Converting .wav files to audio CD

[kev7555]

Hi guys!

I'm having a problem burning some files with Nero. They are .wav files bounced to disk from Pro Tools.
Nero says the file type is not supported. How do I make an audio CD from .wav files?

Is there a way to make Nero support these file types?

Guide me, here.

Thanx,

-Kev

[KilluminatiStyle]

Not 100% sure here but I think you can just burnt he disk as a DATA DISK with all of your .wav files on it. Give it a whirl if you don't mind taking the risk of creating a coster from a CDR.

[kev7555]

Yeah, you can burn the disk in wav and will play on media player (with the right codec), but I'm trying to make an audio disk that can be played in any cd player.

[KilluminatiStyle]

Have you tried using Windows Media Player?

[glc]

Are you creating the .wav files to CD audio standard?

Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
Channels: 2 (stereo)
Bits per sample, per channel: 16
Levels per sample: 65,536
Total data rate (Mb/s): 1.4112

[NastyNative]

Umm just try and conver the wav files into mp3's then nero should have no problem burning them onto a music cd that can be played on most cd players.
I have a really good program that can convert wav into mp3 or pretty much anything into anything its called sound forge and vega will also do this. U can get student version pretty cheap. There are plenty of software that will convert wav into anything you want. Im going to see what else i have in my downloaded program file maybe i can recommend something free.

[KilluminatiStyle]

I've used THIS app in the past and it works well. Plus it's freeware.

This will convert your wavs to mp3's... it may even be able to burn the wav files directly to CD. It's been awhile since I used it so I don't recall for sure.

*EDIT*

I just installed it and it does indeed convert WAV to MP3 but it doesn't look like there is a burning engine built in.

[glc]

Converting them to mp3 before converting back to cda will result in loss of quality.

[mojo]

GLC is correct, lose will use a great amount of quality if you compress to mp3 first. You should be able to just use nero and choose audio cd as the type of disc. Itunes or windows media player should also be able to create an audio cd for you using the files.

[glc]

If WMP or Itunes can, Nero should too.

[NastyNative]

ofcourse you will because mp3 really compresses the wav file, but i never compressed a wav to mp3 and thought to my self " ohh man this really doesnt sound good" i think it will be compressed but it does a really good job at keeping the quality and unless you have a really good system you wont really hear the difference

how did you get the WAV files

[sgtspector]

I have had success doing just that by using nero express to make the disk. Just choose music option and add the files. They will be written in cda fomat playable in all (mostly) cd players.

[conexion]

I read this and tried my Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 and it allows me to add the WAV file to the create and Audio CD option.

[glc]

NN, I think if he's going to the trouble of using Pro Tools, quality is very important. Compression is NOT an option when you are using professional stuff like that.

[kev7555]

Nero says "file format not supported" when trying to burn .wav to audio disk.

Pro Tools has an MP3 conversion tool in it and it works well. This was OK for demo purposes but on the finished product I do not want to compress to MP3 before burning. Problem solved for now but the real crux of the issue is going to pop up again later...

-Kev

[SonicVanguard]

Originally Posted by kev7555 Nero says "file format not supported" when trying to burn .wav to audio disk. Pro Tools has an MP3 conversion tool in it and it works well. This was OK for demo purposes but on the finished product I do not want to compress to MP3 before burning. Problem solved for now but the real crux of the issue is going to pop up again later... -Kev

ProTools is capable of buring a Red Book Audio CD within the application itself. You're just exporting from the mix to CD - not to wav.

BTW, it sounds like you exported the mix to 32bit floating wav - perfect for final stereo mastering, but you'll never burn those to CD.

[kev7555]

Yeah, what is the best method to burn an audio CD from a Pro Tools mix? I just want to retain as much quality as possible.

This is Pro Tools LE 6.4, not HD.

Thanks!

-Kev

[mwalimu]

One site I frequent swears by Burrrn as one of the best Audio CD burners, and it's freeware. Their website is http://www.burrrn.net/

How much loss of quality there is on converting a .wav file into an .mp3 depends on what encoder is used and especially what settings are used. Using the LAME encoder with the higher quality VBR settings produces .mp3 files that are virtually indistinguishable from the original source CD, even to audiophiles.

Having said that, it should not be necessary to convert a .wav file to .mp3 to burn it to an audio CD. Any decent CD burning program should be able to handle .wav files.

[glc]

Yes it should, but if you read the whole thread, the burning program does not like SOMETHING about these particular WAV files. Note Sonic Vanguard's reply.

[kev7555]

Hey Dave, I really appreciate your sticking with me on this and please forgive me for being a complete newbie to Pro Tools.
So, when I try to burn an audio CD, here is the process so far. See if you can guide me in the right direction.

I use the "bounce to disk" feature. This brings up a window with choices of: bounce source (I'm using Analog 1-2 S/PDIF L-R stereo)

File Type: BWF (.WAV), AIFF, Real Audio, MPEG-1 Layer 3, Quicktime, Windows Media.

I've used .WAV but couldn't burn them to audio CD. The MPEG works great but I'm wondering if I will get better quality using soemthing else.

Format: Stereo interleaved (that's what I've been using), Mono (summed) or multiple mono.

Sample rate: 44.1 KHz, 48 (that's what I'm using), 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 and then all of the above with pull-down added.

I click bounce and of course it asks for a save location and name.

All has worked well except for burning the .WAV to audio.

Am I using the wrong settings somewhere?

-Kev

[glc]

Isn't CD audio supposed to be 44.1?

[SonicVanguard]

Ahhh...6.4 doesn't export to .wav - it will export to .aif (another bit for bit uncompressed audio format) so simply use that. I'm not sure if Nero will recognize .aif - but quicktime/iTunes will and can then burn your CD.

So you'd want to use AIFF, 44.1K for a CD.

Wave files encoded as BWF files (Broadcast Wave File) won't be recognized by most burning programs because of the extra 'broadcast related junk' in the file header.

[glc]

Nero 6.6 can work with .aif. At least that's what the help file says.

[kev7555]

OK, thanks guys. AIFF it is...

I was using Nero 6.3 before so I will install one of the newer versions I have around here. I think I just got a version of Nero 7 with my new DVD RAM drive. I guess I should have installed that instead of the old version I had in stock.


-Kev

[glc]

6.3 probably can too. All I was saying is I have 6.6 and read the help file.

[kev7555]

Sorry, I meant for .wav it would not support it.

-Kev

[glc]

Nero since at least version 5 and probably earlier can make an audio CD out of wavs - you don't HAVE real wavs.

[kev7555]

You mean that Pro Tools has its own version of .WAV files?

[glc]

Maybe I'm missing something - you said...............

So, when I try to burn an audio CD, here is the process so far. See if you can guide me in the right direction. I use the "bounce to disk" feature. This brings up a window with choices of: bounce source (I'm using Analog 1-2 S/PDIF L-R stereo) File Type: BWF (.WAV), AIFF, Real Audio, MPEG-1 Layer 3, Quicktime, Windows Media. I've used .WAV but couldn't burn them to audio CD.

And Dave said:

Ahhh...6.4 doesn't export to .wav - it will export to .aif (another bit for bit uncompressed audio format) so simply use that. I'm not sure if Nero will recognize .aif - but quicktime/iTunes will and can then burn your CD. So you'd want to use AIFF, 44.1K for a CD. Wave files encoded as BWF files (Broadcast Wave File) won't be recognized by most burning programs because of the extra 'broadcast related junk' in the file header.

[kev7555]

I guess we're all in agreement that AIFF is the way to go.

Yes, Pro Tools LE 6.4 does export to .wav. I have successfully done this and copied it to a disk. The existing files are .wav files but they will not play in a regular automotive or home CD player.

The problem with Nero only occurs when attempting to burn a music CD from the .wav files (file type not supported).

A data disk of the files can be burned and loaded on any computer where they will play just fine.

All of this seems rather trivial at this point, however, since we have solved the problem by simply using AIFF.