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How to Rip and Encode an Audio CD to One MP3 File

Manipulating audio files does not require special skills nor the means to purchase expensive software. You can copy your favorite audio CDs in just a few minutes using Apple's free iTunes software and combine them all together into one MP3 file using free audio editing programs available for download online.

Instructions

  1. Using iTunes to rip CDs

    • 1

      Open iTunes. If you don't have iTunes on your computer, you can download it for free from Apple's website.

    • 2

      Insert an audio CD into your computer's CD drive. ITunes will automatically display a CD icon under "Devices" in the left menu bar. Click on the icon to view a list of all the songs on the CD. Click the "Import" button located on the bottom right of the screen and wait for iTunes to finish ripping, or copying, the songs. This process will take few minutes.

    • 3

      Download and install an audio editing software program if you don't already have the software. Audacity, Acid Xpress and WavePad are all free programs you can use on a PC or a Mac.

    Encode all of the songs from your CDs to one MP3 file with Audacity

    • 4

      Open Audacity to import your songs. Go to the "File" menu, select "Import," "Audio" and choose the first song that you ripped from your CD. Repeat this step to import all the songs. Each song will automatically be placed on a separate track.

    • 5

      Double click on the second track to highlight it and press "Ctrl X" ("command X" on Mac) on your keyboard to cut it. Then place your mouse at the end of the first track and press "Ctrl V" to paste it. Repeat this process for all tracks until they are placed on the first track.

    • 6

      Go to the "File" menu, select "Export" and choose "MP3 files" to save your CD as one MP3 file.

    Encode all of the songs from your CDs to one MP3 file with Acid Xpress

    • 7

      Open Acid Xpress. Use the menu on the bottom left to locate the music on your computer. Right click on the first song and select "Add to Project." An empty track will automatically be added. Place your mouse on the track. A pencil tool will be displayed; use it to place the song on the track by left clicking your mouse and dragging the pencil toward the right. Repeat this step until all songs are imported.

    • 8

      Right click on the second track and select "Cut" from the menu. Go to the end of the first track, right click on it and select "Paste." Repeat this step until all songs are placed on one track.

    • 9

      Go to the "File" menu, select "Render As" and choose "MP3 audio" as the file type. Click Save.

    Encode all of the songs from your CDs to one MP3 file with WavePad

    • 10

      Open Wavepad. Go to the "File" menu and select "Open File." Locate the song file on your computer and click on "Open." Repeat this step to insert all songs into the program.

    • 11

      Go to the window in which the second song is placed. Click on the end of the song and drag your mouse to the beginning; the song will now be highlighted. Use "Ctrl X" on your keyboard to cut it, then open the window containing the first song from the CD, click on the end of the song and paste the second song using "Ctrl V." Repeat this process to place all songs on the same track.

    • 12

      Choose the "Select File As" option from the "File" menu and select "MPEG Layer(mp3)" to save it as an MP3 file.

Digital Music

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