| Disc Format | Book | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| CD-DA (Audio) | Red Book | The basis for all other cd formats. |
| CD-ROM | Yellow Book | Computer data. Data written to disc as separate files, as on computer hard disks. Subdivided into Mode 1/Mode 2(Forms 1 and 2), then further into ISO9660/High Sierra or non-ISO (e.g. Mac HFS). |
| CD-i | Green Book | CD Interactive. Most data written to disc in interleaved fashion, to facilitate access times. A version of the OS-9 operating system, CD-RTOS (CD Realtime OS) is built into the standard. MPEG1 compressed video & audio is also built in. |
| VCD | White Book | Video CD, a.k.a. Karaoke. All data (audio, stills, motion video) is in MPEG1 format. Requires a CD-i application on the disc which allows play on CD-i players (and usually adds increased functionality over basic VCD players). This is one type of CD-i/CD-XA Bridge Disc. |
| CD-R | Orange Book | Discs of all the other types can be written to recordables. |
| Disc Format | Audio | CD-ROM | Mac/MPC | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Mode | Audio starts at Track 2, non-muting audio players will play Track 1 as static. | ROM data is in Track 1. | Most Macs and MPCs can read ROM data. | There is potential for playing full volume static if non-muting audio player attempts to play Track 1(ROM track). |
| Hidden Track (a.k.a. I-Track, ROM Ready, AudiovisionTM) | Works in all audio players, audio starts at Track 1, Index 1. | ROM data is in Track 1, Index 0. | Most Macs play, MPCs may need software upgrade. | Non-muting audio players will not play ROM track, possible need for additonal software drivers for MPCs may limit the format. |
| Enhanced Audio Product (a.k.a. Selectware) | Audio tracks begin with Track 2. | ROM data is in Track 1 and contains audio warning. | Currently unavailable for Mac, MPCs may need additional software. | Less than 1 second of static is heard on non-muting audio players, then an audible warning is made requesting that the user advance to the next track. Possibility of full volume static. Format is not available for the Mac. |
| CD+ (a.k.a. CD-Plus,Stamped Multisession, Blue Book) | Works in all audio players. Audio is in first session. | ROM data is in 2nd session. | Macs and MPCs require multisession capability. | Multisession hardware and software must be available. This could become the dominant format. No possibility of playing static on an audio player. |
| CD-i Ready | Works in all audio players. Audio is Track 1, Index 1. | CD-i data is in Track 1, Index 0. | Macs and MPCs can play audio only, unless a CD-i authoring or player board and software is installed. | Macs and MPCs require more hardware and software to play the CD-i track. |
| CD+G (a.k.a. CD +Graphics) | Works in all audio players. | ROM data is in subcode. | Macs, MPCs can play audio only. | CD+G requires special players and have seen use mainly in applications such as Karaoke. Only very limited graphics and text can be stored in subcode channels. This format has probably been superceded by the VCD (White Book) standard. |
| CD-Bridge (e.g. Photo CD, VCD/Karaoke (see White Book above) | None. | Track 1 | For VCD discs, Macs & MPCs can play MPEG content(but not VCD application) with proper hardware and software. | Bridge disc between CD-ROM/XA and CD-i. Photo CD discs play in Photo CD and CD-i players. VCD discs play in VCD and CD-i players. |
| Mac HFS/ISO9660 Hybrid Discs | None. | Track 1 | Macs can read both the HFS and ISO9660 data, PCs only the ISO9660 data. | The ISO volume and the HFS volume are separately referenced in the pre-gap of Track 1. Often all the data and the PC applications are put into the ISO volume(and aliased in the HFS volume), while the Mac applications are put into the HFS volume. This way, the data is only on the disc once. The Mac will mount the HFS volume only, unless a separate mounting utility is used to mount the ISO volume. |
| Multisession Discs | None. | Track 1, Sessions 1, 2, ...n, n+1, ... | Mac or MPC must be multisession capable. | Sometimes referred to as "hybrid" discs, although this usage can be confusing. Often used with CD-R recording, especially in conjunction with Photo CD. |