How to import your reference CD into your computer

By Nick Landis on Wednesday Nov, 2nd 2011

This question has come up with relative frequency, so I'm going to write the step-by-step directions to let you get your reference CD into your computer as .wav files or mp3 files.

These step by step directions are for converting a disc to .wav files, but the steps will be similar for converting to MP3 too.

  1. insert the CD to the computer
  2. click on the picture of the CD on the left column to view the CD contents
  3. hi-light all the tracks on the viewer and click File > Get Info (Command + I on a mac or Ctrl+I on a PC)
  4. insert the info about your album as a whole on this screen
  5. press OK
  6. in the viewer name your tracks
  7. when finished, check your import settings on the bottom right of the iTunes window (or iTunes > Preferences > General > Import Settings on a mac or Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings on a PC)  usually, you should import .wav files set on automatic (16 bit 44.1kHz for highest quality) or change this to the desired setting if needed.
  8. click OK
  9. hi-light all the tracks on the album
  10. click Import CD on the bottom right of the iTunes window (or Advanced > create WAV Version both mac and PC)
  11. wait for tracks to be imported
  12. your files will be in your iTunes music directory (usually something like Home > Music > iTunes > iTunes Music > [Artist Name] > [Album Name] on a mac or My Documents > My Music > iTunes Music > [Artist Name] > [Album Name] on a PC)
  13. all done!

Hopefully this helps you if you have problems copying your info off a reference dsic to send to your Digital Distributor.

Also check these links: