CD32 compatible CD-R's ?

[marcfrick2112]

Hi everyone,

Can anybody confirm if CD32's are 'picky' about the CD-R discs that can be read? My CD32 is marked, made in the Philipines, January 1994. The only CD-R I have ever gotten to read was a Sony 'music' CD-R (just a music CD, go figure ) All others just show a black screen. Obviously, all my original games work fine. So, is this a known problem with the CD32, or do I have a 'bad' version, or something?

I'd like to avoid having to buy the expensive Audio CD-R's if I can....

Thanks much....

[amiga1260]

There were some CD-r's from TDK's and Philips that has problems to read in a CD32.

The problem is that they buy CD-r's from different suppliers. Even a spindle of Cd-r's could be different.

Using Platium CD-r's will also work, but if you always want one supplier with the same quality, you could better buy Verbatim or even Traxdata CD-r's.

[ArcadeHeart]

I use Verbatim Metal AZO, they work fine with my cd32

[dangermouse]

I used some newer Verbatim Lightscribe CD-Rs and they worked fine.

[smf]

I simply just buy the cheapest noname discs i can find and so far it has been working every time (i dont burn CD32 discs that often) but i think the trick is to burn the discs at a low speed

[jj]

Yes always burn at 1x or 2x max.   Its a pain but you will get much better results

[Gavilan]

Well i can tell you my personal opinion.
I have exactly the same CD32 machine that you have
First thing that comes to my mind is...bad laser calibration?

Anyway, i have tested so far the CD32 with Imation, Verbatim, Sony, TDK, Mitsui, Ridata and a couple of brands i dont remember at this moment

Always AVOID those "bulk" CD´s with no brand...buy something a little more expensive (just a few cents) and you will notice reliability

Can give you an opinion about Philips CD´s since i have never used them on my CD32.

The most i use are Verbatim and Imation. All are very very good.
Maybe 1 out of 50 wont be read by the CD32...so thats a good average..i guess
Also, in this days, is quite difficult to find a burning software that allows you to burn at 1x or 2x. So, i choose to stay sticked with Nero version 6 and/or old versions of CloneCD or any other program which allows me to burn at 4x or 2x

CloneCd is also very good for burning other kind of software. You dont really need to have latest version installed.

Regards
Sebastian

[Cammy]

The CD32 has a weak laser, and is slower reading from CD-Rs with dark ink (usually the more expensive ones). The more reflective the CD, the easier your CD32 should read it. Sometimes those cheap silver ones are actually better for burning CD32 games to. If they get scratched more easily than higher quality ones, who cares, you just burn a new one if the disc gets too scratched. It's better than waiting twice as long for the game to load every time.

[lauri.lotvonen]

Yes always burn at 1x or 2x max.   Its a pain but you will get much better results

I never managed to burn disc's at 1X or 2X, tried on about 10 burners and always they burn at 4X. But games work fine (Playstation 1 & CD32).

[marcfrick2112]

Thanks for the advice, still not sure what I should do....

Gavilan: OK, if it's bad laser calibration, I assume I'd have to adjust the CD32 using Ian Stedman's guide on Aminet? Could you give me any advice about this? I have only 1 CD32, I really don't want to risk messing it up just because it won't read CD-R's....

Cammy: Thanks for the advice... but oddly, the Sony music CD-R, the only one that worked, is a 'darker' one (compared to Taiyo Yuden, TDK, Memorex, and other brands that look 'silver) ...

My burner + software can go as low as 2x , I'll try that next...  I figured that since my SegaCD is cool with discs burned at 4x, the CD32 would be too....... grrr...

At any rate, thanks everyone....

[Tension]

If you`re compiling your own CD for booting, you need to include the CD32TM file in the disk index (MakeCD can do this).

Surprised nobody else mentioned that.

[Gavilan]

Gavilan: OK, if it's bad laser calibration, I assume I'd have to adjust the CD32 using Ian Stedman's guide on Aminet? Could you give me any advice about this? I have only 1 CD32, I really don't want to risk messing it up just because it won't read CD-R's....

Well, Ian Stedman is, for many users here and on other sites, some kind of "God" in everything Amiga-related.
He seems to know pretty much about all the stuff, so i should check his advices first

After that, try another brand if you can get (Memorex, Imation, Verbatim).
 I have never ever tried to burn at 2x or 1x with CloneCD, DiscJuggler and Nero or Alcohol 120%, which are the programs i use to burn Sega CD, Dreamcast, Xbox or even Playstation 2.

On the CD32 issue, i have tried at least 6/7 different brands. I found thas some took maaaany minutes to load (i could even hear the laser moving making lot of noise).
So, i took it to a friend, also Amiga mad, who used to be a Commodore engineer here. He "calibrated" the lens using osciloscopes (and also, calibrated my DVD player), all in exchange of a pair of 3.1 roms... :roflmao:

So, as i suggested previously, calm dawn, take a deep breath, try to burn different brands and use another burning program

Then post here the conclusions. We might be able to give you more advices on the subject, or you could end up "fixing" the problem

Sebastian

[jj]

If you`re compiling your own CD for booting, you need to include the CD32TM file in the disk index (MakeCD can do this).
 
Surprised nobody else mentioned that.

 
I assumed he was trying to burn iso files from back2roots or dream17.  If hed had said he was compiling his own disks then I would have mentioned this.

[marcfrick2112]

Thanks again, guys.

Right now, I'm mostly trying burned audio CD's and the ocassional ISO from some of the sites mentioned. And, I am aware of the needed CD32TM file. Well, I'll keep on trying.

:afro:

[CLS2086]

Hi,
I use old ""burner"" those which make the CDr hot as hell, and "smell" well burnt :
Philips CDD2600 / CDD3600 / CDD3610   (HP & Tradata clones), Teac 55S, Yamaha SCSI (models under 20x, mainly 4-4-16).
And also I use "dark" coloured CDR, mainly Verbatim's.

CD32 are based upon Sony's laserpickup KSS-21x series.
Those were made for low and medium "cost" AudioCD player.... so 1x.