Audio CD recording options

[KRA]

Pages 70-75 of the Toast 8 User Guide discuss audio cd, with much left to be explained. Can anyone offer more insights into these issues?

 

1. Is simple fading at the end of a song possible--NOT cross fading into the next song? I can set up a linear fade on a given track, say 15 seconds, but that doesn't work. I believe nothing happens, or perhaps the track just gets clipped at the fade start point. Any discussion of crossfade options (step-by-step?) would be greatly appreciated.

 

2. In the Effects column, there is an AU button which brings up a Sound Effects window with various Apple:AU-effects. What does AU stand for? Can anyone describe the various options?

 

3a. When saving AIFF tracks, the best way I have found to preserve track name, album, artist, etc, for iTunes use is to "Save as Disc Image" and then, under COPY, record that to CD. Is there a better, faster way to burn a CD that preserves the listing info?

 

3b.From those AIFF tracks, I create ACC (m4a) files (smaller file size) in order to add those tracks to the iTunes library. What's the best way to burn the m4a versions to a CD?

 

Thanks for any help.

[tsantee]

Pages 70-75 of the Toast 8 User Guide discuss audio cd, with much left to be explained. Can anyone offer more insights into these issues?

 

1. Is simple fading at the end of a song possible--NOT cross fading into the next song? I can set up a linear fade on a given track, say 15 seconds, but that doesn't work. I believe nothing happens, or perhaps the track just gets clipped at the fade start point. Any discussion of crossfade options (step-by-step?) would be greatly appreciated.

 

2. In the Effects column, there is an AU button which brings up a Sound Effects window with various Apple:AU-effects. What does AU stand for? Can anyone describe the various options?

 

3a. When saving AIFF tracks, the best way I have found to preserve track name, album, artist, etc, for iTunes use is to "Save as Disc Image" and then, under COPY, record that to CD. Is there a better, faster way to burn a CD that preserves the listing info?

 

3b.From those AIFF tracks, I create ACC (m4a) files (smaller file size) in order to add those tracks to the iTunes library. What's the best way to burn the m4a versions to a CD?

 

Thanks for any help.

There are several tutorial articles about the audio features on the Toast Support page Here.

 

You can preview the preset cross fades or create your own fade-out by choosing custom in the cross fades list. AU stands for Audio Units. There's a description of this in the above-linked page.

 

3a. I'll experiment with this and get back to you. There is a script called CD Text to CD Info at dougscripts.com that might help this process along for you.

 

3b. Use the Data window to burn your m4a versions to CD without changing the format. I think that's what you are asking. You can use the Toast Media Browser to select the tracks in your iTunes Library for import to Toast.

[KRA]

There are several tutorial articles about the audio features on the Toast Support page Here.

 

You can preview the preset cross fades or create your own fade-out by choosing custom in the cross fades list. AU stands for Audio Units. There's a description of this in the above-linked page.

 

3a. I'll experiment with this and get back to you. There is a script called CD Text to CD Info at dougscripts.com that might help this process along for you.

 

3b. Use the Data window to burn your m4a versions to CD without changing the format. I think that's what you are asking. You can use the Toast Media Browser to select the tracks in your iTunes Library for import to Toast.

 

 

Thanks, I'll check out the tutorials. I've used the Custom choice and played with the fade curve, but it doesn't seem to work as a standalone fade at the end of one song, that is without crossfading into another. Maybe the tutorials will elucidate.

 

3a. User Guide (p.72, item 2) states "The Mac OS and iTunes do not display CD-TEXT." Nevertheless, I tried but saw no difference.

 

3b. That's how I've been doing it. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

=========

 

UPDATE: Regarding my question #1 about creating a fade-out. I found relevant tutorials at Toast Support Center > Toast 8 Help Topics. They were helpful. "Professional Mastering Features" states finally, "Remember that like all audio effects available in Toast, ...your original files will never be modified."

 

It appears that Toast 8 does not provide a method to either permanently altar a stand-alone audio cd track or to create a new "Save As" version, that is: permanently fade the end of a single music track and save that stand-alone track as such. The audio effect (fade) seems be a playback instruction relative to two specific tracks.

 

Although I have not found a way in Toast 8 to save a stand-alone fade-out version as AIFF, I did figure out a solution for stand-alone, transportable iTunes playback:

Toast 8 - Set up Audio CD using two AIFF music track(s). Create effect (fade-out) on Track 01. MENU > File > Save as Disc Image (creates Sd2f). MENU> Utilities> Mount Disc Image.

iTunes - Should auto-launch and Import the Sd2f as two individual tracks. Select Track 01, which has desired fade-out effect. MENU> Advanced> Convert Selection to AAC.

File (m4a) will be found in user Music folder. It can be saved to CD as Data in Toast 8. The file should playback in iTunes with the desired fade-out regardless of position in a playlist.

[axisrecording]

I tried your method of making a disc image, then seleting copy/ then selecting the image to burn. still doesn't retain the track info. Am I doing something wrong? why doesn't selecting the add cd text option work? I'm trying to mastering cds for clients that will include the track/artist/album info just like any cd you buy at the store. thanks in advance for any help.

[KRA]

I tried your method of making a disc image, then seleting copy/ then selecting the image to burn. still doesn't retain the track info. Am I doing something wrong? why doesn't selecting the add cd text option work? I'm trying to mastering cds for clients that will include the track/artist/album info just like any cd you buy at the store. thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

My work-around was a method I found to create a built-in fade-out on a standalone, single track for iTunes playback. (CD Spin Doctor does not allow creation of fade-outs. Toast 8 allows the user to create a playback instruction to fade or crossfade between two specific tracks.)

 

To your second question, as I noted earlier in the thread, Toast 8 User Guide (p.72, item 2) states "The Mac OS and iTunes do not display CD-TEXT." More info on the subject at that page.

 

For creating typical audio CDs, I use the basic Toast 8 Audio CD workspace with its various options. I drag on AIFF audio track files (like commercial CDs) that I created in CD Spin Doctor. Toast 8's "More" button (buried lower left--bad design) is used to enter Disc/Track info.

 

When I play back the CD on my Mac, sometimes that track/artist/album info is recognized by iTunes, sometimes not. Generally speaking, when iTunes sees a match between a homemade CD (thanks to that info) and its commercial database, it presents its choice, the user confirms the match and then all the info is displayed. If it's not recognized, then it's manual entry all over again in iTunes.