Using Real Producer?

Subject: Using Real Producer?
From: harpgirl
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 05:56 PM

...Dale sent me Portland Girl on Real Producer and I downloaded it. I wonder if we have had any discussion on it and if not could we have some? Can I use it to make CD's, directly off the web, for instance? harpgirl

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 01:56 AM

Hi, Harpy - the free edition of RealProducer makes fair-sounding recordings that are small enough to e-mail easily (about 500k for a 4-minute song). You can click here for another thread on the topic. Here are links to the free versions of RealPlayer and RealProducer. Their RealJukebox does CD-quality recording, but I don't like the program because it seems to want to mess with orther things on my computer. You're better off using the software that came with your CD burner.
I wouldn't say the RealProducer recordings are CD-Quality, but they're OK for e-mailing.
Hope that helps, Harpy.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: Musicman
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 03:36 AM

that's what I find too..... I use real producer for making mp3's small enough to email or post on the web, but not much else........ I make my CD's from Mp3s and .wav files........

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: harpgirl
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 01:02 PM

...thanks guys. Excellent information on the uses of this stuff. My dad uses Real Jukebox for his CD burning and he seems to like it just fine, though. I am just beginning to put all this stuff together and get started making CD's. My burner is not even installed yet, but I've got it. I just feel so challenged, when I see all the men who understand this stuff so easily , it seems...

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: harpgirl
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 01:11 PM

...okay here is a question for you smart guys...How do you get the music into the computer to process by Real Producer? I know I need some chords from the tape deck and the record player and the CD player. What kind of chords and where do they plug in? Could someone come over and help me??????

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: IvanB
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 03:20 PM

harpgirl, your CD tracks can be copied to your hard disk directly from the CD-ROM drive on your computer. This is preferable, since you are then doing a direct digital to digital transfer. When you record via a patch cord, you're doing a digital/analog/digital transfer. Assuming you have your peripherals (tape deck/phono, etc.) connected to an amplifier, you need a patch cord from line-out on the amplifier to line-in on the sound card. Then you can use one of many software programs for the actual recording (I use and like MusicMatch, but there are many others available).

If you're transferring music to make 'favorite tracks' compilations on CD, I'd recommend against using RealProducer at all. All you really need are the .wav files saved on your hard disk for your burner to copy to the new CD, which your recording software will do for you.

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: harpgirl
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 03:44 PM

...thanks Ivan. Can I use the Adpatec software that comes with the CD burner?

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Dec 00 - 01:16 AM

Exactly, Harpy - When you put a CD in your computer and you have the Adaptec software running, right-click on one of the tracks listed for that CD - you'll find a whole list of options. I usually choose to copy the song onto my hard drive as a WAV file, which takes up about 50 megabytes. Then I use RealProducer to change it into a RealMedia file that's about 500 kilobytes. I try to remember to put those huge WAV files in a separate directory (folder), so it's easy for me to find and delete them.
I also use the Adaptec software for burning CD's - it's the best package I've found. It's far more versatile for CD burning than RealJukebox. Windows ME has a limited version of the Adaptec CD burning software, but I'd recommend that you use the full package from Adaptec.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Using Real Producer?
From: IvanB
Date: 04 Dec 00 - 01:09 PM

I agree with Joe on this one. I have the full Adaptec product and really like it. When I was 'gainfully employed' back in 1996, I bought the first CD burner for our department and that came with a 'lite' version of Adaptec also. It didn't take me long to decide we needed the full version and I've never regretted that decision. My burner at home came with NTI CD Maker, which is also OK, but I got Adaptec for home as well. The Adaptec product just seems to take a much more intuitive approach to what I want to accomplish than does the NTI.

I also agree with Joe on putting those big WAV files in one place on your computer so they can be deleted after you've burned your CD. I keep two directories on my disk, one for 'unprocessed' files that I might want to edit, add effects, etc. and the other for processed files that I'm going to burn to CD. That way, I can also keep tabs on whether there'll be enough room on the CD just by checking the properties of my 'CD' directory. If it's over 650 mB (or 700 on the newer CD's), oops.