jhcliff

Q: Burning multiple copies of a data CD?

I need to burn multiple copies of a data CD (50).  Dragging to a burn folder each time is tedious... is there a way I can enter the number of CDs to burn and then mindlessly feed blank CDs into the (external) burner?

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2010)

Posted on Aug 13, 2013 3:45 PM

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Q: Burning multiple copies of a data CD?

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  • by MartinR,

    MartinR MartinR Aug 14, 2013 6:48 AM in response to jhcliff
    Level 6 (14,891 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 6:48 AM in response to jhcliff

    Well, not quite mindlessly ....

     

    A bit easier process would be to use Disk Utility to create a DVD/CD Master image of the folder you want to burn to CD.  Then use Disk Utility to repeatedly burn the CDs.  But you will still have to initiate each burn; there's no batch function and of course you have to manually feed the blank CDs into your iMac.

     

    In Disk Utility, do File > New > Disk Image from Folder.   Select the folder you want to image, then select Image Format = DVD/CD Master.   This will give you a .cdr file.   Then, still in Disk Utility,, select the .cdr file from the list of disks and click the Burn button.

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Aug 14, 2013 7:41 AM in response to jhcliff
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 7:41 AM in response to jhcliff

    Good advice from MartinR to which I would just add that you should alow your superdrive to rest after every, say, 5 burns, to prevent over-heating.

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Aug 14, 2013 7:49 AM in response to jhcliff
    Level 7 (25,782 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 7:49 AM in response to jhcliff

    Another option is to create a Automator workflow.

     

    In the Utilities section of the actions is Burn a Disk which  takes the files and/or folders passed in and burns them to disk and ejects the disk after it is done. So you could set up a loop to burn the required number of disks. Of course you still need to remove the old disk and insert the new one so it's difficult to say if this is any better then the solution given by MartinR.

     

    Matter of preference I suppose.

     

    regards

  • by jhcliff,

    jhcliff jhcliff Aug 14, 2013 10:23 AM in response to MartinR
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 10:23 AM in response to MartinR

    Yes, I used this method last time, but it was still a tedious process.  I am using an external drive, in order to save my superdrive, and for some reason disk utility reverts to the default after every burn, so I have to reselect it every time, in addition to initiating every burn... does anyone know if any of the third party CD burning software available will automate the process any more than this?

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Aug 14, 2013 11:01 AM in response to jhcliff
    Level 7 (25,782 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 11:01 AM in response to jhcliff

    Automator and/or Applescript

  • by jhcliff,

    jhcliff jhcliff Aug 14, 2013 2:24 PM in response to Frank Caggiano
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 2:24 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

    I've never used Automator, I'll give it a try-thanks.

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Aug 14, 2013 3:00 PM in response to jhcliff
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 3:00 PM in response to jhcliff

    does anyone know if any of the third party CD burning software available will automate the process any more than this?

    Struggling to see how Automator or AppleScript enters the equation. I always use Roxio Toast to burn DVDs, whether single copies or multiple burns:

     

    http://www.roxio.com/eng/products/toast/titanium/overview.html

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Aug 14, 2013 3:31 PM in response to Klaus1
    Level 7 (25,782 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 3:31 PM in response to Klaus1
    Struggling to see how Automator or AppleScript enters the equation

     

    A script would automate the process.

     

    Start script, prompt for DVD, burn DVD, eject DVD, prompt for DVD, burn DVD, eject DVD, etc.

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Aug 14, 2013 3:34 PM in response to Frank Caggiano
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 3:34 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

    That is exactly what Toast does.

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Aug 14, 2013 3:36 PM in response to Klaus1
    Level 7 (25,782 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 3:36 PM in response to Klaus1

    Right but the Automator script is free.

  • by dcinpa,

    dcinpa dcinpa Jul 3, 2016 4:26 PM in response to MartinR
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 3, 2016 4:26 PM in response to MartinR

    Martin,

    Thanks for this technique.  It worked great for me.

    Since I'm new to the Mac, I was curious why Apple can't use ISO like the rest of the world!  :-)

    Thanks again,

    Doug