Compressing Mp3S

[anotheoldgit]

I have a number of Audio MP3 files I would like to place on CDs each one is approx 7Mb in size, the problem being that I can only manage to burn two to each DVD.

Can I compress them in anyway using Adacity for example and if I did how many files could I expect to burn onto one CD?

[mushroom25]

a CD typically has a capacity of 650-700MB, so you should be able to get between 90 and 100 7MB files on a disk.

[bhg481]

You asked this question on Nov 17th AOG

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Question1380028.html

See my answer at 16:38 to that thread.

[anotheoldgit]

bhg481

Thank you for that, but could you please step me through the procedure set out in your last paragraph?

[bhg481]

Fender's tip on CD-RWs is good, but not all CD players will play RW discs.

My instructions from before:

Find the folder containing your MP3 files and copy them onto a CD - you should be able to get a couple of dozen episodes on 1 CD. - I don't know what software you have on your computer for creating CDs.

If you don't have any software you can "drag and drop" the MP3 files from the directory containing them onto your CD drive. If you use this method you will then have to "finalise" the CD before you can try to play it on your CD player.

If you do have CD writing software on your computer you can use it to create a "data CD" NOT an "Audio CD" - I know it's audio that you're putting on to it but the computer needs to think it's just data. Audio CDs, the sort you can buy in shops, are written in a special format - if you have any, put one into your CD drive and "explore" it. You will see nothing meaningful on it that you can relate to the music on the CD.

My domestic CD players won't play MP3s but my DVD player will as will my car CD player. More modern CD players may play MP3s - you will have to look at your CD manual to find out if yours will. If it won't, you are stuck with creating "Music CDs", which will only hold about 80 minutes of music ie, not quite 3 half-hour episodes of Dad's Army.

I hope that explains what you need to do - feel free to come back if it's not clear.

[anotheoldgit]

bhg481

Thank you so much for going to all that trouble on my behalf, I think I have now managed to create two data disks with all 72 episodes on, al I have to check now is to see if they will play on my equipment, they play on my computer.

Thanks again AOG.

[Hypognosis]

Nothing much I can add except to reiterate the point about the whole essence of MP3 files is that they are compressed files - which is what you want for the car stereo or a portable device.

Also, a key phrase from the yahoo thread :-

"Audio information is discarded when compressing the files and can't be replaced when converting back up to a higher bitrate."

Even though 64k (bitrate) is still way higher than the limits of human hearing, you need 4 sampling points per cycle (-1, 0, +1, 0), limiting the audio output to 16kHz. You might not be able to detect that pitch in a hearing test, yet you might notice that cymbals, instruments with high frequency harmonics and sibilants in speech just "don't sound right".

[bhg481]

Well done AOG and good luck with playing it on your other equipment. Glad to be of help.

[bhg481]

Hypo - you must have missed AOG's original post. It was radio episodes of Dad's Army that he was trying to copy to CD - audio quality won't be a serious problem.

[anotheoldgit]

bhg481

No tried them on my potable CD player and they won't play in data format, will now have to try my car's audio equipment.

If they don't at least it has only cost me two blank discs, but still they are at least a back up of those on my computer.

[bhg481]

AOG - portable CD player failing to play them doesn't surprise me. You're in with a good chance with your car and, if you have a DVD player attached to your TV you're in with a good chance with that too.
Thanks for keeping me informed.

[anotheoldgit]

bhg481

Since I like to listen to them in bed, I wonder if it would be possible to store them all the 64 half hour episodes on an old phone or MP3 player?

Or I have a small radio that plays memory cards, what size (GBs) would I need?

[bhg481]

Well, you've got all the episodes onto 2 CDs, that's less than 2GB, so that size card should be adequate.

[anotheoldgit]

bhg481

/// Well, you've got all the episodes onto 2 CDs, that's less than 2GB, so that size card should be adequate. ///

Thank you for keeping on track with my problem bhg, but those episodes where in data form, and I can only get two episode on a disc that I can play on anything.

A standard CD disc is 700MBs, so I think I would need one about 22GB.

[bhg481]

AOG - You're getting your formats mixed up again.

If your radio plays memory cards it will expect the files to be in MP3 format, just like the files you copied onto the CD in DATA format. You said the original MP3 files were about 7GB each, so you will only need a small capacity card.
Just drag-and-drop your MP3 files onto the memory card, stick it in your radio and see what happens. In other words, copy the entire contents of the 2 CDs you created onto a memory card and try it in your radio.

[Old_Geezer]

http://www.mdisc.com/
25G any use to you ?
(They won't play on your HiFi either !)

[Gromit]

You do of course know that you are probably committing a Copyright offence?

[anotheoldgit]

bhg481

Cracked it, got them all on a 2MB card, slipped it into my card playing radio and the play a treat, thank you for all your help.

Old_Geezer

Thank you also OG for your valuable input.