MP3 CDs

schiff

I am completely into unknown territory here, so please be patient!

I have the chance to buy, from the USA, MP3 CDs of BBC comedy radio shows of the 1950s at an incredibly cheap price. I'm told that a set of 3 CDs contains a total of 108 hours of recordings. Apparently the choice of MP3 player is important (I know nothing about MP3 players!) and it has to support the following specs:
32kps 22Khz bitrate MP3 files (could be Chinese for all it means to me!) and
'Joliet' format CDs

The website gives a very long list of MP3 player models that people have told them work OK. Panasonic and Sony seem to come out well.

It looks as if the MP3 CDs can be played in a laptop (via media Player - which I have) - and (not sure about this) copied, for playing on a conventional CD player.

Hope it all makes sense. Anybody care to advise please?

schiff

C_Ronaldo

aldi did have an mp3 cd player which i presume plays mp3's that you have put onto the cd

Rex_Mundi

If you've got a CD burner, you could copy the MP3s from the disc onto your computer. Then burn them as CDs to play on any CD player. Your burning software will convert the format from MP3 for you.

Cheshire_Cat_6

I think those MP3's are fairly standard. Just about any MP3 player would play them.

Many new Discman and micro Hi Fi's will now play MP3's, so if you wanted to listen to the discs as they are without any converting I'm sure you could do so.

Even something cheap like this would do: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180008911043

espresso

schiff wrote:

It looks as if the MP3 CDs can be played in a laptop (via media Player - which I have) - and (not sure about this) copied, for playing on a conventional CD player.

If you want to listen to them on your PC, simply download WinAmp (free) which is one of the best and most widely used MP3 players.

HTH

schiff

You've all been very helpful, particularly with the links. I feel re-assured and will dive in. The CDs are of the Goon Show of which I am a fanatic and I can't wait! At the total outlay - $15 for the CDs and say £12.50 for the MP3 player, I'm not really risking a fortune anyway.

schiff :beer:

Queenie

Oooh schiff!!!! Have fun with your Goons!!!

Can't speak for your particular circs., but I *can* say that I've recently purchased an MP3 player and had to learn how to 'rip' music from my fav CD's and then Sync/Burn them onto my MP3 player (all sounded rather kinky to me ) but, hey, the result is ... I was on my patio listening to my favourite music early hours this morning and the neighbours didn't hear a thing!!! (An improvement from when I first bought it and sang along full tilt, patio doors open and forgot the only one who could hear it was moi )

Enjoy your Goons

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Can I just say that the quality of the audio cd's isn't very good, if they are 32kps 22mhz, then thats a very low bitrate, but probably acceptable, are these copies?
These will definately play on your pc, If your audio player, hi-fi, doesn't support mp3, then you would have to convert and burn these as an audio cd, which would probably take you about 30cds, audio cd are measured in time, mp3 cds are measured in quantity, usually 700mb, thats why you can get a lot more on a mp3 cds than audio cds.
Or you could just get a usb mp3 player, and that way, no converting or burning you just drag and drop onto your player.
Something like this
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=8895

Hope this helps

schiff

Queenie

Might come back to you to ask exactly how you did what you did! Impresses me but I imagine it's everyday stuff when you know how.

schiff

wonderfullife

Thanks for that. I imagine they will be some form of copy, though they are from a dealer rather than an individual. They must be because they are so cheap. A 2-hour BBC CD costs about £12 I think (I've not researched that too deeply) so the sound quality could be sufferable with the massive cost saving. It's worth me spending 20 odd dollars to find out, I think. (Could buy one CD to try but I'd be paying twice over for postage charges if the first one seems OK).

Radio shows from the 50s anyway tend to be poor for sound clarity (and I'm a bit deaf to boot!) but I find that earphones help and I've got a set of Sennheisers to hand!

Forgot to ask - are these MP3 CDs the same size as conventional CDs?

schiff :beer:

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Like you say for that price, they are probably worth it and yes, mp3cd are the same size as audio cds.

Enjoy