InfraRecorder Portable

It’s not often I run into a program that changes my habits. InfraRecorder is one of them. It does a bang-up job of recording data CDs and DVDs of all types, and using the Manage Tracks function allows me to rip audio CDs to my hard drive in wave or Ogg format. There’s a downloadable MP3 module that will allow you to rip to that format. I’m so pleased with InfraRecorder that I have yet to install either Nero Ultra Edition or Roxio Creator on my newly re-furbished (OS-wise) main work system. I may eventually do that, as InfraRecorder doesn’t burn DVD or any other kind of movies, but for now I’m enjoying its light 7MB footprint.

InfraRecorder’s interface reminds me quite a bit of the old Nero Burning ROM and EZ CD Creator–both of which were great utilities before falling victim to bloat. The interface features stacked explorer trees/display panes: one to choose files and the other to show you the layout of your new disc. There’s the usual space remaining meter on the bottom of the Window, but that’s about it. Anyone who appreciates the feel of using the perfect tool in the right situation will like it. If you need GUI equivalent of neon, look elsewhere.

No program gets a spot on my desktop unless it’s reliable, and InfraRecorder hasn’t failed me yet with any kind of disc: recordable, rewritable, CD, or DVD. InfraRecorder uses Red Hat’s Cygwin software to leverage the very reliable Cdrtools from the Linux side of the universe. I use the portable version found at www.portableapps.com, which saves settings to the xml files in the program directory. However, the download from the author’s site (found here as well) saves them in the usual location. Whichever version you decide on–decide on InfraRecorder.

–Jon L. Jacobi