Why can't I make 'back up cds anymore ? XP problem

[sparkyjohn]

If I try to copy an audio cd (one cd drive, huuuuuge HDD) Media Player 'hijacks' it and turns all the tracks into .wma. How do I go about copying audio cds in such a way that the copy will work on an ordinary cd player. This used to be so easy. Grrrr.

>>> Edited by sparkyjohn on Tuesday 9th December 12:45

[Plotloss]

Rip em off the CD with a proprietary ripper which will save them as MP3's.

Then to create a CD just drag the MP3's into Nero.

Its probably all related to MS's current charge on this DRM shit.

Theres always a way around it though...

[Liszt]

And for good measure dissassociate all file types with Windows media player.

[stc_bennett]

K if you want to rip them as mp3's in media player. you can either look in google and look up reg hack for media player .

this will allow you to rip as mp3 or you can use intervideo xpack. addin software. you can either download it or buy it from the right places

steve

[Eight]

look for a mp3 ripper, most allow you to copy audio cds, or rip them to mp3 then burn it to cd (AltoMP3 Maker is not a bad ripper).

Or get copy of nero or something. I think you can copy from audio CD to CD using that.

[simpo two]

If you plan to do a lot of this, another CD drive will cost peanuts and save the need for making an HD copy.

[Bodo]

John, press the <Shift> key, while you insert the CD; it stops media player to take hold of the CD drive IIRC

>> Anyone could check that one out? I don't have a Windows-PC

>> Edited by Bodo on Tuesday 9th December 16:01

[sparkyjohn]

It works, but I'm not sure it helps

[arcturus]

It's dead easy to do what you want with Windows Media Player. Just let Media Player rip your CD to .wma format as it is doing at the moment.

Then click the 'Copy to CD or Device' Button.

In the left hand window, select the tracks you want to copy to CD.

Just above the right hand window select 'CD Drive - Audio CD'. Then click copy at the top right and media player will create a standard audio cd with your selected tracks on it. Certainly works on my machines....both XP, Media Player 9.

Dave

>> Edited by arcturus on Wednesday 10th December 23:24

[meeja]

arcturus said:

It's dead easy to do what you want with Windows Media Player. Just let Media Player rip your CD to .wma format as it is doing at the moment. Then click the 'Copy to CD or Device' Button. In the left hand window, select the tracks you want to copy to CD. Just above the right hand window select 'CD Drive - Audio CD'. Then click copy at the top right and media player will create a standard audio cd with your selected tracks on it. Certainly works on my machines....both XP, Media Player 9. Dave >> Edited by arcturus on Wednesday 10th December 23:24

yes, but if you are making a backup of an audio CD, do you really want your backup to be in a quality that is far inferior to the original?

Converting to WMA then back to WAV (For CD Audio) will mean that the quality is greatly reduced.

The same applies with MP3's, although if you pick a really high bitrate, then the quality drop isn't too bad.....

Remember, if your original CD fails, then your backup will never be as good if you choose to use a compressed format.....

[arcturus]

meeja said:

yes, but if you are making a backup of an audio CD, do you really want your backup to be in a quality that is far inferior to the original? Converting to WMA then back to WAV (For CD Audio) will mean that the quality is greatly reduced. The same applies with MP3's, although if you pick a really high bitrate, then the quality drop isn't too bad..... Remember, if your original CD fails, then your backup will never be as good if you choose to use a compressed format.....

Agreed, I was merely answering the question..

Personally when I backup an audio CD, I use Nero to do an exact copy.

>> Edited by arcturus on Wednesday 10th December 23:44

[meeja]

Likewise..... I used to work with a chap who ripped all of his CD's to 128K MP3's, then sold the CDs..... When I tried to explain the why's and wherefore's of compressing audio tracks (never mind the copyright issues) I just got my head bitten off.

My argument was that they may sound okay through a pair of £2.99 headphones on your walkman on the tube on the way into work, but stick them on a half decent audio system in the home, and they'll stand out a mile!

I'm a 44.1K Wav man myself.....

[arcturus]

Agree totally, although I am having a lot of success streaming 192 kbit wma from my hard drive upstairs to the hifi in the living room for general listening.

Convenient too, since I don't have to search for a cd every time I want to listen to it. But as you say quality is not quite the same.