Tech: Transferring MD to PC CD-R

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Tim Salt
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 05:59 PM

Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread. As a result I have succesfully transferred my first MD to CD with excellent results. I was using a Sony MZ-R70 and having to use headphones on the MD to Line-In on the PC. As suggested I recorded into Cool Edit and then cleaned the recording up before burning onto CD - just as you described! Now I'm hooked which is good because I have so much stuff on MD that I want to transfer to CD so I can play it in the car.

Thanks again.

Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: IvanB
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 04:18 PM

Ron, I have one of the new portable CD players that also reads MP3's. I carry a set of Yamaha amplified computer speakers with me. Certainly not the sound of my home stereo system, but better than nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 03:33 PM

That is a good idea Ivan. MPGs are certainly good for storing material. I understand that you can hold about 12 hours of MPG material on 1 CD. How do you play them?

One trick I use for travel, and storage of CD's - jewelsleeves. I've mentioned this in other threads. Jewelsleeves are very plastic sleeves that take up 1/4 of the space of a CD - and they are much lighter. I have a shelf which is advertised to hold 900 CD's in "normal" jewelcases. I have about 2000 CD's on the shelf in jewelsleeves and my shelf is less than 1/2 full. They are a bit pricey, but I figure the cost of what it would take to store them in the cases they came in and it is worth the cost. Plus, they don't break!! You can check them out at Jewel Sleeve

Sorry for going off on a tangent, but I really like these things!

Ron

Subject: Wav vs mp3, a slight aside
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 03:24 PM

I will concede the wav vs mp3 thing, only if you're talking about mp3's encoded at the very worst rates... At a half decent sampling rate they are just as good if not better, and take up far less space...

Then it's just a matter of personal preference eh...

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Justa Picker
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 03:23 PM

I don't concern myself with space since the CDs I master hold 650 to 700 megs, and wavs DO sound better. For other purposes such as streaming net audio, and issues where space conservation is important - sure, mastering to MP3 makes perfect sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: IvanB
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 03:15 PM

Although I like the sound of the WAV file better, my disk space dictates compressed files. However, I still do my original to a WAV file, since it can be cleaned up, edited and effects added. After I'm satisfied with the sound I do the compression. I use the 160 kbps rate, which gives me fairly decent quality.

Since I'm retired and travel quite a bit, having CD's of MP3 files allows me to carry a far greater selection of music with me than would otherwise be possible.

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 01:44 PM

MP3's vs. WAV - the debate continues! :)

For my ears, I DO hear a difference when comparing a WAV file against an MP3. Because of the compression involved with MP3's, you do lose something.

Don't get me wrong - MP3's are great. It is just if you have a choice go with WAV. Especially if you are burning a CD. Once you have the CD you usually delete the WAV file anyway.

Ron

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 01:00 PM

Wav files are way too big... MP3, much smaller and with Cool Edit you can do what ever ya want to 'em...

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Justa Picker
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 12:56 PM

I've used Goldwave for all my transfers. Does a very nice job. I use it to create the "wav" files and edit them from within the program, and then use Easy CD Creator to "burn" the wav files to CD. No problemmos.

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 12:47 PM

Jet Audio is a great computer 'stereo' program that will record straight to mp3 from any input source...

I also know a place where you can get it free, cracked, and clean...

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: IvanB
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 12:36 PM

As both Russ and Ron have emphasized, line-out on the MD would be far preferable to headphone-out. But if your MD doesn't have the line-out, you can do it with headphone-out, being sure to set your line-in volume on the soundcard to a level that eliminates distortion. This won't give as clean a sound as if you had a line-out jack, but it can be acceptable if you're careful with the sound levels.

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 09:29 AM

Tim - what kind of MD recorder are you working with? I know that most of them do not have audio lines out, only the headphone out. This will create a problem.

I use the same setup but I have a Sony MD deck that does have a line out.

As Tim suggested, you should record in Cool Edit - I record and edit interviews for my radio show as WAV files, some of which are longer than 1 hour. Cool Edit is a great program.

Ron

Subject: RE: BS: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 08:51 AM

Tim,
1. Don't use Sound Recorder to record the WAV file, use CoolEdit. 2. Don't use the headphone jack, use line out on the MD recorder.

You're going to be really pleased with the results.

Subject: Transferring MD to PC CD-R
From: Tim Salt
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 08:12 AM

I would like to transfer recordings of sessions from MD to CD via my PC and CD-R. I'm using Windows 98, Nero Burning software and I have also got Cool Edit Pro. I assume I connect the headphone jack of the MD to Line-In on the PC, record using Sound Recorder, save as a WAV file and then open the file up in Nero to burn a CD (possibly having edited it in Cool Edit Pro first). Sounds good so far but I can't see how I get Sound Recorder to record for longer than 60 seconds - how do I increase this to 74 mins? Can anyone out there help me with this?

Thanks

Tim