Downloading various file types

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Mama Needs Help

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I read "Burning CDs" by donmonro and I want to make sure I have this right. I am brand new to this. Ultimately, I want to make an audio tape for a school project for my daughter. I have a CD to tape recorder, so I thought I should go through the CD. I have a CD writer (that I barely can use). My questions:
1) If I want to download files to play in a regular CD player, they must be .wav, true?
2) If they are .mp3, they can be converted to wav with free software, true?
3) If they are Real, it can't be done, true?
4) If they are midi, I need to buy software, true?
5) Are there other types? What about them?
6) Could I just plug the audio output of my computer into a tape recorder and record that way?

In case you can't guess, quality of recording is not critical. If nothing else works, I'll just set the microphone in front of the computer speakers and record. But I hate to resort to that when I feel that there must be a better way.
 
quick and simply:

1 yes
2 yes, try MusicMatch
3 it CAN, but you have to have expensive propriatary software from Real, so let's say no. :)
4 yes
5 there are several formats of music, but mainly in recording, we will deal with wav, and it's compressed cousin, MP3
6 yes
 
Yup

To add to #4...If you choose later to get into midi uses and audio file manipulation (remixing)- programs like Cakewalk and Soundforge work great. There are other programs out there (Cubase, Cooledit) but I prefer the former...it's all preference. I will warn you...using these programs is addicting!:):D (and quite fun)

Good luck.

zip
 
1) The format required by most popular CDR software (like EZ CD Creator) requires the files to be in .wav format before burning to CDR or CDRW. Where it was before that- software neither knows nor cares.
2) The free musicmatch stuff is no prize. I'd look elsewhere if I was going for free.
3) Not at all. I just run the digital out on my soundcard to an external CDRW digital in, hit record and then start the Real Audio Stream. This signal path is always cleaner than the Real Audio Stream.
4) Actually Windows Media Player will play back MIDI through whatever synth you've got on your soundcard with no additional software. But CW is my favorite MIDI manipulation software.
5) Yes. Screw 'em. No advantage that I can see. Although I invented and memorized an entire alphabet of weird symbols that I use to write when I want a small bit of privacy when writing in public.
6) Yes. See Q3 for a similar setup.
 
Yup, just to keep things simple, you should...

connect your computer LINE OUT

to your tapedeck's LINE IN

You will need to purchase a STEREO 1/8" MALE to RCA cable.

You can then play and record your song at will and in whatever order you choose.

Happy Recording... :)



:DSPIN:D
 
Thanks so much. I think I can pull it off. Right now the "line out" option seems easiest. When there are no deadlines, I'll try to learn more. Next time, I'll be ready for them. Thanks again.
 
drstawl...

I have used Musicmatch to convert MP3 to wav and noticed it wasn't a good conversion....signal strength seems to vary.

Can you reco other versions both free and ones that cost?

Thanks,

zip
 
I paid for mine, so I didn't do the research on the free stuff, but I'd just head over to nonags.com and try a bunch of different ones for free. I've been happy with Vegas Pro's mp3 converter but if you don't really want its main functionality (multitracker) I wouldn't recommend just their mp3 converter. :)
 
I like nonags....

It's nice to try out stuff before you buy.

thanks drstrawl

zip
 
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