Burning MP3s to CD

A more involved way than iTunes

For most people, iTunes (or an equivalent modern player) is the simplest way to burn MP3s to disc. This page keeps a more manual walkthrough — originally written by Justin Hornsby using Nero — for anyone who wants more control over the process, or is using older burning software.

The original diagrams for this page (connector drawings, wiring illustrations, screenshots) haven't been carried over in this rebuild — the explanations below stand on their own, but redrawing the diagrams is on the list.

Making an audio CD from MP3s

1. Open your CD-burning software and choose the "Make Audio CD" option
2. Browse to the MP3s you want on the disc
3. Drag the tracks you want across to the disc's track list — keep an eye on the space-used indicator so you don't overshoot the disc's capacity
4. Once you're happy with the track list, burn

Choose the slowest burn speed your patience allows — cheap or portable CD players can struggle with discs burned at high speed.

Making an MP3 CD from MP3s

1. Open your CD-burning software and choose "Make MP3 Disc" (or equivalent)
2. Add the MP3 files you want on the disc — the software will validate them as it goes
3. Keep an eye on the space-used indicator; if you go over, remove a few files and try again
4. Burn once you're happy with the selection