Toast With Jam 6 (Mac)

Plus, burning software that has always been the best!

"Jam" deals with just audio files. That however is mildly putting it. You can make CD's or DVD's like a DJ, digitize analog records and tapes plus make more in depth edits to your tracks in Peak Express. "Jam" is pretty easy to use the interface window gives you all the info about your tracks. You can adjust the "Cross Fades" in between your tracks or you could completely remove them to create a party type mix where the music never stops. You can "Trim" tracks so if you want that track to end sooner you can tweak your "Gain" and "Fade" to really control that track. You know for the songs that have endings you could do without you could quick "Fade" them. After all of your tweaking just burn your CD or DVD straight from "Jam" no need to go to another program. After you select your "Write Speed" for your CD or DVD you can select the option of also having the program eject the media when finished or send it to your desktop or just wait for you.

"Titanium" handles "Data", "Audio", "Video" and "Disk Copy". An interface window similar to "Jam" opens up with the different "Media" tabs on the top of the menu and the "Basic" and "Advanced" features on the left pop-out menu.

For "Data" burns you have six choices when it comes to how you want to be able to access the media later. Choose the one you want, then just drag and drop your files into the interface window hit the red record button tell it what write speed you would like and it starts a burning.

Audio files you just drag and drop and arrange the tracks to your liking. You don't have the same options of adjusting or tweaking your audio tracks like you do in "Jam" you could adjust the pause in between tracks but that's about as much tweaking that you can do. It would definitely be better if you did your adjusting in Peak Express before bringing them into "Titanium". You have five choices to choose from as to the type of media that you want to burn.

Video files just drag and drop your photos or videos into the interface window. You have three choices to choose from. In this program you don't have templates like you do in IDVD or DVD Studio Pro so if you just want something basic this will work great. "Titanium" creates a basic "Menu" so your finished product still can have a bit more professional look. The "Menu" you can have up to three "Buttons". The "Buttons" you can customize a bit; name it, the photo "Button" can be any slide or any frame within the video and adjust the duration of the slides, (if you want them to change automatically or manually). Then hit the red button and a burning you will go.

There is also a neat feature called "Plug and Burn" Just hook up your DV camcorder to your computer put in a DVD and you can burn your tape straight from your camcorder to a DVD. "Titanium" captures the video and puts it on your disc for you. "Titanium" will even rewind to the beginning of the tape for you before it starts recording.

The "Copy" tab lets you make an exact copy of any single-session disc. Audio discs, backup discs, MP3, IDVD and Mac and Windows discs. You have five choices in this mode. It will allow you to do this even if you only have one drive you just have to swap discs when prompted.

Both programs were very easy to use. A step above the basics, but limited when compared to IDVD or any of the higher dollar programs. "Jam" is great if you really want to start getting into controlling your audio tracks a bit more. I would call these programs low-medium range when it comes to skill levels in CD & DVD authoring. They both give a nice intro before getting into some of the higher end and more complicated programs, like IDVD and DVD Studio Pro.