What is CD Text?

Posted on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 8:21am

Burning CDs has been a staple of the music industry since the 1990s. But while the audio tracks that get imprinted onto the compact disc are essential, they hardly stop there. There is another layer of data that can be added to the CD should the burner choose to select it. We’re talking, of course, about CD text. 

But what is cd text exactly, you’re probably wondering. Moreover, should you enable CD text on the discs you write? We’re going to unpack all the details about this often-overlooked data layer. This way, you can decide for yourself if CD-text is a worthy addition to your next disc write. 

CD Text Meaning 

When we use the term “CD text,” we’re not talking about the design on the non-readable side of your CD. Instead, we are describing an additional information layer that sits alongside the audio media. This is optional metadata on the readable side of the CD. 

 CD-Text, as you might imagine, is an extension of the official Red Book Compact Disc specifications guidance. 

 Within this data layer, one can add metadata that can be seen by the owner of the CD during playback. 

Where is the CD Text Stored?

CD-Text is stored on the subchannels R to W on the compact disc’s readable side. They can either appear on the lead-in area of the disc or in the main program area. The former offers about 5 kilobytes of storage space, while the latter offers about 31 megabytes of storage space. 

 It bears mentioning that the main program area is where a CD’s audio tracks reside. As such, any burned CD-text data stored here can shrink the usable space for a CD’s main content. 

What Can Be Included in the CD Text File?

When you burn the CD, the text file can include countless data elements. These include: 

  • Album or CD titles 
  • Artist names 
  • Song track titles 
  • Track numbers 
  • And more 

​How is CD-Text Accessed? 

When playing audio CDs on a compatible device, the CD text information will be displayed. This could be on an LCD in a car CD player or home stereo. Or it could be the playback information in a computer music application like iTunes or Windows Media Player. 

However, not every audio playback device supports CD text information during a CD track’s playback.

How to Burn an Audio CD with CD-Text 

Now that you know what CD text is, we can get to the bottom of how to add CD text to the audio CD the next time you write. 

While every audio writing and ripping software has its quirks, the process is generally the same each time. You will need to locate the metadata tab in your CD-burning software. This way, you can ensure it is enabled, checked, etc. 

Next, you will manually input all of your metadata line by line. Unfortunately, adding CD text to an audio CD is a manual process. Some audio ripping software offers individual fields for artist, track, etc. 

While more data is always better, it stands to reason that the track name and artist name fields are likely the most important. 

With CD-text enabled and your data added, you’re ready to rip. 

Once your CD is written, we recommend playing it on a compatible device. This will ensure your data was added correctly and everything displays as you like it. 

With the right CD writing and the right physical media, your listeners’ experience can be made truly professional. At Blank Media Printing, we offer the bulk blank media solutions that serious artists like you need. Order today.  

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