Don't know why I did this, when I'm late on so many other things...  
 
I created a song in X3e that had 5 long low midi notes randomly throughout a 62 minute span (events at ~8, 10, 29, 44 & 59 minutes).  Two tracks of Dimension Pro - sitar strum & bazouki.  
Froze the tracks (nice long tails; 'remove silence' selected).
Selected both tracks for a 62-minute span, & exported using CD settings to a .wav.   (Pure digital silence between the notes...)
Used SONAR's Burn Audio CD; added my newly created .wav as a track.
 
It came out perfectly.  It's oddly pleasant, actually, at any volume...
 
My theory is that your other issues were caused by a 'normalize' setting set somewhere on your other CD burning software.  That would definitely be noisy.  
 
I've never heard the red book spec had a 'no long silence' rule; a couple searches & that never came up.  I'm pretty certain your CD burner should burn whatever you give it, even 74-minutes of digital zeroes...  
 
Shawn

That's what I thought too. But CD architect throws up error dialogs stating otherwise. Go figure.

 
Mr 'Ol Pal, I think you're going to have to admit defeat on this one.
 
But instead of making a CD, maybe you could try and wing it 'live', as it were....
 
First off, pop out and purchase a job lot of bells and forests. Then proceed to arrange said items in and around your homestead. Once the Ursa femalis feels up for a bit of ambience, set about stirring the wildlife into action and randomly start tolling on a few of them bells. Once the correct amount of peace and relaxitude has been administered, simply shut the fauna up by pretending to be a prowling tigress on heat, and desist your occasional chiming.
 
Job done.
 
Brownie points in the bank, no hassle feckin' about with compact discs that don't want to be burnt, and all the bear sh1t you can trade down at the local independent wholefood boutique for lashings of fresh honey, pork scratchings and owl polish.
 
Everyone's a winner, including yours truly who will undoubtedly be lavished with a 'Best Answer' thang for this helpful, thoughtful, incisive, supportive, productive, beneficial and helpful post.
 
 

SteveStrummerUK
 
Mr 'Ol Pal, I think you're going to have to admit defeat on this one.
 
But instead of making a CD, maybe you could try and wing it 'live', as it were....
 
First off, pop out and purchase a job lot of bells and forests. Then proceed to arrange said items in and around your homestead. Once the Ursa femalis feels up for a bit of ambience, set about stirring the wildlife into action and randomly start tolling on a few of them bells. Once the correct amount of peace and relaxitude has been administered, simply shut the fauna up by pretending to be a prowling tigress on heat, and desist your occasional chiming.
 
Job done.
 
Brownie points in the bank, no hassle feckin' about with compact discs that don't want to be burnt, and all the bear sh1t you can trade down at the local independent wholefood boutique for lashings of fresh honey, pork scratchings and owl polish.
 
Everyone's a winner, including yours truly who will undoubtedly be lavished with a 'Best Answer' thang for this helpful, thoughtful, incisive, supportive, productive, beneficial and helpful post.
 
 

 There's something wrong with you...... isn't there.

Were you able to get past the issue?
 
I believe the very first "gap" (before the first track) must be 2 seconds.  There are no restrictions on gaps between tracks (other than any imposed by your software).   Just use the X3 CD burner, it got the job done.  

Welp, Straummy ol pal, as I write this from the relative comfort of my living room recliner...while the rest of the family is upstairs snoring away, snug in their beds...your suggestions didn't go exactly as planned. I'm pretty sure it was the prowling Tigress in heat part where things started breaking down. In any case, I'll keep you posted as to when or if I'm allowed to sleep in my own bed again and when or if I find a solution to this pissant problem. Until then, and as per usual, I am forever in your debt for your wise advice.

Welp...it was
 
Burner speed.
 
After trying several solutions (NO...it was not "normalize"), and just for s***ts and giggles I lowered the write speed on the drive.  Boom!  Jesss Perfect!
 
Go figure.
 

yorolpal
Welp...it was
 
Burner speed.
 
After trying several solutions (NO...it was not "normalize"), and just for s***ts and giggles I lowered the write speed on the drive.  Boom!  Jesss Perfect!
 
Go figure.
 

Will you be selling on the excess owl polish?

No...you just caint have too much owl polish.

 
Pfft............. that's just shellfish.