Reducing the size of an audio file?

[Deleted User]

I've got an MP3 file, which I'd like to burn to a CD, to create an audio CD.

Unfortunately, it's a tiny bit too big (722MB, disc size 702MB) to fit the CD.

Is there any way (preferably using a program on my computer), in which I can reduce the file size?

S0litaire

what will you be using to listen to the Audio CD?
Will it be a PC or a cd/dvd player?

Audio CD's don't use mp3's the convert it to LPCM (like a WAV file) so you'll get 74 - 80 mins per CD.

How long is the amp3 audio file? you might need to split it over a couple of CD's

If you know your player can play MP3's then you can encode the audio to a lower bit-rate
use a program like audacity to re-encode the mp3 that will reduce the size, have a play around and see if you can get a file size you can work with.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[Deleted User]

S0litaire wrote: »

what will you be using to listen to the Audio CD?

Car CD player.

S0litaire

OK you might need to check if the cd-player can read MP3 files.

burn any mp3 file to a disk and see if the car can play it. If not then you'll have to creatre an Audio CD instead.

I'm sure Windows Media player can handle that. Most CD-Burning software will be able to convert a MP3 into an CD-audio disk with a couple of clicks. But you'll be limited to 80 mins per CD.

[Deleted User]

S0litaire wrote: »

If not then you'll have to create an Audio CD instead.

That's what I'm doing.

I already created one Audio CD, which plays in the car, but this file is a touch too big.

However, I think I may have found a way.

I've just discovered that, the Clip Converter website has an option to adjust the bit rate of MP3 files it creates, so I've reduced the bit rate setting a bit, and have just finished downloading the MP3 file.

EDIT: Changing the bit rate makes no difference to the size of the file on the Audio CD.

bob_a_builder

Was just about to suggest MP3 moulder , but it seems your sorted ...

http://www.fenice.info/mp3moulder/readme.htm

EDIT : Sorry only applicable to MP3 not Audio - note to self to read thread properly !

S0litaire

You can ONLY fit 80 minutes of audio onto an audio CD.
How long is the listening time if the mp3 track?

[Deleted User]

S0litaire wrote: »

How long is the listening time if the mp3 track?

82 minutes 9 seconds.

esuhl

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

82 minutes 9 seconds.

You *might* just about be able to use overburning to fit that on to an 80min CD-R.
http://www.infocellar.com/CD/overburn.htm

Apparently, 90 minute and 99 minute CDs exist now. Maybe that would be another alternative.

Or use software like MPtrim (or Audacity or whatever) to cut the track down by a few minutes.
http://www.mptrim.com/

MPtrim edits the file directly, without transcoding it into a waveform and then back to MP3 (as many tools do), so it won't degrade audio quality.

A.Penny.Saved

It will be the Mp3 play time which is the problem so you will need to find a solution to that. Either overburning to a larger capacity CD, cut off an audio track, cut off part of the track and fade the audio out, reduce the gaps might save a little space but not much. 2+ minutes is quite a lot to reduce it by without leaving off an audio track.

bod1467

I would be tempted to just drop the least-favoured track from the listing.

What car is it (and age) and what model radio/CD player? Have you checked that it WON'T play MP3s direct from CD? (Most will do ... even my wife's 57 plate Honda Jazz will play MP3s from CD as I recall).