Block Error Rate. This is the raw digital error rate

before any type of error correction.

CD

This the Compact Disc, a digital medium that's formed

of a 12cm polycarbonate substrate, a reflective

metalized layer, and a protective lacquer coating.

CD-R

Compact Disc-Recordable. The term CD-R is used to

describe the technology of recordable CD along with

the equipment, software, and media that are used to

make the recordable disks.

Data layer

With CD-R media, this is the organic dye that is

sandwiched between the polycarbonate substrate and

the metalized reflective layer of the media. CD-R

disks don't have any data on them at all until the

are recorded.

Injection Molding

This is a manufacturing method where the molten

material is forced into a mold, normally under

high pressure, then cooled so that the material

will take on the shape of a mirror image in the

mold.

Media or blanks

CD-R media are the disks that are used to record

digital information using a special recorder and

premastering software with a computer. These discs

are made of a polycarbonate substrate, a layer of

organic dye, a metalized reflective layer, and a

coating of lacquer for protection.

Organic dye

The data layer of CD-R media is made from a dye

that is melted during the process of recording.

Where the dye is melted, becomes opaque or

refractive, scattering the reading laser so that

it isn't reflected back into the reading sensors.

Reflective layer

This is the metal later that sits on top of the

dye that reflects the laser beam back to the

reading assembly. This is normally 24k gold in

CD-R disks, although it can be silver as well.