Chapter 24. Brasero: Burning CDs and DVDs

Contents

24.1. Creating a Data CD or DVD
24.2. Creating an Audio CD
24.3. Copying a CD or DVD
24.4. Writing ISO Images
24.5. Creating a Multisession CD or DVD
24.6. For More Information

Abstract

Brasero is a GNOME program for writing data and audio CDs and DVDs. Start the program from the main menu or by pressing Ctrl+F2 and entering the command brasero. The following sections brief you on how to start a basic burning process to get your first Linux-made CD or DVD.

24.1. Creating a Data CD or DVD

After starting Brasero for the first time, the main window appears as shown in Figure 24.1.

Figure 24.1. Main View of Brasero

Main View of Brasero

To create a data CD or DVD, proceed as follows:

  1. Click Data project or select Project+New Project+New Data Project from the main menu. The project view appears.

  2. Drag and drop the desired directories or individual files either from your file manager or by clicking Add. To show your directory structure directly in Brasero, select View+Show Side Panel or press F7.

  3. Optionally, save the project under a name of your choice with Project+Save As....

  4. Name your medium. The original label is Data disc (date).

  5. Choose the output medium from the pull down menu next to the Burn... button (CD/DVD or in an ISO image file).

  6. Click Burn.... A new dialog box appears, depending on what medium you have selected in the previous step:

    • CD/DVD.  You can define some parameters, like the burning speed or where to store temporary files. Under Options you can also choose whether to burn the image directly, close the session, verify the written data, and others.

    • ISO Image.  Specify a filename for your ISO image file.

  7. Start the process with Burn.

24.2. Creating an Audio CD

Basically, there are no significant differences between creating an audio CD and creating a data CD. Proceed as follows:

  1. Select Project+New Project+New Audio Project.

  2. Drag and drop the individual audio tracks to the project folder. The audio data must be in WAV or Ogg Vorbis format. Determine the sequence of the tracks by moving them up or down in the project folder.

  3. Click Burn to open the Disc burning setup dialog box.

  4. Specify a drive to write to.

  5. Click Properties to adjust burning speed and other preferences. When burning audio CDs, choose a lower burning speed to reduce the risk of burning errors.

  6. Click Burn.

24.3. Copying a CD or DVD

To copy a CD or DVD, proceed as follows:

  1. Click Disc Copy or go to Project+New Project+Copy Disc.... The CD/DVD copy options dialog box opens.

  2. Specify the source drive you want to copy.

  3. Specify a drive or image file to write to.

  4. If necessary, change the burning speed, the temporary directory and other options in Properties.

  5. Click Copy.

24.4. Writing ISO Images

If you already have an ISO image, click Burn image or go to Project+New Project+Burn Image.... Choose the medium and writer and, if necessary, change parameters by clicking Properties. Choose the location of the image file with the popup menu labeled Path. Start the burning process and click Burn.

24.5. Creating a Multisession CD or DVD

Multisession discs can be used to write data in more than one burning session. This is useful, for example, for writing backups that are smaller than the media. In each session, you can add another backup file. One note of interest is that you are not only limited to data CDs or DVDs. You can also add audio sessions in a multisession disc.

To start a new multisession disc, do the following:

  1. Start with a data disc first as described in Section 24.1, “Creating a Data CD or DVD”. You cannot start with an audio CD session. Make sure that you do not fill up the entire disc, because otherwise you cannot append a new session.

  2. Click Burn. The Disc Burning Setup opens.

  3. Select Leave the disc open to add other files later to make the disc multisession capable. Configure other options if needed.

  4. Start the burning session with Burn.

24.6. For More Information

You can find more information about Brasero at http://www.gnome.org/projects/brasero/.