Audacity Forum

Is there a specific .wav file format that Audacity recordings need to be saved as in order to burn them to a CD as an audio file? I've recorded a couple vinyl albums but can't get the .wav files to burn to a CD. Easy CD creator gives message that there is an error on CD disk and Media Player says the files are in unrecognizable format (putting the files in Playlist first). I've tried several different CDs of different brands and none work. All the recordings play fine in Audacity, Media Player, and Real Player on PC but just can't get them to burn to CD as audio files. Files will copy to CD as data files.

For WAVs for a CD you need to Export to the Red Book standard - 44.1kHz PCM 16-bit, stereo.

You are burning a msic CD and not a data CD are you? The two are quite differrent - a music CD doesn't actually contain WAV files - but rather has its own format.

And you are using CR-Rs and not CD-RW's?

WC

Thanks for the reply. My problem is probably the format. I think the recordings were saved as 32-bit.

Yes, trying to burn a music CD and not using CD-RW.

Will Audacity convert the 32-bit .wav files to the red book standard or will I have to record them again?

Audacity is terrific recording and editing program once you learn the features. Only complaint is that Close exits the program instead of closing the project.

Audacity will handle the downsampling to 16-bit on Export fine and dandy for you - it does it fine for me. If you have'nt still got the Audacity project, just open your 32-bit WAV file and Export it the Red Book standard.

It is generally thought to be good to record in 32-bit if you are going to be using the editing tools (e.g. amplification, normalization fade-in/out etc etc.). If all you are doing is simple data capture and then export to WAV/MP3 then setting your project bitrate to 16-bit would probably be fine.

WC

The file format was the problem. Saved the 32 bit files to 16 bit and recordings burned to music cd just fine.

Thanks

Can you tell me how to save my recording as a sound file when using Export as WAV - I believe once I have done that I can drag it to a playlist???

Please help. Can anyone explain how to copy files to CD in very simple terms. I have downloaded lame file but I cannot unzip it. And audacity does not like my CD-RW discs. Why is there not an option to export to CD. Do I have to use MP3 instead? or WAV??? Any help would be appreciated.

See the wiki FAQ: http://audacityteam.org/help/faq?s=files&i=burn-cd

You'll find lots of othe useful stuff from these Audacity Pages (including stuff on LAME and how to use it) - Tutorial, the manual etc.

WC