Tech: creating mp3 files?

Subject: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 03:08 AM

I know in a general way how to make audio files from LP's, audiotape, and minidiscs, even though I haven't actually done it yet. Once I do, is there a way of turning those files into mp3 files?   I've done a search on earlier threads under mp3, and can't find anything, though a couple of people have mentioned that it's easily done.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: Malc R
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 03:28 AM

Try a search using CD to MP3 or MP3 Ripper. The process is very simple once you get the right programme,

Most are free trial for certain period, or so many tracks.

I use AltoMP3 ripper, works well

Good hunting

Mal

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: podman
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 07:52 AM

It would be helpful to know precisely what you want to do. In general the procedures are:

1)CD to mp3: Insert CD into computer. Program lights up, you tell it to execute, and program first rips (takes the actual music data from the CD) then converts (changes the raw music data to mp3s). If you have a broadband connection, the program will also do the outstandiningly useful service of looking up the CD for you and labeling all the tracks. Programs which do this are mediajukebox and Apple's iTunes.

2)LP to mp3: You have to convert the LP to digital music tracks, which is covered in other threads. Typically you play the LP into the computer and get a big long digital music track for side A, then you flip the record and do side B, then you have to use a music processing program such as audacity or cooledit to break it up by tracks. They you need to label the tracks your own self, then it is easy to import the tracks to a program such as iTUNEs, which will do the converting for you.

If you are converting high end music, you want to convert to at least 128 kbps (kilobytes per second) in stereo mode. This will sound pretty good. Aficionados claim they can hear the difference between this and CD quality, but I dunno. (Some folk insist on 192 kbps or even 320 kbps.)

If you are converting speech, recorded voices, old radio shows, usually you can get away with 32kbps mono, which uses 1/4 of the memory.

There are different conversion 'types'. I'd stick with mp3s because they are good and they are a near universal standard.

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 09:36 AM

Thanks for this information. I'm getting excited about making some MP3 files.

As an aside, I would like to note that the verbs used by the developers of this software are so juvenile. Clearly the makers have played with too many action figures, viewed too many action films and played too many video games.

Nonetheless, I shall try to rip an audio and burn a CD, hoping all the time that I am not running too many memory-sucking applications.

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 12:58 PM

Here is page where you can get a simple and free programme called SWITCH that does this kind of thing - Switch Sound File Conversion Software

(I downloaded it last night, because I needed to convert a WinAmp Media recording into a file that I could put on a CD. It took me about ten minutes from starting to try to get the program to being able to put the new disc into my CD player.)

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: Terry K
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 05:27 PM

Surely iTunes has to be the simplest and most comprehensive - and free. People I talk to all seem to think you need a Mac or at least an iPod to use it, but that's not right.

Subject: RE: MusicMatch JukeBox MMJB
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 06:10 PM

MUSICMATCH JUKEBOX - a FREE DOWNLOAD:

allows you to RIP mp3s or WAV files from ANY CD

Commercial or Homegrown....

AND it can also convert a WAV file to an mp3


*****another FREE DOWNLOAD:

The HPL decoder can convert any MP3 to a WAV file


*****another FREE DOWNLOAD:

GOLDWAVE is a very useful program also


and THERE ARE MORE....use GOOGLE to find them

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: annamill
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 08:00 PM

Switch will not convert my wma files because they are "protected". Did I inadvertantly do this when I copied them from CD? Is there a way to remove this "Protection"?

Thank you, Annamill

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: dermod in salisbury
Date: 01 May 05 - 11:35 AM

Windows Media Player which is usually bundled on pcs comes with a CD ripper these days, and so does iTunes on Mac. But I will certainly check out the other suggestions. My interest is not ripping CDs, but turning sounds files of my own creation into MP3s without the bother of burning CDs first.

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 01 May 05 - 03:45 PM

I have the same goal as dermod, and I'll try those suggestions. Mahalo a nui loa!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: Bill D
Date: 01 May 05 - 03:53 PM

one of the easiest (and *free*) ways to go is just to get Audacity you can record almost anything, from tapem mic, etc...and export it as .wav or an MP3 (or even as Ogg vorbis, a very high quality compression format).

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 May 05 - 10:51 AM

I went to the Switch Sound site and downloaded their sample hardware. (Thank you, McGrath.)

Just now I tried using their RecordPad software to record something. Their Help doesn't say a word about hardware. I assume I need a microphone, or am I missing something here?

I have a microphone intended for a computer. It has a pink plug with the picture of a microphone on it. I put it in the mic jack. Seemed reasonable.

It also has an orange plug with a symbol of little sound waves coming out. Like this: ((( ))). I tried this jack in the plug marked In and then in the plug marked Out. Neither set-up worked. By that I mean that after I pressed Record and sang, the number of seconds did not start clicking and when I pressed Play, no sound came out.

Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 02 May 05 - 11:01 AM

I'll second Bill's reccomendation of AUDACITY; simple to use, works a charm.

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: s6k
Date: 02 May 05 - 12:11 PM

128kb is average audio quality, good for people who arent interested in or know nothing about good quality audio, and will just go into a shop and pick up a CD player that "looks nice"

when you buy a CD, the bitrate is 1411 kbps, so obviously 128 is not cd quality. however, 128 still sounds good (usually no background noise etc) and doesnt take up much space (1mb per minute @ 128)

best mp3 ripper is probably audiograbber, but for a free download you should definately get AudioConvert. this program can convert mp3, wav, wma, ogg, and many other popular formats, back into whichever format you want. ones i use most is OGG-MP3 (when i download an album that some fool has saved in ogg format) and also wav-mp3 is good. as is WMA - MP3. wma is a crap format, only good for if the files will stay on your pc and go nowhere else.
audioconvert - a genius of a program

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 May 05 - 12:39 PM

Anybody have any thought re: my microphone questions above?

For example, where does an orange plug go?

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: Bill D
Date: 02 May 05 - 12:48 PM

leenia...there are always multiple settings you have to be sure are set right for both the program AND your computer.....volume, recording settings...etc. There can be separate settings for play volume and recording volume...

If the seconds didn't show timing, something needs changing. You might try playing a sound file you KNOW works with the program, then go to the menus in the program to see if it thinks you have everything plugged in right..

It's hard to guess about a program I haven't used personally.

Subject: Is it possible then to record online music to PC?
From: GUEST,Arunkumar
Date: 10 May 05 - 12:38 AM

Wanted to know if there is a way to save online music onto computer??? If so let me know.
Thanks a lot
Regards,
AK

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 May 05 - 03:36 AM

Except for 'streaming files' you just right click on the link to the file and save the file where you want it, same as a picture file.

Now Streaming Music Files (Real Audio and others) are another problem to save, you need appropriate Streaming Capture Software.

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 May 05 - 02:32 PM

you need to specify what YOU mean by "online music"....ANYTHING that goes thru your sound card can be saved with the appropriate software.

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jan 06 - 12:29 PM

McGrath, thanks for the Switch link. It's easy to use!

Subject: RE: Tech: creating mp3 files?
From: GUEST,anonymous
Date: 19 Jan 06 - 06:36 PM

I was able to convert both AAC files and WMA files that were copy protected to MP3 that were not by simply making audio CDs of the AAC and or MP3 players, and then ripping them again. I had bought an album from itunes, and one from Walmart before I realized that I couldn't play either of those formats on my Palm, so I wasn't stealing it.