Roxio Toast With Jam

There are several CD-creation programs available for PC owners, but the Mac side of the CD software market has long been dominateed by one application. The oddly named Toast succeeded because it had what all Mac owners want - an easy-to-use interface.

But features count too, and Toast's many fans have long had a list of improvements they wanted to see implemented in the program.

The first thing developer Roxio had to do was to make sure the program was compatible with Apple's new OS X operating system, and also with iTunes, the MP3 player included as part of the Mac operating system. There have been compatibility problems ever since Apple introduced OS X, but thankfully Toast runs happily under both OS X and the 'classic' Mac operating system.

The same applies to Jam, the advanced mastering program included in this bundle.

Other important improvements in this version of Toast - which, to give it its full title, is actually called Toast 5 Titanium - include support for a number of new disc formats. Toast can now create MP3 discs as well as standard audio CD discs, and the program has moved beyond audio by adding support for Video CD (VCD) and DVD formats as well.

To make life easier when working with audio, video and graphics files, Roxio has also thrown in a small utility called iView Media. This simple program allows you to organise your media files into catalogues. You can, for example, keep holiday videos in one catalogue and party music in another.

There is a thumbnail display for photos and graphics files, and you can play video or audio clips within iView, which makes it easy to organise your files within the program.

We are also pleased to see that Roxio has improved its manuals. Toast's interface is very well designed, but the manual provided with previous versions was very confusing.

However, the main improvement in this package is the addition of Jam, which provides a number of sophisticated mastering options that you can use when burning your audio files onto CD. Jam will allow you to import 24-bit audio files created with professional, high-resolution recording equipment. You can get 24-bit sound cards relatively cheaply these days, so this feature will appeal to both professional musicians and more serious hobbyists.

There's a 'dithering' option that will allow you to convert 24-bit files into the 16-bit format used by ordinary audio CDs with minimal distortion.

Other options include a variety of controls for modifying cross-fades and pauses between tracks. These features are aimed at the more serious musician rather than ordinary home users who just want to make their own 'greatest hits' compilation CDs. But, if you do not want Jam with your Toast, you can still buy Toast on its own for about half the price of this bundle.

But, with or without Jam, Toast is still the best CD-creation software available for the Mac, and it is a must-have item for Mac owners who want to make the most of their CD-RW or DVD-R drive.

Minimum requirements: Mac running OS 9.1 or OS X 10.1.2.
Price:£124.99 (inc VAT)

• Easy-to-use CD and DVD authoring tools
• Creates audio CDs, MP3s, VCDs and DVDs
• Simulation mode for testing drive performance
• Jam program supports 24-bit audio format
• Converts 24-bit recordings to 16-bit
• Options for adjusting cross-fades and pauses between tracks
• Crackle and distortion filters for recording from vinyl
• iView utility for organising media files

Contact: Roxio: 01908 278100
www.roxio.com

See also:

Roxio WinOnCD 5 Power Edition

An incredibly inexpensive jack-of-all-trades collection of tools.  23 Jul 2002

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!