Amazon.com Buying Guide

Box Set
Cast Recording
CD Single
Collector's Edition
Content/ Copy-Protected CD
Cutout
Deluxe Edition
DualDisc
DVD-Audio
Enhanced
Explicit Lyrics
Extended Play
Extra Tracks
Gold CD
Hybrid SACD
Import
Karaoke
Limited Edition
Live
MVI
Original Recording Remastered
Reissued
SACDSoundtrack
Special Edition
USB Flash Drive

Box sets are collections of more than one CD, often packaged in something other than a standard jewel case. The typical box set is an artist or theme anthology. The quality of a box set is usually judged by the inclusion of rare and unreleased material, biographical information, photos, and video footage.

Cast recordings consist of music--including all the songs of a show as well as important instrumental portions, such as the overture--recorded in studio conditions with the cast of a particular theatrical production. Original cast recordings document the performers of the work's first production.

CD singles are standard CDs that contain only a few songs. Typically, but not always, CD singles include the album version of a song plus remixes of that same song. CD singles may also contain songs not included on the album. These songs are often referred to as B-sides.

Like limited edition and special edition CDs, collector's editions tend to be available in limited quantities and often include items such as bonus tracks, video footage, and extensive liner notes.

This product limits your ability to make multiple digital copies of its content, and you will not be able to play this disc or make copies onto devices not listed as compatible. Content/ copy protected CDs should allow limited burning, as well as ripping into secure Windows Media Audio formats for playback with most compatible media players and portable devices. In rare cases, these CDs may not be compatible with computer CD-ROM players, DVD players, game consoles, or car CD stereos, and often are not transferable to other formats like MP3.

Cutouts are bargain-priced CDs that may have a "cut" or hole punched through the packaging. The CDs are new, have never been played, and are covered by our standard return policy.

Deluxe editions are typically reissues of historically important albums. They often contain bonus material in the form of extra recordings or video footage. Extensive liner notes are often included.

Unlike regular CDs, DualDiscs are double-sided. One side contains standard CD audio; the other features DVD content, often including the album in higher-fidelity stereo or a 5.1-channel surround sound mix; lyrics, photos, and computer files; music videos, interviews, and documentaries; and anything else one might find on a regular DVD. Though DualDiscs are slightly thicker than ordinary discs, the DVD side should play in all DVD players, and the CD side should play in all CD players.

DVD-Audio discs can hold up to seven times the data of a normal CD, which results in added features and better sound. Read more about DVD-Audio.

Enhanced CDs are music CDs to which data tracks have been added. Designed to be read by the CD- or DVD-ROM drive in your computer, these tracks often include music videos, photos, liner notes, Web features, and other such content. The music portion of enhanced CDs should play in all CD and DVD players.

The "Explicit Lyrics" tag is equivalent to the "Parental Advisory" slug that appears on the cover of certain CDs. The slug is a label provided by the Recording Industry Association of America that denotes the presence of strong language or depictions of sex, violence, or substance abuse. The decision to label specific CDs is made by recording companies in conjunction with the artists.

Extended-play discs (EPs) are CDs with a total playing time greater than that of a single but less than that of a full CD.

Extra tracks are bonus songs not included on the standard CD release.

In place of the aluminum commonly used as the reflective coating on regular CDs, gold is sometimes used, which coats more evenly and reacts with oxygen slower, providing greater longevity. The higher fidelity associated with gold CDs is actually a result of the remastering process and not of the gold coating itself. Gold CDs can be played in any CD player.

The SACD layer of hybrid SACDs offers much higher fidelity than regular compact discs, containing up to four times the musical information. Hybrid SACDs are designed for CD-quality playback on conventional systems, including home and car stereos, portable CD players, computer CD- and DVD-ROM drives, and DVD players.

Imports are CDs that are not produced or distributed domestically but have to be purchased from a foreign source or label distributor.

Karaoke is the popular form of entertainment in which amateur singers attempt impromptu covers of well-known songs to the accompaniment of recordings that have the vocal track missing or turned down. Some karaoke releases are in the CD+Graphics/CD+G format, which means that, in addition to featuring audio content, they can be hooked up to specially equipped TVs, karaoke machines, or even PCs to display graphics with lyric prompts.

Like collector's edition and special edition CDs, limited editions tend to be available in limited quantities and often include items such as bonus tracks, video footage, and extensive liner notes.

Live CDs document musical performances in concert or, indeed, any context before a live audience. However, even a live release might involve some studio manipulation.

MVI stands for Musical Video Interactive, a DVD based means of packing audio, video and interactive visual content (for example lyrics) onto one disk. The audio content is provided in multiple formats, including a high-definition version (a minimum of 24-bit at 48kHz sampling) and an MP3 version for copying to portable audio players. The video content is compatible with DVD video, and can also optionally include high-definition video.

Remastered recordings are typically older recordings on which the sound quality has been altered or enhanced. Remastered sound is often bigger and fuller than that on the original release. Discs can also be remastered to play new formats, such as SACD.

Reissued CDs are usually albums that were discontinued by a recording company and then subsequently rereleased to the public. Reissued CDs are often remastered, and sometimes include bonus tracks not available on the original release.

SACDs, or Super Audio CDs, offer much higher fidelity than regular compact discs, containing up to four times the musical information. SACDs will not play in traditional CD players, but SACD players are able to play both SACDs and CDs.

Like limited edition and collector's edition CDs, special editions tend to be available in limited quantities and often include items such as bonus tracks, video footage, and extensive liner notes.

Soundtracks are CD releases of the music related to a particular film, television show, video game, or other media product. Typically, soundtracks involve a compilation of songs used in the film or show, whether recorded for that specific purpose or drawn from previously released albums.

A USB flash drive is a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (universal serial bus) connector. USB flash drives are much shorter than a floppy disk (1 to 4 inches or 2.5 to 10 cm), and weigh less than 2 ounces (60 g). Storage capacities typically range from 64 MB to 32 GB[1] of music, or more. The device simply plugs into your computer's USB port.