Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for generating delays to shift edges of an EFM data stream from an EFM modulator for a CD-R and CD-RW write encoder. EFM data pulse edges may be delayed in increments of about {fraction (1/32)} Tefm where Tefm is the code rate clock of an EFM data stream output. The delays are generated by a synthesizer running at four times the EFM code rate. The synthesizer may be built using a four-stage ring oscillator. Delays are selectable based upon the write strategy matrix in coarse increments of ¼ T and fine increments of {fraction (1/32)} T. For the coarse delay, the EFM data may be passed through a four stage shift register running at Fsynth, where Tefm=4×Fsynth, allowing for a coarse delay selection of ¼ Tefm.