The Orange Book Part II or System Description CD Write Once (CD-WO) specifies the CD-WO disc format. The name CD-R (CD Recordable) is more commonly used than CD-WO. The CD Recordable (CD-R) system gives the opportunity to write once and read many times CD information. The recorded CD-R disc is “Red Book or Yellow Book compatible” so it can play back on conventional CD players. The CD-R format gives the possibility for both Audio (CD-DA) and Data (CD-ROM) recording.

Volume 2: Multi-Speed

Volume 1

This volume defines recording speed of 1x, 2x and 4 times nominal CD speed. (Latest version 3.1, Dec 1998.)

Note: with the publication of Part II volume 2 this document has been renamed from "Orange Book Part II: CD-R, Version 3.1, into "Orange Book Part II: CD-R, Volume 1, Version 3.1.

Volume 2: Multi-Speed

This volume defines 6 disc types with linear recording speeds up to 16x, 20x, 24x, 32x, 40x and 48x nominal CD speed. (Latest version 1.2, April 2002.)

Orange books are only distributed to companies which have a CD information agreement or a relevant (CD-R or CD-RW) license agreement.