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Resolved Question

What format to burn CDs in?

Mar 12, 2017 12:35AM PST

I would like to be able to burn a CD with music that can be played on two CD players. In theory, this should be easy, however, one CD player was purchased in 2009, and the other in 1983. You can probably see the problem now. What format/settings etc. should I burn the CD in so that it will play on both players? Thanks.

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-FusionCat- has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Also, New Players Can Play MP3 CD's Which Older One's Can't
Mar 12, 2017 9:49AM PDT

If the burning software burns the disk as an MP3 disk, it usually won't play on older players. As such, Like Kees suggested, be sure to burn them in the standard CD audio format. Standard audio format burning software converts MP3 files into the correct audio file and it should play on all units.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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mp3 cd
Mar 12, 2017 9:53AM PDT

Thanks, although I burned the mp3 files with Windows Media Player on the slowest burn setting earlier and it plays fine on the 1983 CD player, I assume this has converted it to the standard CD format.

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Easy Way To Check
Mar 12, 2017 4:57PM PDT

Place the CD in your computer DVD/CD drive and explore the disk's files. If their file extension is .mp3, then they AREN'T the standard CD format. They should be listed as .cda in order to play in the older player.

What are they listed as?

Hope this helps.

Grif

Post was last edited on March 12, 2017 5:32 PM PDT

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cda
Mar 13, 2017 9:07AM PDT

They are listed as .cda files, however were .mp3 before burning it, so I presume it changed it during the burn. It plays fine in the older player.

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Making Sure You Burned The Music to A CD-R, NOT CD-RW
Mar 13, 2017 9:39AM PDT

Some drives simply won't read re-writable disks. If you burned the music to a CD-R disk, then it's entirely possible the new drive is failing. Of course, I have experienced a few occasions when a player was persnickety about the brand of CD-R disk, so it might be worth trying a different brand of disk, but that doesn't happen often.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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cdr
Mar 13, 2017 9:41AM PDT

The music was burned to a CD-R (from Poundland) and plays fine.

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Then Test on Mulitple Other Players...
Mar 13, 2017 9:56AM PDT

..and if they all play the disk correctly, then there are only a couple other options. Either the player's laser is failing or it's particular as to which type of disk it uses.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Answer
Re: burn cd
Mar 12, 2017 1:23AM PST

There's a standard format for audio cd's. In your burning program, look for that and use it then.

However, there's another point. Older CD-players tend to be unable to recognise burned cd's. That has nothing to do with the format, it's just physics about wavelength and reflection and such.

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Answer
check the owners manual
Mar 12, 2017 1:36AM PST

you need to check the players owners manual to see what is supported. the player purchased in 83 may not play digital music.