[slow_down]

OK, so when a CD gets so scratched that you can't play back certain tracks, then its obviously time to try some using a cleaning/repair product and/or copy the disc to a new CD-R using EAC.  That much I get, but what I'm not nearly as sure about is when your CD is scratched, maybe a lot, but still plays without skips or stutters in your CD player.  In that instance the CD player is still able to read the disc, but I'd imagine it's having to work harder to do it, right? Will that affect the sound quality?

The reason I ask is that I have all these old CD's from highschool and college that are scratched beyond belief.  At what point should I just bite the bullet and copy the information from the disc onto a fresh CD-R?  Should I only do that for discs that just flat out don't play 100%, or will scratched discs that somehow do still play benefit as well?

Thanks!

[nathanm]

If you are in need of a good workout and\or hand cramp you could try one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Innovations-Skipdoctor-Repair-Kit/dp/B00005B9W6/ref=sr_1_14/103-3729927-2659860?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1186439595&sr=1-14

I've rescued a few skipping discs with mine although I suspect "scratched beyond belief" may be beyond its scope.  I've only done discs which were scratched well within belief.

[gooberdude]

I'm not sure if this is proven fact or anything, but from what i gather imperfections in the optical surface are a major source of jitter and bad sonics.   All cd players have algorithms built in to extrapolate (or make a good guess) at the info which the laser cannot read.   The less that these algorithms are employed, the closer you are to hearing the info stored on the disc.  Some folks refer to these abilities as the buffer.


For really bad discs, the Disc Dr that nathan mentioned works great.  Its cleared up many of mine that couldn't be read.   For those with just lots of marks on the surface, try Mikrosmooth from Mapleshade.   In adtion to removing scratches it makes 'em sound better.

Both treatments are a 1 time thing, so essentially you're trying to get them clean & readable before copying to CD-R or dumping onto your HD.

[slow_down]

Thanks for the replies.  Looking back, I probably wasn't specific enough with my question.  What I really am asking is:

How do I distinguish between:

a) scratched CD's that I can merely clean/repair and keep using

and

b) scratched CD's that I should clean/repair and then copy to fresh CD-R's using EAC

Option b) - as I understand it - should result in a perfect new CD (assuming EAC is able to extract all the information error-free, but option a) is a lot easier.  So at what point should I copy a scratched CD?

Thanks.

[gooberdude]

Just listen & let your ears decide...

I've been burning cd's for years, and make my own from LP's, but i am not of the camp that a copy sounds better.   i pre-treat blanks, only use Mitsui Golds, have an Ionoclast and fret over every last detail.  Still, a smooth'd original always sounds best to me..


Spend $15 on some Mikrosmooth and go to town.  that stuff has a trial period too..

Now, if the CD's you speak of are already copies and they are all crapped up, by all means make a new copy.  I'm finding that some of my oldest CD-r's, like 6 or 7 yrs old, do benefit from having a new copy made.    I wasn't nearly the audio geek when i 1st burned those though.

[slbender]

Hi,

I really only have one rather scratched CD, so I don't have a lot of experience in this. This CD no longer plays the first song in any of my 9 CD Players; and a few other songs don't play without some stuttering. Making a copy of that CD won't help, the copies will also stutter or simply will not play - just as the original didn't, or worse.  If you can get the disc to play properly on at least one of your CD Players or in your DVD Player; or computer CD or DVD drive, then there exists the possibility of making a usable CD-R copy... I hope that answers your question.


Steven L. Bender

OK, so when a CD gets so scratched that you can't play back certain tracks, then its obviously time to try some using a cleaning/repair product and/or copy the disc to a new CD-R using EAC.  That much I get, but what I'm not nearly as sure about is when your CD is scratched, maybe a lot, but still plays without skips or stutters in your CD player.  In that instance the CD player is still able to read the disc, but I'd imagine it's having to work harder to do it, right? Will that affect the sound quality?

The reason I ask is that I have all these old CD's from highschool and college that are scratched beyond belief.  At what point should I just bite the bullet and copy the information from the disc onto a fresh CD-R?  Should I only do that for discs that just flat out don't play 100%, or will scratched discs that somehow do still play benefit as well?

Thanks!

[DSK]

... This CD no longer plays the first song in any of my 9 CD Players; and a few other songs don't play without some stuttering. Making a copy of that CD won't help, the copies will also stutter or simply will not play - just as the original didn't, or worse. ...

This may not be true, depending upon how damaged the disc is. Even though players will not play the disk, a ripper like EAC that re-reads the info many, many times may be able to extract the info to provide a perfect (or at least skip free) rip that can be used to burn a new disc that will not skip at all.

[denjo]

Back in 1980/81 while I was studying in London, a radio DJ introduced the new audio format (which was to become the ubiquitous standard redbook) and how resilient the plastic disc was by throwing it down on the studio floor, giving the disc a real good stomp before inserting it into the tray and playing the disc. The music from that disc sounded clean and clear with no hint of the violent treatment! The DJ was dramatically demonstrating that the new audio format could take a lot of beating and scratches that no phono record could endure!!