How Can I Record My Voice Onto a Compact Disc?

Whether you want to make your own voice recording of a book, record audio notes or sing a song, putting these types of recordings onto a CD has become as easy as recording them onto a cassette. Use one of several methods to immortalise your chosen sounds in a digital format.

Perhaps the simplest way to record your voice on CD involves the use of a CD recorder---a device similar to a cassette recorder. Some CD recorders come with a mic input, which allows you to plug a microphone directly into your CD recorder unit. For CD recorders that don't have a direct mic, connect both your CD recorder and an external mic into a mixer. Or, depending on the type of mixer you buy, connect both the mixer and CD recorder to the same digital receiver unit. Set your record level on your CD recorder at a decibel point where the recording meter bars do not go too far into the red---a technique called clipping. Unlike the clipping that happens on a cassette recorder, which results in slightly distorted (but still recognisable) audio during playback, clipping your audio on a CD recorder it makes an annoying crackling sound that distorts the playback audio beyond recognition. If you want to play your newly recorded CD on a unit other than your CD recorder after you've finished your voice recording, you'll to finalise that CD. Look for a button on your CD recorder unit that carried out this function.

You can also use your computer to record your voice onto CD. Outfit your computer with audio recording software, a microphone and a CD burner; many computers already come with a built-in CD burner. If yours doesn't have a burner or microphone, pick up external versions of these components, both of which are relatively cheap and widely available. Choose a mic that meets your sound quality needs. If you have a PC, your windows software likely came with a very simple sound recorder. You may want to use more advanced audio recording software, however; you'll find plenty of options available both commercially and free for download. Choose audio recording software with the editing features you want. Use the "Free Audio Recording Software" resource link at the end of this article to look over a few no-charge options.

Record your audio at a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz sampling rate. Save the file, but don't burn it onto your CD just yet. Instead, convert the file type to CDA (CD Audio Track) if your audio recording software doesn't have this "Save as" option. Use the "Free Audio Converter Software" resource link to look over your software options to carry this out. Choose audio converter software that will convert the audio files to a CDA file type. Then simply burn your CDA files onto a blank CD and finalise it; look on your screen for the audio software program's button to carry out this function.

Finally, you can use a digital voice recorder (DVR). Purchase a DVR that comes with USB port interface that allows you to transfer your files to your computer. Use your audio converter software to convert these transferred files to the CDA file type, then burn them onto a blank CD and finalise it.