Burning track onto a CD

[mandalay_leigh]

I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, but I've read posts by users who have been able to download the audio track onto a CD so that they didn't have to watch the movie on the computer.  I've been wondering how people have done this, since I can't get the audio track to save to my computer by itself.  I can't transfer it to any CD burning programmes because I can't extract it from WinZip that way, if any of the makes sense.  I'm computer retarded so I hope someone here can explain how they managed to do this.  I've experienced too much trouble with scratched rented DVDs so I want to be able to play Rifftrax with a video, only I'm too lazy to lug the TV and VCR to where it's near the computer and then attempt to hook everything up.  I love Rifftrax but not that much.

[MrTorso]

First off do you have a CD player that will play MP3s?  If so, then all you have to do is tell your burning program to make a DATA CD, extract the MP3 from the zip file and burn the MP3 as a file to CD.

IF you don't have a CD player that will play MP3s then you are going to have a bit of a problem. As long as you are telling your burning program that you want to make an AUDIO CD you should be able to point to the MP3 file and the program will automatically convert to CD audio. The problem that you run into is that all of the Rifftrax (so far) are at least 90 minutes long. A CD will only hold 80 minutes. You would have to split the file in half and have to burn two cds. Then you also have to deal with resyncing the Rifftrax when the CD change happens.

[torgosPizza]

Hi there mandalay_leigh and welcome to the Roundtable!

Since you mention WinZip I imagine you're using a PC. Which version of Windows are you using? I'm going to guess XP but that's not always the case anymore.

There are several ways you can get the mp3 file onto a CD; however, keep in mind, that if you try burning it as an Audio file, chances are you will not have enough room on the disc for the entire track. Most CDs only allow up to 80 minutes, and I think the majority of films are at least 90 minutes (or thereabouts).

I'm not quite sure what other users are doing as far as burning to CD and listening it as audio- I've searched the forum and come up with nothing - but if you have a discman that can play MP3 discs, you're golden.

Two easiest ways I can think of - extract the mp3 file from WinZip. The quickest way is to double-click the .zip package, and drag-and-drop the file(s) from inside WinZip to your desktop, or to its own folder if you prefer. From there you can import the MP3 file into your CD writing software.

Some programs like Windows Media Player and Winamp allow you to burn MP3 and audio CDs. They sometimes offer a decent alternative if you can't snag decent burning software. But if you have the scratch and can afford to spend a little bit, I'd recommend Nero Premium. You can do almost anything with that bundle.

If you still have questions please let us know and we'll be glad to help you out!


EDIT: Geez, MrTorso, you beat me to the punch!    Nice job!

[gammer]

One other obsure option is to use 90/99 min cd's.
http://www.dvdshoponline.co.uk/90_Min_CD-R_Media.html

If you do purchase 90/99 min cd's then you need to do some special configuration to Nero to get them to burn properly (change some advanced settings)

Also, you will need to test and make sure that your cd writer or dvd burner can burn 90/99 min cd's.

If you do go this route, let me know and I'll see if I can dig up the intsructions on what settings to change in Nero.

I have a spindle of 50 of these cd's but I stopped using them when I stopped making SVCD's.

[Conor]

If you have iTunes installed you can set in and out points for the recording and fit it onto 2 Audio CDs, (Not sure if you're talking about putting the MP3 file on a CD or burning a CD that plays in any CD player.)

http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2004/12/an_open_request_for_an_itunes.html

The latest iTunes versions will do this automatically for you when you try to burn a file that is too long to fit on one CD, but the above method will let you specify a stopping point.

[shadowdragon]

You can also use an audio program (like Audacity) to seperate music into segements.