Another "MP3/CD-R" Matter...

[PearlcorderS701]

I'm still trying to figure out all the "MP3 burning" protocols, coming off using standalone component CD recorders for more than a decade -- as I continue to burn compilation mixes of custom selected tracks in different genres, I have been finding that a lot of music today is only available via downloads online (CD singles, which I prefer, are becoming harder and harder to find by any band or act, if one is made at all) including some electronica/house/club stuff I've been seeking. This has forced me to make my compilations from various CDs/CD singles as well as mixed in MP3 file downloads (legally), thus leading me to another query...

Normally, how I have been doing it, is downloading an MP3 file of a song/track I want into a desktop file folder on my PC. I do this until I get all the tracks I want, then I open up my burning software, CDBurnerXP, and insert a blank disc in my PC's drive, eventually burning the songs in the order I want onto the blank and finalizing it. THEN, I take THAT disc and add it to a group of discs I have loaded into my changer and begin burning a custom compilation of tracks onto ANOTHER blank CD-R that's in my CD recorder -- so, the MP3 files are on a CD-R, which I then use to custom-create a mixed compilation on another blank (the disc containing the MP3 files sits in a tray of my CD changer along with various CD singles I'm recording off of to make the custom order of my compilation). I know this sounds crazy and like a TON of work -- when you can just get these songs via online, burn them in the computer and be done with it -- but there are certain editing tricks I do on my CD recorder to allow me to make the songs segway into one another (abrupt pauses so one dance song seems like it's picking up where the last one left off, etc.) and that brings me to my question...

When I use my CDBurnerXP program, it first prompts me with a choice of creating an MP3 data disc, audio disc, ISO disc and some others -- I always choose "audio disc" and then let the program burn the MP3s onto a CD-RW, then take that finalized disc and put it into my changer to use in a mixed project, but what I'm wondering is, what would be the difference in choosing, say, an MP3 disc to burn in the software versus the audio disc? When I choose "audio disc" in the software, it takes the MP3 files and makes them "audio files" doesn't it? What would be the benefit, if anything, of burning the MP3 files as actual MP3 files to a CD-R by choosing "MP3 disc" in the software menu as opposed to "audio" files?

The thing that continues to confuse me is that the gear in my two channel home system and in my car both boast "MP3 playback capability," which I suppose means both the home CD changer and car changer (a JBL system) can play blank CD-R media with MP3 files on them, so what is the difference between taking MP3 files, like I'm doing, then burning them onto a CD-R/RW as AUDIO FILES and taking the same MP3 files and burning them on the CD-R/RW as actual MP3 data? Is it just a space issue on the blanks, with MP3 files allowing much more music to be able to be stored?

Essentially, I suppose what I'm asking is, how should I be burning these MP3 file discs -- should I choose "AUDIO DISC" or "MP3 DISC" when launching the software to burn? I don't really hear an audible difference when burning an MP3 as an "audio file" as opposed to a straight up MP3 file (on the same CD-R) so what's the deal?

 

[dkane360]

Your entire post could have been just your last paragraph and it would have been suffice.

An mp3 cd burns the cd with the mp3s on it as a file, and not all cd players can play it. If you burn it to an audio cd, any cd player can play it. They will sound the same if you use the same source material.

 

[zhimbo]

Is it just a space issue on the blanks, with MP3 files allowing much more music to be able to be stored?

MP3 = many more songs per disc, only some players can read it.
CD = Less music on disc, any player can read it.

 

[GlocksRock]

If you chose audio cd, it will convert the .mp3 files to .cda which is basically the same as a .wav file, which is why it doesn't sound any different. But like others have said, it will play in any device which can read cd-r discs.

 

[PearlcorderS701]

Your entire post could have been just your last paragraph and it would have been suffice.

First of all, its "would have sufficed" and second of all, I was merely trying to explain what it is I attempt to do when burning these compilations so it sets the situation up a bit more clearly. But thank you for your response and assistance:

An mp3 cd burns the cd with the mp3s on it as a file, and not all cd players can play it. If you burn it to an audio cd, any cd player can play it. They will sound the same if you use the same source material.

Okay...but what I'm asking is, what's the difference between burning it these two different ways -- and being that all my gear can play back MP3 encoded discs, should I be burning audio CD-Rs or MP3 CD-Rs when I prepare the software?

 

[PearlcorderS701]

MP3 = many more songs per disc, only some players can read it.
CD = Less music on disc, any player can read it.

If we're dealing with players that can definitely read MP3 encoded discs, would there be a benefit, outside of the length factor, of choosing one method over another?

 

[PearlcorderS701]

If you chose audio cd, it will convert the .mp3 files to .cda which is basically the same as a .wav file, which is why it doesn't sound any different.

You mean why I can't detect an audible difference, essentially, between an audio burned MP3 disc and an MP3 burned MP3 disc? If choosing to burn an audio CD, and the MP3s are being converted to .cda format which is the same as a .wav file, isn't this a lot of cross-converting to "alter" the original MP3 file? I'm wondering if I should just burn as straight MP3 files when I burn instead of audio...

But like others have said, it will play in any device which can read cd-r discs.

But outside of the space-per-disc issue, what are the major differences between doing these two types of burning...just that one will create a disc that can be played back on any source that will accept MP3 encoded discs while the other will just play back on gear that accepts standard audio CDs?

 

[zhimbo]

If we're dealing with players that can definitely read MP3 encoded discs, would there be a benefit, outside of the length factor, of choosing one method over another?

My answer is 100% complete as written. That's it. It isn't complicated. There's no more information you need.

Pick your poison and get to it!

 

[PearlcorderS701]

My answer is 100% complete as written. That's it. It isn't complicated. There's no more information you need.

Pick your poison and get to it!

Au Contraire...there is indeed a good deal more information I need...

There has got to be more differences between doing these two burn methods than just space capability on a piece of blank media...

 

[zhimbo]

Au Contraire...there is indeed a good deal more information I need...

There has got to be more differences between doing these two burn methods than just space capability on a piece of blank media...

Oh, you're right.

One of the ways will make all of your equipment blow up in 5-7months.

But I'm not telling you which one.

 

[BMXTRIX]

We've kind of been through all of this in your last post.

1. You are doing things the hard way and you aren't doing anything with your CD burner that you can't do 100 times faster, easier, and more precisely with a good audio editing/CD burning program which you can get for under $100.

2. There is no harm in converting a MP3 to a .WAV file. Or from WAV to FLAC or from FLAC to any other uncompressed format. Unlike analog, digital never has a generation loss unless you use lossy compression. MP3 is lossy, so going from the original CD from a studio, and converting it to a MP3 will lose data and throw it away.

3. If you know your CD players can play back your MP3 files from a CD-R, then there is no reason for you to burn them as CD audio discs. The reason you would not do this is because MP3 discs are not compatible with non-MP3 compatible players. MP3s are not CD audio discs, they are data discs. I believe that standard MP3 discs are often Joliet 9660 ISO discs or something like that...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

A MP3 disc is a data disc on CD.
A CD Audio disc is a specific redbook CD Audio standard system which has uncompressed audio files on the disc in a very specific format which makes them compatible pretty much universally with all CD players.

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

Wikipedia has some good definitions for you on the two standards you are discussing burnings discs to.

What's important to realize is that your CD players... If they get an MP3 file, they will decode that file just like your computer would. They decode the MP3 to a usable audio format, then play it back. If your computer burns an MP3 as a CD Audio, then your computer does the decoding of the MP3 to a usable CD format.

At the end of the day, the MP3 gets converted either by the PC or by the player. It doesn't matter which one. But, if you choose to let the CD player do the decoding, then you can get about 10 hours of audio onto a single CD.