1.4 MultiRead
You will always be able to read CD-RW discs in the CD-RW drive you created them in, but they often
cannot be read in older CD-ROM drives or CD players that do not comply with the '
MultiRead
'
specification.
The recorded tracks on a CD-RW disc are read in the same way as regular CD tracks: by detecting
transitions between low and high reflectance, and measuring the length of the periods between the
transitions. The only difference is that the reflectance is about one-third of that of the original CD
specification. That is why many older CD-ROM drives or CD players cannot read CD-RW discs.
Using modern techniques this presents no problem. The '
MultiRead
' specification drawn up by Philips
and Hewlett Packard and approved by the Optical Storage Technology Association (
OSTA
) provides
for the necessary adjustments, thus solving any compatibility issues for all modern CD-ROM or DVD
drives and CD players.
The following table is a short summary of which CD drive types can read discs created with certain
application/media combinations:
Function
CD Type
Target drives
CD-RW
MultiRead CD-ROM drive with UDF reader
Drag and drop (UDF packet
writing)
CD-R
(Closed)
Most CD-ROM drives
CD-RW
MultiRead CD-ROM drive
Copying CDs
CD-R
Any CD-ROM drive
CD-RW
MultiRead CD-ROM drive
Creation of audio CDs
CD-R
Any CD-ROM drive, home/car CD player
CD-RW
MultiRead CD-ROM drive
Creation of data CDs
CD-R
Any CD-ROM drive
