CD-R Recording Question

[Dave B]

I recently purchased a Harmon Kardon CD recorder primarily to archive some of my sonicly superior LPs and those that aren't available on CD for use in the car and to save the records for special occasions when I can really sit and enjoy them. I am fairly happy with the results but have had some problems with accurately marking tracks, especially on those LPs where the tracks run together (such as the Moody Blues LPs). I thought I could resolve this by dubbing the LP first to Minidisc where it is very easy to mark or move a track and then simply dub the disc to CD via the digital connection. When I tried this I found that the mindisc track marks do not copy to the CD-R. Does anyone know why? If I make a digital copy of a CD to Minidisc the track marks are copied with no problem but for some reason the opposite is not true. This is not a major problem as I have just marked "on the fly" as best I can with acceptable result but I'd sure like to get more precise. Any ideas or tips?

[Jeffrey]

Hi Dave B,

Howsabout playin' the lp once and noting the breaks w/ a stop watch and then recordin' the lp on the 2nd play while markin' it w/ the stop watch times?

Could b a cheap solution.

Let It Rock,
Jeffrey

[Grant]

You should have gone the computer route. You can achieve more exact, professional results. Also, you would've saved lots of money by not having to buy "music-only" blanks.

Maybe you can return the Harmon-Kardon and get yourself a CD burner, a good soundcard and some software.

[Jeffrey]

Hi,

Originally posted by Grant T.:
You should have gone the computer route.

Or bought a pro burner.

You can achieve more exact, professional results.

By buying a pro burner.

Also, you would've saved lots of money by not having to buy "music-only" blanks.

By buying a pro burner.

Maybe you can return the Harmon-Kardon and get yourself a

Pro burner, like the HHB Steve owns or the Sony that has done me right.

Just another view,
Jeffrey

[Unknown]

This would be easy to do on a PC, with CD Wave (http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~mjmlooijmans/cdwave/).

But I don't know how to do what you're asking.

[Sckott]

You really should record your LPS to the hard drive as one long run, if you can. Sometimes, that can be hard.

Moody Blues; I hope you know going out and buying the CDs are cheaper and easier!

But nonetheless, you need to have a really solid computer, lots of processor power and the software to do long 16-bit runs on the fly. You can always split up the wav later for each track number, then burn at "Disc At Once (DAO)" to join the tracks properly using whatever CDR software you want.

You can use an audio CD deck, but again, save this kinda effort for the albums that cannot be bought on CD, rare, etc...

[Dave B]

Thanks everyone. I actually have a CD Burner but the usual mediocre sound card so I assumed that my copies would be better and easier on a standalone burner. I may look into a better card or just wait until my next PC upgrade. Sckott, I actually have all the MOFI Moody Blues discs, I was just using them as an example. Marking the tracks is no problem on discs with normal 3 to 4 second track spacing but when tracks run together, it can get tough even with a stop watch. Anyway, thanks again for your ideas.

[lukpac]

How about this:

Burn the disc using your stand-alone recorder. Copy it to your computer via Exact Audio Copy or something similar. Fix the track breaks. Re-burn on the computer burner.

That should do it.

[Unknown]

Yeah, do what the King of WI suggested, then try CD Wave to break up the tracks. It's very easy to use.

[Sckott]

True, that should work fine with enough control you'll have on the PC, you'll be able to navigate a perfect CDR after fanagling it on the PC. Yep!

[Dave B]

Thanks Luke, I think you've hit on the best solution for now. I'll pick up a copy of CD Wave and try it. It's not the most eligant or cost effective way to do things as I'll waste a CD-R but they're pretty cheap in bulk.I can buy a couple of hundred for less than the cost of a new sound card. See, I knew you guys would come up with something. All hail the King!

[Grant]

Originally posted by Jeffrey:
Hi,



Pro burner, like the HHB Steve owns or the Sony that has done me right.

Just another view,
Jeffrey


But you can't get the exacxtness of editing that the computer route gives you.

You can get excellent results with the right soundcard without spending an arm and a leg.

Going the computer route IS professional. Just because Steve uses an HBB does not mean that the computer is any less "pro". Jeeeez!

[Grant]

Actuall, Luke's solution works fine.

[ January 10, 2002: Message edited by: Grant T. ]

[Jeffrey]

Hi,

Originally posted by Grant T.:

Going the computer route IS professional. Just because Steve uses an HBB does not mean that the computer is any less "pro". Jeeeez!

Hey Grant,
No Question, the computer route is very professional & done by many professionals. After reading all my posts on this topic, I'm not sure where I stated that it wasn't. Was just trying to state another way to address the issue.

Peace,
Jeffrey

[Larry Naramore]

I'm getting to dislike acronyms (sp). I give up. What is an HBB?

[Jeffrey]

Hi Larry,

It's actually HHB and they manufacture cd recorders, media, etc.

Happy Trails,
Jeffrey

[Craig]

Dave,
Can you record on Audio CDRW discs with your new standalone burner? If so you can record your lp's on them, extract that data onto your computer, fix it up, and reburn on your computer (as has been suggested), and then erase your Audio CDRW and start over. That way you don't waste any discs.

-Craig

[Dave B]

A most excellent suggestion Craig! Now I need to get some new software. Right now I have Adaptec CD Creator. Hopefully I can pick something up this weekend and try it.
Thanks :cool:

[Sckott]

Dave;

The best software out there for burning Cds is ironically free, or almost free, and you don't have to leave the house!
http://www.exactaudiocopy.de and the burning software is built in... Have you seen us talk about that proggie before?

[Dave B]

Thanks for the tip Sckott. I wasn't aware of this software. I'll download and play with it this weekend.

[Dave B]

I want to thank Luke, Sckott, Craig and everyone else who responded to my question. I spent most of the day cleaning up and re-marking tracks on some previously recorded CD-Rs. It worked better than I expected. I also sucessfully tested recording to a CD-RW on my CD Recorder and then down loading to my hard drive. So, thanks again for the help guys.