File Extension Format to Burn CD

[DJF]

Hi All,

Question that has been driving me nuts for a few weeks and wonder if anyone here can help. 

Does anyone know a standard file format for music files that I can burn to CD or DVD that will actually play on
a standard CD player?  I've tried several including the standard MP3 and WMA but most CD players won't read
that.  Is there any particluar file extension that I should be formatting these songs in so that a standard CD player
can read and play them??

Dave

[the captain]

I'm thinking the issue may be more with your player(s) than the file extension. I have burned many cds using mp3 and wma (as well as several other formats) without trouble. But I do know that some players--particularly older ones--have trouble with some formats. Or perhaps you aren't finishing the burn completely? (I'm not questioning your ability here! Just making sure.) Can you see that you have burned anything at all onto disc--for example, can you see the line on the bottom of the disc that indicates information has been burned to it, or can you see that tracks are present on the disc when you put it in a player?

[DJF]

Hi Luther,

Once I complete the burn, all of the songs show up on the CD on my computer as .cda format (I burn MP3 or WMA) and they play fine.  When I put that same CD in a standard CD player stereo, it reads 00 on tracks and won't play.  I am sure it probably has to do with the player's capability, and I am going to try one on both my DVD player and other CD players (including my car) to see if any will play it.  My portable will not read the CD.

I noticed I can't burn a .cda format (it's not a choice using Audition) but that is the file extension all CDs show on my computer.

Just thought maybe I was burning in the wrong format.

Dave

[PeteS]

a standard audio CD will have the tracks in aiff format. If you use, for example, iTunes  or Toast to burn an audio rather than an Mp3 CD then this is what you will get.

All CD players should play aiff format - some will play mp3 (but by no means all)
However, some CD players do not like cd-r discs (as opposed to commercially produced discs.

Seems to me your main problem is not using aiff format, but the CD-R issue may be a problem too on older players
Hope this helps

[PeteS]

also - some players that will play CD-r discs will not play CD-RW(rewritable) discs

[PeteS]

Finally - I believe that the CD has to be formatted in a certain way (with indices) in order to play on an audio player. I don't think it's enough to burn a disc of .aiff tracks. A program like iTunes or Toast / Jam will do this for you.

How are you writing the discs??

[DJF]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the input and I will try the aiff format and see if it works better. 

I am burning them (CD-RW) straight from Adobe Audition 1.5 using the CD project section to import the list of finished tracks for burn.  I have been importing them into the project as either mp3 or wma files which is how I generally export them from the program.

My choices in Audition for saving the music tracks to export files include:

.dbl
.sa.
.wav
.iff
.svx
.aif
.snd
.voc
.vox
.dwd
.au
.snd
.smp
.wma
.pcm
.raw

the aif is listed as apple AIFF as is the .snd option.

Dave

[DJF]

Sorry, also of course mp3 format is available in that list as are a wide variety of wav types.

Dave

[PeteS]

Try using a CD-r rather than a CD-RW  (not many players other than computers can deal with these) and look for an option in Audition to write an AUDIO disc rather than a DATA or MP3 disc

AIFF i've just found out is an "apple" thing, but if I put a commercial disc in my mac I see AIFF files. Maybe it automatically comverts .cda files to this format. As you said, .cda files are how music is stored on a commercial CD but they cannot be stored in this format on a computer.

Good luck

[DJF]

Thanks for all of the help and input.  I will experiment a bit this week and see what I can get to work.  I'll try using CD-R first with AIFF formatting and work from there. 

Dave

[the captain]

Try ignoring Pete, too. He is not very clever.

(Sorry Pete. Also, just talked to Kyle, who is pretty interested in the idea of a Sept. London trip...can the city withstand it?)

[PeteS]

Try ignoring Pete, too. He is not very clever.

(Sorry Pete. Also, just talked to Kyle, who is pretty interested in the idea of a Sept. London trip...can the city withstand it?)

We'd be happy to see Kyle!!!!