What does the X mean?  The X indicates how fast data can be recorded in relation to normal playback. 1X means an 80 minute CD will take 80 minutes to record. 4X media will take 20 minutes to record 80 minutes of music. 40X media will take 2 minutes to record 80 minutes of music or data.

So what speed should you buy? You can only record as fast as you burner is rated or you’re the media is rated. If you have a 32X CD burner then 52X media would only operate at 32X; but a 32X burner with 16X media will burn at 16X not 32X.  DVD media operates the same although much slower that CD burners. A 2X burner will take one hour to record a two hour movie; an 8X burner will record a two hour movie in 15 minutes. There is no need to purchase media that is faster that your burner but your burner can use the faster media. This boils down to: you have a 32X burner and if 32X media costs less than 52X media then buy the 32X media; conversely if the 52X media costs the same or less that the 32X media then buy the 52X media.

Types of media: CD-R is media that you can record on once and replay it thousands of times. CD-RW is media that you can record on, erase and use again just like a floppy or hard disk drive. DVD-R is the DVD standard that was set by the IEEE standards body and is compatible with the greatest number of players and recorders. DVD+R is a modified standard developed by Sony and others that records faster that the DVD-R but is not compatible with a lot of equipment. DVD+RW and DVD-RW operate the same as CD-RW and they are great for backups.

Some DVD burners will work with –R, some with +R, some with either +R or –R. My DVD burner burns at 4X with –R DVD media and 8X with +R DVD media. Also check to make sure your playback equipment can read the +R or –R media. I had to replace my DVD player because it would only read –R media not both –R and +R.

My advice it to purchase your optical media in small quantity until you determine it works with your equipment. You can purchase media at WAY TO PRINT.