CD Text is a extension of the existing audio CD standard (“Red Book”) that adds the ability to store text and graphical information like album titles, artist names, and song titles on a music CD.
What sets this apart from ID3 tags is that the information is stored within the disc and it doesn’t pull information from the internet. The data can be read by some CD players, providing a way to have disc information available without having to enter it manually or look it up in a database. CD-text is perfect for car stereos, home stereos and DVD players.
Not all CD players and CD-ROM drives can read CD-Text. If this feature is important to you, check the specifications before you buy. Some programs, notably Windows Media Player, claim to read CD-Text but will actually use an Internet database instead.
Some burning software such as Toast and computer CD burners support the writing of CD-Text info, so it is best to investigate whether the option is available on your setup. CD-Text cannot be added to the disc after it has been replicated. Along the same lines, most but not all replication and duplication equipment support this technology.
For more information, visit this site: http://web.ncf.ca/aa571/cdtext.htm
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD/vinyl and merch company in LA.
