A new version of Roxio's Easy Media Creator

Sometimes you have to eat your words ... and now it's my turn.

I have never been a big fan of Roxio's Easy-CD Creator, because, truthfully, it was never "easy." But the new version of the product, Easy Media Creator 7.5 ($99.95), is packed with all the tools you need to record CDs and DVDs plus a few you never knew you needed.

Basically, the package is made up of several programs and disc creation tools developed by Roxio and the company's new owner Sonic Solutions. These include: Backup MyPC Deluxe 6, MyDVD Slideshow 6, LP and Tape Assistant, Audio Capture, Sound Editor, CinePlayer 2, Disc Image Loader, DivX-to-DVD Creator, DVD Info Pro, Label Creator, support for the Media Center PC PVR format, and of course, Disc Copier.

The big difference here is the bevy of DVD recording utilities, which are, unfortunately, not found in other CD copying packages (although Ahead Software's Nero 6 Suite does have a few similar capabilities). Plus the new Disc Copier transfers your data to CDs and DVDs 30 percent faster than older versions of the software.

Here are a few key features:

Backup MyPC allows you to protect your data with a password; you can choose full, partial, incremental, differential or scheduled backups; systems can be restored in one step without reinstalling Windows; you can backup data to CD, DVD, DVD+R9 DL discs, tape devices, network devices or to an external hard drive; and data is automatically verified.
My DVD Slideshow allows you to quickly import images from a digital camera; edit a completed DVD at a later time; and offers an easy-to-use intuitive interface to create your presentation.
The LP and Tape Assistant can be used to enhance, capture and refine analog audio tracks from any device connected to your sound card; will automatically define individual tracks; and eliminates pops, hisses and other annoyances for transfer of the tracks to a CD.
The Audio Capture utility allows you to "capture" audio files, including those from Internet radio broadcasts. A Sound Editor then defines the tracks, allows you to add sound effects or create audio mixes; you can add tracks from another source (a CD or other audio files), or transfer the tracks to a single or multiple CDs.
Disc Image Loader is actually a virtual disc and allows you to emulate as many as 23 drives simultaneously. This allows you to make a virtual image of your favorite game or other software so you won't have to fumble around to find "Disc 1" to gain access. But be aware that some software manufacturers have added utilities on their discs to detect virtual drives and won't allow you to install their products.
The DivX-to-DVD Creator is the most unique of all the tools in this package. It allows you to convert DivX files into a VideoTS folder so you can play them using a standard DVD player. All you need to do is copy the files to the folder using the software's Disc Copier utility. It will also allow you to record to the new 8 gigabyte dual-layer DVDs or will compress the media to fit on one standard DVD.
CinePlayer 2 allows you to watch DVD and VCD movies or discs created with OpenDVD (or MyDVD Slideshow, which is OpenDVD compatible).
DVDInfo Pro gives you complete information on your DVD or CD drive and the media you're using.
The Disc Copier allows you to make one-to-one copies of discs.
Finally, it supports LightScribe disc labeling technology, which allows you to burn a silkscreen label directly onto the disc.

Obviously this product has come a long way from its humble beginnings as Easy-CD Creator, when it hardly had any competition, proving, once again, that competition is a good thing, forcing software manufacturers to strive to create something bigger and better.

More information on Easy media Creator can be found at www.roxio.com.

To comment on this article, contact me here.