How to Convert CDA Files to MP3

Back up CD music files by converting them to MP3s.

If you like to listen to your CD library while you're working on the computer but don’t want to have to change CDs all the time, you can convert your CDs' CDA files to MP3s and store them on your computer. This is also a good way to back up CDs. CDA files are really just pointers to the music and aren’t actual files you can copy. They are merely files created by the computer’s CD drivers that point to the location of a track. MP3 is a file type that uses compression to save space.

Instructions

1. Make space on your computer for your files. When you convert files from CDA, you are copying data from its location on the disk, converting it to the new format and storing it somewhere else. This process is commonly referred to as "ripping." On average, you’ll probably need about 1 megabyte for every minute of music you want to store.

2. Choose a converter. To rip CD music into the MP3 format, you need a software program. ITunes or Windows Media Player are available for free, but there are dozens of other free programs.

3. Open the converter program and double-check the settings. Whatever program you use, you will need to look for settings or options to let you specify that you want to add new files using the MP3 format. In iTunes, find the settings by going to "Edit," then "Preferences" and clicking on "Import Settings." In Windows Media Player, click on the "Organize" dropdown menu, then "Options" and go to the Rip Music tab.

4. Copy the files. Open the converter program if it isn't open already, and put the music CD into a CD drive. In both iTunes and Windows Media Player, the tracks on the CD will appear automatically. Convert the entire CD, or select individual tracks by removing the checkmark beside the ones you don't want to rip. In iTunes, copy and convert the files to MP3 by selecting "Import CD." In Windows Media Player, choose "Rip CD."

Tips & Warnings

• Windows Media Player is already available as part of Windows. ITunes is available as a free download.

• MP3 is the most open audio format that virtually any music player can read. The default setting for players such as iTunes and Windows Media Player is a proprietary format that only those or a limited number of other players recognize.

• You can also access the conversion settings in iTunes and Windows Media Player in the window that displays the tracks after you insert a music CD. In iTunes, click on the "Import Settings" button, then select "MP3 Encoder" in the "Import Using" dropdown menu. In Windows Media Player, click on "Rip Settings," then "Format," then "MP3."

References

• Apple: iTunes: How to Convert a Song to a Different File Format
• Microsoft: Rip Music from a CD

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish