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Topic: Problems copying MP3 files from MP3 CDs (Read 2940 times) previous topic - next topic
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Problems copying MP3 files from MP3 CDs

I made about 50 MP3 CD's, each containing the equivalent of 10-12 audio CD's, about four years ago.  The discs were made using Roxio Easy CD Creator under Windows XP.  The original files were downloaded legally from eMusic.  I now find that the original CD's will play well in, for example, an Oppo DVD player, but I get very mixed results if I try to copy the MP3 files to another disk, either to a data CD or to an internal or external hard disc, in Windows.  I have tried making hard disc images of the original CD's and then copying those images to a data CD, and that procedure also produces a lot of errors.

The original discs also do not play well on any PC that I have tried.  I get the impression that I may have exceeded some limit about number of files that Windows can handle in an MP3 disc.  I have tried computers with XP Home, XP Professional, and Vista.  Perhaps there is also an encryption problem that I am unaware of, copyright protection or something.  The problem is that the original discs are rather inconvenient, because they contain so many files, and unless one is playing them on a computer it is very difficult to know what one is playing.  I might have to rerecord files while playing them through an outboard player, such as the Oppo. 

If anyone can help me diagnose the problem and give me suggestions about how I might reliably copy the MP3 files on these discs, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

Problems copying MP3 files from MP3 CDs

Reply #1 –
It sounds like you've got some bad/damaged discs, or you had some "bad burns".    There is no (practical) limit* to the number of MP3 files on a "data disc" and MP3s are never** copy-protected. 

Since they will play on your DVD player, you may have better luck with a different CD drive, or a different computer.    Maybe one drive/computer will work best, or maybe one drive/computer will be able to read some files, and a different drive will  work better with other files...???

You can try some kind of CD scratch remover, but I haven't had much luck with that.  The data-layer is on the top side (label side) of the CD, and the CD is read through the full-thickness of the polycarbonate.  If the CD is scratched from the top side, it can't be fixed.

It's possible that the DVD player is just ignoring read-errors...    Unlike data-drives, audio-CD players (and CD-player software) and DVD players (and software) try to keep-on reading data when they encounter an error.  An error may, or may-not, be audible, so you might not be aware that there is an error when playing back audio/video. 

Quote
I might have to rerecord files while playing them through an outboard player, such as the Oppo.
With some files, that may be the only solution.

* Regular Audio CDs are limited to 99 tracks, and the video DVDs are limited to the number of titles & chapters-per-title.  But to a computer,  MP3s are just files "data files".

**You could use some sort of encryption, but there is no standard for that, and the files would not play without decrypting first.

Problems copying MP3 files from MP3 CDs

Reply #2 –
Quote from: DVDdoug on
It's possible that the DVD player is just ignoring read-errors...    Unlike data-drives, audio-CD players (and CD-player software) and DVD players (and software) try to keep-on reading data when they encounter an error.  An error may, or may-not, be audible, so you might not be aware that there is an error when playing back audio/video.

What you are describing applies to redbook audio CDs. When reading an MP3 file with errors I doubt that the player will make much of an attempt to make the error inaudible.

Problems copying MP3 files from MP3 CDs

Reply #3 –
Quote from: ledocs on
If anyone can help me diagnose the problem and give me suggestions about how I might reliably copy the MP3 files on these discs, I would greatly appreciate it.

What kind of optical drives are you using?  I've found that DVD drives do not read some CDs well.

For example, I have some pressed / commercial audio CDs that basically can't be ripped cleanly with any DVD-rom or DVD+/-R/W drive that I own, but they will rip perfectly (without error) in an old CD-R/W drive.

If you've got an old CD-ROM or CD-R/W drive I would try using it to copy the files to your hard drive and see what happens.  If that fails the discs are probably bad and can't be recovered (unless they're badly scratched).  If they're badly scratched you maybe able to polish the scratches out and try again.