Author Topic: Creating MP3 files (Read 152 times)

jet_powers · « **on:** July 18, 2006, 03:21:20 PM »

Being the technical ignoramus that I am I was hoping some club members could advise me as to the best way to go about creating MP3 files.... What programs / methods do you suggest?

JP

bsee · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2006, 03:28:11 PM »

Question - creating MP3 files from what source? Are you talking about ripping CDs or recording yourself playing and singing?

jet_powers · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2006, 03:34:41 PM »

See? I told you I was ignorant.... I guess I just want to take music I've previously recorded in our studio and mastered to CD's and convert them to MP3's.

FC Bass · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2006, 03:43:29 PM »

Hello, I'm also ignorant. I've got my music mastered on MD and want to turn them into mp3's...

tom_z · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2006, 04:24:21 PM »

iTunes on Mac or Windows can rip mp3 files from a CD.

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2006, 04:35:22 PM »

Hi guys,
I don't know the Windows side of things. If you've got an Apple, use iTunes to convert the songs. Insert a CD and import the tracks you wish, then in the Advanced Menu at the top of the screen you can convert from AIFF to MP3 at various rates and vice versa. Highlight the song title in iTunes and under the File Menu, select show song file which will show you where the file is on your Mac. You can then point to the file for uploading, etc. If your music is on MD, you'll have to do a straight audio transfer in real time, recording the song into your Mac's audio input (typically a stereo 1/8' jack),then drag the file onto iTunes before converting. I hope that helps.
Mike

bsee · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2006, 06:41:18 PM »

Mike, I wouldn't do it that way. Yes, use iTunes, but go straight from the CD to the format you want. CDs are in WAVe format. Every time you convert formats, especially with compressed formats like MP3, you will lose a little data. Best bet is to set up your audio application (iTunes or equivalent) to import directly from the CD to MP3 format. Do a separate import to whatever format you want iTunes to use if you want something different.

As far as MD songs go, I thought they were already in MP3 format? I only had an early generation MD setup that didn't have the PC connectivity of the more recent models. I thought the latest MD player/recorders have USB to plug directly into the computer and copy the files over. I don't know for sure, though, just a guess.

-bob

olieoliver · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2006, 07:27:21 PM »

If you have the music on Cd and you are running a Windows PC. Just pop the cd in, open windows media player click on the tools tab at the top. Then select options. On the options box there should be a tab that says RIP MUSIC, select it. Then you'll see a drop down box thats titled format, select MP3 then select Apply then OK to close this box. Select the Rip tab in Windows media player then (if your CD is in the CD rom) you should see a list of your tunes. Select the tunes you want to rip then rip 'em. They should by default be ripped to your MY MUSIC folder in MY DOCUMENTS. You can also change the folder they are ripped to by the above directions just right above the format box there with be a Rip To destination dialogue box.
Hope this helps.

Bradley Young · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2006, 10:53:21 PM »

Under Linux, I use cdparanoia and lame to rip cds and encode mp3s, respectively.

I usually use flac which is a lossless compression rather than mp3.

Brad

bob · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2006, 11:51:03 PM »

Bob, while I completely agree that one should avoid multiple conversions whenever possible, I have to question your statement that CDs are in WAVe format.

I'm way too tired to research this tonight, but following moder Dave's example, I'll point you to our old friend wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV

CDs are encoded in PCM, according to the Red Book standard. They may appear on Windoze machines as .wav (don't know), but that would be misleading. To be fair, CDs are also not AIFF, though if you pop one in a Mac that's how the files will show up.

Not that this helps at all...

bsee · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2006, 09:26:25 AM »

Well, bad choice of words on my part, since I have a PC heritage, but the point is still the same. A WAV file is an exact copy of the data on the CD. The CD is in an uncompressed format and data is lost when the compression is applied to convert the format to any of the computer-friendly alternatives.

I couldn't import into iTunes in an uncompressed format based upon the number of CDs I have and practical disk space limitations, so I *assumed* that importing into AIFF with iTunes meant compression. Either way, it would still be an extra step.

-bob

jet_powers · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2006, 01:26:01 PM »

Thanks all, Windows media player has the rip thing built right in. I looked in all the wrong places! The cheesey programs that come with the computer want you to pay them to upgrade in order to rip...

JP