Burning CDs with longer gaps

Article

Burning CDs with longer gaps

Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-, iPhone-, iPad-, iTunes-, or Apple TV-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We'll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form. We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

Q: I want to make a CD for a “Name That Tune” game. I know how to specify the length of the tune, the starting point and the ending point. How can I increase the length of the silence between tunes? Right now, as soon as one song is finished, the next song begins immediately. I would like a 30 second gap between songs.

- J.A.

A: The CD burning preferences in iTunes will allow you to specify a longer gap between tracks, however the maximum value that you can specify using this method is about 5 seconds, which is probably still too short for your needs.

One solution to this problem within iTunes itself would be to create or import an actual MP3 file that contains no audio for 30 seconds, and intersperse your actual song tracks with these 30-second blank tracks. If you are using a Mac, you can easily create a track like this with GarageBand, although numerous other utilities for both the Mac and Windows platform exist to record audio.

Unfortunately, this method won’t work if you plan to “shuffle” the CD during playback, since the blank tracks would be randomly shuffled along with the song tracks. In this case, the only solution might be to actually edit the existing tracks to add a thirty-second silence at the end of each one. This can be done either by using a tool to join the existing track to a silent audio file, or opening each track in an audio editing application.

Another option is to export the tracks from iTunes itself and use another CD burning software application that allows for a longer gap between tracks. Applications such as Roxio Toast (Mac) or Nero (Windows) will permit longer delays to be added between tracks, for example.

Note that if these are protected tracks purchased from the iTunes Store then they can only be burned from within iTunes itself, and cannot be edited or converted due to the digital rights management (DRM). In this case, your only option would be to either insert blank third-second tracks manually and not use shuffle mode when playing the CD, or burn the tracks to an audio CD and reimport them into a format such as MP3 so they could then be RE-burned using another application.

The most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I copy content from my iPod/iPhone onto my computer?

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone Video Formats

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Win)

Best Speakers?

Best Headphones?

Best Case?

Best In-Car Solution?

Best Battery Extender?

Find more answers in the latest publications in our Library. Free downloads developed by the editors of iLounge!

Ask iLounge Archives:

5-17-13: Calendar info disappears after iCloud restore

5-16-13: Remove old iCloud backup after restoring to a new iPhone

5-15-13: Setting up a ringtone in iTunes

5-14-13: Using a Wi-Fi hard drive with an iPad

5-13-13: Backing up and restoring an iPod classic

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

« Reordering and shuffling playlists

Importing audiobooks »

Comments

1

Suzy, don’t worry about being on the wrong side of 50. You’ll eventually get to be on the right side.

Posted by otaku on May 2, 2008 at 10:45 AM (PST)

2

re: Suzy - “Also, do I have to subscribe to Itunes to get the album art and , if so, what is the cost for each piece of album art?”

To get iTunes to fetch album art, you must set up and iTunes account, which requires a credit card. However, there is no cost for album art.

Posted by josh on May 2, 2008 at 11:17 PM (PST)

3

Every time I reformat my PC, I have to reinstall all my music. Is there an easy way to back up and restore your library

Posted by Pete on May 3, 2008 at 2:49 PM (PST)

4

I recently purchased a 8G Nano. I have an iTunes library at home and one at the office. Yesterday I was trying to download an audiobook, but it deleted the other 72 songs I had on there. Why?

Posted by Ellen on May 8, 2008 at 7:18 AM (PST)

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Recent Reviews

New Deals

Shop for Accessories: Cases, speakers, chargers, etc.

iLounge

Article