Topic: can I make DVD audio?? from iTunes?

[andromedanwarmachine]

hello,

continuing my theme of all problems with computer and sound, today's topic will be; how do I makes discs of material that is too big for a conventional CD?

I have reason to want to store audio material that is too big for a standard 700MB audio CD on one disc.

Can I use DVD-RW (+/-?) and will iTunes be able to handle burning to it?

I don't need to play them back on a standard CD machine. A Mac readable disc will be fine. -iTunes seems to be my default interface for all audio on my machine; will it be able to handle bigger discs??

Does anybody know what I'm talking about??!

Thanks

JimP

[printguy]

If you just want to burn the audio files to a DVD for storage, not as a DVD Audio disc just use the Finder. Insert a blank DVD-R into the Mac and wait for the pop-up window. Choose Open With Finder. Drag the audio (or any other files) onto the DVD image on your desktop. Once you've dragged all the files you want onto the DVD, drag the DVD to the Trash icon which has changed to a Burn icon. Choose your burn options and you're done.

When you drag the files to the DVD icon the files are not moved - just referenced. If you need to reduce/remove a file from the DVD before burning you can do so without impacting the original file(s).

[andromedanwarmachine]

Hey thanks very much guy,

that's great! Simple as that then? And that will produce Mac readable media...?

Can you comment on the eternal debate as to whether I should be using RW + or RW - dics for such an adventure?

Thanks again

JimP

[printguy]

That will produce a data disc that your Mac can read.

And yes, you should be using +R or -R discs. I prefer -R. You only need RW if you want to re-write data to the discs.

[andromedanwarmachine]

I'll try it tonight- thanks for your help

JimP

[willndmb]

Hey thanks very much guy,

that's great! Simple as that then? And that will produce Mac readable media...?

Can you comment on the eternal debate as to whether I should be using RW + or RW - dics for such an adventure?

Thanks again

JimP

just to be clear (i think your idea of readable might be playable)
the mac will read the disc but not play the files - you will have created a data disc with audio files on it
what this will allow you to do is trash the files from your mac as you now have them on disc
but if you want to play them you will need to do it a different way or import them to a program that can play them

there is a program that will allow you to make a dvd disc that actually plays the songs http://download.cnet.com/DVD-Audiofile/3000-2170_4-85889.html

ps if you don't have xACT, get it
you will use it to make flacs and whatnot

[scb]

the mac will read the disc but not play the files

?

if he can read a disc, he can play the files on the disc.  just double click them

[willndmb]

the mac will read the disc but not play the files

?

if he can read a disc, he can play the files on the disc.  just double click them

yes
i mean he can't play the disc like a cd
ie put it into a dvd drive and it play

[Shadow_7]

As far as +RW or -RW, check the specks on your burner.  That'll be the limitation if it favors one and not the other.  But in general -RW is better IMO.  -R better still if you don't plan on a reburn (which tends to fail most times that I've tried it anyway).

The real question is whether this data disc is strictly for your enjoyment, or to give to others so that they might enjoy it.  If just for you do a data disc.  Modern players can generally play stuff beyond their specs.  My car stereo will play a data CD with .MP3 files on it.  Which I often end up making if what I recorded lasted longer than 01:14:00.  Many bluray players can actually play from USB devices or data discs with unedited camcorder footage (avchd).  I would imagine that audio content on such a disc should also work on such a device.  Although I haven't tested it yet on mine.  At a minimum it should function on the computer that burned it.  You can even add in some autorun tech to have it auto play (unless you hold down the shift key when you insert the disc).

[andromedanwarmachine]

That's great- thankyou all for that...

I should explain the application- I'm looking to create an archive copy of the footage I have on one piece of removeable media which has the capacity to just store. I don't need it to be playable on a conventional audio CD machine or anything- just to be loadable again to a computer. It's literally just a storage device so data-disc spec would be fine.

As it happens I tried it last night using Finder as suggested by Printguy and immediate total success. 41 stereo tracks totalling 880MB onto a DVD-R; took a few minutes to burn but once ejected was playable in a different Mac Pro straight away- came up in iTunes no problem.

So I'm very happy actually- RESULTS!!

JimP