User`s guide

Virtual CD v4 Documentation
Page 16 of 16
If you select the data files option, the audio data is not treated as audio files by Virtual
CD, compressed using audio coding/compression methods, but rather the raw data is
read digitally and stored as data tracks. The compression method used, if selected, is
for data compression. This compression method does not have the error tolerance
that audio compression does, and is less efficient for audio tracks than the audio
compression methods, which are designed especially for use with music files.
See page 31 for details on how to determine whether your CD-ROM drive
supports the function for Creating audio files as data tracks. Under
Windows 98, the MS Media Player v7 (or later) must be installed, and the
"digital playback" option in its program settings must be selected. This
setting is deactivated automatically, by the way, every time you insert a
physical audio CD.
Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, so we can't really recommend
one method over the other. The table below lists the pros and cons to help you decide
which is best for you in any given case:
Write audio
tracks as...
Advantages
Disadvantages
...individual
sound files
• Saves hard disk space, for
example when using MP3
compression
• Files can be opened by
music programs
individually for editing
• Can be created using any
physical CD-ROM drive
• Audio compression might
take more CPU time
• Takes longer to make the
virtual CD
• The virtual CD cannot be
used as a source for
another virtual CD, nor for
CD-R or audio-CD 'ripping'
software
...data files
• Full support for music
player functions (such as
visualization in Media
Player)
• The virtual CD can be
used as source for another
virtual CD, or for CD-R and
audio-CD 'ripping' software
• More flexible, as the files
can be used later to create
a virtual CD with sound
files
• Takes up more hard disk
space
• Doesn't work with every
type of physical CD-ROM
drive
• Only works with certain
configurations in Media
Player
We recommend creating audio tracks as data files only if you plan to make
use of the advantages listed here. Otherwise, we highly recommend
selecting the sound files option in conjunction with a suitable data
compression method (such as MP3).
Click on Next to continue to the next Image Wizard dialog: