How to Burn a CD With Audacity
By Nicole Vulcan
The audio files you've edited with Audacity won't do much good just sitting as raw files on your computer -- so if you want to share them with the world, you'll need to save them as file types that are ready for exporting. Audacity doesn't have a CD-burning function built into the software, but it will allow you to save your audio files in a format that standard CD-burning programs will easily recognize.
Step 1
Open Audacity then open your project by clicking "File" from the top menu, and then click "Open." Select your project file and click "Open."
Step 2
Locate the "Project Rate" box at the bottom left of the Audacity window -- with your project open, of course. If the project rate is not set at "44100 Hz," click the box to adjust it to that rate.
Step 3
Add a stereo track if your recording doesn't already have one. According to Audacity's manual, some CD burning software will not work if you don't have a stereo track, though this is not the case if you're using iTunes or Toast for CD burning. To add the stereo track, click "Tracks" from the top menu and then click "Add New" then click "Stereo Track." A second track line will appear below your first track, but it doesn't have to have any audio.
Step 4
Click "File" from the top menu then click "Export."
Step 5
Select "WAV (Microsoft) signed 16 bit PCM" from the "Save File as Type" selector. Identify the location where you want the exported file to be saved from the "Save In" menu. Type the name of the file in the "File name" box.
Step 6
Click "Save." Your file is now saved in a format that CD burning programs will recognize.
References
Tips
- To burn your CDs, open a CD burning program such as Windows Media Player, iTunes, Toast or Nero. Create a new project, drag the file you created in Audacity to the project list, then insert a CD when prompted. Another important note: Windows Media Player 11 may require you to play the WAV file before you can burn it. If you see an error message when you're trying to burn your file, locate the audio file among your files and folders and double-click it to open and play it; then try burning it.
- If you're using Audacity on a Mac computer, your process for saving your files will be slightly different than the process detailed here, but the basics are the same: make sure the file is saved as 44100 Hz then click "File" and then "Export" to save the file as a 16-bit WAV file.
Writer Bio
Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.