CD burner software

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I got my new computer up and running and have been tweaking here and there to get ready for recording. In looking around at the pre-installed software I found a program to be used with the CDRW called Roxio. It doesn't look too good. I haven't worked with it yet, but just wanted to know what you guys think about it? Is there any free or cheap CD burner software that would be better?
Also, is there such a thing as CD burner software that will let you tweak or enhance CD's that were recorded on a CDRW?
 
If you have Roxio Easy CD Creator, it's good. I'm not aware of any other Roxio burner programs. Apparently, they bought Easy CD Creator from Adaptec, and it's one of the most popular ones out there.

As far as tweaking CDRW's, usually you rip (or copy) the audio data from the CDRW to your hard drive, do your tweaking with audio software, then re-burn it. I'm not aware of any CDRW software that lets you tweak audio as it exists on the disc.
 
seanmorse,
That is what I was talking about, saving to hard drive, tweaking, and then burning to CD. What is a good inexpensive program to use for this? And also, just how much can you tweak?
 
I guess it depends on what kind of tweaking you're talking about. Do you mean mastering, or taking apart samples from CD's, or something else?
 
I guess I'm talking about mastering. I have a CD that my group recorded where the levels are not balanced on certain songs. Music is too loud on other songs and on others one vocal part is too loud. Thought I maybe could correct some of these problems and add or take away effects as needed. I guess that is mastering?
 
For the most part, yes. There are a number of different software tools you can use for mastering (technically, an EQ is a function of mastering, so the term is used loosely sometimes). Generally Mastering is the final stage in the recording process before the disc goes to press. It's kind-of like the final wax & buff.

Here's a quick list from most expensive to least expensive. There are many more, but these are most of the common ones:

Izotope Ozone - mastering editor (about $299)
T-Racks - mastering tool
WaveLab - audio aditor / mastering tool
Sonic Forge - audio editor (some mastering functions)
Cool Edit - audio editor (some mastering functions) (about $99)

If you don't already have an audio editor, AND you're planning on doing computer-based multi-track recording AND your multi-track software doesn't have a built-in audio editor, I'd recommend an audio editor that can do some mastering (IMO Wavelab). You'll end up needing an audio editor sooner or later.

If you're looking for a real mastering program, or just looking to clean up some audio files (and don't need an audio editor), Ozone is your best bet.

Most of these apps have demos, and I'd highly recommend trying those out first to make sure it's what you're looking for.
 
Thanks for your advice!
When you download say a song to the hard drive is this in a wav file? I noticed on n-track that you can do this.
 
Assuming the file is coming from the CD, yes, you'll want to save it as a .wav file. Ideally, you'll want to "extract" the digital audio from the CD, as opposed to recording it from the CD via your sound card (there is a difference).

If I remember correctly, you're the guy who was recording vocalists along with 2 tracks of background music, rite? If you're using N-Track, you're probably better off making your adjustments there, before the mastering stage (assuming you tracked the vocals separately). I'm not familiar with N-Track, but if you have a vocalist that's too loud in some spots, try a compressor/limiter plugin (as a channel insert) - there are many shareware/freeware ones available. If you're stuck with a 2-track mix, then you're probably already on the right track with a wav editor/mastering program (most of which will also extract a .wav file from CD).
 
You are almost right seanmorse. I am going to record 4 simultaneous tracks using a Delta 44 (3 vocals and one soundtrack). I don't have the soundcard yet and am just fooling around with the first project we recorded to see if I can make it better. Right now I am just looking to download a song to my hard drive and see if I can improve it and burn it back to a blank CD. As I said before our first recording was done in a studio, but they did not have a clue as to how we should sound. The result was some unbalanced songs (vocals not balanced). Others the music or vocals were too loud.
 
...one thing you might want to consider before you buy your sound card... if you want your soundtrack to be in stereo, it's going to need 2 channels (one for left, one for rite), which would mean you'd either need to overdub one vocal (eek), or use 2 mics for 3 vocals.

However, you can just record the soundtrack first (to 2 tracks), then have the singers sing to the recording.

...just food for thought.
 
Thanks alot. You just saved me a step. I would have not thought of this and wondered why it didn't sound right. So, let me see if I'm right about this. After recording the soundtracks I come out of the computer into my mixer using one of the outs on the Delta breakout box?
 
Anybody out there ever use the software called Blazeaudio wave creator. I downloaded the demo, saved a song from our groups first CD and messed with it a little (normalizing, eqing, amplifying)and really enhanced the sound. I then burned it to CD and compared it to my original and it was a great improvement.
Anybody else ever use this software? If not try it out and let me know what you think. I haven't even scratched the surface yet and did a decent job of enhancing our CD.
 
So, let me see if I'm right about this. After recording the soundtracks I come out of the computer into my mixer using one of the outs on the Delta breakout box?
Click to expand...
...it all depends on how you're set up. If you need to go back into the mixer from the computer, I believe you should be able to use the outs from the Delta (I'm not sure about the 44), and go back into the mixer. Are you going to be using your mixer's channel inserts as mic preamps into the Delta? In either case, you need to make sure that you're recording one mic per track. If you're using the channel inserts, you should be fine.

Personally, I use a 3 button splitter for the sound coming from my sound card. Button (A) turns on my main monitors, button (B) turns on my junky monitors, and button (C) sends the audio to my mixer for monitoring. I only have a 12 channel mixer, so I have to do it that way.

Congrats on the success with Blazeaudio. I want to say I've heard of it, but I've never tried it. Parametric (or Paragraphic) EQ is going to be your best friend for cleaning up mixes :) Go easy with normalizing though ...especially when tracking.

Best O' Luck to ya,

Sean
 
I am using the insert jacks in my mixer for vocals. One vocal per track. Basically all I need the soundtracks coming back out of the computer to the mixer is just so we can hear the music that I already recorded into the computer.
In recording the tracks on two separate channels like you said. How do I do this exactly. I'm thinking I record the soundtracks two different times (unless there is some way I can split it and go into the breakout box on two different tracks simultaneously) one on one track and then record it again on another track. Pan one to the left and the other to the right. I may be totally off base?
 
The Delta card supports zero latency monitoring (as does my C-Port), so here's how I do it (it should work the same way with yours):

1. Record your soundtracks (say, tracks 5 and 6)

2. Plug in your 3 microphones into channels 1, 2, and 3 of your mixer

3. Cables out from mixer via channel inserts 1, 2, and 3 into Delta's breakout box (1, 2, and 3).

4. Cables OUT from Delta (1, 2, and 3) into mixer channels 4, 5, and 6. That's the zero latency monitoring part. You'll probably have to "assign" the outs somehow via the included software (that's how mine does it, anyway). If you have the tip/ring soldered 1/4" cables, you can skip this step altogether. I haven't done it yet, so I use the sound card for monitoring.

5. Cable out from your Delta's main output into mixer channels 7 and 8. (I like to use a cheap A/B splitter for this - it's much more convenient, but not necessary)

Set your levels and you're ready to go. You'll have 3 separate vocal tracks to mix independently.

If your mixer is like mine, then you'll use each channel's trim knob to adjust your input levels to the Delta card, and the fader to adjust the levels in the headphones (my channel inserts are pre-fader).

Hope this helps, and I haven't made it more confusing than it needs to be :) Just remember you can skip step 4 if you have (or make) the right cables.

As far as recording the soundtrack onto 2 channels - that's the easy part. You just need a "Y" adapter cable (1 stereo jack to 2 mono jacks). Most electronics stores and music store have them.
 
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