Software for an MP3 player?

[Bezza]

What software do I need to copy CD's to so that they can be changed to MP format to download onto an MP3 player? I've received an MP3 player as a present and I've never copied any CD's to my computer so I am totally in the dark as to what to do. Thanks.

[tomd]

You can do it with Windows Media Player, but first you'd need it to change it from ripping to Windows Media Audio (.wma) to mp3.

Press Tools > Options > Rip Music (sometimes Copy Music on old versions), and change the Format to "mp3".

The "Audio Quality" slider lets you adjust the bitrate the song is encoded at - smaller file size - less quality, or higher quality at a larger file size. You could use this at 128k, a reasonable compromise, but I'd go one above that to 192k. You may well be able to tell the difference, especially when listening with headphones.

You also want to uncheck the box saying "Copy Protect Music" - this will stop you copying them onto your mp3 player. If you own the original CDs it's fully legal to make copies of the music for your own use, so turn it off.

[tomd]

I completely missed out the process - put in your CD, select Rip or Copy on Windows Meda Player (from the navigation bar across the top), and select the tracks you want to copy (or all of them.) The Rip Music / Copy Music button will then make files of the music in the folder detailed at the bottom - usually My Documents \ My Music. You can change where they are stored in Tools > Options as well.