How much music can I get on a CD?

lamboguy · Post by **lamboguy** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:47 pm

Hi Folks,

I'm planning a CD of piano music. The blank CDs I have say "700mb/80min" -- is that really what I can fit on there? 80 min of music in .wav format?

I'm going to be using Roxio EZ CD Creator to copy the files to CD. Are there other CD formats that would get me more or less time?

I know this might sound like a dumb question

but I'm relatively new to all this. The CDs I've made in the past have been 60 min cuz it seemed like a nice, round number. But now I have more music to put on the CD and I'd like to sort of start planning things in advance.

Thanks!

Fred

dr. Fill · Post by **dr. Fill** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:58 pm

a cd doesn't contain actual .wav files, but the audio quality is the same as an 16 bit/44.1 kHz .wav

if the cd says it will take 80 minutes, it will.
Just keep in mind. There will also be an index (telling your cd player where the song are on the disc) and the time between songs will also count, but that's only 2 sec (by default).
So aprox 79 min of actual music you can fit.

lamboguy · Post by **lamboguy** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:18 am

Perfect, thanks. 79-ish minutes it is.

You know, that's a lot of music!

Cheers,

Fred

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:54 am

and the time between songs will also count, but that's only 2 sec (by default).

For red book standard, the 2 seconds only applies to the gap of silence before the first song. Each track there after does not require the two second gap. You can even cross fade songs providing your software is capable of designing a disk like this.

Budmas21 · Post by **Budmas21** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:03 am

Well, the "standard" CD time (where you shouldn't have any replication problems if you send it off to a replication company) is exactly 78 minutes and 33 seconds.

Phil O · Post by **Phil O** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:33 am

I am told that some companies are suggesting that you not go over 74 minutes, even on an 80 minute CD. I have no idea what the reason is for this.

Phil

Budmas21 · Post by **Budmas21** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:37 am

Phil O wrote:I am told that some companies are suggesting that you not go over 74 minutes, even on an 80 minute CD. I have no idea what the reason is for this.

Phil

The reason is probably due to the duplication process. Not going over 74 minutes guarantees that you won't exceed the 78 minute, 33 second standard. A lot of duplication/replication companies have problems when they duplicate your CD if you exceed that time frame. Not saying that it can't be done, because obviously it can.

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:33 pm

I think it's outter edge uniformity from pressings. I would keep it around 75 max.

soundeziner · Post by **soundeziner** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:11 pm

I think it's outter edge uniformity from pressings.

Yep, you got it. Most Duplicators won't guarantee anything over 74 minutes.