Copying MP3s to CD to play in CD player

elljay

It's so long since I've used CDs but want to copy some mp3s (it's a actually a small audiobook) onto a CD to play in the car.

I've got an assortment of old CDRs and CDRWs and each time I try to burn the files to CD (using windows media player) the CD is spat out with a message that it can't be copied to or something similar. I'm sure I used to do this fine around 10 years ago but can't remember now.

Can someone talk me through how to do this please? Thanks

enfield_freddy

long time since I have done it , CDRW don't usually work in a car player tho , so forget those, windows media player (modern windows) has option to burn to CD , is the file a mp3 , and can it be listened to on windows media player?






edit: I see that you said windows media player

Fightsback

If your car audio capable of playing MP3 CD in which case burn it as a data disk and not CD audio. Your car audio may even have a USB input or even a SD card slot so you could use those as an alternative.

What is the exact model of car cd player ?

elljay

Thank you both. The car cd player is Kenwood KDC 241. However it would be good if I could use the CD on other CD players, for example my mother has one and I'd like her to listen to the story too.

I've been trying to burn to rewritable CD-RWs, so it sounds as though that might be the problem. I've got some ordinary CD-Rs. Although they've got stuff on them, I'm not bothered about keeping it, can I reformat them then burn these MP3 files onto them or will I have to buy some brand new CDs?

Yes it plays fine on Media player, also VLC.

Thank you for the help

enfield_freddy

there are several sorts of CDs , , yup CD that you write to once and CDRW (the clues in the RW) re-writable


you will need normal write once CDs , as the ones you have there cannot be erased , the little lazer beam in the CD writer has burnt little dots on them now


sorry , trapped my finger , so in a flippant mood


the reason that windows media player is chucking out your re writables is probably because they are written on and need to be erased


have you actually tried to play the file thru win media player , is it a mp3?

TonyMMM

Burning to a CD-RW should work fine, if it isn't working then the problem is in the way you are trying to do it, or with the drive that you are using.

How long (in minutes) is the material you are trying to burn .... a CD will only fit a maximum of about 80 minutes. If the total you are trying to do is higher, that may be why the disc isn't writing.

Whether they will then play in the car or on other CD players is a different issue, but I have found most CD-RW work fine.

You won't be able to use CD-Rs if they already have stuff on them

elljay

TonyMMM wrote: »

Burning to a CD-RW should work fine, if it isn't working then the problem is in the way you are trying to do it, or with the drive that you are using.

How long (in minutes) is the material you are trying to burn .... a CD will only fit a maximum of about 80 minutes. If the total you are trying to do is higher, that may be why the disc isn't writing.

You won't be able to use CD-Rs if they already have stuff on them

That's the answer, I was trying to copy all the files onto one CD-RW. I've now split them into part one and part 2, on 2 CDs and eureka. We have success. Haven't tried them in the car yet but will do so tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the help.

So all I can do with these CD-Rs is chuck them out? I've seen various ideas for recycling them but what a waste. There's loads of documents on one of them, I need to erase those however, before I can use them as bird scarers or whatever.

Again thanks.

chrisw

elljay wrote: »

So all I can do with these CD-Rs is chuck them out? I've seen various ideas for recycling them but what a waste. There's loads of documents on one of them, I need to erase those however, before I can use them as bird scarers or whatever.

You can't erase a CD-R, only a RW. You will need to physically destroy the disc to prevent anyone accessing the documents. Smash them into pieces or put them through a shredder. Or putting them in an old microwave makes an interesting light show.

Exo

elljay wrote: »

The car cd player is Kenwood KDC 241. .

You may wish to check or download a manual for that car radio to confirm my opinion but as as far as I can see it can play:
cd-r.
cd-rw.
compact audio discs.
front-AUX INPUT for ipod+iphone+smartphones+ other mp3 players.
radio-fm/am tuner.

So it will not play mp3 files burnt to a disc.
It will play mp3 via an mp3 player connected to the auxiliary jack plug input.

elljay

Oh no! Oh well, I'll find out tomorrow, not going out in the rain and cold to check now. Thanks for the warning!

TonyMMM

If you have burnt them as CD audio files then they are no longer in MP3 format so should play fine for you.