How to Finalize Music CDs That Are Already Burned

After burning a disc, you must finalize it.

There are important differences between "Music" CD-Rs and "Data" CD-Rs. Music CD-Rs are considerably more expensive, due to a copy-protection agreement between CD recorder manufacturers and the recording industry. Standalone CD recorders will only write on music CD-Rs. Before you can listen to a music CD-R or CD-RW that was burned on your component CD recorder, the disc must be finalized. This process takes less than a minute and ensures the disc will be playable on any CD player.

Instructions

1. Record all of the tracks you want onto the recordable CD media.

2. Close the recording session when the disc is full for CD-R (write-once) discs. If you are using CD-RW media, you can record in multiple sessions on the same disc before finalizing.

3. Press the "Finalize" button on your CD recorder's remote control.

4. The CD recorder display will ask you to confirm that you wish to finalize the disc. Press the "Yes" button on your remote control.

5. Wait while the finalizing process completes.

6. Eject the CD and pop it into any CD player.

Tips & Warnings

• Music CDs are sometimes called "Digital Audio CD-Rs," or "CD-DAs." These are specially designed for home consumer audio use in standalone CD recorder stereo components. These special discs are sometimes difficult to find. You may want to custom order them online and buy in bulk if you have a lot of burning to do.

• Music CD-R discs are not to be used with computer CD burner drives. When making music CDs on the computer, use standard data CDs and a burning program which will direct you to finalize after the CD has been burned.

References

• Columbia ISA: CD Recorder
• MalekTips: What Does It Mean to Finalize a CD or DVD?
• Personal Experience: Recording/Radio Engineer, 20+ Years

Resources

• TIME Magazine: A New Spin, Aug. 24, 1998