Burning MP3 files to CD

Is there any rule of thumb that states how large of an MP3 file can be burned onto a CD? I know that a CD can hold X number of megabytes, but will an MP3 file of X MBs fit, or does the CD burning S/W make the contents of the MP3 file take up more [or less(?)] space when it burns the contents of the MP3 file onto the CD?

 

If you are making the CD's to work in any CD player, your MP3's will be converted to CDA files. The size of these files will vary with the bitrate of the MP3. As a general guideline, a MP3 file with a bitrate of 128K (cd quality) will convert to approximately 10 times it's size as a CDA file. As for the more popular bitrate of MP3's at 96K, I do not know as I like to keep the sound quality.

 

Thanks for that info. The S/W I have to capture streaming audio, and edit the files it creates has a 112K bitrate option. I think if I use that, the particular Internet radio show I want to save to CD will fit. Since, this is "talking" I suppose I could even try 96K, but I'll try the 112K for now based on your guideline. Thanks again for the info.

 

But if you are playing these CD's on your computer or a modern CD player that accepts mp3's, you can burn them directly to a CD and keep the mp3 format. The size stays the same. For example, if you change mp3's into wave files, a standard CD won't hold but about 20 songs but if you leave the as mp3's you can fit well over 200 on a disk.

Just select to create a "data disk" from your burner software and it will keep the mp3 format.

 

Yes, thanks, I knew that. My wife just wants to give this file to a friend of hers. This friends is a "computer person ", and she would have no problem with a "data disk" CD. Heck, I would just have emailed to my wife's friend, but it's about 4 times the size limit I can attach to an email. Anyway, I think I might just try to make the CDA CD just in case my wife wants to give this to other friends who don't have PCs. At least then I'll know if it will fit.

 

OK, I just wanted to be sure we were all on the same plane.

Good luck with it.