I have been burning MP3s on TDK PrintOn CD-R 52X 80min 700mb Discs Purchased at Costco in the 50 pack including slim case. Model number: CD-R80PM50TP.

This is the information about the media reported by DvdInfo:

Media Information

Format Capacity Blank Disc
Free Blocks 736960512
Free Capacity 702.82MB(736.96MB)
Media Type CD-R
ATIP Start Time of Lead In (Media Code) 97m26s66f
ATIP Last Possible Start Time of Lead Out 79m59s71f
Manufacturer Name CMC Magnetics Corporation
HD-BURN Certified YES
Available Write Descriptor CAV 48.0x 7200KBps
Available Write Descriptor CAV 32.0x 4800KBps
Available Write Descriptor CAV 16.0x 2400KBps
Available Write Descriptor CAV 8.0x 1200KBps
Available Write Descriptor CAV 4.0x 600KBps

Complete Media Code

I have found that using the latest version of the most popular burning programs has completely eliminated any problems with the Shaker500 reading discs. I also have an Eclipse head unit in another vehicle that was having the same problems and now also works correctly. I was having problems with only being able to read the firsts three or four folders before receiving disc read errors and having the Shaker500 and Eclipse spit out the disc. An Alpine Head unit in another vehicle seems to read anything you through at it as far as any type of MP3 tags or play-lists are concerned! As long as you burn using the latest software from Nero or Roxio.

I have used Plextor, Liteon and NEC burners with equally good results. The burning software seems to be the main key factor in producing good disc that the Shaker500 will read correctly.

I have burned a lot of discs very close to the maximum capacity with up to 16 folders and 165 songs. Using Nero 7 or Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 with equally good results. I do not use the MP3 create utilities of either program and just burn data disc that are finalized with the classic interface of either program using the Disc-at-Once method of burning. You do not need the play-list information that the MP3 creator programs add to the disc and this can also confuse the Shaker500. To have the tags show correctly when you push the text button on your Shaker500 you make sure the MP3 tags are version 1.1. You must also make sure that there are not multiple tag version within your MP3 files. You can do this by converting the tag information with iTunes or Mp3Tag Tools. Mp3Tag Tools is a very sophisticated tag editor and it will show all tags and allow you to remove the 2.X tags to be compatible with the Shaker500.

I word of warning. If you strip the 2.X tags they will not be available for a new more sophisticated head unit to read the extended information of 2.X tags. You may consider making temporary copies of the files you are burning for the Shaker500 so you don’t lose the 2.X tag information in case you would like to use the files on a system that can read them.

The Shaker500 in my 2006 Pony has been working flawlessly and has never once skipped during playback even on rough roads play both commercial and burned CDs and MP3s.

I do not know if this information applies to the Shaker1000 but from what I have read in this forum my guess is it is the same as far as the firmware and mechanism are concerned.
I hope this information is useful to everyone in this forum.

 

Well I'm glad I found this thread. I'm a technology teacher, and yet I've come across a real stumper of a problem regarding .mp3 compatability, brand of CD, and ability of my Shaker's headunit to read burned discs. I have a new Sony dual layer DVD/CD burner and the full Nero suite which I use to burn CD's. For brands of CD's, I've used many things from Imation to Sony to the cheapo Staples brand stuff. (Haven't tried Verbatim yet, actually.)

My problem is:
- I recently burned a CD which contained structured folders and tracks, and the Shaker will only play about half of the tracks on the CD. It sees all of the folders and tracks, plays most of them, but hesitates and then passes right over the rest. The tracks which it will not play are in no particular order - some are in the first folder on the CD, some in the middle, etc. Some tracks in the folders work just fine, others won't play at all. (i.e. Folder 4 tracks 1-3 work, 4 won't, 5-6 work, 7-10 won't.)
- It does this 100% consistently, so I figured I should try another brand of CD. No dice on any brand I use.
- I also thought I should try burning at a much slower speed for a more thorough burn, no dice.
- I have checked to see if the CD will play in another .mp3-capable stereo, and the entire thing works just fine.
- I have checked to see if the .mp3 tracks are encoded in some particular way which is unusual. They play just fine in a very old (5+ years) .mp3 decoder, so it's not a CODEC problem.
- I have already had to replace this Shaker once because the changer jammed and was draining my car battery even after it was off. I'm over 10,000 miles now and I'm not sure if this type of thing is covered by warranty.

Any suggestions? The only thing I haven't tried yet is to convert the tracks into .wav, then convert them back into .mp3 and reburn to try again. I've never before been annoyed with a stereo like I'm becoming annoyed with this one.

 

i use memorex. never had a problem with them.

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]

 

Did you close the CD? That seemed to aleviate alot of problems for me.

I, too, have switched to Memorex with no issues.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GhostTX @ February 17, 2006, 2:46 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Did you close the CD? That seemed to aleviate alot of problems for me.

I, too, have switched to Memorex with no issues.
[/b][/quote]

Well if you don't close it the cd player probably couldn't even read it at all.

I have used quite a few combos and have had no problems with LiteOn burners and Verbatim CDR's. Some of the 'fancy' CD's I tried created the most problems.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adrenalin @ November 3, 2005, 6:12 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I use Maxell. No issues with the discs. It is the headunit that has the problems.
[/b][/quote]

ditto Maxwell CD-R Music, no problems

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Axelay @ February 14, 2006, 1:23 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Well I'm glad I found this thread. I'm a technology teacher, and yet I've come across a real stumper of a problem regarding .mp3 compatability, brand of CD, and ability of my Shaker's headunit to read burned discs. I have a new Sony dual layer DVD/CD burner and the full Nero suite which I use to burn CD's. For brands of CD's, I've used many things from Imation to Sony to the cheapo Staples brand stuff. (Haven't tried Verbatim yet, actually.)

My problem is:
- I recently burned a CD which contained structured folders and tracks, and the Shaker will only play about half of the tracks on the CD. It sees all of the folders and tracks, plays most of them, but hesitates and then passes right over the rest. The tracks which it will not play are in no particular order - some are in the first folder on the CD, some in the middle, etc. Some tracks in the folders work just fine, others won't play at all. (i.e. Folder 4 tracks 1-3 work, 4 won't, 5-6 work, 7-10 won't.)
- It does this 100% consistently, so I figured I should try another brand of CD. No dice on any brand I use.
- I also thought I should try burning at a much slower speed for a more thorough burn, no dice.
- I have checked to see if the CD will play in another .mp3-capable stereo, and the entire thing works just fine.
- I have checked to see if the .mp3 tracks are encoded in some particular way which is unusual. They play just fine in a very old (5+ years) .mp3 decoder, so it's not a CODEC problem.
- I have already had to replace this Shaker once because the changer jammed and was draining my car battery even after it was off. I'm over 10,000 miles now and I'm not sure if this type of thing is covered by warranty.

Any suggestions? The only thing I haven't tried yet is to convert the tracks into .wav, then convert them back into .mp3 and reburn to try again. I've never before been annoyed with a stereo like I'm becoming annoyed with this one.
[/b][/quote]
I have the same setup as you do (Sony Dual Layer dvd recorder, Nero suite) and I haven't had any problems with mp3 disks. I burn them as near to full capacity as I can (~700MB). Here's what I do:

• 1 level folder structure (no sub folders within folders)
• tdk or verbatim CDRs
• 128 or 192 Kbps MP3's , constant bitrate, encoded with latest version of LAME
• try to keep filenames and folder names as short as possible

The only mp3 disk so far that I havent been able to play was a cheapo Fry's special CDRW that I burned over 2 years ago in my old LITE-ON cd burner. It would just get a disk error and not read that disk at all. I havent tried CDRWs in my Sony burner yet.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vermillion98 @ February 27, 2006, 1:12 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I have the same setup as you do (Sony Dual Layer dvd recorder, Nero suite) and I haven't had any problems with mp3 disks. I burn them as near to full capacity as I can (~700MB). Here's what I do:

• 1 level folder structure (no sub folders within folders)
• tdk or verbatim CDRs
• 128 or 192 Kbps MP3's , constant bitrate, encoded with latest version of LAME
• try to keep filenames and folder names as short as possible

The only mp3 disk so far that I havent been able to play was a cheapo Fry's special CDRW that I burned over 2 years ago in my old LITE-ON cd burner. It would just get a disk error and not read that disk at all. I havent tried CDRWs in my Sony burner yet.
[/b][/quote]

Ah, glad to see some more feedback here! I have checked every single track and each .mp3 file is encoded in stereo, 44,100hz, 128kb/s. I do have the disc structured in such a way that the tracks are categorized into their respective albums. (i.e. 10 folders, each containing between 9-18 tracks) Haven't bought a spindle of Maxell CD-R's yet, but that's on my hit list to try since so many people seem to recommend them.