Are there any technical wizzards out there who can best describe a way to download tracks from sites such as amazon, and burn them onto an audio cd which can be played in any cd player. We are trying to put some tracks together for a dance, but our cd players at home wont play mp3 downloads. Or... would it just be easier to borrow an Ipod or mp3 player for the night and plug it into a stereo system. Im not sure if cd players can read 'data discs@ such as CD-RW. Thanks
Downloaded music by the norm tends to be MP3 compressed. Not all CD players will read and play MP3 files. Either borrow an iPod or convert your MP3s to Wavs before burning to disk. With the right cabling, 3.5 mm/1/8" to 2 RCA phono plugs, you can easily hook up an iPod to most amplified stereo equipment, boom boxes and the like...
Check if the software you are using to burn CDs has a 'make audio CD' option; most do. I'm using Nero Express (www.nero.com) that came with a cheap (£20 ish) replacement drive. Can select a mixture of wav and mp3 files, move them into the order you want and away you go. There must be freeware around that does this though. However, I have just persuaded a friend who teaches dance to ditch the cassette tapes and jump straight to an iPod plugged in as 'c' suggests.
I use the program called CD Burner XP Pro to make CDs. It does data, iso, video, audio and is free to download. You can customize every aspect of burning the disc including speed, buffer, burn at once or track at once, etc. You can also select how to rip the music onto your machine, either wav, mp3 (and the bit rate). It rips music from external sources.
WinFF is the file converter that I use, it does everything that I'd like it to. I use Orbit Downloader to grab streaming audio and video. Those programs are very small and also free to download and use
Encoding the files as .wav and burning them onto audio CDs (NOT data) will play in everyone's CD player. I've had a lot of CD players including several old models of various brands and not one of them refused the .wav format. Only older machines, the oldest, should refuse mp3 so that shouldn't be a problem to burn mp3 files to audio discs. Just as long as they're not data discs.
A note on using MP3s for dance, something that is being done in classes in Manchester. I find MP3 compression to be too much, to top-and-tail we've talked about before here, removing the lows below a certain point and the highs above another. The folks in Manchester have managed to convert to MP3 and download a ton of music and they are really happy with it, but to our ears what comes out the speakers does not have as good a definition as CD compression, and by definition I mean beat rhythm and phrase, lift. Converting from MP3 to Wav won't cure what's missing. But, lots of people are going with and happy with MP3s.
How much of that top-and-tailing is inevitable, and how much is it what people are used to, so they don't realise that they have let the software do it ? The waveform of many downloaded mp3, and most 'internet radio' shows blatant compression. But are you (ceolachan) hearing something that even a good engineer can't avoid doing because of the way the mp3 encoding works ? Is it ever not a problem if its been done properly ?
I understand that you can't upsample a poorly sourced track and improve its sound quality; the track's fidelity is only as good as its source. If the source is encoded at a low bit-rate to begin with (for the sake of argument let's say anything less than 620 kbps) then converting it to a lossless format like .wav or .flac is only going to preserve that original compression ratio.
But if the issue involves finding a workaround for CD players that will not play .mp3 files (which is unusual and I've never seen a machine that could not play an .mp3 when burned as an *audio* disc) then converting the files to .wav is an easy solution for that.
Your comment about CD compression is interesting, though, considering that in the 1980s and 1990s many digital masters for CD sources were downsampled to what we'd now consider to be sub-par compression ratios. Some of those recordings were never remastered. I assume you're referring to CDs which have been mastered with care given to audio quality, either new recordings or fresh transfers of old masters. But I agree, it doesn't make much sense for someone to take a perfectly good CD with good sound quality, downsample it with little regard for audio fidelity and convert it to a low bit-rate .mp3 file. In such a case, why not just use the CD? Or sample the .mp3 at a higher rate, so high that you couldn't really tell the difference from the original CD source. If they were going to do that then it'd make more sense to use a lossless codec like .wav or .flac.
Thanks for all the tips, for this one occasion it might just be easier to borrow an ipod, as our dvd drive would need to be repaired first. on a Closing note, are blank audio cds readily available in the shops?
When you go shopping for blank CDs - they are the same CD-R as used for data, just written differently. Sometimes there are problems with computer-written audio discs not playing properly. Recent drives seem better but it would be safest listen to the finished CD all the way through on the player you will be using at the dance before you do it for real .
Ditto what david_h says, not all media are the same, and cheap is cheap, usually meaning more failures or problems. However, you've sussed the easiest option, and strayaway has expanded on that ~ an ipod or laptop would do the job with a little cabling...
While most modern CD players will handle the wide variety of possibilities, my older CD players will not...
If interested in the concept of 'topping-and-tailing' in compression, and MP3s, do a search, there are a few threads that have taken off here on the subject. As old as my ears are I can still tell the dynamic difference between MP3s of different quality, CD red book, larger digital, analog and live. I know, I know, my ears will continue to age, but also, digital media is where it 'could', if the demand was there, produce audio with greater content and dynamic presence, less of a necessity to reduce the information by removing highs and lows ~ 24 bit and up...
Leaving aside the issue of the quality of MP3, and assuming you are going with that (remembering too that MP3 can be done with a variety of compression ratios, some more lossy than others), you could well, if you are not really strapped for cash, invest in a non-apple MP3 player.
I recently bought one for the equivalent of 70 quid, with 8 GB memory (so several thousand tracks), 92x45x10 mm, will also hold pictures, videos, text files, FM radio, records from internal mic, plays by artist, album, genre, file directory or playlists (just the ticket for your purpose, I guess). So you can have all your source material on it, select whichever playlist you have made for the occasion, and only need one minijack connection to your PA. You can leave all your jumble of CDs at home.
downloading internet tunes to audio cd
downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Are there any technical wizzards out there who can best describe a way to download tracks from sites such as amazon, and burn them onto an audio cd which can be played in any cd player. We are trying to put some tracks together for a dance, but our cd players at home wont play mp3 downloads. Or... would it just be easier to borrow an Ipod or mp3 player for the night and plug it into a stereo system. Im not sure if cd players can read 'data discs@ such as CD-RW. Thanks
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by whistlingrich
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Downloaded music by the norm tends to be MP3 compressed. Not all CD players will read and play MP3 files. Either borrow an iPod or convert your MP3s to Wavs before burning to disk. With the right cabling, 3.5 mm/1/8" to 2 RCA phono plugs, you can easily hook up an iPod to most amplified stereo equipment, boom boxes and the like...
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by ceolachan
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Check if the software you are using to burn CDs has a 'make audio CD' option; most do. I'm using Nero Express (www.nero.com) that came with a cheap (£20 ish) replacement drive. Can select a mixture of wav and mp3 files, move them into the order you want and away you go. There must be freeware around that does this though. However, I have just persuaded a friend who teaches dance to ditch the cassette tapes and jump straight to an iPod plugged in as 'c' suggests.
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by David50
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
I use the program called CD Burner XP Pro to make CDs. It does data, iso, video, audio and is free to download. You can customize every aspect of burning the disc including speed, buffer, burn at once or track at once, etc. You can also select how to rip the music onto your machine, either wav, mp3 (and the bit rate). It rips music from external sources.
WinFF is the file converter that I use, it does everything that I'd like it to. I use Orbit Downloader to grab streaming audio and video. Those programs are very small and also free to download and use
Encoding the files as .wav and burning them onto audio CDs (NOT data) will play in everyone's CD player. I've had a lot of CD players including several old models of various brands and not one of them refused the .wav format. Only older machines, the oldest, should refuse mp3 so that shouldn't be a problem to burn mp3 files to audio discs. Just as long as they're not data discs.
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by gravelwalks
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
A note on using MP3s for dance, something that is being done in classes in Manchester. I find MP3 compression to be too much, to top-and-tail we've talked about before here, removing the lows below a certain point and the highs above another. The folks in Manchester have managed to convert to MP3 and download a ton of music and they are really happy with it, but to our ears what comes out the speakers does not have as good a definition as CD compression, and by definition I mean beat rhythm and phrase, lift. Converting from MP3 to Wav won't cure what's missing. But, lots of people are going with and happy with MP3s.
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by ceolachan
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
How much of that top-and-tailing is inevitable, and how much is it what people are used to, so they don't realise that they have let the software do it ? The waveform of many downloaded mp3, and most 'internet radio' shows blatant compression. But are you (ceolachan) hearing something that even a good engineer can't avoid doing because of the way the mp3 encoding works ? Is it ever not a problem if its been done properly ?
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by David50
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
I understand that you can't upsample a poorly sourced track and improve its sound quality; the track's fidelity is only as good as its source. If the source is encoded at a low bit-rate to begin with (for the sake of argument let's say anything less than 620 kbps) then converting it to a lossless format like .wav or .flac is only going to preserve that original compression ratio.
But if the issue involves finding a workaround for CD players that will not play .mp3 files (which is unusual and I've never seen a machine that could not play an .mp3 when burned as an *audio* disc) then converting the files to .wav is an easy solution for that.
Your comment about CD compression is interesting, though, considering that in the 1980s and 1990s many digital masters for CD sources were downsampled to what we'd now consider to be sub-par compression ratios. Some of those recordings were never remastered. I assume you're referring to CDs which have been mastered with care given to audio quality, either new recordings or fresh transfers of old masters. But I agree, it doesn't make much sense for someone to take a perfectly good CD with good sound quality, downsample it with little regard for audio fidelity and convert it to a low bit-rate .mp3 file. In such a case, why not just use the CD? Or sample the .mp3 at a higher rate, so high that you couldn't really tell the difference from the original CD source. If they were going to do that then it'd make more sense to use a lossless codec like .wav or .flac.
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by gravelwalks
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
"~ converting it to a lossless format like .wav or .flac is only going to preserve that original compression ratio." ~ gravelwalks
Yup! There are fiddly bits you can do to raise the volume, but that's just cosmetic, as they say...
New recordings done with reasonable care... But, some classic CDs made specifically for 'dance classes' are shight, poorly engineered...
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by ceolachan
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
As has been said. Any cd burning program should convert mp3s to audio cd. ...make audio cd.. is what you want.
Otherwise download Imageburn at http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download. Its free.
Use this guide to make audio cd from mp3s. http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=5555
Just follow that and you can't go wrong.
# Posted on February 7th 2010 by bigyabby
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Or you could try buying the cd's.
# Posted on February 8th 2010 by Pere
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Just kidding.
# Posted on February 8th 2010 by Pere
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Thanks for all the tips, for this one occasion it might just be easier to borrow an ipod, as our dvd drive would need to be repaired first. on a Closing note, are blank audio cds readily available in the shops?
# Posted on February 8th 2010 by whistlingrich
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
yes, and quite cheap
# Posted on February 9th 2010 by full measure
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
If your computer is a laptop you can just connect it in the same way as an ipod/mp3 player. 3.5mm - 2RCA. I play a lot of stuff this way.
# Posted on February 9th 2010 by strayaway
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Of course you can do it with any computer, I mention laptop for portability. Hmm, that's that cleared up, possibly.
# Posted on February 9th 2010 by strayaway
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
When you go shopping for blank CDs - they are the same CD-R as used for data, just written differently. Sometimes there are problems with computer-written audio discs not playing properly. Recent drives seem better but it would be safest listen to the finished CD all the way through on the player you will be using at the dance before you do it for real .
# Posted on February 9th 2010 by David50
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Ditto what david_h says, not all media are the same, and cheap is cheap, usually meaning more failures or problems. However, you've sussed the easiest option, and strayaway has expanded on that ~ an ipod or laptop would do the job with a little cabling...
While most modern CD players will handle the wide variety of possibilities, my older CD players will not...
# Posted on February 9th 2010 by ceolachan
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
If interested in the concept of 'topping-and-tailing' in compression, and MP3s, do a search, there are a few threads that have taken off here on the subject. As old as my ears are I can still tell the dynamic difference between MP3s of different quality, CD red book, larger digital, analog and live. I know, I know, my ears will continue to age, but also, digital media is where it 'could', if the demand was there, produce audio with greater content and dynamic presence, less of a necessity to reduce the information by removing highs and lows ~ 24 bit and up...
# Posted on February 9th 2010 by ceolachan
Re: downloading internet tunes to audio cd
Leaving aside the issue of the quality of MP3, and assuming you are going with that (remembering too that MP3 can be done with a variety of compression ratios, some more lossy than others), you could well, if you are not really strapped for cash, invest in a non-apple MP3 player.
I recently bought one for the equivalent of 70 quid, with 8 GB memory (so several thousand tracks), 92x45x10 mm, will also hold pictures, videos, text files, FM radio, records from internal mic, plays by artist, album, genre, file directory or playlists (just the ticket for your purpose, I guess). So you can have all your source material on it, select whichever playlist you have made for the occasion, and only need one minijack connection to your PA. You can leave all your jumble of CDs at home.
# Posted on February 9th 2010 by Alex Wilding