard drive, you will not be able to save the project. See What can be saved for more information.

2. Type a meaningful name for your project in the text window.

3. By default, the project file will be stored in your My Documents directory with a .pxj file name extension. Select a different location, if desired. 4. Click OK.

The project you just saved is added to the list that appears when you click the Open button on the RecordNow! console. There is no limit to the number of projects you can save.

Page 91 Saving projects > Opening a saved project Opening a saved project

1. Click the Open button on the RecordNow! console.

The Open dialog box appears.

2. Select a project from the list by clicking once on its name. If necessary, navigate to the project file. (Project files have a .pxj file name extension.) 3. Click Open.

4. The File Selection screen appears.

RecordNow! places the names of all the files and folders it can find from that project into the Music to Burn or Data to Burn window. Files that have been moved or deleted since your project was created are not included.

5. Edit the file selections as desired. (For more information on adding and removing files, see Adding and removing data from a data disc or Selecting music files.)

6. Click the Burn button to record your files.

Page 92 Saving projects > Deleting a saved project Deleting a saved project

1. Click the Open button on the RecordNow! console.

The Open dialog box appears. If necessary, navigate to the project file. (Project files have a .pxj file name extension.)

2. Right-click on the project file you wish to delete.

3. Select Delete from the shortcut menu.

Page 93 Saving projects > Modifying a saved project Modifying a saved project

1. Click the Open button on the RecordNow! console.

The Open dialog box appears. If necessary, navigate to the project file.

2. Select a project file by clicking once on its name. (Project files have a .pxj file name extension.)

3. Click the Open button.

4. Edit the file selections as desired. (For more information on adding and removing files, see Adding and removing data from a data disc or Selecting music files.) 5. Click the Save button to save your changes.

Page 94 Saving projects > Opening projects from a previous version of RecordNow! Opening projects from a previous version of RecordNow! Favorites and Saved Jobs from previous versions of RecordNow! (including RecordNow! Deluxe, RecordNow MAX, and RecordNow DX) can be opened with this version of RecordNow!. Here's how:

 Favorites: The first time you click the Open button , RecordNow! scans your old Favorites file location. If Favorites are found, they are imported into your My Documents directory as projects that can be opened with this version of RecordNow!. To open one of these new project files, use the Open button on the RecordNow! console. See Opening a saved project for more information.

 Saved Jobs: Some jobs saved using RecordNow MAX or RecordNow DX can be opened using this version of RecordNow!, but some settings may be lost. The table below describes what you can expect. Importing Saved Jobs from RecordNow MAX or DX

Project type Details

Audio File pointers and CD Text are saved. Pre-gap, ISRC, and UPC information are saved if the Audio Properties feature is available on this version of RecordNow!. See CD properties and CD Text for more information. Data File pointers are saved. Volume label is saved. Data structure is saved. Track-at-Once and Disc-at-Once settings are not saved. Image Image location is saved. CD Extra Cannot be imported. Copy Cannot be imported. A new Exact Copy project will start.

Video CD Cannot be imported. Other topics:  What can be saved

 Saving a Project

 Opening a saved project

 Deleting a saved project

 Modifying a saved project

Page 95 Options

Click the Options button on the RecordNow! console to open the Options dialog box, then choose from the following option panels to customize your settings:

 General options

 Audio options

 Data options

 Backup options Each Options panel includes an Explain button that opens a Help topic related to that set of options. Each panel also includes a Restore Defaults button that can be used to restore the default settings for the options on that panel only.

Note: Not all options are available for all drives or operating systems. The Advanced option panels are not available on all versions of RecordNow!.

Page 96 Options > General options General options

Note: Not all options are available for all drives or operating systems. The Advanced option panels are not available on all versions of RecordNow!.

Use the General panel to customize the following settings:

Startup  Launch RecordNow! when I start my computer: Place a check mark in this box if you want RecordNow! to automatically start every time you turn on your computer.

 Display project reset instructions if work is pending: If you quit RecordNow!, it will automatically remember any unfinished projects. These projects will be available for you to complete the next time the program is started. When you return to an unfinished project, a message appears explaining how to cancel the project. Remove the check mark in this box if you no longer want the message to appear.

 Check for updates: If the RecordNow! Update Manager is installed on your system, this option will allow you to automatically check to see if a newer version of RecordNow! is available.

Display  Show extended pop-up help when I move the mouse: Hold your mouse cursor over almost any feature in RecordNow! and a small text window will open explaining the purpose of that feature. Once you become familiar with the program, these extended pop-ups can be turned off by removing the check mark from this option.

Projects  Don't remember pending projects when RecordNow! exits: If this option is selected:

o your unfinished projects will not be remembered and will not be available the next time you start RecordNow! and o you will not be reminded to save your unsaved projects before quitting RecordNow!. See Saving a Project for more information.

General options — Advanced panel Use the Advanced panel to customize the following settings:

 Disable system autorun when using RecordNow!: The Windows autorun feature can be an annoyance when using RecordNow!. Select this option to disable autorun when using RecordNow!.

 Overburn by (sectors): Overburn is a technique some CD recorder manufacturers use to squeeze a bit more data onto a CD-R disc. RecordNow! implements this feature on supported recorders. Set the desired amount to be overburned by typing the number into the Overburn by (sectors): textbox.

Caution: Overburning a disc can cause recording errors and problems reading the disc in CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives.

 Recording memory cache: The default is 4.7 MB. In most cases, you do not need to change this setting. Increasing the cache can help prevent underrun problems, but only on computers with 512 MB or more of RAM.

Page 97  Select drive speed: Depending on your system, one or two drop-down lists allow you to manually set the recording speed for your CD and DVD recordings. The available speed settings will be based on the information reported by your recorder drives.

Use this option if your recorder speed is faster than the drive you are using to read your source disc. If you experience errors during recording, try reducing the maximum recorder speed.

By default RecordNow! will attempt to burn your recordings at the maximum speed available for your combination of drive and media. Other topics:  Audio options

 Data options

 Backup options

Page 98 Options > Audio options Audio options

Note: Not all options are available for all drives or operating systems. The Advanced option panels are not available on all versions of RecordNow!.

Use the Audio panel to customize the following settings:

Music options  Warn that audio discs are not appendable: Once an audio disc is burned, you can no longer add files to it. You will be reminded of this if a check mark appears in this box.

 Hide audio files shorter than (in seconds): A check mark in this box causes RecordNow! to search only for audio files longer than the number of seconds you specify. This number can be anywhere between 1 and 180 seconds.

This option will speed up your next search by eliminating short audio files, such as the one you hear when Windows starts up. It does not affect playlists.

 Enable CD information lookup: Select this option to have RecordNow! gather song information over the Internet. This information includes song titles, artist name, album name, genre and other information. See Displaying song information for more information. (This option is not available on systems running Windows 98 SE or Windows ME.)

Intelligent drag-and-drop The fastest way to start a project with RecordNow! is to drag the files you wish to record directly onto the RecordNow! Bit Budget. RecordNow! will analyze the files and select an appropriate project.

The following options control the type of project that is started when audio files are dropped onto the Bit Budget :

 Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player Project: If this option is selected, RecordNow! will create a disc that can be played on a car stereo or home CD player.

 Jukebox CD Project: If this option is selected, your MP3, WMA, and WAV files will be recorded for playback on a computer or disc player capable of reading MP3, WMA, or WAV files. CD Audio files will not be recorded. Consult the documentation provided with your music player to learn more about the digital music formats it can play.

Audio options — Advanced panel Use the Advanced panel to customize the following settings:

 Normalize audio tracks to a consistent volume: This option sets the volume of tracks in an audio project to a consistent level. The level is set by selecting the checkbox and moving the slider left or right. A setting of 90 percent, for example, sets the volume of all tracks in the current recording to 90 percent of the loudest track. Normalization is turned off by default.

 Reduce background noise using pre-emphasis: Selecting this checkbox raises the recording level of higher audio frequencies as part of a noise reduction technique.

 Scan: This option controls the search that occurs when you select Scan for Music from the Find drop-down list while creating a music disc.

o Select Local Hard Drives to have RecordNow! scan the hard drives on your computer for music files.

o Select the custom path option (the option directly below Local Hard Drives) to limit audio scans to a single directory. By default this limits scans to your My Documents directory. Change the directory by clicking the custom path option, then clicking the Page 99 Browse button. Navigate to a location of your choice.

Note: This setting does not affect scans made using the File Archive project. See Backup options — Advanced panel for information about controlling File Archive scans.

 Use double-byte characters for CD Text: RecordNow! does not allow you to mix double-byte language characters and Western language characters in CD Text. Select this option to use Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or other double-byte characters. De-select this option to use Western-language characters. Other topics:  General options

 Data options

 Backup options

Page 100 Options > Data options Data options

Note: Not all options are available for all drives or operating systems. The Advanced option panels are not available on all versions of RecordNow!.

Use the Data panel to customize the following settings:

Data options  Verify data written to the disc after burning: A check mark in this box causes RecordNow! to verify that no errors occurred during the recording of your data disc. This applies to both newly created data discs and exact copies of existing data discs. When copying Mixed Mode and CD Extra discs, RecordNow! will verify the data portions of those discs if this option is selected.

Write-once DVD compatibility Before recording to a write-once DVD disc, you should consider whether you want the disc left "open" (appendable) or "closed" (nonappendable) at the end of a recording session.

 To leave your disc open, choose the option that reads: "I would like to use discs for more than one recording." You will be able to record multiple times to a single disc, but fewer drives will be able to read the disc. This is a good choice if you expect to make many, small recordings on high-capacity DVD discs or don't need to share your discs.

 To close your disc at the end of a recording, choose the option that reads: "I only need to use discs for one recording or want to prevent data being added to an existing disc." You will only be able to record to the disc once, but the disc will be compatible with a larger number of drives. This is a good choice if you typically fill your discs during a single recording session or need to use a disc on more than one computer.

Data options — Advanced panel Use the Advanced panel to customize the following settings:

 CD recording options — Choose from the following recording types. (Not all disc recorders support all these options.) Type: Track-at-Once (TAO) , Open — Tracks are recorded individually. Unless the disc is full, additional data can be added to the disc after it is recorded. Track-at-Once (TAO), Closed — Tracks are recorded individually. No additional data can be added to the disc after it is recorded. Disc-at-Once (DAO), Closed — The entire disc is recorded in a single session. No additional data can be added to the disc after it is recorded. Mode: RecordNow! can record in standard Mode 1 or Mode 2 XA. Mode 1 is used in almost every circumstance except advanced format discs such as CD Extra or Video CD. Unless you're sure you want to make a Mode 2 disc, it's best to leave this setting alone. File System: The default setting is ISO+Joliet. If you are going to be making a disc that will be played back within Windows, you do not need to change this setting. See File system notes: for more information.

 Volume descriptor fields: Page 101 Publisher ID — Type your name/company name, etc. in this text box (optional). Data Preparer — Type your name/company name, etc. in this text box (optional). Application ID — Type your Application ID, etc. in this text box (optional).

 File date and time — Windows keeps track of the dates and times your files are created and modified. By adjusting this option, you can have RecordNow! burn files with their original file dates and times or with the date and time they were recorded.

File system notes: o Microsoft Joliet has been used since Windows 95. This system can handle file names up to 106 characters.

o Choose ISO+Joliet to make a disc readable by as many computers as possible.

o Use ISO Level 2 only if you are familiar with this file system type.

o The DVD file system is preset to ISO+Joliet+UDF. It cannot be changed. Other topics:  General options

 Audio options

 Backup options

Page 102 Options > Backup options Backup options

Note: Not all options are available for all drives or operating systems. The Advanced option panels are not available on all versions of RecordNow!.

Use the Backup panel to customize the following settings:

File archive options  You can choose to have RecordNow! remind you to archive your important files Never, Once a week, or Once a month. The reminder message will only appear when RecordNow! is started.

Backup options — Advanced panel Use the Advanced panel to customize the following settings:

 Scan: When creating a File Archive, you can have RecordNow! scan your system by selecting one or more file categories and clicking the Scan button. This option controls the extent of this scan.

o Select Local Hard Drives to have RecordNow! scan the hard drives on your computer for files.

o Select Choose directory to limit scans to a single directory. Change the directory by clicking the custom path option, then clicking the Browse button. Navigate to a location of your choice. Other topics:  General options

 Audio options

 Data options

Page 103 Tips and Tricks

The following topics offer advice that will help you get the most from RecordNow!:

 Displaying song information

 Sorting your music files

 Adding files using the Send To command

 Dragging files to an open project

 Total time remaining on an audio disc

 Changing recorder drives

 Previewing music files

 Renaming music files

 Using RecordNow! with double-layer DVD discs

Page 104 Tips and Tricks > Displaying song information Displaying song information When you select Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player, RecordNow! uses Windows Media Player to gather titles for the songs on your music CDs. Once the titles are found, either on your system or from the Internet, they will be displayed in the RecordNow! File Selection Window. (This option is not available on systems running Windows 98 SE or Windows ME.) RecordNow! can only display these titles if Windows Media Player is configured correctly. Follow the steps below to correctly configure your version of Windows Media Player.

Windows Media Player version 7.1:

1. Open Windows Media Player. From the Windows Start menu, choose:

All Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Windows Media Player.

2. Select Options... from the Tools menu.

3. Click the Media Library tab.

4. Choose Read-only access or Full access from the Internet site rights section.

5. Click OK.

Song information will be displayed the next time you start RecordNow!.

Windows Media Player version 8:

1. Open Windows Media Player. From the Start menu, choose:

All Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Windows Media Player.

2. Select Options... from the Tools menu.

3. Click the Media Library tab.

4. Choose Read-only access or Full access from the Access rights of Internet sites section.

5. Click OK.

Song information will be displayed the next time you start RecordNow!.

Windows Media Player version 9:

1. Open Windows Media Player. From the Start menu, choose:

All Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Windows Media Player.

2. Select Options... from the Tools menu.

3. Click the Privacy tab.

4. Click the box next to the Retrieve media information for CDs and DVDs from the Internet option if it is not already selected. 5. Click OK.

Song information will be displayed the next time you start RecordNow!.

Note: If Windows Media Player is not present on your computer or is configured incorrectly, song titles will appear in RecordNow! as "Track 1", "Track 2", etc. This will not affect your ability to record these songs to Pagea 105 disc. For information on adding song titles individually, see Renaming music files.

Page 106 Tips and Tricks > Sorting your music files Sorting your music files RecordNow! makes it easy to create music compilations by allowing you to sort the songs on your computer.

To sort your music files:

1. Select Scan for Music from the Find drop-down menu that appears in all Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player and Jukebox CD projects.

RecordNow! scans your computer and displays the music files in the Music on System window on the left.

The red arrows point to the View and Find buttons. Click these buttons to reveal drop-down menus you can use to sort your music files.

2. Click the View button to display a drop-down menu of the various sorting options.

3. Select a sorting option:

o All files: Lists all files in alphabetical order.

o By Artist: Organizes your files into folders according to the artist's name.

o By Album: Organizes your files into folders according to the album name.

o By Playlist: Playlists are displayed as folders. Within each folder are the songs contained in that playlist.

o By Genre: Organizes your files into folders according to music genre.

o On Drive: Lists all files on the audio CD currently in your drive. If you have more than one drive, you will be able to select the drive to display. (The On Drive sorting option is not available for all audio projects.)

Once you have selected a sorting option, you can then either open a directory to add individual files or you can drag an entire folder to the Music to Burn window on the right.

Note: WMA files cannot be sorted by Artist, Album, or Genre using the View menu options. When audio files are sorted by Artist, Album, or Genre, all WMA files are listed within an Unknown Artist, Unknown Album, or Unknown Genre folder in the Music on System window.

Page 107 Tips and Tricks > Adding files using the Send To command Adding files using the Send To command When you click on a file or folder in a Windows file directory with your right mouse button, a short-cut menu appears. One of the menu items is Send To.

Hold your cursor over Send To for a moment. A list of choices appears. Selecting RecordNow! from the list does one or more of the following:

 Opens RecordNow! if it is not already open.

 Adds the file or folder to the active project in RecordNow!.

 Opens an appropriate new project in RecordNow!.

Note: If the selected file is not consistent with the active project, it will not be added.

Page 108 Tips and Tricks > Dragging files to an open project Dragging files to an open project Once you have started a project, you can drag files from an open directory window to RecordNow!'s Music to Burn, Data Disc, or Archive windows.

1. Start any one of the following RecordNow! projects:

o Data Disc

o Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player

o Jukebox CD

o File Archive

2. Using standard Windows navigation methods, open a directory window (such as My Documents or My Music) containing the files you wish to record. 3. Select the files to record.

Tip: You can select multiple files and folders by holding down the Ctrl or Shift key on your keyboard, then highlighting the files you would like to record.

4. Position your mouse over the file(s) in the directory window. Hold your mouse button down and drag your files to the RecordNow! Music to Burn, Data Disc, or Archive windows or to the Bit Budget. See The Bit Budget for more information.

5. Release your mouse button, and your selected files will appear in the RecordNow! Music to Burn , Data Disc, or Archive window.

Page 109 Tips and Tricks > Total time remaining on an audio disc Total time remaining on an audio disc RecordNow! displays the recording time available on your disc as you create an audio CD using the Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player project. This number changes with each song that you add or remove.

RecordNow! allows you to add a song even if it exceeds the available space on your media (typically 74 or 80 minutes for a compact disc). A message in the program console will alert you when you exceed the capacity of your disc.

The time remaining displayed in minutes.

Note: The time remaining is only displayed if a blank or rewritable disc is inserted in your recorder drive.

Page 110 Tips and Tricks > Changing recorder drives Changing recorder drives Click the drive name (circled in the illustration below) to display a list of your CD and DVD recorder drives. To change drives, select the desired drive from the list. Read-only drives (such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives) will not appear in this list. If you have a project ready and change drives, the project will be transferred to the new drive. To update your drive list — after changing drives on a laptop computer, for instance — select Check for drives... from the drive list. RecordNow! will scan your computer and update the drive list.

Note: Close all open projects before using the Check for drives... feature.

Change drives by clicking the drive name and selecting a different drive from the drop-down list.

Page 111 Tips and Tricks > Previewing music files Previewing music files Highlight a song in the Music on System window and click the Preview button to play the song. This can be helpful when arranging a playlist.

Click the Preview button to hear the selected song.

Page 112 Tips and Tricks > Renaming music files Renaming music files

To rename a music file in an Audio CD for Car or Home CD Player project:

1. Click once on the song name in the Music to Burn window.

2. Press the F2 key on your keyboard.

3. Type the new name for the song.

4. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.

Note: To have your disc display the new name, your CD recorder must support CD Text. Check the device documentation to see if your device offers this feature. See About CD Text for more information.

Page 113 Tips and Tricks > Using RecordNow! with double-layer DVD discs Using RecordNow! with double-layer DVD discs RecordNow! supports double-layer discs when used with compatible DVD recorders. Double-layer discs have two reflective surfaces, one slightly beneath the other. The DVD player's laser reads one surface from the disc center to the edge, then refocuses on the other surface and reads back toward the center. Unlike double-sided discs, you do not need to turn the disc over during recording or playback. There is a small pause in playback when the laser refocuses, but this is usually not noticeable. Here are some important tips when using double-layer discs with RecordNow!:

 RecordNow! also refers to double-layer discs as DVD 9 discs.

 Some DVD drives may have a problem reading un-finalized double-layer discs. Use the Finalize utility on the Home tab before reading double-layer discs in other drives.

 Versions of RecordNow! before version 7.1 do not support the use of double-layer discs.

 In the Exact Copy project, double-layer DVD discs can only be copied to other double-layer DVD discs. Similarly, single-layer DVD discs must be copied to single-layer DVD discs.

 In a multi-disc File Archive project, RecordNow! assigns files based on the size of the first disc you use. If your first disc has a capacity of 4.7 GB, for example, no more than 4.7 GB will be burned on any subsequent disc, even if you switch to a larger capacity double-layer disc. This also means that no disc in a File Archive project can have a smaller capacity than the first disc.

Page 114 Troubleshooting

The following topics provide troubleshooting tips to help you solve the most common issues when recording discs using RecordNow!:

 Frequently asked questions

 Recordings fail

 Adding data files to an audio CD

 Unreadable media

 Optical drive unavailable

Page 115 Troubleshooting > Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions Question Answer

What is the Bit Budget? The Bit Budget is the graphical representation of a disc in the upper left corner of the RecordNow! console. You can start a new project by dragging files to it. The Bit Budget also displays information about your disc. When I drag files to the Bit Budget while the project window is closed, how can I be sure they are added to the right project? Even when the project window is closed, the name of the active project is displayed directly beneath the RecordNow! console. Why does RecordNow! start a data project when I drag music files to the Bit Budget? You probably have a data file mixed in with your music files. Try again with only music files. How do I save a project? Click the Save button on the Project Window to save a project. If the Save button is not displayed for a particular project, it cannot be saved. However, RecordNow! remembers most unfinished projects when you quit the program and makes them available when you restart the application.

How do I create a drag-and-drop disc with RecordNow!? You must use Sonic Drive Letter Access (DLA) to format the disc. To determine if DLA is installed on your computer, right-click a recorder drive in your My Computer window. Select Properties from the short-cut menu. You will see a DLA tab in the Properties dialog box if DLA is installed on your computer. Click on the Help link at the bottom of the DLA tab to open the DLA Help file. I don't have a recorder drive on my computer. Can I still use RecordNow!? Yes. Even without a recorder, you can use RecordNow! to create image files, view disc information, listen to music, and open associated programs. I have two recorder drives. Can I burn two projects at the same time? You can only burn one project at a time. Do I have to insert a disc before starting a project? It's not absolutely necessary. We recommend that you insert a disc first to take full advantage of the Bit Budget.

How do I get rid of old projects that were remembered when I quit RecordNow!? Click the project tab containing the unfinished project, and click the Cancel button. Repeat for each tab containing a project you would like to cancel. Sometimes a red dot appears on one of my project tabs. What does that mean? A red dot on a project tab means a burn is in progress. Sometimes a yellow dot appears on one or more of my project tabs. What does that mean? A yellow dot on a project tab means you have an unfinished project on that tab. What's the difference between an audio CD and a Jukebox CD? Traditional audio CDs are created using the Audio CD for Car and Home CD Player project. If you use MP3 files to create an audio CD, RecordNow! will automatically convert them into the audio CD format so your new disc can be played on any CD player.

RecordNow! can also be used to create a special type of disc called a Jukebox CD. On a Jukebox CD, your MP3 and WMA files are not converted to the audio CD format. Because your MP3 and WMA files remain compressed, Jukebox CDs can contain many more songs than an audio CD. However, Jukebox CDs can only be played on computers and music players that can read MP3, WMA, or WAV files. Jukebox CDs are created using the Jukebox CD project. For more information, see Audio Projects.

Should I save my music as WMA files or MP3 files? Both formats have their supporters. Here are a few things to consider:

Compatibility: The best format is likely to be one that your listening device can read and play.

Compression: If your goal is to squeeze as many songs as possible into a portable music player, good quality at high compression settings will be an important consideration.

Quality: If your goal is near perfect sound reproduction, high quality at lower compression settings may be morePage 116 important. Microsoft claims the WMA encoder provided with Windows Media Player 9 produces higher quality sound at a smaller file size than most MP3 encoders.

Availability: To produce MP3 files, you will need an MP3 encoder. If an MP3 encoder was not included with this version of RecordNow!, you can obtain one by upgrading to RecordNow! Deluxe. My stereo system skips some of the songs I recorded to a Jukebox CD. What's wrong? Your stereo system may not be compatible with all of the music formats on your disc. For instance, some systems can read MP3 files, but not WAV files. For more information, consult the documentation that came with your stereo system. I'm trying to burn an audio CD from my collection of WMA files, but RecordNow! tells me they are copy protected. What's going on? You will not be able to burn the WMA files created with Windows Media Player unless the options for copying CDs are set correctly. To learn more, consult the Windows Media Player Help file. Why can't I drag songs from my music CDs into a Jukebox CD project. Before a song from a commercial music CD can be copied to a Jukebox CD project, it must be converted to MP3, WMA, or WAV format. What's the difference between MP3 and MP3 VBR? VBR is short for Variable Bit Rate. See MP3 quality: constant bit rate or variable bit rate? for a full explanation. Can I copy a DVD-R disc onto a DVD+RW disc? No. For best results use matching disc formats when burning an Exact Copy project.

Why don't I have a video tab on my version of RecordNow!? Not all projects or project tabs are available with all versions of this program. Can I use a data project to copy video files onto a blank disc? Data discs can be used to store music and video files. But you will not be able to play your videos or music on a conventional player using a disc created from a data project. What is an appendable disc? An appendable disc is capable of having additional data written to it. Some discs, such as audio CDs created with RecordNow!, are closed at the end of the recording session. No additional data can be added to a closed disc.

Page 117 Troubleshooting > Recordings fail Recordings fail Disc recording is a resource-sensitive process. Having other applications running while recording to a disc can deprive your system of required resources and cause the recording to fail. Most of these errors can be avoided by following these steps:

 Enable Direct Memory Access (DMA) on your system. See your operating system's documentation for information on enabling DMA.

 Quit other applications during the recording process.

 Use your recorder to both read your source disc and to write to your blank disc. RecordNow! will create a temporary image of the source disc on your hard drive, which may read faster than your computer's read-only drive.

Page 118 Troubleshooting > Adding data files to an audio CD Adding data files to an audio CD Data cannot be added to an audio CD created by RecordNow!. When RecordNow! creates an audio CD, it creates a closed session disc, which prevents the addition of data.

Page 119 Troubleshooting > Unreadable media Unreadable media If your source disc is scratched or dirty, your disc reader may not be able to read the media. Try the following actions to solve the problem:

Cleaning the disc 1. Remove all fingerprints, dirt, and dust from the shiny side of your disc using a nonabrasive cloth with a mild, nonabrasive soap solution. 2. Wipe the disc from the center to the edge of the disc.

3. Dry the disc completely.

Try using a different source drive 1. To change the drive you use to read your disc, click the drive drop-down menu in the Project Window. 2. Select the drive you wish to use from the drop-down menu.

3. Insert your disc into the new drive.

Try using your recorder as both the source and destination drive When you use your recorder to both read and write to your disc, RecordNow! copies the entire disc to your hard drive and then copies that temporary file to your blank media. This can be helpful if the drive you're using to read your source disc is slow or unreliable.

Page 120 Troubleshooting > Optical drive unavailable Optical drive unavailable There are two basic types of optical drives: a read-only drive, and a recorder drive. Read-only drives cannot be used to record to media. Check to make sure that your recording device is properly attached to your system and that it is functional, then try your recording again.

Page 121 Legal information

To review restrictions on the use of this product, click on the links below:

 RecordNow! end user license agreement

 GNU library general public license

Page 122 Legal information > RecordNow! end user license agreement RecordNow! end user license agreement SONIC SOLUTIONS END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT THIS IS A CONTRACT, PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY, BY INSTALLING THIS SOFTWARE YOU ACCEPT ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THIS SOFTWARE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT. BY USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ANY TERM OR CONDITION, YOU MAY NOT INSTALL OR RUN THIS SOFTWARE. 1. License. Sonic Solutions, a California corporation, ("Sonic") hereby grants to the purchaser (hereafter "you") a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license (the "License"), without the right to sublicense, to use the application, installation, utility, system, upgrade or other software accompanying this License, whether on disk, in read only memory, or on any other media (the "Sonic Software"), the related documentation and materials. The Sonic Software is licensed for use in object code form only, for your internal use and only on a specific hardware system. The Sonic Software is licensed, not sold, to you by Sonic. You own the media on which the Sonic Software is recorded but Sonic and/or Sonic's licensor(s) retain title to the Sonic Software and to any copies which this License authorizes you to make.You acknowledge that Sonic and/or Sonic's licensor(s) (hereafter, collectively referred to as "Sonic") retain all other ownership rights connected with the Software, including, without limitation, all copyrights, trademark rights, and all other intellectual property rights. You agree to refrain from any action which would diminish such rights or would call them into question. You agree that this License shall apply to any software provided to you by Sonic or Sonic's representative as replacement or upgrade software to substitute for or to be used in conjunction with the software accompanying this License. 2. Permitted Uses and Restrictions. This License allows you to install and use the Sonic Software on a single Sonic-manufactured or Sonic-approved hardware system at a time. This License does not allow the Sonic Software to exist on more than one hardware system at a time. You may make one copy of the Sonic Software in machine-readable form for backup purposes only. The backup copy must include all copyright notices and any other proprietary legends contained on the original copy of the Sonic Software. You may use the Sonic Software in a networked environment and transmit the Sonic Software from one hardware system to another over a network so long as each hardware system which receives the Sonic Software is the subject of a license for the Sonic Software it receives. Except as permitted by applicable law and this License, you may not decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, rent, lease, loan, distribute, create derivative works from the Sonic Software or publish or transmit the Sonic Software over a network. You may, however, transfer your rights under this License, provided you transfer the related documentation, this License, and a copy of the Sonic Software to a party who agrees to accept the terms of this License and destroy any other copies of the Sonic Software in your possession. Your rights under this License will terminate automatically without notice from Sonic if you fail to comply with any term(s) of this License. 3. Limited Warranty on Media. Sonic warrants the media on which the Sonic Software is delivered to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of original purchase. Your exclusive remedy under this paragraph shall be, at Sonic's option, a refund of the purchase price of the product containing the Sonic Software or replacement of the Sonic Software which is returned to Sonic or an Sonic authorized representative. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ON THE MEDIA INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH HEREIN IS EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHERS, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS, OR IMPLIED. SONIC SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY BY JURISDICTION. 4. Disclaimer of Warranty on Sonic Software. You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of the Sonic Software is at your sole risk. The Sonic Software is provided "AS IS" and without warranty of any kind and Sonic

EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITEDPage TO, 123 THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE SONIC SOFTWARE. SONIC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SONIC SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SONIC SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SONIC SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED. FURTHERMORE, SONIC DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SONIC SOFTWARE OR RELATED DOCUMENTATION IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY SONIC OR AN SONIC AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY. SHOULD THE SONIC SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU (AND NOT SONIC OR AN SONIC AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. 5. Limitation of Liability. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL SONIC BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS LICENSE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. In no event shall Sonic's total liability to you for all damages exceed the amount paid for this to the Sonic Software. 6. Export Law Restrictions. You agree that the Sonic Software will not be exported outside the United States except as authorized by United States law. You also agree that Sonic Software that has been rightfully obtained outside of the United States shall not be exported except as authorized by the laws of the United States and of the jurisdiction in which the Sonic Software was obtained. 7. Controlling Law and Severability. This License shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the State of California. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision, or portion thereof, to be unenforceable, the remainder of this License shall continue in full force and effect. 8. Complete Agreement. This License constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the use of the Sonic Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter. No amendment to or modification of this License will be binding unless in writing and signed by Sonic.

Page 124 Legal information > GNU library general public license GNU library general public license Version 2, June 1991 Copyright (C) 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA. Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed. (This is the first released version of the library GPL. It is numbered 2 because it goes with version 2 of the ordinary GPL.)

Preamble The licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public Licenses are intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--to make sure the software is free for all its users. This license, the Library General Public License, applies to some specially designated Free Software Foundation software, and to any other libraries whose authors decide to use it. You can use it for your libraries, too. When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things. To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid anyone to deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights. These restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies of the library, or if you modify it. For example, if you distribute copies of the library, whether gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that we gave you. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. If you link a program with the library, you must provide complete object files to the recipients so that they can relink them with the library, after making changes to the library and recompiling it. And you must show them these terms so they know their rights. Our method of protecting your rights has two steps: (1) copyright the library, and (2) offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify the library. Also, for each distributor's protection, we want to make certain that everyone understands that there is no warranty for this free library. If the library is modified by someone else and passed on, we want its recipients to know that what they have is not the original version, so that any problems introduced by others will not reflect on the original authors' reputations. Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software patents. We wish to avoid the danger that companies distributing free software will individually obtain patent licenses, thus in effect transforming the program into proprietary software. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all. Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the ordinary GNU General Public License, which was designed for utility programs. This license, the GNU Library General Public License, applies to certain designated libraries. This license is quite different from the ordinary one; be sure to read it in full, and don't assume that anything in it is the same as in the ordinary license. The reason we have a separate public license for some libraries is that they blur the distinction we usually make between modifying or adding to a program and simply using it. Linking a program with a library, without changing the library, is in some sense simply using the library, and is analogous to running a utility program or application program. However, in a textual and legal sense, the linked executable is a combined work, a derivative of the original library, and the ordinary General Public License treats it as such. Because of this blurred distinction, using the ordinary General Public License for libraries did not effectively promote software sharing, because most developers did not use the libraries. We concluded that weaker Page 125 conditions might promote sharing better. However, unrestricted linking of non-free programs would deprive the users of those programs of all benefit from the free status of the libraries themselves. This Library General Public License is intended to permit developers of non-free programs to use free libraries, while preserving your freedom as a user of such programs to change the free libraries that are incorporated in them. (We have not seen how to achieve this as regards changes in header files, but we have achieved it as regards changes in the actual functions of the Library.) The hope is that this will lead to faster development of free libraries. The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and modification follow. Pay close attention to the difference between a "work based on the library" and a "work that uses the library." The former contains code derived from the library, while the latter only works together with the library. Note that it is possible for a library to be covered by the ordinary General Public License rather than by this special one.

GNU library general public license terms and conditions for copying, distribution, and modification 0. This License Agreement applies to any software library which contains a notice placed by the copyright holder or other authorized party saying it may be distributed under the terms of this Library General Public License (also called "this License"). Each licensee is addressed as "you." A "library" means a collection of software functions and/or data prepared so as to be conveniently linked with application programs (which use some of those functions and data) to form executables. The "Library," below, refers to any such software library or work which has been distributed under these terms. A "work based on the Library" means either the Library or any derivative work under copyright law: that is to say, a work containing the Library or a portion of it, either verbatim or with modifications and/or translated straightforwardly into another language. (Hereinafter, translation is included without limitation in the term "modification.") "Source code" for a work means the preferred form of the work for making modifications to it. For a library, complete source code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to control compilation and installation of the library. Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of running a program using the Library is not restricted, and output from such a program is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the Library (independent of the use of the Library in a tool for writing it). Whether that is true depends on what the Library does and what the program that uses the Library does. 1. You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Library's complete source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty; and distribute a copy of this License along with the Library. You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee. 2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Library or any portion of it, thus forming a work based on the Library, and copy and distribute such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1 above, provided that you also meet all of these conditions: a) The modified work must itself be a software library. b) You must cause the files modified to carry prominent notices stating that you changed the files and the date of any change. c) You must cause the whole of the work to be licensed at no charge to all third parties under the terms of this License. d) If a facility in the modified Library refers to a function or a table of data to be supplied by an application program that uses the facility, other than as an argument passed when the facility is invoked, then you mustPage 126 make a good faith effort to ensure that, in the event an application does not supply such function or table, the facility still operates, and performs whatever part of its purpose remains meaningful.

(For example, a function in a library to compute square roots has a purpose that is entirely well-defined independent of the application. Therefore, Subsection 2d requires that any application-supplied function or table used by this function must be optional: if the application does not supply it, the square root function must still compute square roots.)

These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Library, and can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those sections when you distribute them as separate works. But when you distribute the same sections as part of a whole which is a work based on the Library, the distribution of the whole must be on the terms of this License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the entire whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it. Thus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest your rights to work written entirely by you; rather, the intent is to exercise the right to control the distribution of derivative or collective works based on the Library. In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Library with the Library (or with a work based on the Library) on a volume of a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under the scope of this License. 3. You may opt to apply the terms of the ordinary GNU General Public License instead of this License to a given copy of the Library. To do this, you must alter all the notices that refer to this License, so that they refer to the ordinary GNU General Public License, version 2, instead of to this License. (If a newer version than version 2 of the ordinary GNU General Public License has appeared, then you can specify that version instead if you wish.) Do not make any other change in these notices. Once this change is made in a given copy, it is irreversible for that copy, so the ordinary GNU General Public License applies to all subsequent copies and derivative works made from that copy. This option is useful when you wish to copy part of the code of the Library into a program that is not a library. 4. You may copy and distribute the Library (or a portion or derivative of it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange. If distribution of object code is made by offering access to copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent access to copy the source code from the same place satisfies the requirement to distribute the source code, even though third parties are not compelled to copy the source along with the object code. 5. A program that contains no derivative of any portion of the Library, but is designed to work with the Library by being compiled or linked with it, is called a "work that uses the Library." Such a work, in isolation, is not a derivative work of the Library, and therefore falls outside the scope of this License. However, linking a "work that uses the Library" with the Library creates an executable that is a derivative of the Library (because it contains portions of the Library), rather than a "work that uses the library." The executable is therefore covered by this License. Section 6 states terms for distribution of such executables. When a "work that uses the Library" uses material from a header file that is part of the Library, the object code for the work may be a derivative work of the Library even though the source code is not. Whether this is true is especially significant if the work can be linked without the Library, or if the work is itself a library. The threshold for this to be true is not precisely defined by law. If such an object file uses only numerical parameters, data structure layouts and accessors, and small macros and small inline functions (ten lines or less in length), then the use of the object file is unrestricted, regardless of whether it is legally a derivative work. (Executables containing this object code plus portions of the Library will still fall under Section 6.) Otherwise, if the work is a derivative of the Library, you may distribute the object code for the work under the terms of Section 6. Any executables containing that work also fall under Section 6, whether or not they are linked directly with the Library itself. Page 127 6. As an exception to the Sections above, you may also compile or link a "work that uses the Library" with the Library to produce a work containing portions of the Library, and distribute that work under terms of your choice, provided that the terms permit modification of the work for the customer's own use and reverse engineering for debugging such modifications. You must give prominent notice with each copy of the work that the Library is used in it and that the Library and its use are covered by this License. You must supply a copy of this License. If the work during execution displays copyright notices, you must include the copyright notice for the Library among them, as well as a reference directing the user to the copy of this License. Also, you must do one of these things: a) Accompany the work with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code for the Library including whatever changes were used in the work (which must be distributed under Sections 1 and 2 above); and, if the work is an executable linked with the Library, with the complete machine-readable "work that uses the Library," as object code and/or source code, so that the user can modify the Library and then relink to produce a modified executable containing the modified Library. (It is understood that the user who changes the contents of definitions files in the Library will not necessarily be able to recompile the application to use the modified definitions.) b) Accompany the work with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give the same user the materials specified in Subsection 6a, above, for a charge no more than the cost of performing this distribution. c) If distribution of the work is made by offering access to copy from a designated place, offer equivalent access to copy the above specified materials from the same place. d) Verify that the user has already received a copy of these materials or that you have already sent this user a copy.

For an executable, the required form of the "work that uses the Library" must include any data and utility programs needed for reproducing the executable from it. However, as a special exception, the source code distributed need not include anything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the operating system on which the executable runs, unless that component itself accompanies the executable. It may happen that this requirement contradicts the license restrictions of other proprietary libraries that do not normally accompany the operating system. Such a contradiction means you cannot use both them and the Library together in an executable that you distribute. 7. You may place library facilities that are a work based on the Library side-by-side in a single library together with other library facilities not covered by this License, and distribute such a combined library, provided that the separate distribution of the work based on the Library and of the other library facilities is otherwise permitted, and provided that you do these two things: a) Accompany the combined library with a copy of the same work based on the Library, uncombined with any other library facilities. This must be distributed under the terms of the Sections above. b) Give prominent notice with the combined library of the fact that part of it is a work based on the Library, and explaining where to find the accompanying uncombined form of the same work.

8. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, link with, or distribute the Library except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense, link with, or distribute the Library is void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License. However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such parties remain in full compliance. 9. You are not required to accept this License, since you have not signed it. However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or distribute the Library or its derivative works. These actions are prohibited by law if you do not accept this License. Therefore, by modifying or distributing the Library (or any work based on the Library), you indicate your acceptance of this License to do so, and all its terms and conditions for copying, distributing or modifying the Library or works based on it. 10. Each time you redistribute the Library (or any work based on the Library), the recipient automatically receives a license from the original licensor to copy, distribute, link with or modify the Library subject to these terms and conditions. You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights Page 128 granted herein. You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to this License. 11. If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues), conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not distribute the Library at all. For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Library by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Library. If any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under any particular circumstance, the balance of the section is intended to apply, and the section as a whole is intended to apply in other circumstances. It is not the purpose of this section to induce you to infringe any patents or other property right claims or to contest validity of any such claims; this section has the sole purpose of protecting the integrity of the free software distribution system which is implemented by public license practices. Many people have made generous contributions to the wide range of software distributed through that system in reliance on consistent application of that system; it is up to the author/donor to decide if he or she is willing to distribute software through any other system and a licensee cannot impose that choice. This section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is believed to be a consequence of the rest of this License. 12. If the distribution and/or use of the Library is restricted in certain countries either by patents or by copyrighted interfaces, the original copyright holder who places the Library under this License may add an explicit geographical distribution limitation excluding those countries, so that distribution is permitted only in or among countries not thus excluded. In such case, this License incorporates the limitation as if written in the body of this License. 13. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions of the Library General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems or concerns. Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Library specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and "any later version," you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of that version or of any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. If the Library does not specify a license version number, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software Foundation. 14. If you wish to incorporate parts of the Library into other free programs whose distribution conditions are incompatible with these, write to the author to ask for permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free Software Foundation, write to the Free Software Foundation; we sometimes make exceptions for this. Our decision will be guided by the two goals of preserving the free status of all derivatives of our free software and of promoting the sharing and reuse of software generally. NO WARRANTY 15. BECAUSE THE LIBRARY IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE LIBRARY, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE LIBRARY "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE LIBRARY IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE LIBRARY PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. 16. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE LIBRARY AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE LIBRARY (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE LIBRARY TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER SOFTWARE), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Page 129 END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

How to apply these terms to your new libraries If you develop a new library, and you want it to be of the greatest possible use to the public, we recommend making it free software that everyone can redistribute and change. You can do so by permitting redistribution under these terms (or, alternatively, under the terms of the ordinary General Public License). To apply these terms, attach the following notices to the library. It is safest to attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively convey the exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least the "copyright" line and a pointer to where the full notice is found.

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Library General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA.

Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail. You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or your school, if any, to sign a "copyright disclaimer" for the library, if necessary. Here is a sample; alter the names:

Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright interest in the library `Frob' (a library for tweaking knobs) written by James Random Hacker.

, 1 April 1990

Ty Coon, President of Vice

That's all there is to it!

Page 130