What is the CDM file format?
A .cdm file is a disc-burning project file created by NTI CD-Maker and its successors - NTI CD-DVD Maker and NTI Media Maker. It is important to understand that a .cdm file is not a raw disc image: it stores file-path listings, folder structure, and burn-project settings that describe what should be written to a disc, not a sector-by-sector copy of disc contents.
The binary format begins with a 0x0E byte followed by the ASCII signature NTI_CDLAYOUTV and a version digit that identifies which NTI software generation created the file. File size is typically between 4 KB and 140 KB - far smaller than an actual disc image - because it contains only path metadata, not the referenced data files themselves.
NTI later introduced the .NCD format for true virtual disc images. The .cdm layout format remained in use through NTI Media Maker 9, the last major boxed release. NTI continues to sell NTI Media Maker Express for Windows 11 as of 2026, though current versions may no longer produce .cdm files, and opening older .cdm projects in current software is not guaranteed.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWCDM is a binary project descriptor with no executable code. Low risk in itself; the associated burning process is as safe as any disc-burning workflow. Avoid downloading NTI software from unofficial mirror sites (adware risk).
Format details
in a nutshell- Concept Design Model / CAD CDM - Various CAD/engineering tools use .cdm for conceptual data models; unrelated to disc imaging.
Programs that open CDM files
Windows2 apps
NTI Media Maker Express
Freemium Open NTI Media Maker, use File > Open Project and select the .cdm - compatibility with older CDM versions not guaranteed.
NTI Media Maker 9
Paid The version that originally created most CDM files; file compatibility is best with the same major version. Technical details
deep spec| File type | Disc-burning project file (burn layout); not a raw sector-level disc image |
| Encoding | Binary, little-endian |
| Magic bytes | 0x0E followed by ASCII 'NTI_CDLAYOUTV' and a version digit at offset 0 |
| Typical file size | 4 KB - 140 KB (median ~29 KB); contains path metadata, not disc sectors |
| Contents | File-path listings, folder structure, disc title, and burn-job settings |
| Version identifier | Version digit appended to the ASCII signature (e.g., V4 for NTI Media Maker 4 layouts) |
| Target platform | Windows only |
| Disc types | CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, and related formats supported by NTI Media Maker |
| Project portability | Burn project is only valid on the machine where source files exist at the listed paths |
| Successor format | NCD (NTI Disc Image) for true virtual disc images; CDM covers only burn-project layout |
| Software lineage | NTI CD-Maker → NTI CD-DVD Maker → NTI Media Maker → NTI Media Maker Express (current, Windows 11) |
| Legacy compatibility | Opening .cdm files from older NTI versions in current NTI Media Maker Express is not guaranteed |
| Released | circa late 1990s (NTI CD-Maker era) |
| Latest version | N/A (format associated with NTI Media Maker 9; modern NTI products use NCD) |
CDM conversions
Community Q&A
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