Making Music CDs Using Easy CD Creator

Overview • Making a Music CD • Making Music CDs with a CD-Recorder Only • Making a Compilation Music CD • Tips for Making a Music CD • Working with Tracks in the Music CD Project • Playing a Track • Viewing the Status Bar • Viewing the CD Info Bar • Saving and Opening a CD Project • Accessing the Online Music Database on the Internet • Advanced Music CD Topics

Overview

A music CD is a compact disc (CD) used for playing back music on your home or car stereo CD player. With Easy CD Creator, you can make your own music CD by recording tracks from other music CDs, and from audio files (for example, WAV, MP3, or WMA files) stored on your hard disk.

Here are just some of the things you should know about a music CD:

Unlike a data CD, a music CD is used for playing back music and not for data storage.
In addition to your home or car stereo CD player, a music CD can also be played on just about every computer that has a CD-ROM or CD-Recorder, using a program such as the Windows CD Player.
With Easy CD Creator, you can make a music CD that can typically hold up to 74 or 80 minutes of music and up to 99 tracks.
With Easy CD Creator, you can make your own compilation music CD that contains tracks from other music CDs and audio files.

Making a Music CD

To make a music CD:

Start a new music CD project. From the Easy CD Creator Project Selector window, click Make a Music CD, then click Music CD Project. An untitled music CD project appears.
Insert a blank CD into your CD-Recorder (the destination drive).

Add the music tracks you want to record to the music CD project (if you are recording audio files only, skip to Step 4):

NOTE: You can add any combination of music tracks, WAV, MP3, or WMA files to a music CD project. Up to 99 tracks and files, or up to 650 MB (74-minute CD) or 700 MB (80-minute CD) of tracks and files can be added to a music CD project.

Insert the music CD into your CD-ROM drive (the source drive) and allow the CD to spin up.

In the Select Source Files drop-down list box, select the CD-ROM drive containing the music CD; a list of the tracks on the CD appears in the Source window.

NOTE: If information about the music CD is found locally on your hard disk, the CD title, artist name, and the name of each track are displayed in the Source window. If this information does not appear, and you have access to the Internet, click Name to download the information from the online music database.

Select the track (hold down the Ctrl or Shift key to select multiple tracks) in the Source window, and then click Add. The track is added to the music CD project.

NOTE: Tracks from multiple CDs can be added to the music CD project by repeating Steps a-c (this is especially useful when you want to make a compilation music CD). During the actual record process you are prompted to insert the appropriate music CD for the track being recorded.

Add the audio files you want to record to the music CD project:
1. In the Select Source Files drop-down list box, select the folder where your files are located; a list of all audio files in the folder appears in the Source window.
2. Select the file (hold down the Ctrl or Shift key to select multiple files) in the Source window, and then click Add. The file is added to the music CD project.
Click Record. The Record CD Setup dialog box appears.
Click Start Recording.

Making Music CDs with a CD-Recorder Only

Making a music CD from other music CDs is typically done using both a CD-ROM drive (capable of digital audio extraction) and a CD-Recorder. If you have a CD-Recorder only, and you want to record tracks from other music CDs, you can do one of the following:

Save tracks on music CDs to hard disk first: This method requires you to convert each track on the music CD you want to record to an audio file (WAV, MP3, or WMA) on your hard disk. Once saved to your hard disk, you can add the audio file to your music CD project and record it just like you would a normal music CD. See Converting a Track to a WAV or WMA File.

NOTE: Users that have both a CD-ROM and CD-Recorder also commonly use this method.
Swap CDs in and out of your CD-Recorder: This method requires you to add tracks to your music CD project and record the tracks just like you would a normal music CD. You will be required to insert and reinsert the music CDs that contain the tracks you want to record. See Making a Music CD.

Making a Compilation Music CD

A compilation music CD is a music CD made from a variety of music sources including other music CDs and audio files (WAV, MP3, or WMA). Making a compilation music CD is the same as making a music CD in Easy CD Creator. Here are some helpful tips on making a compilation music CD:

Retrieve CD title, artist and track names, and track lengths from the Internet: If you are recording tracks from music CDs, you can automatically retrieve information about a commercially produced music CD, including the CD title, artist, and track names from the online music database on the Internet. See Accessing the Online Music Database on the Internet. This information helps Easy CD Creator identify CDs.

NOTE: If you do not have Internet access, manually name each music CD you are recording from with a CD title, artist name, and track names. See Editing the CD Title and Artist Name and Editing Track Titles.

Label your music CD project with CD title and artist name: Before recording your CD, you may want to label the CD by providing a new CD title and artist name in your music CD project. See Editing the CD Title and Artist Name.
Inserting and reinserting music CDs: If you are recording tracks from music CDs, during the actual record process, you will be prompted to insert the appropriate music CD for the track being recorded. If you have several tracks from different CDs, be prepared to remove and insert CDs into your source drive when prompted. An alternative method for recording tracks from music CDs is to save the tracks to hard disk first, as described below.
Save tracks on music CDs to hard disk first: This method requires you to convert each track on the music CD you want to record to an audio file (WAV or WMA) on your hard disk. Once saved to your hard disk, you can add the audio file to your music CD project and record it just like you would a normal music CD. See Converting a Track to a WAV or WMA File, and Making a Music CD.

Tips for Making a Music CD

Here are a few tips for making music CDs:

Copy an entire music CD with CD Copier: To make a backup copy of an entire music CD from start to finish, use CD Copier. See Copying CDs Using CD Copier.
Convert a track to WAV or WMA format: To save a track on an existing music CD to your hard disk drive, convert the track to a WAV or WMA audio format. Once saved to your hard disk, you can add the audio file to your music CD project and record it just like you would a normal music CD. See Converting a Track to a WAV or WMA File.
Retrieve the CD title, artist name, and track titles from the Internet: To retrieve the CD title, artist name, and track titles for a commercially produced music CD, use the online music database available with Easy CD Creator. See Accessing the Online Music Database on the Internet.
Label your music CD project with CD title and artist name: Before recording your CD, you may want to label the CD by typing a new CD title and artist name for your music CD project. Once the CD is recorded, you cannot change the title and name.
Record in Disc-at-Once (DAO) mode to eliminate the two-second gap between tracks: To prevent a two-second gap from occurring between the music tracks, record your music CD using the Disc-at-Once option. When making the CD, select Disc-at-Once from the Record CD Setup dialog box.
Preview a track: To hear a track as it will be recorded to your CD, preview the track before recording it to CD. This is especially useful if you want to preview any effects applied to a track. See Previewing a Track.
Save your music CD project: You can save your music CD project to record a CD at a later time. When saving a music CD project, you are saving a file that contains only the instructions that specify which tracks and files to include in the music CD project. See Saving and Opening a CD Project.

Working with Tracks in the Music CD Project

Once you have added one or more tracks to your music CD project, you have the following options:

Previewing a Track
Converting a Track to a WAV or WMA File
Merging (Composite) Tracks
Splitting Composite Tracks
Editing the CD Title and Artist Name
Editing Track Titles
Changing the Order of Your Tracks
Removing a Track from the Music CD Project

Previewing a Track

Previewing a track allows you to hear a track as it will be recorded to your CD. This is especially useful if you want to preview any effects applied to a track.

NOTE: A sound card and speakers are required if you want to preview the tracks.

To preview tracks:

In the music CD project, select one or more tracks.
Click Preview. The Easy CD Creator Media Player appears and begins playing the selected tracks.

Converting a Track to a WAV or WMA File

Easy CD Creator allows you to save tracks on an existing music CD to your hard disk drive. You can name the tracks you save, select the format (WAV or WMA), and select the format quality (for example, CD Quality).

To convert a track from an existing music CD:

Start a new music CD project. From the File menu, point to New CD Project, then select Music CD Project.
Insert the music CD that contains the music track you want to convert into your CD-ROM drive (the source drive) and allow the CD to spin-up.

In the Select Source Files drop-down list box, select the CD-ROM drive containing the music CD; a list of the tracks on the CD appears in the Source window.

In the Source window, select the track you want to convert.
Click Convert. The Convert Audio Track(s) dialog box appears.
In the Save In drop-down list box, select a location for the file.
In the File Name text box, type a name for the file.
In the Save as Type drop-down list box, select the format type:
- WAV
- WMA
In the Format drop-down list box, select the format quality you want for the file and click Save. The available options vary depending on your system. In general, higher quality settings result in larger file sizes.

NOTE: Click Options / Hide Options on the Convert Audio Track(s) dialog box, to show or hide the options.

Merging (Composite) Tracks

A composite track is a single track that is made up of two or more separate tracks.

To make a composite track:

Select two or more tracks you want to merge.
From the Track menu, select Merge Tracks.

The tracks appear as a single track in the music CD project.

Splitting Composite Tracks

A composite track is a single track that is made up of two or more separate tracks.

To separate a composite track:

Select the composite track you want to separate.
From the Track menu, select Split Tracks. The composite track appears as multiple tracks in the music CD project.

Editing the CD Title and Artist Name

To uniquely identify the music CD you are making, you can type a CD title and artist name for the CD:

Click the New CD Title text box or Artist Name text box and type a new name.

Editing Track Titles

You can rename each track in the music CD project:

Right-click the track name you want to edit in the music CD project.
Select Rename.
Type a new name for the track.

Changing the Order of Your Tracks

The order of the tracks as they appear in the music CD project is the order they are recorded to CD.

To change the order of the tracks:

Select the track you want to change the order of and drag it to the new position.

Removing a Track from the Music CD Project

Removing a track from the music CD project does not remove the original track on the music CD, or the WAV, MP3, or WMA file on your hard disk.

To remove a track from the music CD project:

Select the track in the music CD project.
Click Remove.

Playing a Track

The media player included with Easy CD Creator allows you to play one or more music tracks or audio files.

NOTE: A sound card and speakers are required if you want to play the tracks or audio files. To play a music track on CD, the sound card must be connected to the source CD-Recorder or CD-ROM drive with an audio cable.

To play a music track on a CD:

Insert the music CD into your CD-ROM drive (the source drive) and allow the CD to spin up.

In the Select Source Files drop-down list box, select the CD-ROM drive containing the music CD; a list of the tracks on the CD appears in the Source window.

Select one or more tracks in the Source window, and then click Preview. The Easy CD Creator Media Player appears and begins playing your tracks.

To play an audio file (WAV, MP3, or WMA) on your hard disk:

In the Select Source Files drop-down list box, select the folder where the audio file is located; the audio files in the folder appear in the Source window.
Select one or more audio files in the Source window, and then click Preview. The Media Player appears and begins playing your tracks.

Viewing the Status Bar

The Status bar at the bottom of the music CD project displays messages about the function of the selected command or button.

The Status bar also displays the following information about the music CD project:

Number of tracks in the music CD project
Type of CD (Double-click this field to display the CD Project Properties dialog box.)
File System Option--Joliet or ISO 9660 (Double-click this field to display the CD Project Properties dialog box.)
CD-Recorder (Double-click this field to display the CD Drive Properties dialog box.)
Write Method--Disc-at-Once or Track-at-Once (Double-click this field to change between DAO and TAO.)

To hide or show the Status bar:

From the View menu, select Status Bar.

Viewing the CD Info Bar

The CD Info bar at the bottom of the music CD project displays the amount of free space available (in minutes and seconds) on the CD.

To show or hide the CD Info bar:

From the View menu, select CD Info Bar.

Saving and Opening a CD Project

You can create a CD project (music, data, or bootable CD), save it, then use it to record a CD at a later time.

NOTE: When saving a CD project, you are saving a file that contains only the instructions that specify which files to include in the CD project.

To save a CD project:

From the File menu, select Save Project List As.
Type a file name, and select a location for the file.
Click Save.

To open a CD project:

From the File menu, select Open CD Project.
Select the CD project (.cl5) you want to open.
Click Open.

Accessing the Online Music Database on the Internet

The online music database is available if you have Internet access. Accessing the database allows you to automatically retrieve information about a commercially produced music CD, including the CD title, artist, and track names.

To access the online music database:

Insert the music CD into your CD-ROM drive (the source drive) and allow the CD to spin-up.

In the Select Source Files drop-down list box, select the CD-ROM containing the music CD; a list of the tracks on the CD appears in the Source window.

NOTE: If information about the music CD is found locally on your hard disk, the CD title, artist name, track names, and track lengths are displayed in the Source window. If this information does not appear, and you have access to the Internet, continue with Step 3.

Click Name.

If you are not currently logged on to the Internet, you are asked to do so. If you are already logged on to the Internet, the online music database is accessed. If the CD is found in the database, the CD title, artist, and track names are displayed in the Source window.

Advanced Music CD Topics

Writing a UPC

Easy CD Creator allows you to write a Universal Product Code (UPC) for identifying each track (necessary for commercial CDs). A UPC can be entered from the CD Project Properties dialog box.

To view the CD Project Properties dialog box:

From the File menu, select CD Project Properties.

The CD Project Properties dialog box appears. Click Help on the dialog box for information about the properties.

Entering ISRC Information

Easy CD Creator allows you to enter International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) information for the music CDs that you make. This information includes each track's author, country of origin, and year of production. ISRC information can be entered from the Audio Track Properties dialog box.

To view the Audio Track Properties dialog box:

Right-click the track you want to provide ISRC information for in the music CD project.
Select Properties.

The Audio Track Properties dialog box appears. Click Help on the dialog box for information about the properties.

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