# Another MP3 Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2000, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128 "2000-07-28T00:00:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128/1 "2000-07-28T00:00:58Z")
Is this possible. I have CDs. I would like to take them and put them on an MP3 portable player so I can jog with it and not have it skip. If I use my computer at work could I just copy the CD file and put it on the computer. Then load it onto the MP3 recorder. I don’t know anything about this stuff so pardon my ignorance. Or would I have to buy a lot of expensive equipment? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a5b964/32.png) [@Red\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_2)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128/2 "2000-07-28T00:14:43Z")
I’m sure there a people way more knowledgable about this than me on this board but from what I know… You first have to “rip” the CD file to mp3 format. This is done with a “ripper” program that I’m pretty sure you can get free with any mp3 player (Winamp, for example). Once you got the mp3, your portable player should have directions to get it loaded into it (I don’t have one so I don’t know). Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a5b964/32.png) [@Red\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_2)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128/3 "2000-07-28T00:17:26Z")
One more thing. If you don’t know anything about mp3 player programs, just go [winamp.com](http://winamp.com) and download the player and ripper. This is the only player I’ve tried and it seems to work fairly easily. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128/4 "2000-07-28T01:20:21Z")
For ripping, I use Music Match Jukebox, which is available at [MP3.com](http://MP3.com). The format of the song on the CD is different (and much larger) than the corresponding MP3, so you need software to convert - you can’t just copy the songs straight off the CD. BTW, I love my Diamond Rio MP3 player! ---
**Author:** ![Gatsby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Gatsby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatsby)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128/5 "2000-07-28T01:44:49Z")
There are two parts to making an MP3 from a CD. The first part is ripping or extracting the data from the CD with a “ripper”. Then it has to be encoded to MP3 format using an “encoder”. You can get a lot of shareware/freeware programs that will individually rip or encode. The commercial products tend to be an easier to use “all in one” product that automates both tasks such as Jukebox (that Smeghead mentioned) or Xing Audio Catalyst. Actually, Jukebox may be free, I’m not sure. I’m sure there are many others as well. If your not an audiophile, one of the “all in ones” are probably your best bet. Not much of a learning curve. [MP3.com](http://MP3.com) has lots of good links to demo/shareware/freeware products you could use. If you want to try a full version of a popular commercial program before you buy it, send me an email. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128/6 "2000-07-28T01:48:12Z")
**Smeghead** wrote > [@](#): > > BTW, I love my Diamond Rio MP3 player! I got one a couple of days ago for my birthday, and I concur. It’s very cool. There are a few things they could’ve made smoother like more internal memory and making the internal and external memories look like one space, but on the whole I really like it. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2000, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mp3-question/27128/7 "2000-07-28T08:50:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gatsby \* > \*\*You can get a lot of shareware/freeware programs that will individually rip or encode. The commercial products tend to be an easier to use “all in one” product that automates both tasks such as Jukebox (that Smeghead mentioned) or Xing Audio Catalyst. Actually, Jukebox may be free, I’m not sure. I’m sure there are many others as well. > \*\* Jukebox has a free version that limits the quality of the MP3 you make. To make CD-quality MP3s, you need to buy the full deal. Or at least have a serial number, which some reprobate informs me are available online, if you know where to look. Of course, I know nothing about that.