With your computer, our software, and a CD-Recordable (CD-R) or CD-ReWritable
(CD-RW) drive, making your own audio CD is easy and affordable.
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OVERVIEW
Making your own audio CD is a two-step process that requires two different
types of software.
1. Audio Editor:
The first step is to make a recording with your computer using software
such as our Digital Orchestrator or AudioView. Here the audio is
recorded as a standard stereo 16-bit 44.1 kHz Windows Wave audio file
(.WAV).
2. CD Mastering Software:
The second step is to transfer the recording onto a blank CD. The CD
mastering software converts your wave audio files to the Compact Disc
Digital Audio format that CD players read (CD-DA). The CD mastering
software then "burns" these files on to the blank CD-Recordable disc
(CD-R).
CD mastering software often comes bundled with CD-R drives and is also
sold separately at computer stores. AudioStation 5 includes CD mastering
software.
REQUIREMENTS
- A multimedia Pentium PC.
- A digital audio editing program, such as Voyetra AudioView, Digital
Orchestrator Plus or Digital Orchestrator Pro.
- At least 32 MB RAM, and at least 700 MB free hard disk space to store
the recorded files.
- A CD-Recordable or CD-ReWritable drive.
- CD mastering software (typically bundled with CD-R or CD-RW drives).
AudioStation 5 includes CD mastering software.
Note: Sound files are BIG! The wave audio files must be recorded in
16-bit stereo at 44.1 kHz sampling rate. Files at this setting
occupy 10.5 MB of hard disk space per minute of recorded sound.
PREPARE
You can record from the Audiostation CD player, a microphone, or a line-level
source. If you use a line source outside the computer (such as a stereo
or TV), determine first if you have the correct cable to connect the output of
the source device to your computer's sound card.
The sound card's line input uses a 1/8" stereo mini jack (like the headphone
jacks found on portable CD players and Walkman players).
If you are going to connect to a home audio device such as a cassette deck
or line output from a stereo tuner, you will need a 1/8" stereo miniplug that
splits off into stereo RCA male plugs:
(available in the Accessories section on our Web site)
For "professional-quality" results, use a sound card that is equipped with
a Sony/Philips Digital Interface ("S/PDIF") digital audio input, such as
the Turtle Beach Multisound Fiji, Multisound Pinnacle, or the Montego II.
A S/PDIF input allows you to make direct, all-digital transfers from most
DAT recorders, CD players or other digital audio gear equipped with a
S/PDIF digital output. Please read our other articles on S/PDIF for more
information.
STEP 1 – RECORDING
1. In the Audiostation Mixer, choose a recording source to accept input from
(either the mic, line, or CD input).
2. Adjust the sampling rate to stereo 16-bit 44.1 kHz for CD and line
recording.
3. Record a .WAV file.
Note: Make sure the hard drive does not use any type of disk compression,
as this may cause skips in the audio.
4. Edit the file in the AudioView editor that is part of Audiostation or the
stand-alone version. Here you can adjust the volume, apply fades, add echo,
and more. the "crop" function can automatically remove "dead spaces" in the
audio.
5. Save the wave audio file(s) to the hard drive.
STEP 2 – MAKE THE CD
1. IMPORTANT: Before you begin, shut off all screensavers, power-down options,
and virus protection software. It is also a good idea to defragment
the hard drive at this point before proceeding.
2. Place a dust-free, blank CD in the CD recorder.
3. Launch the CD mastering software. (Be sure to read the instructions for
the CD mastering software before you try to create a CD.)
4. Choose the option to create an audio CD (as opposed to writing data files,
as you would do to make a "data CD").
5. Burn the audio CD.
See also the article: "CD Burning - Getting Best Results (Windows 95/98)"
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