16 October 2005

Burning Music CDs with Nero Express

In a previous Tutor Tip (Burning Music CDs with Nero Burning ROM), I explained how to use the full version of Nero to create music CDs. Here are instructions for using Nero Express, the "lighter" version. Note: these directions refer to Nero Express version 6. Other versions will be similar, but will vary slightly in the names of buttons and selections.

Whenever you are going to burn a CD, be sure to close all other programs. Do not use another program while you are burning a CD. If you choose to ignore this caveat, you can end up with skips and hiccups on the disc.

How to Create an Audio Compilation CD

If you create a number of Audio CD"s, using the tracks from CDs regularly, Nero Express gives you the option to create a CD title database on your computer. This will save you time, so you need not connect to the Internet each time you wish to have access to Artist and Title information for these CDs. You have to create a folder for storing your music database first. Open the My Documents folder and create one by clicking File, New, and then Folder. Name the folder something memorable. Close My Documents.

1. Place the first music CD from which you wish to copy tracks into the CD-recorder drive. If Windows tries to do something with the disc, cancel the operation.
2. Launch Nero Express from the Start Menu - Go to Start, All Programs (Programs in Windows 98), Nero, and Nero Express - or use the icon on your Desktop. This will bring up the Nero Express project page.
3. Select Music, and then Audio Disc. You are now ready to start adding tracks to your layout for recording to disc.
4. Click the Add button to select the tracks you would like to add. A window will appear that looks very similar to Windows Explorer and from here you are able to choose the tracks you would like to add to the musical compilation.
   • Navigate to the CD drive that contains the music CD. All you will see on the right is "Track 01," "Track 02," "Track 03," etc. This is one of the drawbacks using Nero Express to burn audio CDs. Nevertheless, you can look at the CD’s song list in the jewel case to find the songs you wish to copy.
   • Select one track by clicking on it.
   • Select several random tracks by clicking the first one, and then holding down the CTRL key while clicking on the additional tracks.
   • Select all of the tracks, by right-clicking on one of the files, and then left-clicking on Select all.
   • Once you have selected your track(s), click the Add button. Repeat this process until you have added all of the tracks from this CD you wish.
5. Nero Express will ask if you would like to retrieve artist/title information from the Nero/Internet database. If you are online, say yes. Using the Internet database will cut down on typing, and give you detailed information about the Audio CD and its song tracks. The search may result in more than one CD being found. Sometimes, it will be several versions of the same CD listing. You can click each one and compare the track listing with the disc’s song listing to see which version to use.
6. Click the "Selected CD" button to add the first chosen track to your compilation.

   If you have not previously created a user database, you will get a message indicating that you need to create one. Click the Yes button to create a database.

   Nero Express will ask you to create a folder to contain the database. Since you have already done this, click the Ok button. The destination browser window opens. Select the database folder you created and click the OK button. Nero Express will prompt you to overwrite the existing database. Here, you must make a choice.

   1. Click the No button. (Recommended if you have large free space)
   2. Click the Yes button. (Recommended if you do not have much free space)

   When the new database is created successfully, click the Yes button to set the new database as your default "User Database."

7. When you have added all of the files you wish, click the Finished button. This will return you to the previous screen. A gauge at the bottom of the screen will tell you how close you are to filling the CD. As long as the bar is blue, you are okay.

8. Once all your files have been added, click "Next" to prepare your disc for burning.

9. Choose your burn settings:
   • Current Recorder - The supported burners you have connected to your PC will be displayed and the Image Recorder if you chose to save to your hard drive.
   • Title (CD Text) - Select a title for your disc.
   • Artist (CD Text) - Enter the artist’s name, if you wish.
   • Writing Speed - Select the speed in which you would like to burn.
   • Number of Copies - Select the number of copies you would like to burn.
   • Verify data on disc after burning - It is a good idea to tick this box.

10. Click the Burn button. As you are burning, you will see a moving status bar indicating the progress of the recording process.

11. Wait patiently for the blank disc to be written. When finished, Nero Express will inform you that the process is complete. Click OK.

12. After the successful recording, you will be returned to the recording window. Click "Next" to move forward to a window that will ask what you want to do now that you have finished this project. In the meantime, Nero Express will eject the newly created CD.

Go somewhere and quietly enjoy your newly-compiled disc. If you find that your CD "skips" or otherwise acts askew, remake the CD. When you get to the Burn tab, click the drop-down list next to "Write Speed" and try a slower speed.