Audio CD Capacity

[brianejsmith]

Can someone explain something to me?

The Audacity Help says "Because audio CDs must always contain uncompressed 44100 Hz 16-bit stereo audio, they are necessarily limited on a 650 MB ("Red Book Standard") or 700 MB audio CD to 74 - 80 minutes playing time respectively. "

Which makes me assume that at the recording density specified (uncompressed 44100 Hz 16-bit stereo audio) 74 - 80 minutes will take up 650Mb?

I have a collection of audio files recorded at 192Kbps that according to Windows Explorer occupies less than 200Mb but when trying to burn the files to a CD-R disc, Windows Media Player insists on splitting the collection into 2 according, I assume again, to the amount of time it will take to play the files rather than the space the files use.

Is there anyway to overcome this? If the files only need physical space of just under 200Mb I would like to get the whole collection onto a single CD if possible.

Or, are the files recorded at the "wrong" density?

[kozikowski]

Is there anyway to overcome this?

Sure. Don't make a Red Book Standard Audio CD. If your player accepts data CDs (many cars can do this now and all computers should be able to deal with it), you can put good quality MP3s on the disk and get much more than 78 minutes.

Audio CDs conform to the time standard and Data CDs conform to the data space standard. You can get hit with this a number of different ways. If the original work is mono, the Audio CD Authoring software will force stereo doubling the size. There is also a number of tracks restriction — 99.

Koz

[brianejsmith]

Thanks Koz

I made a CD the way you suggest using ImgBurn. It plays in my car - which also shows the titling - and on my PC but won't play on my BOSE CD player.

This is in-line with what you're saying I think.

I'll see how my singing group get on; I think some of them will want to play the CD on CD players as opposed to in their cars or on their PCs. Can't please everyone!

[DVDdoug]

I made a CD the way you suggest using ImgBurn. It plays in my car - which also shows the titling - and on my PC but won't play on my BOSE CD player.

This is in-line with what you're saying I think.

Right. Most CD players ONLY play audio CDs. There is a STANDARD, so if you buy a CD in a store (or online) it WILL play in everybody's CD player. (Same with DVD & Blu-Ray.) With compressed formats it's hit-and-miss... Some car stereos can play WMA but not MP3 and vice-versa. And some can only play audio CDs.

I'll see how my singing group get on; I think some of them will want to play the CD on CD players as opposed to in their cars or on their PCs. Can't please everyone!

Sure you can! You can release both a CD and MP3s (or AAC). Most commercial releases are available on CD, and can be downloaded from iTunes (AAC) or Amazon, etc. (MP3). Or, just sell (or give away) CDs and people and make their own MP3/AAC.

If your computer has a CD drive, it can play CDs.
Virtually ALL computers can play MP and AAC (and any other format if the user installs the correct CODEC).
Virtually ALL portable players can play MP3 or AAC, and usually uncompressed WAV (and sometimes additional formats).

[kozikowski]

Virtually ALL portable players

Personal Music Players, not personal CD players. Remember those?
Koz