Dumb: How to duplicate audio CD?

[wiseguy27]

Coming from Windows land, this sounds so dumb. How do I copy an audio CD to a blank CD-R (or CD-RW) on the Mac (OS X 10.4.1)?

I tried using Disk Utility to first create an image of the original on the hard disk and then used the burn option to burn the image to a blank CD - now I have a coaster with 17MB of unreadable data (instead of 500MB)!

I don't like the idea of ripping the CD with iTunes and burning the tracks back (I prefer to have the same quality as the original).

Is this even possible with an application that comes with the base OS in OS X 10.4 (without additional third party apps)?

I've already tried searching the net and the forums on MR - didn't find anything useful (saw some references to "Disk Copy", but it seems to be an app that came with older versions of the OS).

 

[slooksterPSV]

Google for a CD RIPPER for mac or something like that

 

[840quadra]

I don't like the idea of ripping the CD with iTunes and burning the tracks back (I prefer to have the same quality as the original).

Just an FYI, the rate of which you RIP the data from the Audio CD is under your control. all you need to do is go into the prefrences and select the data rate you would like to encode the CD as.

So, in short, the issue you have with iTunes is under your control. Granted you then have to deal with the music files on your hard disk.

Regards,

840

 

[freiheit]

Just an FYI, the rate of which you RIP the data from the Audio CD is under your control. all you need to do is go into the prefrences and select the data rate you would like to encode the CD as.

And more importantly, if you're concerned about losing quality, one of the encoding options is Apple Lossless which, as its name implies, is lossless -- like using WinRar to compress the file. Then tell iTunes to burn those same tracks back to a blank CD-R.

And while there are several CD rippers that will also work, there is also Roxio Toast (comes in both "Titanium" and "Lite" versions, just like their Windows standard and "Basic" versions of Easy Media Creator) which gives you full audio and data CD and DVD burning support, CD ripping, VCD and DVD authoring (I believe).

 

[dotdotdot]

IF you rip in iTunes to Apple Lossless format and burn it there will be no quality loss.

 

[wiseguy27]

Thanks

Thanks all. I was looking for an app that comes with OS X and it seems like there are none.

As for changing the bit rate in iTunes, I'm well aware of that. I'm also aware of the "lossless" encoding, but I don't believe it would match the original CD. I know I sound like a perfectionist beyond rescue, but it's just a personal preference.

Since I do not yet have Roxio Toast (or other third party app), I guess I'll stick to iTunes for now (or Roxio Easy CD creator that I have on a Windows machine).

Previously, I had checked the Mac OS X help too - it only had something to say about duplicating data CDs, not audio CDs.

Thanks again! I guess I'll be buying Roxio Toast soon.

 

[Mechcozmo]

Thanks all. I was looking for an app that comes with OS X and it seems like there are none.

As for changing the bit rate in iTunes, I'm well aware of that. I'm also aware of the "lossless" encoding, but I don't believe it would match the original CD. I know I sound like a perfectionist beyond rescue, but it's just a personal preference.

Since I do not yet have Roxio Toast (or other third party app), I guess I'll stick to iTunes for now (or Roxio Easy CD creator that I have on a Windows machine).

Try LossLess because it REALLY IS that good. And if you don't want to shell out for Toast, import using the AIFF format. That's raw audio off of the CD and you can't get much better unless you make your own format. Minor issue: AIFF files are freakin' huge. LossLess sound the same (to me and most people, no harm in just trying it, eh?) and are much smaller.

 

[Macophile]

As for changing the bit rate in iTunes, I'm well aware of that. I'm also aware of the "lossless" encoding, but I don't believe it would match the original CD. I know I sound like a perfectionist beyond rescue, but it's just a personal preference.

Import as AIFF -- there's no compression at all. Then create a playlist and burn the CD. Delete the tracks out of iTunes once you're finished if you don't want to keep them. (You can also change the import preference to MP3 or AAC and from the menu select "Advanced" -> "Convert Selection to..." and save the tracks as whatever you've chosen, if the fancy strikes you.)

Previously, I had checked the Mac OS X help too - it only had something to say about duplicating data CDs, not audio CDs.

Well, audio CDs are essentially data CDs. The same rules should apply. Give it a try.

Thanks again! I guess I'll be buying Roxio Toast soon.

Toast really does make copying CDs incredibly easy and virtually foolproof.

 

[wiseguy27]

Thanks Mechcozmo and Macophile!

I didn't even look at the option of importing as AIFF before. That sounds to be the best option (I'd remove those huge files later).

I'll also check out the lossless encoder. I do understand that in most cases we may not be able to distinguish it from the original.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

Coming from Windows land, this sounds so dumb. How do I copy an audio CD to a blank CD-R (or CD-RW) on the Mac (OS X 10.4.1)?

I tried using Disk Utility to first create an image of the original on the hard disk and then used the burn option to burn the image to a blank CD - now I have a coaster with 17MB of unreadable data (instead of 500MB)!

I don't like the idea of ripping the CD with iTunes and burning the tracks back (I prefer to have the same quality as the original).

Is this even possible with an application that comes with the base OS in OS X 10.4 (without additional third party apps)?

I've already tried searching the net and the forums on MR - didn't find anything useful (saw some references to "Disk Copy", but it seems to be an app that came with older versions of the OS).

Your question isn't dumb at all, Disc Utility isn't plainly obvious when it comes to doing what you want to do.

To create a disc image an burn it from disc utility, you have to make sure you click on the last icon related to the cd (see attached picture) then create a disc image. This time is give you the option for it to be read only, and if you want to encrypt it.

You will be able to burn this disc image from the disc utility without a problem.

 

[freiheit]

I'll also check out the lossless encoder. I do understand that in most cases we may not be able to distinguish it from the original.

Lossless should ALWAYS sound identical to the original. Nothing is being thrown away in lossless compression. If you ever hear a difference in a lossless file compared to the original CD, then something is seriously wrong (data corruption on your disk).

 

[Mechcozmo]

I would highly suggest looking into the Apple LossLess Encoder. You will most likely love it.

Audiophile.

 

[galdamez]

Well, audio CDs are essentially data CDs. The same rules should apply. Give it a try.

Not really. Apple's Disk Utility can't make copies of Audio CDs.

You're supposed to be able to make an image of the original and then burn from the image, but the option to create an image from a device is unavailable if you insert an Audio CD. It works fine if the disc is just a data CD.

In the past you could rip to iTunes using any format, and if you burned to a new disc the copy would have gaps. This would be regardless of whether or not you choose 0 second gaps in the iTunes preferences. For a while I thought this was a limitation of the MP3/AAC gaps, but when I tried the AIFF format the results would be the same. My guess is that iTunes in previous versions burned in TAO (Track at Once) mode.

Recently, I recorded a nonstop disco music LP to CD. I had to edit out points of silence before and after the recording, so I ripped it to iTunes using the Lossless format. I made sure to specify the files as Gapless in the iTunes metadata. To my surprise, when I burned the Lossless files to a new audio CD, the resulting CD was also gapless! This may mean that recent editions of iTunes are now DAE (Disc at Once) mode.

Regardless of these solutions, copying an audio CD is not necessarily always 100%. I have a hardware CD/Duplicator which is independent of a computer. I've used that as well as Roxio Toast and iTunes to try and duplicate discs. CD-Text never gets copied for some reason.

Toast really does make copying CDs incredibly easy and virtually foolproof.

Agreed, but it's not cheap either.

I wonder if there's a cheap freeware app that just makes CD copies.

 

[slooksterPSV]

http://simplyburns.berlios.de/screenshots.html

It's called SimplyBurns

 

[Genghis Khan]

three programs

1) Toast
2) Handbrake
3) Mac the Ripper

with those three, you can do anything media

toast for burning, handbrake for conversion and resizing, mac the ripper is self explanatory

 

[scoostraw]

Taking this one step further..

I have one CD which has "normal" gaps between the tracks on one side, but most of "side 2" has no gaps. How do I get itunes to play this playlist exactly the same as the CD?

 

[techflat]

I don´t like the whole idea of having to use iTunes to copy a cd, is 1 extra step I don't think should be necessary.

I would like to be able to open som software, insert cd, press copy, remove cd and then insert blank cd. Ok, so there is Toast and others but this should be available as a default feature on OsX.

There should be at least a complicated way to do it. I've been googling around for about 6 hours for this, but nothing seems to work with audio cd's.

I tried the dd way: copying the audio cd to the HD works fine, but since it doesn't have a filesystem, burning the .iso file to a blank cd isn't possible (or I don't get how to do it).

My last attempt was to try to copy the file using dd to the blank cd directly, but I get a permit denial even using sudo. Does anybody know a way to copy the .iso file to the cd using dd?

Or maybe there's some way to do it using hdiutil or another console program.

Well at least I get comfort from knowing this is not only getting on my nerves...

Cheers

Edit: Just tried SimplyBurns (http://simplyburns.berlios.de/) and it worked like a charm. Still looking for an out of the box way to do the audio cd copying thing...without iTunes. :-(

 

[gnasher729]

TAs for changing the bit rate in iTunes, I'm well aware of that. I'm also aware of the "lossless" encoding, but I don't believe it would match the original CD.

Believe it.

 

[KLUB]

short answer

for importing files into itunes library as BIG original files ( AIFF is what is on an audio cd )

MENU BAR> Itunes>preferences ( open this )
preferences window > advanced icon > importing tab

on cd insert > ask to import
import using > AIFF encoder ( DONT worry, since they are already AIFF, we wont be encoding them )
setting > 48kHz 16 bit and stereo, ( same as audio cd )

menubar>itunes>preferences
preferences window > advanced icon > importing tab
disk format > AUDIO CD
gap between songs > 2 secs
use audio check,
include cd text

this will keep a song as ~40Mb format
Good Luck

 

[KLUB]

longer answer P

ok, first off, everyone,,
apple lossless is NOT loss less, it is lose less,
it is apple's proprietary compression algorithm, in which they feel they have improved on the mp3 compression method
so think of it as apples version, or a new and improved,
if you are a dedicated loyal apple fan then fine use it,
but mp3 has become an industry standard,

if ANYTHING comes in a smaller package or cheaper price,
it is NOT the SAME, it is a copy a clone a replication
you dont take 40mb of data and make it 20mb or 4mb
you can save it compressed ( like a zipped archive, which may have algorithms to uncompress and unpack to the original, I can believe that,
00-00-00-00-00-00- is only 6x00-
so, PLEASE dont be so bold and brash as to ruin the fragile legitimacy of the net by making stupid wrongful comments
come on done be so gullible,
( great, (sarcastic) now I get to be bad mouthed over my outspokenness, who cares, I wont come back here )

as for how to do this,
I didnt know, even being a many decade computer guru,
I had never done it, so I may as well of been, my father or grandfather,
on a mac for the first time ever on a computer,
so I went searching and found this post,
but the answer wasnt here,
but it gave me a clue,
so, I went into itunes,
as apple kinda wants youto do things THEIR way
even though they do often keep the ORIGINAL way available it is often hidden
like trying to find your original photos in iphoto libraries

so this is the answer
why do I say that, the files are the SAME size as the originals, no compression
but there is better and more complete answers with external 3rd party software ( to maintain, cd sound gap times the same as on the original )

in itunes, ( it is in preferences, as they assume you will choose a way you like and do it all the time, rather, than make it an option AT import time)

MENU BAR> Itunes>preferences ( open this )
preferences window > advanced icon > importing tab

I had to set, upon insertion of new cd, to ask to import
and under import using, I switched it to AIFF ( this is the format of a CD audio file, in apple lingo)
and under quality, I selected .
somewhere in the catacombs of my memory I remember hearing ( in the 70's) that was to be the format of all audio cd's

the files import at FULL size
and then I renamed them with numbers,
and inserted them into a playlist called the album
and then saved the playlist to a CD
menubar>file>burn playlist to disc
and choose and AUDIO cd

that is the best answer I can give you,
it gave me a cd that plays in my player,
(one which wont accept mp3 files or CD-R formats )

if you want and identical cd, dont rename the files
as for text tags etc,
I didnt look into that,
nor was I concerned over maintaining gap length
I just choose 2 secs
menubar>itunes>preferences,,advanced>burning, 2 secs and AUDIO CD

 

[IscariotJ]

ok, first off, everyone,,
apple lossless is NOT loss less, it is lose less,
it is apple's proprietary compression algorithm, in which they feel they have improved on the mp3 compression method
so think of it as apples version, or a new and improved,
if you are a dedicated loyal apple fan then fine use it,
but mp3 has become an industry standard,

I beg to differ. Try this: Rip a CD into ALAC, burn a CD from the ALAC, and then check the MD5's for the AIFF's. There are the same.

so, PLEASE dont be so bold and brash as to ruin the fragile legitimacy of the net by making stupid wrongful comments
come on done be so gullible,
( great, (sarcastic) now I get to be bad mouthed over my outspokenness, who cares, I wont come back here )

Bye Bye....

 

[CanadaRAM]

ok, first off, everyone,,
apple lossless is NOT loss less, it is lose less,
it is apple's proprietary compression algorithm, in which they feel they have improved on the mp3 compression method... you dont take 40mb of data and make it 20mb or 4mb

You're confusing Apple AAC - which is a lossy compression scheme that is an improvement on MP3 at given bitrates - with Apple Lossless.

you can save it compressed ( like a zipped archive, which may have algorithms to uncompress and unpack to the original, I can believe that,
00-00-00-00-00-00- is only 6x00-

Exactly. That's what Apple Lossless does. Just like Zip.

 

[CGV]

Itunes Cd Burning

I have got a problem with burning a CD in itunes. It recognises my computer CD drive fine when I import a CD. However, when I come to burn one, it says that the drive and the software cannot be found. I have looked in the Burning tab under Edit- PReferences- Advanced - Burning and I see that it is pointing to my G drive, whereas my CD player is my F drive. I cannot seem to be able to change it to point to the right drive. Any ideas? Please help...

 

[CanadaRAM]

I have got a problem with burning a CD in itunes. It recognises my computer CD drive fine when I import a CD. However, when I come to burn one, it says that the drive and the software cannot be found. I have looked in the Burning tab under Edit- PReferences- Advanced - Burning and I see that it is pointing to my G drive, whereas my CD player is my F drive. I cannot seem to be able to change it to point to the right drive. Any ideas? Please help...

Err.. this is a Macintosh forum, advice on your Windows machine might be a bit thin on the ground.

Also, you stand a better chance of asking your question in a new thread rather than tagging it on the end of someone else's question.

Do you have more than one CD drive in your machine? Is your F drive a burner? Did you change your hardware configuration since iTunes was installed?

I would be inclined to download and reinstall iTunes.

 

[brianp]

If you don't want to buy toast, give burn a try. Put the cd in, open burn, drag the cd icon from the desktop to the little box in burn, then click save, which saves a disk image onto the desktop or wherever. then you can burn the disk image to a new cd-r