This wikiHow teaches you how to rip (ripping) music from an audio CD to a computer. You can do this using iTunes or Windows Media Player (WMP).
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using iTunes
Step 1. Insert the CD into the computer
Insert the audio CD you want to copy into the computer's CD drive with the printed side facing up.
- Before continuing, close the pop-up window that appears when you insert the CD.
- If you're using a Mac (or Windows) computer that doesn't have a CD drive, attach an external CD drive to the computer to perform this step.
Step 2. Launch iTunes
Double-click the iTunes icon, which is a colorful musical note on a white background.
If iTunes isn't already installed, download and install this app before you proceed
Step 3. Click "CD"
It's in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window. Your CD page will be displayed.
Step 4. Click Import CD
The button is in the upper right corner. This will bring up a pop-up window.
Step 5. Choose an audio format
Click the " Import using " drop-down box at the top of the drop-down menu, then select the desired audio format to import the CD contents into.
- For example, to copy the contents of a CD into an MP3 file, you must click MP3 encoder.
- iTunes by default saves CD content in AAC format, which can be played on most audio players and has better quality than MP3 files.
Step 6. Select an audio quality if necessary
Click the " Settings " drop-down box, then select the desired quality for importing files.
For example, if you want to import a very high quality audio file, click Options Higher Quality in the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Click OK
The button is at the bottom of the pop-up window. iTunes will start importing the contents of the CD.
Step 8. Wait for the song to finish importing
When it's finished, iTunes will confirm, and the progress bar at the top of the iTunes window will disappear.
Step 9. Open an existing album in the library (library)
Click Music at the top left of iTunes, find the newly imported CD album, then open the album by clicking on it once.
Step 10. Right-click the desired song
You can right-click any song in the newly imported album. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
On a Mac, click the song once, then click File in the top left corner.
Step 11. Click Show in Windows Explorer
This option is in the drop-down menu. Doing so will open the folder where the imported songs are stored. After that, you can move, copy, rename, or edit it however you like.
If using a Mac, select Show in Finder.
Method 2 of 2: Using Windows Media Player
Step 1. Insert the CD into the computer
Insert the audio CD you want to copy into the computer's CD drive with the printed side facing up.
- Before continuing, close the pop-up window that appears when you insert the CD.
- If the computer does not have a CD drive, attach an external CD drive to the computer to perform this step.
Step 2. Go to Start
Click the Windows logo in the lower left corner.
Step 3. Launch Windows Media Player
Type windows media player in the Start window, then click Windows Media Player at the top of the Start window.
If the Windows Media Player link doesn't appear in the Start search results, it means that this program is not installed on your computer. You must install and use iTunes
Step 4. Select the audio CD
Click the CD name on the left side of the Windows Media Player window.
Step 5. Click Rip settings
This option is at the top of Windows Media Player. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Select More options…
You can find it in the drop-down menu Rip settings. A new window will be opened.
Step 7. Select the desired format
Click the " Format " drop-down box, then select the desired format (for example MP3) in the drop-down menu.
Many audio players cannot play the default Windows Media Player (WMA) format. So, you better choose the more popular MP3 format
Step 8. Specify a storage location for the files to be copied
Click Changes… in the " Rip music to this location " section, select the folder (for example Desktop), then click OK.
Step 9. Click OK at the bottom of the window
Doing so will save any changes you made to the settings and the window will close.
Step 10. Click Rip CD
This tab is at the top of Windows Media Player. The contents of the CD will begin to be copied to the specified storage location.
Step 11. Wait for the contents of the CD to finish copying
You can continue the process after Windows Media Player has finished copying the contents of the CD.
Step 12. Locate the newly copied music file
Open the folder where the CD copies are stored, double-click the "Unknown artist" folder, then double-click the album folder in it. All the music files you copied will be displayed here. Now you can move, copy, rename, or edit them however you like.
Tips
- Some songs are copyrighted which prohibits you from sharing them. You may copy CDs as backups, but copies may not be given or sold to others (including friends and family).
- You can also copy the contents of a CD to a USB flash disk (flash disk).
