With today’s personal computers, creating a customized music Compact Disc (CD) from various original CDs can be done in three easy steps. Not only is this process simple, but the end result provides hours of enjoyment. Before getting started, check that all necessary equipment is readily available and configured according to the manufacturer’s specifications. This can save time and frustration.
A computer with an installed CD recorder is the first item necessary to create a personalized music CD. All recorders come with mastering software. This software allows the computer to create a list, called layout, of the songs. It also controls the process of creating the disc. The process of creating or writing music to a recordable disc is often referred to as burning. The next item required is original music recordings from which songs, called audio tracks, will be copied.The last item required is a blank disc. These are readily available at most computer stores and some department stores. As the first step, make a list of the songs desired in the order of playback. Include for each audio track the name of the album, the number of the audio track, and the duration time for the song. Keeping track of the duration time for each song will help stay within the 74 minute limit imposed by recordable CDs.
In the next step, create a layout for the recording within the mastering software. Creating the layout of the CD simply tells the computer in what order to place the audio tracks (songs), the duration of each track, and the total duration of tracks. Start the mastering software according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the first CD on the list created in the previous step in the recorder. The mastering software will display a list of the tracks by their number from that CD in a small window. Drag the number of the desired track from that window into the layout area. This area is clearly marked as such and adjacent to the track list window. Doing so will add the name of the audio track to the layout. Repeat this process for each song in the list of songs to be burned until the mastering program indicates no more time available in the blank disc or there are no more songs to be recorded.
The last step is to burn the CD. Insert the blank disc in the recorder. Different recorders have different recording speeds, so select the speed at which to create the CD. Select the record option from the mastering program. This will start the burning process. A 74 minutes CD takes 74 to 9 minutes to burn depending on the speed of the recorder. The computer will signal at the end of the burning process. Then remove the newly created disc from the recorder. The recording is now ready to use.
As demonstrated, anyone can create a customized music CD with the help of a personal computer in just a few steps. These recordings work in the same manner as the commercially created ones, so let the burning begin and enjoy.
