Chapter 32. Ripping and Burning CDs

In this chapter

• Understanding Digital Audio Formats

• Get the Right Software

• Ripping Songs from CD to Your PC

• Burning Your Own CDs

Your computer's hard disk stores all sorts of information. Many users use their hard disks to store digital copies of their favorite songs. You can then play your digital music on your PC, using a music player program like Windows Media Player or Musicmatch Jukebox.

In addition, if you have a recordable CD drive (called a CD burner) in your computer system, you can make your own audio mix CDs. You can take any combination of songs on your hard disk and "burn" them onto a blank CD and then play that CD in your home, car, or portable CD player. You can also use your PC to make copies of any CD you own.

And the good thing is, all of this is extremely easy to do. You don't have to be a geek to create your own computerized music library!