Media Class: Rip and Burn CDs

This class will give you the skills to convert an audio CD into digital media format, and to make an audio CD using digital media files.

We will be using the program k3b to rip and burn our CDs. Their website is found here: http://k3b.plainblack.com/ and is installed easily in Ubuntu or Debian using Synaptic (search for k3b) or by typing "sudo apt-get install k3b" into a terminal.

k3b makes it easy to copy, rip and burn a CD. It is one of many options available to Linux users, chosen for it's dependability, configurability and well-designed GUI.

To Rip an Audio CD:

1) Insert the audio CD and wait for the system to recognize it.

 1a) Close any programs associated with the CD that you do not wish to use.

2) Open k3b.
- Found under "Sound & Video" in the Applications menu.
- Alternatively, use Alt-F2 shortcut to run application, entering "k3b" at the prompt.

3) Select "Further Actions..." on k3b's initial screen and find "Rip Audio CD."

4) Identifying the CD's track information via CDDB will likely occur automatically. If no data is found (or you are not online) you can enter in your own album information.

5) Click "Start Ripping," found above track information.

6) How to select the right file type:
- mp3 encoding loses audio fidelity (referred to as "lossy" for the lost information) but remains the most commonly supported portable media player format. Because of it's open-source nature, out of the box k3b is not legally entitled to create audio CDs using mp3 files (or they would have to pay the company that owns the rights to the mp3 format) so for our class this file format is best avoided due to the copyright restrictions. At home, you can install "libk3b3-extracodecs" which handles restrictive file formats.
- WAV encoding captures the entire audio range. It is the standard encoding for audio cds and is naturally lossless. It requires huge file sizes.
- FLAC encoding captures the entire audio range but compresses the data (lossless) resulting in smaller files without compromising fidelity.
- Ogg-Vorbis uses variable-bitrate tech to capture as much audio as the file needs (less-lossy) and compresses the data to files often smaller than mp3. Doesn't work with all personal music players.

7) How to choose your bitrate
- The bitrate changes the amount of audio spectrum to capture (more bitrate = more of the spectrum and better quality but larger file size)
- 128 kbs/second is considered "standard" and creates small files but I believe it is audibly inferior on basic speakers and especially on decent headphones.
- Set a higher bitrate for "Variable-Bitrate" Ogg-Vorbis files because it will only use as much as the audio file produces. A soft CD with a vocalist and a small band will have smaller files than a continuously loud metal or hip hop CD.
- The important part: Higher bitrate = better quality sound and bigger file, Lower bitrate = lower quality sound and smaller file

8) Selecting the Target Folder
- This is where your digital files will be saved and should be remembered.

9) File naming tab
- Use "wildcards" to automatically title your digital files
- i.e. %a for track artist, %A for album artist, %n for track number and %T for album title
- Built-in help found by clicking "See special strings"

10) When you are ready to burn, click "Start Ripping" and watch the progress bar fill up!

To Burn an Audio CD:

1) Open k3b

2) Select "New Audio Cd Project"

3) Find the audio files you want to use in the browser on top and single-click or drag to add them to the list below.
- Drag an mp3 into the list and k3b will remind you that you may convert the file to WAV format first but it cannot handle mp3 files. Alternatively, shutdown k3b, install libk3b3-extracodecs, and start again from step one.

4) Creatively order your tracks by drag-n-drop.

5) Optionally remove (or lengthen) the silence between tracks by clicking on one or more tracks, selecting "Properties," choosing the "Options" tab and adjusting the Post-gap time.

6) When satisfied with the layout, click "Burn" to open the burn dialog.

7) Insert a blank CD.

8) You can simply click Burn and stick with the defaults or you can change how k3b will handle the processes.
- Speed: "Auto" should work fine but you can choose a slower speed if you want to ensure the CD is completed without any errors and have the time.
- Writing Mode: It is good to get to know what works best with your specific CD burner, but until then, try Auto and see if it works for you.
- Settings: Here you can choose the Simulate the burn process, to create a CD image first before burning, to only create a CD image and what to do with that CD image when done. I recommend creating an image and having it deleted automatically.
- "Image" tab: Choose where to save the CD image and see information about the project size.
- "CD-Text" tab: Check your CD-burner specs to see if it supports CD-Text. This is entirely optional.
- "Advanced" tab: "Normalize Volume Levels" will help ensure your CD will play well cohesively, especially useful when making a compilation of many different artists. You can also choose to hide the first track as a gimmick, for reasons unknown to me.
- Once the settings are to your liking, hit burn and you are done!

Page and class created by Jackson Cafazzo