Off-Topic: CDR Temperature Tolerance

A lot of us on the list produce our music on CDRs, so perhaps you folks
might know: What are CDRs' tolerance to temperature compared to
traditional CDs? Are there risks in storing them on car seats exposed to
the bright sun? Relatedly, can you put them in a fire safe for paper, or
do they need to go into a fire safe for magnetic media?

Gary Morrison wrote:

> From: Gary Morrison <mr88cet@texas.net>
>
> A lot of us on the list produce our music on CDRs, so perhaps you folks
> might know: What are CDRs' tolerance to temperature compared to
> traditional CDs? Are there risks in storing them on car seats exposed to
> the bright sun?

I wouldn't try it...even with a regular cd!

> Relatedly, can you put them in a fire safe for paper, or
> do they need to go into a fire safe for magnetic media?

Like magnetic media, CD-Rs are made of plastic. Melt???

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Gary Morrison wrote:
> A lot of us on the list produce our music on CDRs, so perhaps you folks
> might know: What are CDRs' tolerance to temperature compared to
> traditional CDs? Are there risks in storing them on car seats exposed to
> the bright sun? Relatedly, can you put them in a fire safe for paper, or
> do they need to go into a fire safe for magnetic media?

CDs are not magnetic media. "Regular" CDs store the data as
pits stamped into aluminum, while CD-Rs use dark spots
"burned" into a *photo-reactive* ink by a laser. You need
not worry about magnetic fields with either type. But fire
safe, shmiresafe, says I; back the sucker up. Stick your
CD-R in your CD-ROM drive, copy the data to your hard disk,
back it up to some other medium, and store it "off-site." CD
data is computer data whether it's music or otherwise; and
"data that is only in one place does not exist"! (See
mp3.com for a list of good freeware audio CD "rippers.")

For CD-Rs the issue is not temperature, but light itself.
Exposing the *playing side* of one to the direct light of
the sun for more than a few minutes usually ruins it. This
effect is cumulative: leaving it laying face up on a desk
once in a while would degrade it over a period of months or
years. If stored in a jewel case with the paper inserts in
place, it should be able to withstand the *heat* of the sun
from time to time without significant degradation. Heat is
somewhat lower in frequency than the red light used to burn
and read CDs. Still, I'd be loath to chance it with my only
copy of something I value. (Blanks are under 2 bucks, so if
you have access to a burner and the data is safely backed
up, who cares?)

Of course, temperatures on car seats can reach over 150
degrees F. in the summer; it's conceivable that a CD could
warp in those conditions, which would ruin either kind.
Otherwise, sunlight will not have any effect on "regular"
CDs.

David J. Finnamore
http://members.xoom.com/dfinn