CDs & Lyrics

Subject: CDs & Lyrics
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 05:38 AM

Just a thought (in a strange place, I know)
Recently, several "Filk" CDs I've purchased, have had space on them. i.e. when played through my PC a message has come up to the effect "This CD not fully recorded, do you wish to complete now?".
With the increasing No. of PCs with CD, and Hi-Tec CD players, why isn't this excess capacity used to hold sleeve notes, lyrics, guitar tabs, etc.,
It may cause a small reduction in Song Book sales, but for Folk (or Filk) purposes, it would seem an opportunity missed.
For the purchaser it would be an added bonus, and for the performer it would mean that lyrics would at least be shown as they wanted.
For those producing the CD, presumably the "Sleeve notes" are word processed, and so a transfer should be simple.

Any comments ? (yes I realise that question was unnecessary here !!)

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 06:21 AM

Well it's relevant enough for people cooking up a CD of their own at home. I'd like to be able to include that kind of informatioin when I make a CD - but I can't see how to do it with the software I use.

Again, if we were to have a Mudcat compliation CD that kind of thing could be really handy - words, contact details, naybe some classic threads etc.

Has anyone had any experience making a combination music and text etc CD on a CD-R disk?

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From:
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 07:26 AM

Those things would only get accessed if someone were to use it on a computer. For most people, using it on a CD Player, it wouldn't show up.

McGrath, some software would be able to do it. I can't remember what type it is called, but it would not be your standaard Audio CD. I know the Nero software, and some of the others are able to do it.

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From:
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 07:41 AM

It's called a Mixed Mode CD.

Nigel, I wonder if your CD was set up as a Multi-Session CD and never properly closed.

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 07:48 AM

George:
No, I've got several different, all complete with professional (looking) sleeves, and suitably etched 'top'sides.
Admittedly, as "Filk" they are probably from short runs of up to say 100, but a quick look at one sleeve gives a total running time of about 70 minutes.

Also, although the facilities would only be accessed by a computer user, if people knew they were available it could still be an additional feature (like Easter Eggs on DVDs)

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From:
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 08:22 AM

I have a friend who is in the process of getting a "CD Printer", which will let them "etch" onto the CD Surface, so it's not too bad any more.

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: radriano
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 06:14 PM

Our own mudcatter Riggy has, on his new CD, lyrics to songs as well as a bunch of nature photos he's taken on his many hiking trips. Seemed to work out well for him.

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 06:27 PM

I've never come across this on a gen-u-wine c.d. Are you sure these aren't pirate copies? As for "enhanced" c.d.'s anything's possible up to videos and interactivity, if you know how. Just wish I did.

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 08:06 PM

I have the Roxio Easy CD Creator on my computer. It gives you the option to include other types of files with your audio tracks. You could add Word documents for lyrics, jpegs for pictures, etc. The device can either write and finalize an entire CD at once, or just write individual tracks, leaving the empty space open to record at a later date.

Adaptec's TOAST is a similar program, and there are more coming out all the time.

Hope this helps.
Michael

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 08:38 PM

And that'd be on a CD-R, not a CD-RW? This could be very useful.

I have come across commercial CDs with this sort of thing - for example I picked up an opera record with all kinds of background information which you can read if you stick it in the computer.

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 10:26 PM

Yes, CD-R. A number of (mostly pop/rock) acts have come out with these "enhanced" CDs in the past few years; for example, you can do alternate mixes of their tracks. Todd Rundgren was a pioneer of this, about six years ago.

Michael

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: raredance
Date: 15 Mar 02 - 10:42 PM

The "O Brother Where Art Thou" CD that many mudcatters probably have is one of those enhanced CD's. It has background details and even a screen saver, but no lyrics. Sweet Honey In the Rock "20th Anniversary" is also enhanced and others I can't think of instantly. The lyrics idea should be more widely adopted. Many artists include lyrics but often print them in such tiny type on cluttered "artsy" backgrounds that are near impossible to read.

rich r

Subject: RE: CDs & Lyrics
From: Vinland
Date: 16 Mar 02 - 10:49 AM

Great idea Nigel. I'm surprised that more musicians haven't done this (adding imbedded lyrics to their CD's) - including myself! My latest CD included a slide show of nature images with music (the CD was commisioned by a national park) . This involved including a down-loadable version of QuickTime (this version is free) and seems to work pretty well on most computers. I'm sure this application could easily be used to display lyrics .

No doubt this will be common place very soon. We might as well jump on the band wagon now!

EW