14 DAY TRIAL // When it comes to simple disc burning solutions, the leaders of the category prove to be overqualified for jobs like creating a data CD/DVD. Roxio and Nero's capabilities of handling disc writing are incontestable; Ashampoo's solution also comes strong from behind, the latest freeware version proving to be mighty appealing to users. There is no doubt that there are plenty of options to choose from on the market and they all depend on the money you're willing to shell out.
BurnAware Home presents itself as a neat alternative to all of the above, supplying the users with all the gear required for basic burn tasks involving CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs. The solution comes with a $29.95 price tag and a 10-day trial version, which is more than enough for you to form an opinion on the capabilities of the software.
The phrase "ease of use" defines the application perfectly, as the modular interface provides all the basic functions of a disc burning utility. Each media supported has its own separate menu in main application window, and the options available include creating data discs, audio CDs and bootable media, as well as save the information from the media in ISO image format.
CD menu provides the necessary options for creating data discs, bootable media, Audio CD, burn disc image or create an image from inserted disc. The set of tools available let you view media info, copy the disc to a location on your computer, or erase RW media.
There are no settings to define the burn speed, burn a multisession disc or choose the file system to be used, but these details are made available the moment you create a compilation. Compilation menu of the new window will give you access to general preferences such as disc ejecting after burn process is complete, or enabling the menu for setting the burn speed before starting writing. Here's where you can set the default disc name and configure loading the last burnt session whenever launching the window.
Compilation properties is the core of the program, as this is where users get to customize the way the files are written to disc. You can enable buffer underrun protection, leave the session open for further writing on the media, simulate the process, as well as the verification of the data on the disc after the burn process completes. You can also choose the file system (UDF, UDF/ISO or ISO), labels and dates.
A very useful detail needs to be mentioned: you can burn data on various sized CDs with capacities ranging from the lowest, the 650MB one, to 900MB. Choosing the one you need can be done from the lower right corner of the screen.
After all the settings are complete, all there is left to do is press the big red button in the top right hand corner of compilation window. If you have set the burn speed to be configured right before the process starts, the corresponding window will pop up and, as soon as the setting is made, the operation will begin.
During burning, the user benefits from general progress details (progress bar), as well as from more specific ones showing the amount of data already written and the total size of the compilation, time elapsed and estimation of the remaining time. Info on the file currently burned is also provided, as well as the average write speed.
Preferences of Audio CD creation window differ from the ones mentioned above and are reduced to enabling buffer underrun protection, setting no pause between the track and adding the CD text details. Other than this, everything is almost exactly as when creating a data CD. Sure, in this case, only audio files can be added to the compilation and it seems that the application is reticent to creating audio CDs from WMA files. Other than this, it's smoothly sailing with OGG, WAV or MP3 formats.
The alternative for putting them to disc is either through data CD or via Jukebox CD creation, which is specially designed to include MP3 and WMA files on it. The resulting media can be played on any PC or CD/DVD player supporting the two formats.
The option for erasing the disc is exactly the same regardless if the process deals with a DVD, a CD or a Blu-ray disc. It comes with full options providing both quick erase and full format of the disc. All along the operation, you are given the elapsed time.
DVD area is pretty much the same, only the options are a bit different, but are accessible from the same Compilation menu. Users can create a bootable DVD, a DVD Video or a Jukebox DVD. As for Disc Images sections, these are the same: burn an image, create one from inserted disc or a bootable DVD image.
Last on the menu are the Blu-ray options. Unfortunately, we could not make any tests due to the lack of a proper optical unit, but BurnAware Home allows you to put your data on a BD, make a jukebox compilation, create images and burn them, as well as erase the disc.
If you have doubts on any of the options available in the software, hovering your mouse over an alternative will cause a brief description to be displayed at the bottom of the screen and shed some light on the matter.
The application did great during our testing and we worked well with the modular interface as multiple modules could be opened, and if you have multiple writers on the system you can use them for different jobs (of course, the success rate is also given by the computer resources available).
The Good
The application can deal with CDs, DVDs and even Blu-ray discs. It does a fine job and provides all the essential features required. The modular architecture allows you the use of multiple units for different jobs.
It supports both erase tasks (quick and full); naturally, the fact that it can create images from data on the disc is only adding to its value.
The Bad
The only downfalls of the application are the price and the fact that it cannot create Audio CDs from WMA files.
The Truth
BurnAware Home is a comfortable solution for burning discs nice and easy, but it comes with a major restriction: $29.95. Considering that there are plenty of free burners out there, the price is a nasty obstacle.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
