BurnAware Free Edition is a free CD/DVD burning software with a small footrprint that can write to a wide range of CD/DVD media types including Blu-Ray; write Audio CDs and DVD-Video files.
Aside from writing/verifying data CDs it can also create audio CDs from music files and burn data and video DVDs as well as burn ISO disk images. BurnAware free edition s
If you need a simple free program that can perform most of your CD/DVD burning needs check out this program.
It combines a nice range of features with a simple interface and is generally light on system resources. Here are the reasons why you would want to use this software:
- Very nice interface: simple and straightforward and generally has a very nice look and feel. Runs in the system tray for quick access.
- Lightweight: very small footptint, less than 8 megs memory usage when running. Does not require .NET Framework as some other freeware CD burners do.
- Formats supported: all CD/DVD media types, including Blue-Ray; write Audio CDs and DVD-Video files. I am assuming this includes double density DVDs as well.
- Writes data CDs/DVDs: verifies written data, supports writing simulation, supports multisession (i.e. adding files to a burned disc later on), can erase re-writable media.
- Disk-image support: burns ISOs and can save your project as ISO; however it does not create ISOs from existing CDs/DVDs.
- Creates audio CDs: from your audio files. Supports MP3, WAV, and WMV audio files.
Here are reasons why this software might NOT be the one for you. Note that while BurnAware lacks the features listed below, adding them would likely have made a lightweight app more complex and/or top heavy. If you are looking the features below check out the free CDBurnerXP or InfraRecorder.
- Lacks on-the-fly disk copying for data/audio/DVD disks.
- No support for ISO creation from an exising CD/DVD. Burns only ISO burning and not other disk image formats. Does not convert disk image formats (as CDBurnerXP mentioned above does).
- No context-menu integration, no floating “drop zone” or other desktop based interface.
- No UDF support in the free version. This means that your burned DVDs might not work with many standalone DVD playing machines.
- Not sure if it supports overburning. Could not find any documentation on this.
- No support for bootable media in the free version.
Differences between the free and paid versions: a number of the above features are provided in the paid version.
The verdict: if your CD/DVD burning needs are straightforward then you will like the simplicity of this program. It goes a step or so further that the overwhelming majority of free DVD burning software by supporting ISO burning, but in my opinion should have allowed for on-the-fly disk copying to make it stand out from the crowd. Still this program has some appeal given that it is lightweight and simple to use. Try it for yourself.
Version Tested: 1.2 Beta
Compatibility: Windows 98/NT/2000/XP and Vista (32 and 64 bit).
Go to this page to get the free version (approx 4.4 megs). Also visit the program home page.
