Burner virgin needing advice

[Chelle]

Okay so I got a new car with a CD player. I have a 100 cool MP3's on my Winamp I can't get off my computer. I would like to be able to play 100 cool MP3's in new car :D

I've never used a CD burner before and want to buy one. What am I looking for? What's good and what do I stay away from? I see the prices range quite a bit so I'm thinking there's a difference :p I don't need anything too elaborate. Someone also mentioned my CD player has to be able to play MP3's or it won't work (?) Is this even legal? (if not, moderator please moderate me!) :D

Thanks in advance :sunshine:

[Talon]

Many people will tell you that Plextor or Yamaha are the best, and they are. But if you are looking to save alittle money, The Sanyo line is also good. I recently bought one in Feb and it works beautifully. Also, if you want to start making music CD's, I recommend Music Match Jukebox. It is REALLY simple to use, and converts songs automatically when you burn them to a CD, and even lets you know if you have enough room for the songs you have chosen, or if you need to get rid of one or two. Of course, that is just my opinion.

Talon

[Rids]

The Lite-on Burners are very good value too, cheap, good performance and I'm yet to create a coaster. The software Talon mentions is good and nice and simple to use and you will need it because you have to convert the MP3s into the correct format in order to play them on a normal CD. This will of course mean you can't put all your MP3s on one CD as they will take up the same amount of space as a normal song.

[Talon]

Exactly. I used to have a CD Player in my car before I sold it that played MP3's as well, and that was great because you could fit soooo many songs on one cd. But converting it isn't a big deal, and if you use CDRW's, you only need to have a couple of them in your car, and when you get bored with the songs, just write over them!

[Fireblade]

Despite being one of the cheapest brands available, Lite-on CDRW's are very well rated ;)

Software wise... I gotta agree wi' Talon... Musicmatch Jukebox would be my suggestion - and not just because I've registered it :p

[Ian Newson]

Sorry for not replying earlyer Chelle. I can only repeat what the others have said and say the liteon drives are one of the best to get , a lot of the other Cdrw drives are also rebadged liteon's (certain TDK models and also most memorex drives too).

As far as converting Mp3's to audio cd's or backing up your Mp3's onto cdr goes then if nero is supplied with the drive then this will do the job fine.

As for an Mp3 player I have a cd walkman (goodmans) that plays mp3's as well as cd's that comes with a car radio cassette coverter and it only cost like £50 to £60.

Ian

[Chelle]

Thanks guys!!

I still haven't made it out to buy one, but at least now I have an idea of what I'm doing :p

What format do the MP3's need to be converted to in order to play in the car stereo, .wav ? Is there any way of telling (beforehand) if my car stero will play MP3's... besides just trying it? LOL

Rids, will that AltoMP3 maker do the job or do I want the Music Match Jukebox instead?

Thanks again!
:sunshine:

[Talon]

You need to convert them into .wav files, which are alot larger than .mp3

[WesM63]

Hi Chelle,
To tell you the truth i've never noticed the diffrence in a Burner. But i'll agree with everyone else.. lite-on's are great.

As for converting mp3's to .wav files, first find out what all format's your car's cd player supports. Most of the newer one's will say on the faceplate or check out the user's manual. Most of them will support cd-r and cd-rw.. if your lucky it will support MP3's.

As for CD burning software, I would by far choose Roxi's Easy CD Creator 5. It seems to be the easiest thing i've ever or any one i know has used. It uses a drag and dropd format, a slipt screem will pop up and you drag your MP3's from the top(where they're stored on your computer) to the botttom (empty cd). At the very bottom it will tell you how many min/sec you have remaining,once that is full all you have to do is click record. *You can also rip .wav files with this software.*

BTW most cd burners come with some sort of software. Usally nero.. i don't find it as easy to use but others do.

Also if you have Windows XP, you don't need any software!! Just highlight the songs u want on the cd, and on the left, cick Copy to audio cd.It converts them to .wav and burn's em.

Good luck in your search.

[Chelle]

Thanks for the advice, that really helps!

Well, lol.. I bought one.... The guy talked me into an internal drive, and said (ha!) it would be real easy to install. I'm SO not a hardware girl... I got as far as opening my box and unscrewing the mounting brackets, but it doesn't have a space for an extra drive, so I'd have to replace my current one. I have a stupid HP Pavilion and those boxes are SO tight and compact, I managed to scrape my knuckle, lose my temper and put it all back together again :D

Now I'm debating whether I should 1) have someone install it for me, or 2) return it for an external type.

Are the internal really better than the USB connected kind?

Thanks again (and sorry to be such a pain! LOL)

:sunshine:

[Chelle]

PS, Wes -- the software that came with this drive is Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.1, so I'm all set there :)

(the drive, btw is an "LG CD-R/RW")

[Ian Newson]

As far as USB goes Chelle I think u can only go up to 4x burn. The only other choice is to go for USB2 or firewire. Both wil require a card if u havent got USB2 or firewire and the drives will be more expensive :( .

[Chelle]

Thanks Ian. So I'm probably better to keep what I have and find someone to install it for me?

I'm not sure what 4x burn means.. the one I bought is:

CD-R = 32x
CD-RW = 10x
Max-Read = 40x
with "superlink" buffer underrun prevention

Is this good?
(whatevertheheck that all means) :D

[Ian Newson]

A USB (4x4x6 maximum I think) one would not be as fast as either firewire,USB2 or internal cause of the USB bandwith . The one you have sounds ok for a modern drive, bearing in mind my first one was 4x4x16 :D

The superlink (buffer under run) means when the buffer emptys u wont get errors.

[Rids]

Just open up the case and replace the one you have with the new one - hey presto you have a CD writer :D
Just install the software then and you're away

[WesM63]

Hi chelle,
Trust me it's easier than it looks.. take your time. Installing a Cd-rw drive in a pivilion was my first hardware mod also. Most people don't like reading there user's manual, but in this seniro i would.. check it out.. it will make things easier. But by any means don't pay someone to do it.

You can replace the cd drive you have, just unscrew it (2x screws on each side)unplug the ide and power cord, then slide it out the front. Slide the new one in and put it back to gether the same way to took it apart.

Good Luck!!

p.s - You got a nice burner..I also would'nt waste your time or money on an external one unless it's usb2.0 or firewire.. otherwise you'll be waiting an eternity for a cd to burn.

[Chelle]

Thanks Rids :D (if it were that easy for me I'd have done it already) ;)

[Rids]

it is that easy, just make sure you don't break a nail again! ;)
Literally, open the case, undo the screws that hold the CD in place, pull out the three connectors at the back, whip it out, slide the new one in, plug the leads back in, screw it back in place, put the case back on and you have a new CD Writer :)
See - simple innit! :p

[Ragnarog]

Oh and dont forget to check if the Master/Slave settings are correct (use same settings on the new drive as on the old cd drive).

Usually controlled by jumpers on the back of the drives.

Rag

[Chelle]

Originally posted by WesM63
just unscrew it (2x screws on each side)
THAT was the ticket :p You know how the pavilion boxes have the panel on the one side that appears to be all attached.. once I removed that it all became clear :D

Thank you! :hug:

Software installed and buring my first CD right now :D

You guys are the bestest, thanks!!

:sunshine: Happy Chelle :sunshine:

[WesM63]

Hi chelle,
Told you it was that easy if you took your time.:D

Now your ready to build your own computer.

[Rids]

Been trying to tell her that all along but will she listen? :rolleyes: :D

[WesM63]

Hi rids,
Obviously she has'nt been. :D

Sorry chelle!:p

[Rids]

Let you into a secret :cunning: .... She never does :D

[WesM63]

Thanks rids i'll keep that in mind.:D

[Chelle]

I listened!! I just have a bit of a ... stubborn streak! (yeah, that's it!) :D

Build my own pc... well, I didn't want fingernails anyway :p

Thanks again!

[Rids]

By the way - I AM JOKING!!! :uhoh:

[Chelle]

No you're not, LOL! But I forgive you anyway :kiss:

[WesM63]

Hey chelle,
I think were all stubborn at times:D

There just fingernails .. they'll grow back.

[CyberdynSystems]

So how did you're first CD come out?

I remember being absolutely amazed the first time I burned a CD! Of course that was a Loong time ago. For those who know what I'm talking about here, .......

..a Philips 2X SCSI burner that cost $600.00 at the time, and that was CHEAP!!!! Others were $800.00 or more.

I still have my first disk too.

A compilation of Gypsy Kings songs from 4 differrent albums. I burned in Windows 3.1 using Corel Cd Creator (adaptec bought it from Corel) I had a 580 MB Hard drive on a Pentium 100 with a wopping 16 MB of EDO Ram!:D :D :D :D :D

What ever happened to SCSI anyways?!;)

[Fireblade]

Originally posted by CyberdynSystems
What ever happened to SCSI anyways?!;)

SCSI prices basically staying the same as they always were is the main reason for SCSI's demise I reckon. Wi' todays IDE devices - and even external Firewire + USB 2.0 devices reaching speeds previously only available thru' a SCSI device, it just ain't worth the extra expense IMHO ;)

[JDErickson]

Just wanted to add a little for accuracy stake.

Wav files are not written to disk actually. The music data is actually written in Redbook (if I remember right) format. Its basically just raw data written to disk.

This is why you do not see any files on a music CD that you put in a computer CD player.

This is also why you have to "rip" the files from the disk. If they were wav files you could just copy them to your hard drive.

Also I have noticed that some car CD players are finicky. My van will only accept silver disks and spits gold disks out.

Jim

[Chelle]

Originally posted by CyberdynSystems
So how did you're first CD come out?
It turned out great! The software was a breeze to use. I just made a 2nd one last night, all retro 70's remix's, LOL.
:spot: stayin alive......:spot:

[Valkyrie]

I suppose ABBA will be next. They RocK!