Recording CD music on to SD card to use in MP3 transmitter

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 09 Jul 2009, 22:21

What a weird title!

My problem is that advancing years mean new technologies are difficult to grasp. In this case;

newly-acquired 90HDI Xantia (September 2000) has a radio/cassette fitted. Rather want a CD player / multichanger, but expensive and means some fitting needed, probably special cabling / plugs.

So...........................

a friend told me about these SD card gizmos that you plug into the cigar lighter socket (to power them) and they transmit the contents of the SD card to the aerial of the car radio.

i.e. you can record your CD tracks onto SD card(s) and then play them through the gizmo into the car radio.

So I got one. Even comes with a remote control keypad. Under £15 including postage from China.

But...........big problem. No idea how to transfer music from a CD to the SD card. I do have a separate SD card reader/writer.

Can anyone please help?

Stempy · Post by **Stempy** » 09 Jul 2009, 22:58

You need to import the CD's into iTunes or similar then copy them over to the card.

Xantic · Post by **Xantic** » 09 Jul 2009, 23:00

If the music is mp3 format just highlight the track you want, then right click, and send to your portable device, which will be your sd card.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 10 Jul 2009, 07:30

Xantic. I'm completely at a loss. Highlight it? With a marker pen on the CD?

I need to know what programme to play the CD on so I can then getthe song(s) in mp3 format so I can then download onto the card.

Post by **RichardW** » 10 Jul 2009, 07:52

You need to convert the CD files to a type of file called MP3 - this is called 'ripping' the CD. To do this you need a piece of software to do this - do a google search on CD ripper and you will find plenty if bits of free software that will do it for you - most of them will automtically find the album and track titles on the internet too! Stick the CD in click the rip button (or equivalent) and the computer will conver the CD to MP3 and save it on your PC somewhere. Once you have ripped all the albums you want, you can then use My Computer or Windows Explorer to simply drag and drop the MP3 files to the SD card. You will need some sort of card reader though to plug into your PC (unless its a laptop with card slot) so that you can access the card.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 10 Jul 2009, 09:21

Thanks so much. Sorry to ask such a dumb question, but it's just something way above my head.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 10 Jul 2009, 12:12

No need to download and install extra programs if you don't want to as Windows Media Player can "rip" audio CDs natively. Then, just plug in your MP3 player and Drag N Drop the newly ripped MP3 files.

Post by **RichardW** » 10 Jul 2009, 12:30

If you can make any sense of Windows Media Player in Vista, you're a better man than me 8)

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 10 Jul 2009, 13:06

MikeT wrote:No need to download and install extra programs if you don't want to as Windows Media Player can "rip" audio CDs natively. Then, just plug in your MP3 player and Drag N Drop the newly ripped MP3 files.

If you use the Sync tab you can get it to automatically copy the mp3's to the MP3 player too

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 10 Jul 2009, 16:57

RichardW wrote:If you can make any sense of Windows Media Player in Vista, you're a better man than me 8)

If you're using Vista you're a more courageous man than me!!

Post by **myglaren** » 10 Jul 2009, 17:00

You need to tell WMP that it has to rip to mp3 - its available on the 'Rip' dropdown.
Otherwise it will by default rip to WMA which your car stereo will not recognise.

To transfer it to your media card, with the card plugged in, open a window to it (from 'my computer' if it doesn't automatically open on insertion.
Open your 'Music' file, navigate to the list of tracks you want, right click on the taskbar and select tile windows vertically and with the cursor in the 'music' window, hit CTRL+A then drag the files into the media card window.

Something like this:

click to enlarge. Click again to fill the screen.

It isn't exactly what you will see as this isn't vista and I haven't a card reader installed but the principle is the same.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 10 Jul 2009, 17:07

MikeT wrote:
RichardW wrote:If you can make any sense of Windows Media Player in Vista, you're a better man than me 8)
If you're using Vista you're a more courageous man than me!!

Vista's fine (as long as you don't want to search for any of your files)

As for WMA, many MP3 players can indeed play WMA, along with a plethora of other formats.
Best option is to convert to both, and compare size/sound quality and then stick with which one suits your needs best.

lolingram · Post by **lolingram** » 11 Jul 2009, 08:02

Xantic. I'm completely at a loss. Highlight it? With a marker pen on the CD?

Just love it Rmunns....!

dieseldoggy · Post by **dieseldoggy** » 13 Jul 2009, 11:32

Hi but it's not that hard or expensive to change head unit anyway ie all newer units just plug into existing loom.just need adapter plate for front £10/£15 ish.then you're new pride n joy to plug in and wallah 1/2 hr.ish and done.or change to later OE unit that has a cd from another model.
ps if you're not to far i'd willingly help you out.

PS why don't people put home town/area their in would make life easier!

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 16 Jul 2009, 21:16

Thanks for all replies, got it sorted, works brilliantly!

BTW, I'm in SW France, bit far to go to the big L for a change of unit. But thanks anyway.