This wikiHow teaches you how to burn a song file (e.g. MP3) onto a blank CD. If you want to play songs directly from a CD, you will need to burn the disc using iTunes or Windows Media Player. You can also burn music files (along with other files) to a regular CD using basic Windows or Mac settings.
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Method 1 of 4: Creating an Audio CD Using iTunes
Step 1. Make sure you have an audio CD
Audio CDs differ from regular CDs in that they will automatically play audio when inserted into a CD player or stereo device. When buying a blank CD, look for a "recordable" or "audio" label in the package description.
Step 2. Get a DVD drive if necessary
Most Mac and Windows computers do not come with an optical drive (also known as a DVD drive or DVD drive) that can be used to insert CDs. This means that you need to purchase a USB optical drive. You can get it at tech supply stores or from the internet.
- If your computer is equipped with an optical drive, look for the word " DVD " on or near the drive. If it doesn't say “DVD”, the drive won't burn CDs so you'll still need to buy an external drive.
- Make sure the optical drive you are using has the capability to burn a CD. This feature is usually mentioned in the product description.
- If you're using a Mac computer/laptop, you'll need a USB-C optical drive or a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter.
Step 3. Insert the audio CD into the DVD drive
Place the CD in the DVD drive tray (with the label facing up), then close the tray.
Step 4. Open iTunes
This app icon looks like a colorful musical note on a white background.
Step 5. Click File
It's in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window (Windows) or in the upper-left corner of the screen (Mac). After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Select New
It's at the top of the drop-down menu File ”.
Step 7. Click Playlists
This option is in the poo-out window " New " A text field will appear in the sidebar of the iTunes window.
Step 8. Enter the name of the playlist
Type the desired playlist name, then press Enter. After that, a playlist will be created in the left sidebar of the iTunes window.
Step 9. Add songs to playlist
Click and drag songs from the library to the previously created playlist title, then drop them. You can do this individually, or select multiple songs by holding down Ctrl or Command while clicking songs.
- If you are not already logged in to the library view, click the “ Songs ” under the " Library " heading to see a list of songs.
- You can add music with a total duration of 80 minutes to a regular audio CD.
Step 10. Select a playlist
After adding songs with a total length of 80 minutes (or less) to your playlist, click the list to open it.
Step 11. Open the "Burn" menu
Click the menu File ” again, then click option “ Burn Playlists to Disc ” above the drop-down menu. After that, a new window will open.
Step 12. Check the box "Audio CD"
This box appears in the middle of the menu.
Step 13. Click Burn
It's at the bottom of the menu. After that, iTunes will burn the songs from the playlist to a CD.
This process can take as long as half a minute per song so you need to be patient
Step 14. Eject the CD
Once the burning process is complete, you can remove the CD from the optical drive and try playing it on a stereo (or other computer) to test it.
Method 2 of 4: Creating an Audio CD Using Windows Media Player
Step 1. Make sure you have an audio CD
Audio CDs differ from regular CDs in that they will automatically play audio when inserted into a CD player or stereo device. When buying a blank CD, look for a "recordable" or "audio" label in the package description.
Step 2. Get a DVD drive if necessary
Most Mac and Windows computers do not come with an optical drive (also known as a DVD drive or DVD drive) that can be used to insert CDs. This means that you need to purchase a USB optical drive. You can get it at tech supply stores or from the internet.
- If your computer is equipped with an optical drive, look for the word " DVD " on or near the drive. If it doesn't say “DVD”, the drive won't burn CDs so you'll still need to buy an external drive.
- Make sure the optical drive you are using has the capability to burn a CD. This feature is usually mentioned in the product description.
- If you're using a Mac computer/laptop, you'll need a USB-C optical drive or a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter.
Step 3. Insert the audio CD into the DVD drive
Place the CD in the DVD drive tray (with the label facing up), then close the tray.
Step 4. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 5. Type in windows media player
After that, the computer will search for the Windows Media Player program.
Not all Windows 10 computers have the Windows Media Player program built in. You will also no longer be able to download the Windows Media Player program from the Microsoft website. If your computer doesn't have Windows Media Player installed, you will need to use iTunes
Step 6. Click Windows Media Player
It's a blue, orange, and white icon at the top of the “Start” window.
Step 7. Click the Burn tab
This tab is in the upper-right corner of the program window.
Step 8. Add music to CD
Click and drag the songs you want to burn into the " Burn " sidebar on the right side of the Windows Media Player window.
- If you can't see every song, click the tab “ Music ” first which is on the left side of the window.
- You can add audio files with a total length of 70 minutes so Windows Media Player doesn't have to split the audio to a second disc.
Step 9. Click the “Menu” icon
Select the white box icon with a green check mark. This icon is under the tab “ Sync ” in the "Burn" section. Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 10. Check the "Audio CD" option
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 11. Click Start burn
It's in the upper-left corner of the "Burn" section. The added songs will be burned to the CD.
The burning process may take a few minutes, depending on the speed of the drive
Step 12. Eject the CD
Once the burning process is complete, you can remove the CD from the optical drive and try playing it on a stereo (or other computer) to test it.
Method 3 of 4: Creating a Storage CD on Windows
Step 1. Make sure you have a blank CD
You can use a CD-R or CD-RW disc as long as the disc is empty.
Step 2. Get a DVD drive if necessary
Most Mac and Windows computers do not come with an optical drive (also known as a DVD drive or DVD drive) that can be used to insert CDs. This means that you need to purchase a USB optical drive. You can get it at tech supply stores or from the internet.
- If your computer is equipped with an optical drive, look for the word " DVD " on or near the drive. If it doesn't say “DVD”, the drive won't burn CDs so you'll still need to buy an external drive.
- Make sure the optical drive you are using has the capability to burn a CD. This feature is usually mentioned in the product description.
- If you're using a Mac computer/laptop, you'll need a USB-C optical drive or a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter.
Step 3. Insert the audio CD into the DVD drive
Place the CD in the DVD drive tray (with the label facing up), then close the tray.
Step 4. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 5. Open File Explorer
Click the folder icon in the lower-left corner of the “Start” window.
Step 6. Select the file location
On the left side of the window, click the folder containing the music file you want to burn.
Step 7. Select the file to burn
Click and drag the cursor over the files you want to burn, or select files individually by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking each song you want to copy.
Step 8. Click Share
It's in the top-left corner of the window. After that, a toolbar will appear at the top of the File Explorer window.
Step 9. Click Burn to disc
This option is in the "Send" toolbar section. After that, a pop-up window will be displayed.
Step 10. Click Burn
It's at the bottom of the pop-up window.
Step 11. Click Finish when prompted
The burning process is complete and (occasionally) the burned disc will be ejected from the drive section. Your music files are now on CD.
Method 4 of 4: Creating a Storage CD on Mac
Step 1. Make sure you have a blank CD
You can use a CD-R or CD-RW disc as long as the disc is empty.
Step 2. Get a DVD drive if necessary
Most Mac and Windows computers do not come with an optical drive (also known as a DVD drive or DVD drive) that can be used to insert CDs. This means that you need to purchase a USB optical drive. You can get it at tech supply stores or from the internet.
- If your computer is equipped with an optical drive, look for the word " DVD " on or near the drive. If it doesn't say “DVD”, the drive won't burn CDs so you'll still need to buy an external drive.
- Make sure the optical drive you are using has the capability to burn a CD. This feature is usually mentioned in the product description.
- If you're using a Mac computer/laptop, you'll need a USB-C optical drive or a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter.
Step 3. Insert the CD into the DVD drive
Place the CD in the DVD drive tray (with the label facing up), then close the tray.
Step 4. Open Finder
Click the blue face icon that appears in your computer's Dock. After that, a Finder window will open.
Step 5. Select the file storage folder
Click a folder on the left side of the window. This folder is the folder that creates the music files you want to burn to a CD.
Step 6. Select the songs you want to burn
Click and drag the cursor over the files you want to burn, or select files individually by holding down Command while clicking each song you want to burn.
Step 7. Copy the selected songs
Click Edit ” on the Mac menu bar, then select “ Copy Items ” from the displayed drop-down menu.
You can also press Command+C to copy the files
Step 8. Open the CD
Click the CD name in the left sidebar of the Finder window, or double-click the CD on the computer desktop.
Step 9. Paste the songs onto the CD
Click on the menu again Edit " and select " Paste Items ” from the drop-down menu.
You can also press the Command+V key combination to paste the file
Step 10. Click File
This menu option is in the upper-left corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 11. Click Burn
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File ” and marked with the name of the CD next to it.
Step 12. Click Burn when prompted
It's at the bottom of the pop-up window. The music files will start burning to the CD.
Step 13. Wait until the burning process is complete
Once done, you will be asked to click on the “ OK At this point, you can safely eject the CD from the drive. Now, your music files are on CD.
