How Much Audio Can I Fit On A CD Filled With mp3s?

[Tom Scharpling]

Hello all -

Please give me guidance regarding this, as I am putting together the marathon premium CD now. How much can I fit on this? I don't have to have things at the highest of fidelities, considering that we're talking about spoken word.

Thanks!

Tom.

[SJK]

CD has a capacity for roughly 600-800 mb depending on cd brand...

600mb @ 128kbps for mp3 = 655minutes
800mb @ 128kbps for mp3 = 873minutes

...use the link below for this mp3 size calculator, enter the total file size and then kbps for mp3 and that should give you a good idea if your stuff will fit onto a cd..assuming you want to make an mp3 cd.

http://waxy.org/projects/mp3calc/ this calculator is working from the browser.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/25931 this calculator is an application, I downloaded it...it might be useful to you.

[not that clay]

You can double the time (half the file size) by encoding in mono. For my ears the sweet spot for spoken word is mono 44.1kHz/64kbps (that 64 mono is like 128 stereo).

[masterofsparks]

I don't know if it's feasible for you, but an mp3 DVD can hold A LOT more information (4.7 GB for a DVD-R vs. 600-800 MB for a CD-R) and I don't think there's a huge cost difference.

[Adblau1]

Agreed on the data DVD, if it's feasible-- the only potential issue being:

some stereos can actually play mp3 CDs as if they were regular CDs.  I don't think it's the same with DVDs.  That said, I imagine most people will be playing these (or at least importing them) on computers or ipods or ZUNES, and not actually plopping the CD into a player directly. 

My vote goes to DVD for most bang--> buck.

Also--as far as mono vs. stereo--I imagine most of the source material was recorded in stereo (the 6 shows are probably stereo, right?)... and they should probably stay that way.  If you suddenly reduce from stereo down to mono, lots of bad wackiness can ensue, and stuff can sound like crap.  Basically, keep the recordings in whatever format (stereo/mono) they were recorded in.

Can't WAIT for this stuff...

[scratchbomb]

I don't know if it's feasible for you, but an mp3 DVD can hold A LOT more information (4.7 GB for a DVD-R vs. 600-800 MB for a CD-R) and I don't think there's a huge cost difference.

The only difference, though, is that it still takes longer to burn DVDs than CDs. Even in bulk, I'd imagine.

[Adblau1]

ps. if you want to get SUPERfancy, relatively simply--

You can put the mp3s in iTunes, and make a playlist that you could give to people on the data DVD or CD.  This way, you'll be able to choose a playing order.

On a mac:  you can export the playlist as "XML" (in the File menu).

Send out a CD or DVD with all the mp3s AND the XML playlist.

Then, if people copy over all the mp3s and the XML playlist ("Import XML Playlist") in iTunes, they will have a playlist with all of the mp3s in a particular order.

Sounds potentially complicated, but it's actually incredibly simple, and it will allow you to put together a sequence of the tracks.  Plus, if people don't want to bother with the playlist, they'll still be able to get all the mp3s.

[happy to elaborate if this sounds like an appealing option]

Adam

[buffcoat]

As a group, we know a lot about a lot.  That's cool.

[not that clay]

ps. if you want to get SUPERfancy, relatively simply--

You can put the mp3s in iTunes, and make a playlist that you could give to people on the data DVD or CD.  This way, you'll be able to choose a playing order.

On a mac:  you can export the playlist as "XML" (in the File menu).

Send out a CD or DVD with all the mp3s AND the XML playlist.

Then, if people copy over all the mp3s and the XML playlist ("Import XML Playlist") in iTunes, they will have a playlist with all of the mp3s in a particular order.

Sounds potentially complicated, but it's actually incredibly simple, and it will allow you to put together a sequence of the tracks.  Plus, if people don't want to bother with the playlist, they'll still be able to get all the mp3s.

[happy to elaborate if this sounds like an appealing option]

Adam

You don't need to do any of that. If you tag the mp3 files like a regular album with track numbers they'll play in the right order. You don't need to mess with xml files or itunes or anything to get that done. Don't confuse Tom!

[roubaix]

I also think DVD-R (or DVD+R) is the way to go.  You'll have of plenty of room to spare, even if you choose to encode at higher quality.  Then you can toss anything else you want on it.  Otherwise, the CD size limit probably become a factor.

It takes a few minutes to burn a full DVD5 at 16x.

[Mike A.D.]

You can double the time (half the file size) by encoding in mono. For my ears the sweet spot for spoken word is mono 44.1kHz/64kbps (that 64 mono is like 128 stereo).

I echo this sentiment.  If the choice is "More Best Show in Mono" vs. "Hearing the Faint Stereo Spread On The Background Bed," that's an easy call. 

[Adblau1]

You don't need to do any of that. If you tag the mp3 files like a regular album with track numbers they'll play in the right order. You don't need to mess with xml files or itunes or anything to get that done. Don't confuse Tom!

well if you want to take the EASY way out, sure!

You can also try this:

http://video.adultswim.com/tim-and-eric-awesome-show-great-job/cinco-midi-organizer.html

[not that clay]

You don't need to do any of that. If you tag the mp3 files like a regular album with track numbers they'll play in the right order. You don't need to mess with xml files or itunes or anything to get that done. Don't confuse Tom!

well if you want to take the EASY way out, sure!

You can also try this:

http://video.adultswim.com/tim-and-eric-awesome-show-great-job/cinco-midi-organizer.html

That is brilliant.

I wrote  a program very similar to that for the family's Commodore 64 back in 1985. It was mostly for my mom. I put it on the one colored floppy disk we had (it was orange). You'd boot that, and it'd give you a list of all the games we had. Then it would tell you which floppy to put (I'd numbered them all and kept them in a shoebox in order) and it would run the right startup command for you.

It's sad how much professional work I've done since then that's less useful than that was.

[waltkellysghost]

I'll be making my first pledge to WFMU this Tuesday! Can't wait to see the package...especially the Kupperman shirt. I've been a fan of his for years.

[fletcher munson]

I think everything's covered. 
Mono vs. Stereo.  If it's spoken word originally recorded in stereo, the conversion probably won't affect the quality.  But, why would spoken word recorded in a studio be recorded in stereo? I don't get that.  If it's a live/club situation where they're trying to capture ambience, then leaving it in stereo would preserve a spatial relationship in the recording, a distance, ie. between the subject and the audience members, hecklers.   
DVD vs. CDR:  If it's really long (hours and hours of spoken word), then use a DVD, otherwise throwing it on a CDR is fine.