How do I fit more songs on an audio CD?

Question

Level 2

187 points

How do I fit more songs on an audio CD?

Hi,

Currently my import setting is set to MP3. Is there a way to fit more songs on an audio CD from itunes and still retain the good sound? Also I want it to play on my stereo. I've read about the differences on the help tab in itunes but I'm still a little confused on all this.

Thanks,

M.

GHz PowerPC G4 512 MB DDR SDRAM, Mac OS X (10.4.8), itunes 7.0.1

Posted on Oct 31, 2006 7:20 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Oct 31, 2006 7:23 PM in response to spiralgirl

There is one audio format for CD based primarily on song length so you can't fit more than a CD will hold. Ripping from CD then converting to MP3 ( I think you should be ripping to AAC frankly) then back to CD is not going to give you any better audio quality than the compressed MP3 or AAC file.

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Answer 2

spiralgirl Author

Level 2

187 points

Nov 1, 2006 6:23 PM in response to Ricktoronto

Rick,

I just use the default setting for my itunes and they are all in MP3 format. Then I burn onto a blank CD-R using the Audio format.

So maybe I should try burning in AAC format? Since CD-RW burn for me as well I think I will try a few different formats and then erase the CD which I did already when I tried the MP3 format first and realized it wouldn't work in my stereo.

Thanks,

M.

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Answer 3

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Nov 1, 2006 7:51 PM in response to spiralgirl

The only type of CD that will play in a CD player is an audio CD. You are permitted a limited number of burns of protected files to a CD. Once it is a CD, it's a CD. You could, for example put it right back in iTunes and rip the songs back to AAC.

I am becoming increasingly confused as to what your problem actually is.

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Answer 4

Nov 2, 2006 4:35 AM in response to spiralgirl

Don't burn using a CD-RW - computer drives will recognize them but most home player units will not. You need to check the formats that your player will recognize and play.

I ditto Rick as to what your problem really is.

MJ

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Answer 5

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Nov 2, 2006 9:55 AM in response to Mike Johnson12

Since I am in the same city if there were a way for her to PM me I would just go over this on the phone.

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Answer 6

spiralgirl Author

Level 2

187 points

Nov 2, 2006 10:14 AM in response to Ricktoronto

Rick,

I just wanted to fit more songs on an audio CD and wondered if there was another way to do it that's it. Instead of 18-19 songs fitting on a CD I wondered if there was a way to fit more on and still have it play on my stereo using audio format.

By the way I don't live in Toronto but I'm from there originally.

Thanks,

M.

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Answer 7

macmenno

Level 6

10,080 points

Nov 2, 2006 12:25 PM in response to spiralgirl

Audio CDs have a native format (16 bit PCM) that needs a fixed amount of space per minute.
The result is that there does not fit more than about 78 minutes (80 theoretical) of audio on an 700 MB disc.
Whatever format your source files are (MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF or Apple Lossless), they are all converted 'on the fly' to that native format.
So the total amount of time of the source files in your playlist, is the limiting factor. The files size does not matter.

M

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Answer 8

spiralgirl Author

Level 2

187 points

Nov 2, 2006 12:38 PM in response to spiralgirl

In thinking about this and reading some more I'm coming to the conclusion that it is not possible to burn more than 19 songs on an audio CD. I thought by changing the import settings somehow I could burn more.

I'm just getting into all this lately. Just learned how to burn a DVD using Disc Utility not that long ago and figured out how to burn CD's as well. Lately I've had time to tinker on my computer and figure out what it does and it's mind boggling. There is still so much to learn and I always figure if I knew more or was a computer whiz like many are on this site I could anything.

So I was exploring if there was options to getting more songs on a CD other than what I was doing.

Thanks again. I appreciate your patience. Sometimes I'm not even sure of the right lingo for what I'm asking.

M.

M.

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Answer 9

spiralgirl Author

Level 2

187 points

Nov 2, 2006 12:42 PM in response to macmenno

Macmenno,

I just posted again before seeing your reply. Thank you for the explanation as I didn't understand about the different formats and thought a different format made a difference.

M.

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Answer 10

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Nov 2, 2006 4:37 PM in response to spiralgirl

19 is quite a few on one CD, more typical is what you tend to find on studio CD's - 12-13 or so. Actually an easier way to think of it is the time vs. the number of files - there will be a limit to how much time you can record to one CD as the bitrate, e.g. the amount of bits per second of music is pretty much constant.

Note some audio CD players will actually play MP3 files and so will some home DVD players. I have one that handles MP3's. Though I would not rip CD's to AAC or MP3 (iPod/iTunes formats) then go and make CD's from them again.

You can make mix CD's that keep the audio in its original format using some applications. uch better quality.

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Answer 11

spiralgirl Author

Level 2

187 points

Nov 3, 2006 12:20 PM in response to Ricktoronto

Rick,

Thanks for the explanation. I'm trying to learn so much in such a short time. Lately I've been working on my old iMac and figuring out how to upgrade to OSX. This site has been so helpful and so glad I found after a few years of forgetting about it.

M.

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Answer 12

spiralgirl Author

Level 2

187 points

Nov 3, 2006 12:22 PM in response to spiralgirl

Thanks to Rick and Macmenno I have a clearer understanding of audio CD's.

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