cdrdao

Read a CD and write its contents to a file

$ cdrdao read-cd --device [/dev/cdrom] --read-raw [image.toc]

cdrdao [global-options] command [command-options command-args]

-v #, --verbose #
    Set verbosity level (0=silent, 5=debug)

-V, --version
    Print version and exit

-d NAME, --device NAME
    SCSI device name (e.g., /dev/sg0)

-D ID[:speed[:options]], --driver ID[:speed[:options]]
    Driver ID (0=auto-detect), optional speed/options

--speed SPEED
    Burning speed (e.g., 8x)

--capacity
    Print disc capacity in blocks

--scanbus
    Scan for SCSI bus devices

-n, --no-eject
    Do not eject disc after operation

-e, --eject
    Eject disc after operation

--lock
    Lock/unlock drive tray

--driver-help
    Print driver help

--read-toc-retries #
    Retries for TOC read (default 3)

--read-subchan-method #
    Subchannel read method (0=cooked, 1=raw)

--multi
    Allow multisession

--msinfo
    Print multisession info

--buffer
    I/O buffer size in KB

--keepdata
    Keep data files after write

cdrdao is a command-line utility for writing CD-R and CD-RW discs on Linux/Unix systems, specializing in disc-at-once (DAO) mode. This mode burns the entire disc in one continuous operation, preserving precise track layouts, gaps (PQ subcodes), hidden tracks, CD-Text, ISRC codes, and subchannel data—essential for bit-perfect audio CD duplicates.

Key features include reading table-of-contents (TOC) from discs or files, cloning full discs, simulating burns without writing, blanking rewritables, retrieving audio tracks, and supporting multisession extensions. It uses a custom TOC format (text-based or binary) for describing disc structure, compatible with .cue/.bin files via conversion.

Unlike track-at-once tools like older cdrecord, cdrdao excels at overburning, exact copies, and advanced audio mastering. It interfaces via SCSI/ATAPI drivers, requiring kernel support like ide-scsi or sg. Widely used for backups, custom mixes, and archival in the CD era, though less common today with optical media decline.

Requires SCSI/ATAPI passthrough (e.g., ide-scsi module); may not work on modern USB drives without sr_mod. Overburning risky; test with simulate. Deprecated for DVDs/Blu-ray.

read-toc [file]: Read TOC from disc.
write toc-file: Burn TOC.
simulate toc-file: Dry-run burn.
clone: Full disc copy.
blank: Blank RW disc.
status: Drive/disc status.

Text TOC files use CDDA tracks: TRACK AUDIOFILE.TOC /INDEX 01 00:00:00. Supports MODE1/2, PAUSE, PREGAP, CATALOG.

Developed by Andreas Mueller in late 1990s as free DAO burner for Linux. First release ~1999; version 1.2.5 (2015) latest stable. Gained popularity pre-dvd era for audio CD cloning; now legacy but maintained in distros.

wodim(1), cdrecord(1), growisofs(1), cdparanoia(1), readom(1)