Commercial burning software -- Ashampoo Burning Studio 6.

I have a copy of Ashampoo Burning Studio 4 on my computer, it came free, on a magazine cover CD and I have found it to be very good and use it quite a lot, so I thought that I would test the latest version, Burning Studio 6.
The trial version works for ten days, but you can register for a free key, which extends the trial to thirty days.
For a commercial program, the download size is a reasonable 9.36Mb, installation is straightforward, although it is a good idea to create a restore point beforehand, just to be safe.

Burning Studio 6 supports all the commonly used CD and DVD formats, including the new Blu-ray DVD discs.
The program can burn single and multi-session data discs, a variety of audio discs, non-copy protected video discs and disc images, it can also perform data backups, to drive, or disc.

The most noticeable feature of the program, is the integrated feel of the program and the excellent menu system. The options available, are kept simple and even a novice should find the program easy to use. The program is very intuitive to use and the excellent help is hardly needed.

The standard data and audio burning functions are simple, just select your files from a list, or drag and drop them into the program window.
The backup feature is slightly different, you tick items you wish to backup, it is possible to set exclusion rules, but there is no incremental, or differential backup feature, which limits the usefulness of the backup system.
You can save a backup, data, or audio file list, as a project, for future burning tasks.

You can rip music tracks from a CD and automatically download track information from the internet. But you can only rip the files as wma, or wav files, which is disappointing.

As with all commercial burning software, video DVD copying, is limited to unprotected discs, so although there are quite a few creation and copying options available, generally they can only be used with your home videos.

Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 is a good looking and very easy to use program, it seems to be reliable (You should test this, as systems differ and all burning software can be finicky.) and the range of features should meet the average users needs.
However the program features can be matched and even exceeded, by some free programs and if you are keen on ripping CD tracks, the lack of MP3 support is limiting.
But the program would be a good purchase for the user who appreciates a well finished, easy to use program, that doesn't display obscure and poorly documented options.

Commercial $29 -- 30 day trial 9.36Mb -- Win 98, Me, 2000, XP

Note: Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 is provided free of charge to schools.

http://www.ashampoo.com

Rob Goldfish Web Site

Copyright 2005 Rob Goldfish.