Audacity Forum

That's not to say you can't have burning problems. Companies have stopped producing top quality blank CDs and it's not unusual for "Burn At Maximum Speed" to fail. Nobody is expecting X64 or X32 to work reliably. I prepare my disks at X8 and that seems to work for me. DO Not make the computer do anything else during the burn and keep desk and room vibrations to a minimum.

It's handy to have a crappy CD player as a test on the theory that if the disks play on that, they'll play anywhere. That's also how you find out which burning speeds produce the best disks. I have an old clam-shell portable CD player which is very particular about the quality of the burn.

Computers don't count. Most computers will play floor sweepings.

Koz

Windows 7
Firefox
Audacity 2.1.2

I'll need to test getting an hour or more of WAV on an audio CD that will register on the station players. I have one weekly two hour program (plus occasionally subs for other programmers). I usually go in with my prepared tracks, but if I can't, such as in snow storms, I submit a prerecord. I won't be going in for at least 10 days now. I get back about the results after I've tested.

Is it possible to put WAV on a flash drive that will play on an audio player?

flash drive

A flash drive is a convenient hard drive. It has to mount on or connect to a computer to work, not a music player. After you mount the drive, the computer has to pull the WAV file off and play it in its own music software.

A flash drive suddenly needs an operating system, file management and music software.

So the only way to do that is if the ratty computer at the station can connect to the flash drive, manage the file and play it.

By far the best bet is to get the Audio CD to work. If there's any question about the quality of the burn, send a backup. Send two duplicate disks, clearly labeled.

Obviously the most snow-convenient delivery method is on-line, but most people's UP internet connection is terrible compared to down, so even if they're willing to download it, you have to have enough time. Oh, and you need a server in the middle unless the station has a server. It's possible to directly send work between people, but it's dangerous, awkward and slow. Much better you send the show somewhere and they pull it down from that somewhere.

You know somebody is going to want you to compress it to make transmission more efficient.

Aaaaand loop to the beginning.

Koz

There are labeling tricks, too. The optical surface of a disk is recessed and protected and will stand a remarkable amount of abuse before the music dies. Not so the label side. The Music is Right Under the label and if you scratch the label you can destroy the disk.

Unlike vinyl, a CD starts from the middle and works out, so the least valuable part of the disk is the outer edge. That's where I put the label. That pen is fine-tip felt and not likely to damage anything.

Never touch the optical side. Always handle the edges.

Koz

If they're going out in the mail, the USPS can supply 6" x 10" Photo Document Mailers which are nearly perfect. They're self-sealing stiff cardboard without being heavy. They're not square which can cause the Post Office some trouble. They will go First Class Mail for a Global Forever stamp. I think the dividing line is 3 oz. Above that the cost goes up. Two CDs? I haven't weighed them in a while. Above that consult your post office.

You can do better than getting the mailers at the Post Office and I have done that, too.

Koz

If you put two or more disks in a document mailer, you'll want to put each disk in its own light, transparent-window CD envelope to keep them from scratching each other to death. You could get away with putting a cut-down sheet of printer paper between each disk.

Koz