Easy CD Creator Deluxe 5.0: Gets A Facelift, But Little Else!
Written: Jul 29 '01 (Updated May 29 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, all in one package. Full MP3 support. Much needed facelift.
Cons: Take Two can take you for a spill.
The Bottom Line: If you have a version earlier than v4, you may want to upgrade, otherwise stick with v4 until they stop supporting it! ;)
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| rpllingrock's Full Review: Adaptec Easy CD Creator 5.0 Full Version for PC (1... |
Updated For Windows XP-May 27, 2002
Sporting a new look and the promise of expanded options, I broke down and upgraded to version 5 of this popular software package. During the first few days of use, I was both ecstatic at the ease of use and annoyed at the same time!?
Opinion based on Windows XP Pro/2000 Pro SP2, 128 MB RAM, P3 500, Ricoh MP7083 CD-R/RW.
Before I Get Started
I’d like to mention that many of the programs included with this version of ECDC, have either the same look, or an upgrade to the interface.
One thing I did notice was the time needed to test your CD drives for read speeds and audio extraction before your first CD-to-CD copy. On my system it took over 20 minutes to do a data read test on my CD/DVD drive.
Yet another item I’d like to add, Adaptec spun off their software division into Roxio, which is the publisher of this software package, not Adaptec.
Installation
One thing to keep in mind is you must uninstall previous versions of this software before installation. Total installation will consume about 95 MB of space, of which 65% is a necessity. What I mean by that is, some software installations consume unnecessary space in the form of images and samples. Here, about 35 MB is utilized for useful items such as templates, sounds and images, all part of each individual module.
If installing version 5 in XP, DirectCD will not function properly. For me, instead of the computer just shutting dowsn, it would reboot. This is why you'll need the update handy and run it after ECDC installation.
What’s Included
I’ve listed below, each component that I’ve used with Easy CD Creator 5.
Select A Project
This interface makes it easy to choose exactly which module you’d like to run for whatever projects you intend to burn. Personally, I like to run each individually and bypass this interface. Just hold the mouse over one of the 4 buttons to the left and you’ll be given choices on the right. For example, holding the mouse over the “Make A Music CD” gives you the choice of “SoundStream”, “Music CD Project” and MP3 CD Project”.
Windows XP insists on capturing the inserted CD, blank or not, but this is easily disabled in XP.
DirectCD
This falls under the “Make A Data CD” and is Roxio’s version of packet writing, and in my opinion, the best there is! Packet writing enables you to utilize your CD-R(W) as you would your hard drive, writing sequentially as the need arises.
This version sports a much-needed user-friendly facelift to the interface. This version ties in every aspect of DirectCD into one easy to understand screen. In the past, it was necessary to run the utilities individually.
Sharing with others is quite easy. On CD-RW, the Roxio UDF reader will be installed automatically when the disc is inserted in the host computer. With CD-R, the disc is recognized as a regular CD by most CD-ROM drive made within the past few years. The one thing that makes DirectCD stand above the others is its compatibility and it’s ability to write to CD-R’s as you would CD-RW. Many packet writing software programs only allow writing to CD-RW. This is a downfall since CD-R’s can be had for pennies when compared to the sometimes-unpredictable CD-RW. I have not had great success with CD-RW’s, and for this reason, I limit my use to a few temporary back-up files.
Just like your hard drive, you can repair damaged discs, retrieve deleted files and much more with the included DirectCD utilities.
By far, this is my main use for my CD burner.
Sound Stream
This is where we can make a music CD from a variety of sources, including MP3’s, CD’s, audiotape, LP’s or just plain audio files.
In a previous review of Easy CD Creator 4, I spoke about one of my favorite utilities, Spin Doctor. With the Doctor you can turn your LP’s or cassette tapes into CD’s of MP3’s in a snap. The ability to remove the hiss from tape and the pop, clicks and snaps from LP’s is a bonus. One thing I learned quickly was there is a “sweet spot” when applying these filters. Too much and you’re left with a distorted mess.
Track separation also needs to be handled carefully. What this feature does is sense the silence between tracks and automatically breaks these into separate audio files. For the most part it is useful, but with some music the pause may be too great and surpass your predetermined threshold, and clip the files before it’s actually completed. This will result in two or more files that in all reality belong to one song!
Another option is the “Realizer” which when ticked, enhances the sound of MP3’s dramatically. Roxio says is adds “low-frequency tones and high-frequency harmonics” and the end result is amazing. Keep in mind though, this alters the original sound by the artist, but heck if it sounds good go for it! This effect reminds me of Microsoft’s “SRS” filter on their MediaPlayer v7. If you like that sound, you’ll love the “Realizer” ;)
Worth Mentioning
MP3 CD
This will enable you to rip music tracks to CD and save them as Windows .WMA, MP3, or .WAV files.
Video Impression
A nifty utility to turn your images or movie files into a full blown production including wipes, titling (very limited). You’re in charge of how your final production will look!
What I did like about this utility, was its ability to accept a variety of both sound and video formats which can be saved in a MPEG format, which is compliant with VCD standards. By the way, most DVD players today (post 1st generation players) can play the VCD format.
The VCD utility in this release of ECDC, has not changed much over the years. A good thing if you’ve used it before, but not so good for first timers because it is not very easy to understand and can be very discouraging. But hey, CD-R media is only about 30 cents apiece and we could all use some coasters. ;)
There are some drawbacks. First, make sure you have plenty of time on your hands while your final creation is converted into whatever format you chose. A 3 minute clip took up to ½ hour on my system. This of course depends on how many added transitions and effects you’ve added. Add an MP3 soundtrack into the mix and you’ll devour several pots of coffee before your first production is complete.
Of the 10 clips I’ve compiled so far, the video is sometimes choppy during playback and it’s not the machine, it’s the video, as the clip plays and stutters at the same time on all the machines tested.
CD Label Creator
Virtually unchanged from previous versions. Basically, a utility to create labels and case inserts. The biggest change you’ll find here is the addition of templates, most of which contain solid color, so stock up on ink cartridges! ;)
Problems
Although Roxio claims compatibility with Windows 2000, there is a glitch, and it has to do with the module, Take Two, which is a backup and restore program. It appears that it can cause the system to refuse to boot. For this reason I did not install this utility.
Another problem I have come up with has to do with DirectCD. Since I run a dual boot system, I save files incrementally to CD-R using both Windows ME and 2000. For reasons unknown by me, some files saved running ME do not appear when viewing on 2K.
Overall
I have used this package almost exclusively under Windows 2000 with the exception of DirectCD, and has served me well over the past few months even with the minor problems I mentioned above, I am quite happy.
Update
After over a month of XP's release, Roxio released a fix for this program which addressed an issue with DirectCD.
One thing I do notice is the disappearance of the DirectCD icon in the tray. No great loss really. It's there running in the background.
Since the update to 5.1, ECDC has performed flawlessly on XP. If you use TakeTwo, don't upgrade! The latest update will disable TakeTwo, which in my opinion, is no great loss anyway.
Recommended:
Yes
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