Burning Discs
Open Burning Suite supports burning a wide variety of optical disc formats using native SCSI/MMC commands. This guide covers all burning features and options.
Supported Image Formats for Burning
| Format | Extension | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9660 | .iso |
Standard disc image format |
| BIN/CUE | .bin + .cue |
Raw sector image with CUE sheet |
| NRG | .nrg |
Nero disc image (auto-converted to BIN/CUE) |
| MDF/MDS | .mdf + .mds |
Alcohol 120% disc image (auto-converted to BIN/CUE) |
| IMG | .img |
Raw disc image (auto-converted to BIN/CUE) |
| CDI | .cdi |
DiscJuggler disc image (auto-converted to BIN/CUE) |
| CCD/IMG/SUB | .ccd + .img + .sub |
CloneCD disc image (auto-converted to BIN/CUE) |
Note: Other image formats (NRG, MDF/MDS, IMG, CDI, CCD) are automatically converted to BIN/CUE before burning. Conversion happens transparently — just select the image and burn.
Build on the Fly
Build on the fly lets you burn files and folders directly to disc without manually creating an image file first. Open Burning Suite builds a temporary ISO image from your selected content and burns it in a single operation.
How It Works
- In the Write / Burn Disc view, select the Build on the fly source mode.
- Choose your source content:
- Source Folder: Select a folder — all its files and subdirectories are included on the disc.
- Individual Files/Folders: Add specific files and/or folders from different locations. Drag and drop is supported.
- Set the Volume Label (disc name) and File System (ISO 9660, Joliet, UDF, etc.).
- Select your target drive, write speed, and burn options as usual.
- Click Burn — the image is built and burned automatically.
Supported File Systems for On-the-Fly Burning
| File System | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9660 + Joliet | Standard with Windows long filename support | General use (default) |
| ISO 9660 | Basic ECMA-119 (8.3 filenames) | Maximum compatibility |
| Joliet | Microsoft extension for long filenames and Unicode | Windows systems |
| UDF 1.02 | Universal Disc Format 1.02 | DVD-Video, large files |
| UDF 2.01 | Universal Disc Format 2.01 | DVD, large files (>4 GB) |
| UDF 2.50 | Universal Disc Format 2.50 | Blu-ray discs |
| ISO 9660 + UDF | Hybrid ISO/UDF bridge disc | Cross-platform compatibility |
| Rock Ridge | POSIX extensions (permissions, symlinks) | Linux/Unix systems |
Notes
- The temporary ISO image is created in the system temp directory and automatically cleaned up after burning (or on failure/cancellation).
- All burn options (verify, simulate, multi-copy, overburn, etc.) work with on-the-fly mode.
- For very large data sets, ensure sufficient free disk space for the temporary image.
- On-the-fly mode uses the same native ISO builder as the Build view — the same file system features and compliance guarantees apply.
Write Modes
Open Burning Suite supports multiple standard write modes:
TAO — Track At Once
- Writes one track at a time with gaps between tracks.
- Best for: Data discs, single-track audio CDs, incremental multi-session discs.
- Allows adding more sessions later (if disc is not closed).
SAO — Session At Once
- Writes an entire session in one pass without link blocks between tracks.
- Uses a CUE sheet to define the track layout for the session.
- Best for: Audio CDs (ensures gapless playback), multi-track discs, exact disc duplication.
- Multi-session IS possible: the session can be closed while leaving the disc appendable.
- CD media only. Both SAO and DAO use SCSI Write Type 0x02 (Mode Page 05h).
DAO — Disc At Once
- Writes the entire disc in one pass and always finalizes it.
- Uses a CUE sheet to define the track layout for the disc.
- Best for: Final disc copies, game disc preservation, discs that must be playable on all players.
- Multi-session is NOT possible — the disc is always closed and finalized.
- Supported on CD and DVD-R media. For DVD-R, uses Write Type 0x02 (DAO) in Mode Page 05h.
RAW Modes
Raw write modes send complete sector data including sync patterns, headers, and ECC/EDC to the drive. These are used for exact disc duplication where the application controls all sector formatting.
| Mode | Sector Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| RAW96R | 2448 bytes | Raw data with R-W subchannel (de-interleaved, 96 bytes) |
| RAW16 | 2368 bytes | Raw data with P-Q subchannel (16 bytes) |
| RAW96P | 2448 bytes | Raw data with P-W subchannel (interleaved, 96 bytes) |
- Best for: Exact 1:1 disc copies including subchannel data, copy-protected gaming discs.
- Requires drive support for raw writing.
Incremental (Packet Writing)
- Writes data in fixed-size packets with incremental track recording.
- Best for: Packet writing, UDF formatted discs, drag-and-drop disc usage.
- Data block type: Mode 1 (2048 bytes).
Burn Options
Basic Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Image Path | Path to the image file to burn | — (required) |
| CUE Path | Path to CUE sheet (for BIN/CUE images in SAO or DAO mode) | — (optional) |
| Device | Target optical drive | — (required) |
| Write Speed | Burn speed (Auto, or specific speed like 4x, 8x, 16x) | Auto |
| Copies | Number of copies to burn | 1 |
Advanced Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Simulate Only | Perform a test burn without actually writing to disc | Off |
| Buffer Underrun Protection | Prevent buffer underrun errors during writing | On |
| Verify After Burn | Read back and verify the disc after burning | Off |
| Eject After Burn | Eject disc after burning completes | On |
| Close Disc | Finalize the disc (prevent further writing) | On |
| Overburn | Allow writing beyond the rated disc capacity | Off |
| Overburn Size (MB) | Maximum overburn size in megabytes | — |
Multi-Session Options
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Close (Single Session) | Write a single session and close the disc |
| Start (Multi-session) | Write a session but leave the disc open for more sessions |
| Continue (Append) | Add a new session to an existing multi-session disc |
Blu-ray Specific Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| BD-R Mode | SRM (Sequential Recording), SRM+POW (Pseudo Overwrite), or RRM (Random Recording) |
| Layer Break Position | Sector position for the layer break on dual-layer media |
BD-R Recording Modes
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| SRM (Sequential Recording) | Standard sequential recording mode. Data is written sequentially from the beginning of the disc. |
| SRM+POW (Pseudo Overwrite) | Sequential recording with pseudo-overwrite capability. Allows limited random writes within the recorded area. |
| RRM (Random Recording) | Random recording mode. Requires pre-formatting the disc with FORMAT UNIT. Allows random-access writes to any sector. |
M-DISC (Millennial Disc) Options
M-DISC uses an inorganic stone-like recording layer for archival longevity (estimated 1,000+ years). Open Burning Suite automatically detects M-DISC media via the disc manufacturer identifier and applies the following optimizations:
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto-detection | M-DISC is detected automatically when inserted; the media type is displayed as “M-DISC DVD” or “M-DISC BD-R” |
| Speed clamping | Write speed is automatically clamped to the M-DISC maximum (4x for DVD, 6x for BD-R) to ensure reliable engraving |
| Overburn disabled | Overburning is automatically disabled for M-DISC — exceeding capacity risks damaging the archival layer |
| Verify recommendation | If “Verify After Burn” is not enabled, a recommendation is logged to enable it for archival integrity |
M-DISC Write Speed Limits
| Media Type | Maximum Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| M-DISC DVD | 4x | Higher speeds risk incomplete engraving |
| M-DISC BD-R | 6x | Lower speeds recommended for best results |
M-DISC Best Practices
- Always verify after burn. M-DISC is for permanent archival storage — verify every burn to ensure data integrity.
- Use the lowest practical speed. While M-DISC supports up to 4x (DVD) or 6x (BD-R), using 2x produces the most reliable engravings.
- Use an M-DISC-certified drive. While any drive can read M-DISC, only certified drives have the higher laser power needed for writing.
- Finalize the disc. Always close/finalize M-DISC after burning to maximize long-term readability across different drives.
Media Type Override
You can force a specific media type if automatic detection doesn’t work correctly. This is useful for unusual disc types or drives with limited detection capabilities.
Image Encryption
You can encrypt disc images before burning using AES-256-CBC with a password:
- Select a source image file in the Burn / Write view
- Enable the encryption option
- Enter and confirm a strong password
- The application creates a
.obse(Open Burning Suite Encrypted) file - Burn the encrypted image to disc
Encrypted images use PBKDF2 key derivation and include HMAC-SHA256 integrity verification. The original image file is not modified.
Image Decryption
Open Burning Suite can decrypt encrypted disc images before burning:
- OBS Encrypted Images (.obse) — Images encrypted with the built-in disc encryption feature (AES-256-CBC). You will be prompted to enter the decryption password when an encrypted image is selected.
- PS3 Encrypted ISOs — PlayStation 3 game ISOs can be decrypted before burning using one of three key sources: an IRD file (.ird), a disc key file (.dkey), or a 32-character hex disc key. The decryption panel appears automatically when a PS3 ISO is detected.
Multi-Copy Burning
When burning multiple copies, Open Burning Suite will:
- Burn the first copy
- Eject the disc
- Wait for you to insert a new blank disc
- Automatically detect the new disc and begin the next copy
- Repeat until all copies are complete
Simulation Mode
Simulation mode performs all the steps of a real burn — including laser calibration and data transfer — without actually writing to the disc. This is useful for:
- Testing your system before committing to a real burn
- Verifying data transfer speed can sustain the selected write speed
- Checking for potential errors in the image file or CUE sheet
Note: Not all drives and media combinations support simulation mode. The drive will report an error if simulation is not supported.
CUE Sheet Support
For multi-track audio CDs or mixed-mode discs, Open Burning Suite parses standard CUE sheets to determine:
- Track layout and ordering
- Audio vs. data track types
- Pre-gap and post-gap durations
- Index positions within tracks
When using SAO or DAO write mode with a BIN/CUE image, the CUE sheet is converted to an MMC-compliant CUE sheet and sent directly to the drive for precise track control.
Progress Tracking
During a burn operation, Open Burning Suite reports:
- Percent complete — Overall progress of the burn
- Current speed — Actual write speed (e.g., 8.0x)
- Bytes written — Amount of data written so far
- Elapsed time — Time since burn started
- Remaining time — Estimated time to completion
- Status messages — Detailed log of the burn process
Tips & Best Practices
-
Use lower speeds for audio CDs. A speed of 4x or 8x typically produces better audio quality than maximum speed.
-
Always verify critical burns. Enable “Verify After Burn” for important data to ensure the disc is readable.
-
Use DAO for exact copies. Disc At Once mode produces the most accurate copy of the original disc.
-
Test with simulation first. If you’re unsure about your configuration, use simulation mode to test without wasting a disc.
-
Close the disc when finished. Unless you specifically need multi-session support, close the disc to ensure maximum compatibility.
-
Enable buffer underrun protection. This prevents failed burns caused by data transfer interruptions.
Next: Reading Discs →