cdrdao

Read a CD and write its contents to a file

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

cdrdao write --device

--device
    Specifies the CD-R/RW device to use. The device string is typically in the format '/dev/sr0' or similar. Use cdrdao scanbus to find available devices.


    Specifies the Table of Contents (TOC) file that describes the structure of the audio CD. This file contains information about track layout, pre-gaps, and CD-TEXT data.

write
    Main command. Starts the writing process of the CD.

scanbus
    Lists available CD-R/RW devices on the system.

--driver
    Specifies a specific driver to use for the CD-R/RW drive. Useful if automatic driver selection fails.

--speed
    Sets the writing speed of the CD-R/RW drive. Value is usually given in multiples of 150KB/s (e.g. 16 for 16x speed).

--overburn
    Allows writing beyond the rated capacity of the CD-R/RW disc. Use with caution.

--dummy
    Performs a dry-run without actually writing to the CD-R/RW disc. Useful for testing the configuration.

cdrdao is a command-line tool for recording audio CD images from a variety of input formats to CD-R/RW media.
It supports DAO (Disc-At-Once) writing, which is crucial for creating gapless audio CDs.
Cdrdao reads a Table of Contents (TOC) file which describes the structure of the CD, including track start and end positions, pre-gap lengths, and CD-TEXT information. The TOC file usually has a .toc extension.
It supports various audio file formats, including WAV, FLAC, and MP3, and it also can read data from existing CDs to create an image file.
Cdrdao is especially useful for creating perfect copies of audio CDs, as it preserves the original timing and gap information.
Besides audio CDs it can be used to write data discs from ISO images.

Cdrdao requires root privileges to access the CD-R/RW device. Incorrect settings, especially with --overburn, can damage the CD-R/RW drive or result in unusable discs. Creating .toc files requires a good understanding of audio CD structure.

The TOC file is a text-based file that describes the CD layout. It includes track numbers, start times, lengths, and pre-gap information.
Understanding the TOC format is crucial for creating custom CD images. Check the cdrdao man pages for detailed TOC format specifications.

When errors occur during writing, cdrdao provides detailed error messages that can help diagnose the problem. Check the log output for specific error codes and messages related to the CD-R/RW drive or the data being written.

Cdrdao was developed to provide accurate CD recording, especially for audio CDs where preserving gaps and timing is crucial.
It has been a widely used tool in the Linux community for many years, known for its accuracy and ability to produce high-quality audio CD copies.
Originally command line only, graphical frontends have been developed to simplify usage.

cdrecord(1), mkisofs(1)