Music CD's

[Pen it off!]

Whats the best way to make a compilation CD using various artists from various CD's, without the need to sit by the computer to keep putting the source CD in in order program to extract the track?

[Tinstaafl]

Depends on the equipment you have available.

You could:

1. Copy each desired track to your HD then due a single burn. You have to swap disks while copying to the HD but at least you can leave while burning the disk.

2. Have a couple of CD/DVD drives (or a CD jukebox) in your PC.

3. Network all the PCs you have available that have CD drives then make all CD drives shared devices to the PC with the writer.

4. Put the audio CDs into your multi-CD stereo system, cue them & then run audio leads from the pre-amp to the stereo 'in' of your sound card. Record the input to the HD so you can tidy any analogue noise artifacts before writing the CD. You'll need appropriate software though...

[Skytrucker87]

I have to admit to being a total dummy as far as these new-fangled typewriting television thingies are concerned, but in plain language, can anyone advise me on transferring my complete collection of vinyl LPs via my new festive CD burner to CD? can it be done? Do I use the 'line in' input on the back of my PC tower? Do I need additional hardware? What is the meaning of life?

Regards
Skytrucker

[FL310]

The soundcard has certainly a nice "stereo" centre with it, a software. With that you can listen and record your LPs via the external port on the soundcard. Store them as *.wav (huge harddrive required) or as *.mp3 files (about 12% of wav files).
With a standard CD burner you can than burn an audio CD which will run on the home stereo, or store the files as you like.
About 150 mp3 files (pending on the size of course) or 15-20 wav files fit on one CD.

You will enjoy the scratchy LP noise coming in hifi 3D enhanced through your 2000W ghettoblaster....

[What_does_this_button_do?]

Also, see this:

<a href="http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=35&t=001328" target="_blank">Another Thread</a>

[fobotcso]

Ref FL310's post, the Nero CD writing software includes "Wave Editor" that allows you to feed your pre-amp output from your Hi-Fi set into your sound card and then create either MP3 or .wav files on your HD(and others formats too, I think). Then you can burn your music onto the CD for playing in the car etc. But, although MP3 files are a fraction of .wav files, 10 minutes of music still equals 10 mins of music, so you don't get any more onto a 74 min CD.

But for storage, MP3 has a tremendous advantage. And I could not detect any difference in quality when I recently created a file of each type from an old tape of Janet Baker singing Songs of the Sea (a good test of recording eqpt.) In fact, I though there might be slightly less hiss at the end from the MP3 version.

It was during this exercise that I discovered that my highly prized Denon music centre doesn't have audio out! I never thought to check as I never though I'd need it. Got to get the soldering iron out.

Skytrucker87, in a word - well, a few words - "Yes", "Yes", "No" and I'll let you know when I find out myself.

[RW-1]

Pen,

Best bet is to place them on the HD, then burn the Cd in one setting as described above. you also can then edit the files on the HD for normalizing, and eliminate possible defects if you find any you do not like.


Sky,

Tedious, but take each track you plan on making, and either place to HD in MP3 or wave format (wave if you have enough room) then edit to normalize volume and try to rid yourself of any annoying noises, etc. then burn to CD.

Of course if your vehicle's stereo can play MP3 disks (muhahaha ...) then you are done, and have a large collection of music on one CD for the vehicle.

[spannersatcx]

Did you know that .WMA files are smaller and better quality than mp3. WMA=windows media audio and can be done through Windows Media Player and through easy cd and nero as well I think. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Arkroyal]

spanners

Nero 5.5 won't copy .wma files. At least mine won't.

Another glitch is, having gone the XP route, media won't copy to CD as it says I don't have a CD writer, which is wrong.

Pewtahs! Hate the bloomin thing

[Man-on-the-fence]

Another dumb question.

What format do the files have to be in to be played on yer average bog standard CD player?

ATM I record as they come (CDDA??) but can they read MP3 etc?

[Eric T Cartman]

@ Ark Royal
I use XP + Creative CD RW & both work together with no problems - XP will write to CD-R & CD-RW

[ 13 January 2002: Message edited by: Eric T Cartman ]</p>

[spannersatcx]

Arkroyal Windows media player will handle wma files and you can record with it.

You may need to update the firmware of your cd writer for it to be recognised by XP, or see if there is an update for XP. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Surmount]

I have lately been trying to burn some of my mp3 collection to a cd( they are not pirated mp3's). It said that the cd burned fine, It works like any other cd in my car cd player, but when I went to put it into our new Sony Stereo it doesn't let me play the disc. I assume this is some sort of copy protection, is there any way to get them to play.

Cheers

[spannersatcx]

It may be that the Sony for whatever reason can't read CDR disks! My father bought an Aiwa last year and his was the same work in my car and at home but not on his hi fi. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">