CD - HELP! (Off Topic)

[zul]

Sorry to be off topic on this one. I've been working to 'burn' some audio CD's. Going through the burning process, everything looks to work out just fine until I try to play the CD on my stereo or standard CD player. The music will play on my computer, but not the CD players. The CD's used are 'CD-R'. Is there a different process to record (software/hardware needed?) or should a different CD be used?

Just when you think you've got it all figured out ... :confused:

[Honest Gaza]

If you are burning MP3 or WAV files, they will probably not play on a "standard" stereo CD player.

You need to burn them in the same format as was on the original music CD (*.CDA from memory ?)

[AdamW]

The format should be .aiff for audio cd files.

CD-Rs with music won't play in regular cd players if (1) those players are very old (2) the disks are burned as data disks instead of music disks or (3) the files are .mp3, .wav, .ogg, .acc, or other compressed formats--although some newer cd players, such as the one that came with my car, will play .mp3 files.

[zul]

1. I am starting out with standard music CD's.

2. The CD players are old and really old. There are currently CD's that were burned at some point. These CD's are now scratched and unusable. Thus the project to create another set of CD's from the origionals. It can be done, I just can't figure it out without help. Ergh.

3. I am using the standard MicroSoft software to burn. How do I change to .aiff format? Or can I?? Is there a different software that should be used?

Thanks Gang.

zul

[AdamW]

Zul--You say the players are old, but if they played home-burned cds before, then that's not the problem.

Load one of the original cds on your computer. What are the file types? They should already be .aiff

I use a Mac so I'm not familiar with the built-in Windows burning software. This is a Windows program (click here) (http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/recordnow/standard/overview.html) from the makers of the Mac-only Toast (a great application.) You should probably give it a try.

[hokeyguy]

I have never had an issue with the .wav format.

[Honest Gaza]

I stand by my original statement that they will be *.cda.

I just shoved an original music CD in my laptop and used Windows explore :

Track01.cda
Track02.cda

etc

[Xion]

If you can get a program called Nero, then do it. You may be able to find it free somewhere around the internet, I googled "Nero Free" and found at least 2, but the surefire way is to go and buy it at Best Buy or a similar store.
Nero basically burns anything, and does it correctly.

Unless your software's working and it's just a miscommunication problem between you and the computer. Then just ignore me, haha.

[zul]

Lot's of great information. Thanks! Here is the scoop ... I manage a 15 room bed & breakfast where each room has a CD player and 3 CD's. Very common to get these CD's scratched, cracked or flat out broken. So I am in the process of taking out all of the CD's and trying to burn a fresh set.

HonestGaza is correct in that 'origional' CD's are in *.cda format.

AdamW has a great idea to use the burned CD if I can find a clean set that isn't scratched. That will take a bunch of time, having to listen through each CD until I find set that isn't skipping. Keep in mind, this is mostly boring background music. At least it would be in the *.aiff format that I am looking for.

I'll look into Nero and/or Toast. It's always good to find software that works or does what you want it to, unlike most MS applications :rolleyes:

Thanks once again. More work to be done on this project.

zul

[AdamW]

Did a quick bit of research and found that Gaza is right. However, so am I. On a PC, the files show as .cda. On a Mac, the files show as .aiff.

Xion is also right in suggesting Nero. It is reliable and simple to use and will easily allow you to make multiple copies of the same disk. That's for Windows. For a Mac, get Toast.

A suggestion: keep working copies of each cd on your hard drive, so that when a guest trashes a copy, you can just burn a new one.