This would ordinarily be a MPSIMS thread, but there were many Dopers who responded to my previous threads about problems with music downloads who may not read that forum.
After trying Napster, Rhapsody and iTunes, and three different burn programs, and after creating about 20 coasters, my frustration level with music downloads was at the boiling point. I continued to hear a fft, fft, fft, fft noise in the high ranges of the music.
It then occurred to me that I still had some downloads from Shareaza on the computer that had previously recorded perfectly. So I thought “well, if these tunes don’t record properly, then it’s not the software, it’s got to be the CD burner itself.”
Sure enough, the old song recorded as poorly as the newer music. I went out and purchased a new Plextor burner and installed it. Problem solved.
So thanks to all who tried to help, and apologies to the Mods for posting this in GQ. If this problem comes up with anyone else, perhaps this information will be of use.