I’ve tried so many different disk burning tools that it took me quite a long time to find the replacement for my (very very old version of) Nero, which surely wasn’t free. And just when I found this replacement, I bought Dell Studio 1737 laptop and problems started again… ;) During my search I was looking for this functionality:

1. Burning standard formats like CD, CD RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW (option to burn double layer disks, DVD-RAM, Blu-ray and HD DVD would be just a plus)
2. Possibility to create disk copies and disk images (ISO files)
3. Burned data verification and buffer underrun protection
4. Ability to create multisession disks, audio, video and DVD disks
5. Friendly and easy-to-use interface, preferably with some wizard and support for different languages
6. Has to be free software

At the end, I put together following software list.

Ashampoo Burning Studio [UPDATE 15.3.2010]

Thanks to commenters Peter and Idaho I decided to add another software to the list. It is Ashampoo Burning Studio I was using in the past but left it due to couple of reasons. First, the free-to-download was just old version 6 and also the way how program works wasn’t really for me (I prefer more 2 pane view – both with file manager and CD/DVD view). That’s why the app didn’t even make it into the list …and also because I forgot about it.

But after the guys pointed me to free current version Ashampoo Burning Studio 2010, I decided to give it another try. And what a good move it was! The software is perfect. It offers everything I need, even overcomes my expectations with integration of audio CD ripper, file backup system, it’s free and works on my Dell laptop! What more can I ask for? So my current best choice for burning program is Ashampoo Burning Studio 2010 (you need to get free serial number directly from Ashampoo website).

CDBurnerXP

Multilingual application CDBurnerXP complies all my criteria and even surprises with possibility to burn Blu-ray and HD DVD besides other standard formats. It creates also bootable disks, which I’ve never tried, though.

When creating audio CD, you can import several the most used audio file types and playlists and CDBurnerXP will take care of them. If you happen to have two disk drives, and insert audio CD into one of them, you can even add tracks from that disk to one you are creating in CDBurnerXP without previous audio ripping. Just add those CDA files to new compilation. Very cool feature.

Surely, you can create also video disk, which is basically just data disk with video file(s) ;) If you are wondering how to create DVD, here is the little tip on creating Video-DVD: There is no option to create video DVD disk directly from wizard appearing when program is started, so you have to choose to create data disk first and then go to File → DVD Video layout.

CDBurnerXP is capable of creating ISO disk image file from your CD or DVD, burning the ISO image and also converting BIN and NRG images into ISO format (again can be found in File menu).

The biggest minus for this program is that I can’t make it work with Dell Studio’s slot load DVD drive. That being said, it is possible CDBurnerXP might not work for some other drives either. Otherwise, this is almost perfect burning software. Download current version from CDBurnerXP website.

InfraRecorder

In my burning software list the open source community is represented by InfraRecorder. I can guarantee, this free program will nothing but totally impress you. Again, I was able to check my whole requirements list, so just few more words about its functions.

The program supports recording on dual (or double) layer DVD disks, burning ISO, CUE, IMG, BIN and RAW image filetypes, creating multisession disks, saving audio CD in WAV, WMA, OGG or MP3 (process called ripping), and, InfraRecorder is also available in portable version! Great, isn’t it?

By the way, when you see a smoke coming from burning progress window, don’t rush for extinguisher! I must admit I felt a bit uneasy when I first saw this nice effect. But it’s really just an effect. ;)

InfraRecorder (download it) is such a great software, equally like CDBurnerXP, or maybe a bit further because I can use it on a Dell Studio. Although I have some problems with it, mainly when burning rewritable media. But again, it can be related to my optical drive.

So, all those problems directed me to Spartan, but very functional last burning software in my list and my last chance to be able to burn something on Dell Sudio laptop – ImgBurn.

ImgBurn

Well, how to begin? Very carefully, but it needs to be brought to light …the application interface is not really suitable for normal, ordinary casual computer user. I’m not considering myself as normal computer user, despite I had a harsh time to understand what and how to do.

ImgBurn also doesn’t offer all the functionality compared to the programs I’ve mentioned before, but looking at its name, who would expect that? Indeed, what it does excellently is burning wide variety of different CD/DVD disk image types (BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, ISO, MDS, NRG just to mention a few).

Actually, looking at the list of my requirements, ImgBurn just doesn’t have that friendly interface, doesn’t support multisession and can’t burn audio disk. Everything else works perfectly fine, though. And if you become familiar with the application you will find that it contains more advanced settings that any other burning software.

I definitely recommend this program especially when you deal with different types of CD or DVD images. But definitely as complement to some other burning software (I’m using InfraRecorder besides it currently). It’s completely free and also portable so go and get one.

Optical disk image handling programs

Special software category creates programs focused on work with disk image files. Namely virtual drives, which allows you to create illusional optical drive where you can mount a disk image and use it as it would be normal CD or DVD, and image file converters, used in case the burning software doesn’t support specific image format.

The easiest way to browse and use CD or DVD disk images without burning them on physical media is mounting them to virtual optical drives. A software providing this functionality can be MagicDisc or popular DAEMON Tools Lite.

When you find yourself stuck with DAA or UIF image files, you can try single-purpose converters DAA2ISO and UIF2ISO that convert those filetypes to standard ISO images which you can then burn or mount to virtual drive. You have to use them through command line but they both are easy to use and works great.

Last word

At the end it’s up to you which program you will choose to burn your CD and DVD disks and surely you will try other similar software and find similar software lists on internet, but believe me, you will end up with one of aforementioned burners when recording the pictures from New Year’s Eve party ;)

Start with – for many people mysterious – codecs. These coder-decoder programs take care about decoding (or encoding) all those different media file types out there. Codecs are fundamental to playback of your multimedia files. They are usually included with good multimedia player software (and more codecs a player has, the more different multimedia files it can handle) or it is possible to download them in a codec pack or separately.

So, if you’ve ever wondered why you can’t watch certain videos on your computer but your friend’s machine plays them perfectly, all the magic can be just in codecs your friend has installed. I recommend using codec packs as they will install all codecs you will ever need (but also the ones you will never use) and prevent you from searching the new specific codec each time you are unable to play back some multimedia file. I was using All In 1 and K-Lite Codec Pack which were very good but every now and then I needed to play some strange file format that these codecs couldn’t handle.

Rescue came with CCCP codec pack which is great piece of software. Since I got it, I haven’t had a problem with playback or creation of any multimedia file. I definitely recommend visiting CCCP (website) and download the codec pack! Also download QuickTime Alternative to play back QuickTime files (.mov, .3gp, …) without having to install the official Apple’s QuickTime Player.

But now, lets talk about players finally…

Audio player

AIMP player

Searching for the best audio player and not wanting to use resource hungry Winamp? AIMP player is for you. This little application is pure genius you can use for playback of audio files and CDs, ripping audio CDs (making .mp3 files (and other) from your CD collection), conversion between different audio formats, editing ID tags of MP3 files or recording from microphone.

AIMP audio player

Intuitive interface and keyboard control, 18-band equalizer, sound effects, support for different playlist formats, recording online radio, multilingual support, customizable skins, simple minimized version of the player… all that and for free!

You can’t go wrong with AIMP installed on you computer!

Video and DVD players

The KMPlayer

Video, DVD and audio player – that’s a short description of The KMPlayer (don’t confuse it with KMPlayer for Linux). Simply a complete multimedia player. If you don’t need advanced audio playback, this can be the only multimedia player you will use. I actually used it that way for some time, but as I need to play back my recorded material which is in better audio quality format than usual audio files, I left audio playback for AIMP and set up The KMPlayer to take care just about video files.

But for video playback I am using exclusively The KMPlayer as it handles everything I throw at it. There is no problem for the player with displaying subtitles, playing back damaged AVI videos, making screenshots from video, applying audio and video effects, changing playback speed, looping sections of videos, using remote or keyboard control, changing skin of the application and many others due to extensive possibility of configuration. And, of course, it supports a lot of different video and audio formats.

KMPlayer

Visit The KMPlayer’s homepage and download this amazing program.

Just to mention an alternative to The KMPlayer, you can use fantastic open-source cross-platform application called VLC media player which doesn’t look that nice out of the box, but you can always change it by applying different skins.

Miro

The last amazing multimedia player I’d like to tell you about is Miro. The difference here is that Miro is Internet television application and I doubt anybody uses it for standard multimedia playback as it is really huge (for multimedia player) and resource eater.

Miro offers large amount of video and audio RSS channels divided to different categories. You just simply find the channel you are interested in and subscribe to it. Miro will download new videos from the channel as soon as they are available. Don’t have to remember you need Internet connection, do I? The videos will be deleted from your computer after some time if you don’t choose otherwise.

Miro Internet television

Miro is completely free and can be installed also on Mac or Linux. Just grab it and try it out.

That’s all for today, next time we will have a look at free picture viewers and organizers.