CD burner/copier for Mac

tommy p

tommy p

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I have now looked at at least 10 free apps and even paid software for Macs for the simple function of burning or copying CD's.  Literally every one I've researched has tons of negative reviews for anything from not working correctly to not starting up at all to only burning partial songs to not working with the latest Mac OS (I'm on Catalina 10.15.1).  I've downloaded 3-4 only to find out the complaints are legit.  I have tried many times unsuccessfully to use the Disk Utility native to Macs.  I look up the instructions and invariably, 3 or 4 steps they tell you to click on something or change some setting that doesn't exist.

Does anybody know a free or low cost option for CD burning on a Mac that WORKS??  Damn, I'm frustrated!

 
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Create a playlist in iTunes/Music, burn playlist to disc.

Edited to add this link that provides basic directions.

 
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cynic said:
You have Music now?  Same same.
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OK, I'll Google that.  I was able to do that before but it was still a cumbersome process.  I'm looking for something along the lines of insert CD to be copied, click copy, insert blank CD, done.

 
tommy p said:
OK, I'll Google that.  I was able to do that before but it was still a cumbersome process.  I'm looking for something along the lines of insert CD to be copied, click copy, insert blank CD, done.
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It's not quite that simple, but this link describes how to do it from either Music or from the Disc Utility.

I agree this is something that's been more difficult than it needs to be for far too long.

 
I use Roxie toast titanium and iTunes. Toast titanium can sometimes be found on special for a decent price.

 
mathman said:
I use Roxie toast titanium and iTunes. Toast titanium can sometimes be found on special for a decent price.
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The reviews I've read say that won't even open with newer versions of the Mac OS, and nobody is getting their money back.  Roxio and Apple just point the finger at each other.

 
Yeah, since moving to Catalina, I've noticed a number of annoying issues. The shift from iTunes to Music is also created a few issues; spent 20+ minutes on the line with Apple support trying to iron out some issues moving between the former and the latter. Hell, I was grousing about the hardware not allowing for it years ago. Hasn't since they did away with the onboard drives. The days of being able to throw a CD into a Power Mac and burn a disc or download the music are long gone. <sigh>

 
I remember the days when I used to love Apple and looked forward to their new OS releases, which I had to pay $100 for. Now the new OSs are free and I hate how they're always screwing with things that people like. Apple has gone from the company I raved about to the company I rant about. If I weren't so invested in them, I'd probably be a PC guy...No, I actually don't care for Windows OS. I still generally like Apple's OS (with many caveats) but I hate their manipulative practices. They've turned into the kind of company Steve Jobs hated.

 
FGJ said:
I remember the days when I used to love Apple and looked forward to their new OS releases, which I had to pay $100 for. Now the new OSs are free and I hate how they're always screwing with things that people like. Apple has gone from the company I raved about to the company I rant about. If I weren't so invested in them, I'd probably be a PC guy...No, I actually don't care for Windows OS. I still generally like Apple's OS (with many caveats) but I hate their manipulative practices. They've turned into the kind of company Steve Jobs hated.
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This was to be a grand experiment for me.  I wanted a Mac because everyone said they're so great to use for home recording.  After nearly 2 years, I still haven't gotten started on that and there are so many other things I dislike about it, I'll never have another one - that's 100% certain.

 
FGJ said:
I remember the days when I used to love Apple and looked forward to their new OS releases, which I had to pay $100 for. Now the new OSs are free and I hate how they're always screwing with things that people like. Apple has gone from the company I raved about to the company I rant about. If I weren't so invested in them, I'd probably be a PC guy...No, I actually don't care for Windows OS. I still generally like Apple's OS (with many caveats) but I hate their manipulative practices. They've turned into the kind of company Steve Jobs hated.
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Exactly.  I've had Macs at home ever since I could afford them, about 15 years now, and used them in an office for a decade before that.  What happened to "It just works"?  Now it's "Keep up or you'll be abandoned" and compatibility be damned.  If you don't want to join the cult and do it their way, you have your work cut out for you.  Grrr.

 
mrjamiam said:
"Keep up or you'll be abandoned"
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The iPhone, iPad, and watch make up nearly 70% of their revenue.  The bulk of the innovation seen in Mac OS unless something changes will be to make it more supportive of iOS features and functionality.

 
tommy p said:
This was to be a grand experiment for me.  I wanted a Mac because everyone said they're so great to use for home recording.  After nearly 2 years, I still haven't gotten started on that and there are so many other things I dislike about it, I'll never have another one - that's 100% certain.
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Thx for starting this thread! I was considering an external CD burner for this thing. Up until now I just put the data on a thumb drive and move the files over to my PC tower.

So far I've used mine for nothing but tracking/mixing music and it's been pretty stellar with the beefed up specs, SSD and thunderbolt connectivity.  For me the biggest PITA was learning how to navigate the folders with that crappy Finder interface. It's been an education, that's for sure! 

 
@tommy p It's really pretty simple. You do have to import the CD you want to copy, that said you want to make sure that your settings are set to lossless. Once this is set, you never have to mess with it again, unless you want to import as a smaller file format. To do this, just go to MUSIC on the toolbar, top left, click "Preferences" from drop down menu. Preferences panel opens. Click "FILES" top center, click on "IMPORT SETTINGS" at bottom, Choose "APPLE LOSSLESS ENCODER", SETTING: "AUTOMATIC", check "USE AUTO CORRECTION", and save. 

To perform the task it is super easy:

*Put a CD in, and IMPORT it.

*Once it is imported, below the "LIBRARY" header on left, choose "Albums."

*Then drag the album you want to copy to "PLAYLISTS" on the left.

*Select the album in the "PLAYLIST" and either right click and select "BURN PLAYLIST TO DISC", or select it from the "FILE" menu at the top left of the toolbar. 

Done. Four steps, the internet makes things so much harder than it really is.

 
gtrdaddy said:
@tommy p It's really pretty simple. You do have to import the CD you want to copy, that said you want to make sure that your settings are set to lossless. Once this is set, you never have to mess with it again, unless you want to import as a smaller file format. To do this, just go to MUSIC on the toolbar, top left, click "Preferences" from drop down menu. Preferences panel opens. Click "FILES" top center, click on "IMPORT SETTINGS" at bottom, Choose "APPLE LOSSLESS ENCODER", SETTING: "AUTOMATIC", check "USE AUTO CORRECTION", and save. 

To perform the task it is super easy:

*Put a CD in, and IMPORT it.

*Once it is imported, below the "LIBRARY" header on left, choose "Albums."

*Then drag the album you want to copy to "PLAYLISTS" on the left.

*Select the album in the "PLAYLIST" and either right click and select "BURN PLAYLIST TO DISC", or select it from the "FILE" menu at the top left of the toolbar. 

Done. Four steps, the internet makes things so much harder than it really is.
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Thanks, my local brother!  That was the easiest to follow explanation yet.  Still a bit convoluted compared to using EZ CD Creator back in the day but this works.

Still, if anyone ever finds another CD burning app for Macs that works, let me know.

 
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cynic said:
The iPhone, iPad, and watch make up nearly 70% of their revenue.  The bulk of the innovation seen in Mac OS unless something changes will be to make it more supportive of iOS features and functionality.
Click to expand...
Yep, which is why Apple cares nothing for creative professionals and desktop users any more. It's understandable since they're only doing what makes the best business sense as far as their focus on iOS goes, but that still doesn't excuse their manipulative business practices. 

Regarding the difficulty someone had with the finder, I find it incredibly easy to use. But like anything else, familiarity will determine how simple one finds anything. 

Also, the 'keep up or get left behind' practices seem to have been applied industry wide. That, and the subscription model that Adobe kickstarted is such a pain. I don't mind practices that make for improved profits since that's the point of business (we all expect a return for our efforts), but when it becomes manipulative, that's where it crosses the line. I don't mind Apple controlling terms of use on the iTunes/App Store, but when they tell you that you can only purchase apps for your mobile device from them, that's manipulative and monopolistic. It's like Toyota selling you a car and then telling you that you have to buy your gas from them.

 
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