Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

[savagcl]

Assuming I have a CD (cd-r or 80 min audio cd) that is half full of mp3 music
and i want to add some more tracks.

The help gives the impression that i must read in (to the cd-writer program) the
existing tracks from the CD. Move the new tracks to be added into the same
folder and then write to a brand new blank CD.

I know if its a CD-RW, just rip from the cd-rw, erase the cd-rw, add new ones
and re-write. Easy enough there.

How is this "adding tracks" done to a CD that already contains some tracks?
CD-R or 80 minute Audio CD?

thanks,
savagcl

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

I just tried this and received the "Unknown Error" msg.
What i did:

Used the Audio CD, 80 minutes as a target disk.
A blank disk - wrote 5 music pieces onto it (mp3).
Erased what was in the temp-creation folder.
Using explorer, i selected 3 more mp3 songs to
write to cd.
I did get the box "Add to existing" on screen and clicked it.
Disk spun a couple times (2/3 seconds) and then got the error msg.

?????
thanks,
savagcl

[ChristinaS]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

I just tried this and received the "Unknown Error" msg.
What i did:

Used the Audio CD, 80 minutes as a target disk.
A blank disk - wrote 5 music pieces onto it (mp3).
Erased what was in the temp-creation folder.
Using explorer, i selected 3 more mp3 songs to
write to cd.
I did get the box "Add to existing" on screen and clicked it.
Disk spun a couple times (2/3 seconds) and then got the error msg.

?????
thanks,
savagcl

Clif, if your original cd was "closed" (or finalized) you cannot add to it any more.

Most burning software can either close a cd after burning so it can be read (.i. played) rigth away, or leave it open so you can add more to it. The dMC CD Writer program closes the cd after burning, and I've seen no option to leave it open.

This is why it says to make a new cd (meaning on a new blank cd) and combine the existing information form your first disk and add to it before burning.

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Hi Christina,

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Ok, Let me try that again.

If the cd is "automatically closed" (i did not have a check in the box to close the
cd) then why have the box "Add toexisting" at all?

I never close an mp3 cd just the session.....
Wav or other formats, except mp3 and wma, will close the cd (?) But the help
for cd writer shows as being able to add to existing files (there shouldn't be an
automatic close for the mp3 cd, should there?

thnks,
savagcl

[ChristinaS]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Ok, Let me try that again.

If the cd is "automatically closed" (i did not have a check in the box to close the
cd) then why have the box "Add toexisting" at all?

I never close an mp3 cd just the session.....
Wav or other formats, except mp3 and wma, will close the cd (?) But the help
for cd writer shows as being able to add to existing files (there shouldn't be an
automatic close for the mp3 cd, should there?

thnks,
savagcl

Hmmmm... i think it simply refers to adding to the compilation list or rather the cd image on your hard disk (sort of a virtual cd ) prior to burning.

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

I just did another test using a cd-rw disk and it worked. So the question now is:
Does this NOT work for cd-r disk? From reading the HELP, i think its supposed
to work for cd-r's also, as long as its an mp3/wma/ogg disk.

From Help:
Mp3 / WMA / Ogg Sessions

Standard audio CDs have to be written all at once, that is no tracks can be added once a disc is burned, [SIZE=3][COLOR=Red]but that is not true for mp3 / wma / ogg discs, 40 tracks could be burned - the disc used (played) and later another 70 tracks burned to fill the remaining space. Each time a group of tracks is burned it is called a session, and as long as the option Closed Disc is let unchecked (option on the page shown before burning) additional tracks can be added.[/COLOR][/SIZE] When adding tracks to a CD aleady containing tracks a prompt will be made asking for a blank CD, on this option page is a button Add to Existing that should be used.

A little clarification is needed for the procedure about the auto close part...

thanks,
savagcl
(clif)

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Ok, here it is...
It must have been my using a DVD/CD-R/CD-RW drive (no idea why it would
fail tho).

I tried again this time using the same CD-R (from original test) only this time
I used my TDK drive (no DVD) and it worked. There were 3 songs on the cd
already and i added 5 more. ---Worked---!!!!

So HELP is OK but could use some details put in. And the auto close works as
it should i guess (no indicator shown other that the check box).

Have no idea why the DVD R/W wouldnt work but i get a much faster write
speed (x48) from the TDK drive anyway.

Thanks for the help, Christina,
clif

[ChristinaS]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

I just did another test using a cd-rw disk and it worked. So the question now is:
Does this NOT work for cd-r disk? From reading the HELP, i think its supposed
to work for cd-r's also, as long as its an mp3/wma/ogg disk.

From Help:
Mp3 / WMA / Ogg Sessions

Standard audio CDs have to be written all at once, that is no tracks can be added once a disc is burned, [SIZE=3][COLOR=Red]but that is not true for mp3 / wma / ogg discs, 40 tracks could be burned - the disc used (played) and later another 70 tracks burned to fill the remaining space. Each time a group of tracks is burned it is called a session, and as long as the option Closed Disc is let unchecked (option on the page shown before burning) additional tracks can be added.[/COLOR][/SIZE] When adding tracks to a CD aleady containing tracks a prompt will be made asking for a blank CD, on this option page is a button Add to Existing that should be used.

A little clarification is needed for the procedure about the auto close part...

thanks,
savagcl
(clif)

MP3, WMA, OGG, etc. are data types really, simply turning your cd into another folder, directly addressable through Windows Explorer (at least for reading) once the cd is in the drive. I wonder if it limits compilations to defined audio types, or if any data types can be put on the cd (mental note to check ) It realy shouldn't have to, since no conversion need be involved.

I was wondering where the option to close or not was coming in. Cannot see that without actually burning a data cd it seems. So for an audio CD it will always close (no choices offered) and for a data cd it's optional. Once you've closed it, that's it.

In other burning software (like Nero) it is optional to close even for an audio cd - but it cna be set as a default. Of course the unclosed audio cd will not play in a standard player until it's closed, but it can be closed later just the same. That is when the track information is written to disk.


Ok, so after all my rant, you're not any more advanced.

I think what you did is create a standard audio cd from mp3 files. Not to be confused with an mp3 audio cd. The standard audio cd was closed once you burned it, so you cannot add to it.

-----

After attempting a test of sorts: it appears that only mp3's can be written as mp3 audio cd type (well, duh! it does say mp3, why would I think it can be soemthing else too?). All formats end up being converted to mp3 under whatever compression rules were defined beforehand. Therefore there seems to be no way to burn other files without converting them automatically to mp3. Might I have missed something in the shuffle???

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Rant away, Christina.

Ranting never hurts, makes you feel better (afterward) and who know, there
may be a gem of info in there.

No, The only thing i did different was to change the cd drive. I used the
previously burned CD "SONY CD-R Music Cd For Digital Quality Sound 80 minutes"
(so it says on the box). And the second burn worked fine (with the different
drive that is).

Haven't tried it in the mp3 player but works good on the PC.

clif

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Oh! The "Add to existing" box only shows after you hit the "BurnCD" button
and the small window pops up telling you to put in a blank cd. If you put in a
cd that has mp3/WMA/OGG instead the window will change to show the "Add
to existing".

One more - back to the standard vs mp3 cd's Since all 4 "types" are audio cd
capable i still dont know how to tell them apart.
I've never seen a box of cd's with "standard audio" on the box or a box with
"MP3 audio" on it. They just say music or audio.........

Standard Audio CD 74 or 80 minutes - what to look for on the box?
mp3 Audio CDs of 640MB and 700MB - What to look for on the box?

If it breaks out as 74 minutes = 640MB and 80 minutes = 700MB (looks like it)
then how to tell what you are buying?

clif

[ChristinaS]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Oh! The "Add to existing" box only shows after you hit the "BurnCD" button
and the small window pops up telling you to put in a blank cd. If you put in a
cd that has mp3/WMA/OGG instead the window will change to show the "Add
to existing".

One more - back to the standard vs mp3 cd's Since all 4 "types" are audio cd
capable i still dont know how to tell them apart.
I've never seen a box of cd's with "standard audio" on the box or a box with
"MP3 audio" on it. They just say music or audio.........

Standard Audio CD 74 or 80 minutes - what to look for on the box?
mp3 Audio CDs of 640MB and 700MB - What to look for on the box?

If it breaks out as 74 minutes = 640MB and 80 minutes = 700MB (looks like it)
then how to tell what you are buying?

clif

The blanks are all the same, Clif, apart from capacity: 650MB, 700MB. Even that is now all 700MB (80min) everywehre. Some blanks are better for audio quality-wise, so they'll be so marked. But all blanks can handle standard audio cd burning. Some (pricey, older) players are finicky and want a high quality cd and may burp on cheaper ones. But that's just because of the quality. They are all the same kind in fact.

What and how you burn on them determines if it's standard audio cd or not.

[savagcl]

Re: Adding tracks to an Mp3 cd?

Ok, think i got it.
The cd (-R, -RW) dont matter except for capacity. What matters is the format you write them (cda = standard audio, mp3 = mp3 audio).....

thanks, Christina,
clif