# Cd slicing question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956 "2003-02-05T15:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/1 "2003-02-05T15:18:44Z")
Alright, I have a question: Is there any software out there that can help me cut up a few songs? For example: Queen, “Princes of the Universe”, I want to make a cd with that song on it (I own the cd), only I want to cut the non-highlander part out of it. Also, I own a lot of books on tape (or I suppose books on cds), and I would like to shorten them by taking out various sections (such as introductions by the reader, and other non-essentials). For example, i own War of the Worlds (the cd came with a book) and I would like to cut some of the old time music out of it (it’s in the begining): If I still want to listen to it, I can because I’ll have the original cd, but if I want the Meatrosly edited version, I can listen to that as well. Basically I want compact cd’s, is this possible? Also is it legal? I mean, I bought the originals and I figure it’s sort of like “backing them up” so that I don’t scratch and ruin the cd, but at the same time I am _altering_ the content-so I don’t know (I know I’ve asked similar questions about videogames, but I’m not sure if it’s all the same, legally). ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/2 "2003-02-05T15:26:47Z")
I do this all the time with my Minidisc’s edit feature. Usually I am splicing two songs together, but it would work the same way to edit out something in the middle of one song. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/3 "2003-02-05T15:30:44Z")
If I understand correctly, you’ll want to copy the files from CD to .wav format and use a tool like those found here [http://www.tucows.com/mmedia/audioedit95\_default.html](http://www.tucows.com/mmedia/audioedit95_default.html) to crop stuff out. Should be pretty simple. Legally, IANAL, but I think you’re OK as long as you don’t distribute it. Fair use and all. ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/4 "2003-02-05T15:33:07Z")
There are quite a few programs which will do this; the way I’d probably do it is to save the songs as .wav files on the pc and then use a wave editor like cool edit or soundforge to cut the bits I don’t want. Then any decent cd burning software will allow you to cut your own. As to the legality, I’m not sure. There seem to be two issues; are you allowed to make backup copies (I’ve always assumed yes, and will continue to do so anyway, since I find cds wear out quickly). The other issue is that you’re changing the song from what the artist originally intended. Again, I can’t see a problem here - there’s no law that says I can’t play my cd through my mixing desk and eq the nuts off it (or add effects like echo or compression etc). ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/5 "2003-02-05T15:36:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xerxes \* > \*\*As to the legality, I’m not sure. There seem to be two issues; are you allowed to make backup copies (I’ve always assumed yes, and will continue to do so anyway, since I find cds wear out quickly). The other issue is that you’re changing the song from what the artist originally intended. Again, I can’t see a problem here - there’s no law that says I can’t play my cd through my mixing desk and eq the nuts off it (or add effects like echo or compression etc). \*\* I agree, there seems to be two different issues. I’m thinking as long as I don’t distribute it, and didn’t obtain the original cd illegally, then I should be in the clear-right? ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/6 "2003-02-05T15:43:15Z")
IANAL, but I reckon you would be. I’d be _very_ surprised to find differently. ---
**Author:** ![keithnmick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90db22/32.png) [@keithnmick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keithnmick)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/7 "2003-02-05T15:47:45Z")
You can do this with Quicktime Pro as well - after transferring the audio to a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/8 "2003-02-05T20:26:28Z")
I highly recommend [Cool Edit](http://www.syntrillium.com/). ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/9 "2003-02-06T03:22:12Z")
Technically, you _could_ do this with Sound Recorder, which comes with windows, but you’d have to put it all into .wav format, and it would take a long time. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-slicing-question/152956/10 "2003-02-06T18:37:34Z")
You could do this easily with [Audacity](http://audacity.sourceforge.net/), which has the advantage that it’s freeware.