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CD-R burnout

As an old fart about ready for retirement, this little ditty appeared in the latest AARP magazine, dated March 2006:
"Popular CD-R and CD-RW discs used to "burn" digital photographs, videos, and songs for the long haul seem to have a crucial short-coming, says an IBM information storage expert: The discs, unlike pressed compact discs used for professionally produced music and video recordings, typically last only two to five years.

Physicist Kurt Gerecke says heat can degrade the recording surface of burned CD's, which makes the stored data "unreadable" by laser beams. His advice: Store photos and other keepsake data on magnetic tape, which can last 30 years. Or they can be archived on a computer hard drive with a high-quality disk bearing and a disk with 7,200 revolutions per minute"

What think you, Audiogonners', about this news?
sid42
usblues
1,217 posts
 
I must have 200 cassettes from 83-84,recorded off the radio and albums,been stored in garages since then off and on.The highs are a little muted,but sound fine.CD's since 90-something,recorded off the cassettes and originals and their just fine.Don't think they'll quit working tomorrow.Soon I'll get into the computer for another medium,whats next?We'll get there too.Dont really need a weatherman to know which way the winds blowing here in the land of milk and honey,bottoms up,its KP day!Bob
lvk47
94 posts
 
some discs have a 2 yr life span and others a 10 yr. Most discs made in japan [ mitsui, ty] have 10 yr.
download cdr identifer and it will tell you where and by whom your disc was made. It will also tell you if its long/short term.
rcziech
47 posts
 
I have had a few cdr's that started to be noisy/static after a few years ---- maybe it was a bad batch of blank cdr's , but after this, i wouldn't trust that all cdr's will last long term ........

On anything i may want to listen to in future years, i do not get rid of the pressed originals .......
sid42 OP
302 posts
 
Your responses are all great. I personally have not had any problem with my discs; I just thought you guys might get a kick out of the drivel that seems to be floating around out there. As usual, time will tell. As for me, my hearing will probably go before the discs do!!!!!!!
Thanks to all of you.
Alan
ketchup
700 posts
 
The blank discs are not cheap, and most consumer stores do not carry them, but they can be found online and from several pro-audio supply houses.

Taiyo Yuden discs can be found in many stores. As long as the spindle says made in Japan you've found TYs.
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