Merging 2 captures end to end

[chartsmalm]

I have captured 2 sides of one cassette that I would prefer to put on a CD as one continuous track. I presume that the answer is going to tell me how to merge the files. That brings me to the 2nd part of my question. Would I merge the .aup files or the .mp3 files that I created by Export?

[kozikowski]

Or (c.) Neither one.

Neither MP3 because of its sound damage nor Audacity Projects because of their brittle nature is ever considered a Capture Master. Export as WAV to get an actual, high-quality sound file of each side of the tape.

sideA.wav, sideB.wav

Back these files up to a second drive or other backup medium of your choice.

Drop each file into iTunes, create a playlist and import both performances into the playlist. You can change the order after you make the playlist. You can change the space between "songs" from the standard two seconds to zero, although there might still be a little burp between the two as the CD plays continuously straight through. Generally, it's clean.

Burn the playlist to a Music CD. Wait for iTunes to tell you to put a blank disk in the machine.

Enjoy.

iTunes will compress the original WAV files to its own internal AAC format which is OK, but if you want to do a straight, no damage CD burn, change iTunes import preferences to AIFF-Auto. The quality of the performance will stay the same throughout the whole path.

Don't forget to change iTunes preferences back to where it was, or you will only fit five songs on your iPod.

Everybody gets burned by one Music CD specification. They contain 80 minutes of performance. Period. It doesn't matter what you do to the songs ahead of time, when the CD gets to 80 minutes, it will stop so best to product as high a quality 80 minute (or less) show as you can.

Koz

[chartsmalm]

Thanks! It couldn't be clearer. Great explanation and cautions!