Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Wed, Dec 19 2012, 8:59PM
Hi all! Wasn't quite certain where to post this. I just downloaded my first album today with pretty good success. Note: I have a Mac with OS X Lion. I wanted to burn a copy of this album so that I could play it on my stereo...that went fine. I adjusted some of the album information a bit and went to print a CD booklet to accompany it, but so far as I can tell, one can't do much about adjusting it--title doesn't fit on the cover. I would also like to be able to list the artists (different pianists on different tracks). Would be nice to be able to copy the actual cover art (no substantial liner notes as far as I can tell). Does anyone here have any suggestions of a program or how I can achieve these things on my Mac?
Also, I "goofed" and downloaded the file as a MP3 [I didn't notice the FLAC option], but since the recordings are from 1952 and 1954 and were at 320 kb, do you think that it would make much difference listening-wise?
Thanks in advance for any help that you can offer!
Best wishes,
Petra
Thu, Dec 20 2012, 1:36PM
#2
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Hi - I don't know what software you have been using so far to try and produce the liner notes. Within iTunes there is a simple print command once you have an Album or a Playlist open (press command-p) which at leasts prints the content in as much as you have labeled the tracks (much goes down to what names you give each track, I always do it different from the silly way they label classical music in the iTunes store or the like). They give you a small choice of layouts. very nice is the theme "single cover", just select it from the pull-down menu once you have pressed command-p from within the Album/Playlist.
If you want to go completely independent (have complete freedom in how you make things look) you can either use a Word template (if you use that program) or something I often use, a program called "Disc Cover" which comes free with the CD/DVD/BD burning software "Toast". With that you can also print on round stickers that you put onto the CDs themselves, if you are interested in that. For sleeve notes you can also download Pages templates on the web (just google something like "mac pages cd cover template"). Before you create a final snazzy colour printout produce a draft printout to make sure the sizes are correct. In all of these choices you need to insert the sleeve art yourself, but that's easy, just copy it from the Album within iTunes and paste it into whatever programme you use, or search for the cover art on the web.
So, there are many options here... good luck! It takes some time, unless you go for the easiest of all options, printing within iTunes.
Hi Ganymede!
Thank you for your reply. The software that I was trying to use was just what is available in iTunes. The music that I downloaded by the way was from a music vender not iTunes (PrestoC). Is there a Toast version that one can use on a Mac (as that is what I have. OS X - Lion).
I did do that "Command & P" in iTunes but the title of the CD was in too large of a print and wouldn't fit on the front cover. I had adjusted the track information, but will try adding on the artist (though I have that info elsewhere!) if all else fails.
I'll take a look for Pages templets--thanks! At the moment, I just have Apple's Numbers program (I've been using their free Text program for typing Word-type documents, but have been contemplating also buying it as one can do more with it).
I did figure out a while ago how to paste cover art onto something that I've ripped into iTunes and how to adjust (fix) track information, etc.
Best wishes and happy listening!
Petra
Sat, Dec 22 2012, 10:02PM
#3
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Hi Petra,
Having made CD's from time to time over the years on my Mac I would endorse Ganymede's comments entirely.
I think if your audio system is other than very basic you would be able to tell the difference between a FLAC download and an mp3. However, your mp3 download may have been fortuitous because unless it has changed very recently iTunes does not recognise FLAC.
Toast is quite expensive but it is one of those applications which is regularly offered at a discount and in my view it is worth the money if you are going to make more than the very occasional CD. It reads FLAC files without trouble and will play them on the computer like iTunes if needed, and of course it makes DVD's and data discs as well.
Disk Cover is an excellent application for all the "paperwork" associated with discs, and the full price option (as opposed to that included with Toast) has a vast amount of clip art and themes for discs and their covers.
One practical point; before printing CD covers etc. do ensure that "Scale to fit" is unchecked in the Print window before going ahead, or your disc covers will be far too big!
If you contemplate buying Toast do check that the version currently on offer is compatible with Lion, if that is the OS you are using. On my machine a recent upgrade broke the app completely on my Mountain Lion and I had to downgrade to restore function.
The best of luck,
Peter Wilson.
Mon, Dec 24 2012, 6:06PM
#4
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Petra, As long as you have downloaded artwork for the CD in question into iTunes, all you need to do is highlight the playlist you want a cover for, choose PRINT from the FILE menu, and then choose the format of your choice -- if you choose SINGLE COVER you'll get a pretty reasonable reproduction of the cover artwork and the reverse will carry the tracklisting details.
The problem with this, good as it is, is that the tracklist details are simply picked up from your iTunes library listing and do not include any other information, such as artists, when/where recorded etc.
As others have said, it is also perfectly easy - but more time-consuming - to find and download a cover template or make one yourself. I did this simply by measuring a jewelcase's dimensions and creating a frame in MS Word into which relevant details (usually copied from the details on a retailer's site) and artwork could be pasted.
The other work-around is to use the iTunes print facility but handwrite any additional information you require on a Post-It note (or sticker) and pop this on the inside flap of the sleeve.
Not perfect, but also not bad - and it does mean all of the information that interests you about a recording is to hand.
Tue, Dec 25 2012, 7:51AM
#5
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Petra
I always download lossless where possible, but frankly, no one can tell the difference between FLAC and 320kbps mp3 in a blind ABX test, regardless of system quality.
Wed, Dec 26 2012, 4:41PM
#6
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Hi gentlemen! Thank you very much for your further suggestions. I figured out one area where I had gone wrong [I had clicked on the CD jewel case insert in iTunes, but I hadn't clicked on the "Single Cover" option]. This now brings up the bright green background and artwork associated with the Naxos disc. The cover though at this magnification is rather blurry on the front cover and as others have mentioned, the track listings are rather "iffy", so I think that if I decide to do much downloading, I'll need to invest in some other programs or do like someone had suggested here (sorry I can't see the posting!)--Alun I believe--use a Word type program and make up my own. I did something along those lines some time ago when I was making up a compilation.
For the gentleman who also owns a Mac (Peter I believe?), I was wondering (besides that one time regarding the upgrade), have you had any problems with toast? I seem to recall reading a few comments online that the program has gotten worse the more that they try and improve it? Also, do you think that their Pro version is very worthwhile?
I've also been a bit wary about making "sticky covers" for the CDs as I've heard that they can come off inside slot CD players (the kind which came with my iMac and Macbook Pro). Any thoughts here?
Thanks again and happy holidays to all!
Best wishes,
Petra
p.s. Do the folks at Gramophone have any favorite programs/suggestions? :-)
Thu, Dec 27 2012, 11:25PM
#7
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Hi Petra
Apart from the upgrade problem I have found Toast to be rock solid, producing successful discs when other methods or applications have failed. Sorry, I have no experience of the pro version as the standard version did all I needed.
Like you I have always kept clear of sticky labels on discs although I know others have been successful. Perhaps a side loading iMac is more prone to problems than a flat tray, but that is just a guess. Only once did I get a disc stuck in the iMac and although it did come out I'm not prepared to tempt providence!
Best wishes,
Peter Wilson.
Sat, Dec 29 2012, 7:49PM
#8
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
Hi Petra
Apart from the upgrade problem I have found Toast to be rock solid, producing successful discs when other methods or applications have failed. Sorry, I have no experience of the pro version as the standard version did all I needed.
Like you I have always kept clear of sticky labels on discs although I know others have been successful. Perhaps a side loading iMac is more prone to problems than a flat tray, but that is just a guess. Only once did I get a disc stuck in the iMac and although it did come out I'm not prepared to tempt providence!
Best wishes,
Peter Wilson.
Hi Peter.
Thanks for your further observations/comments. Good to hear that it's been reliable for you.
Sounds like you've been using an external CD/DVD player/recorder then? I've been meaning to invest in one for some time now. So far, I've only been using my iMac's built in one to rip some of my CDs (I've yet to use either it or my laptop for watching movies). Knock-on-wood, so far anyway, nothing has gotten jammed in there.
By the way, have you heard that Apple is phasing out built in CD/DVD players? I was surprised to find this out. Looks like in the future we'll be forced to use an external one. I don't know why they think that everyone will be wanting to get rid of all of their CDs, etc. I do realize that more and more people are either purchasing downloads or using sites like Pandora. Also, that removing the "moving parts" bit helps with less things to go wrong with their Macs.
Hope that you have an enjoyable New Year!
Best, Petra
Sat, Dec 29 2012, 8:54PM
#9
RE: Help with creating CD booklets, etc.
No, I don't have an external burner, but it looks as though I shall need one in the future!
Many thanks for the good wishes,
Peter Wilson.
Hi - I don't know what software you have been using so far to try and produce the liner notes. Within iTunes there is a simple print command once you have an Album or a Playlist open (press command-p) which at leasts prints the content in as much as you have labeled the tracks (much goes down to what names you give each track, I always do it different from the silly way they label classical music in the iTunes store or the like). They give you a small choice of layouts. very nice is the theme "single cover", just select it from the pull-down menu once you have pressed command-p from within the Album/Playlist.
If you want to go completely independent (have complete freedom in how you make things look) you can either use a Word template (if you use that program) or something I often use, a program called "Disc Cover" which comes free with the CD/DVD/BD burning software "Toast". With that you can also print on round stickers that you put onto the CDs themselves, if you are interested in that. For sleeve notes you can also download Pages templates on the web (just google something like "mac pages cd cover template"). Before you create a final snazzy colour printout produce a draft printout to make sure the sizes are correct. In all of these choices you need to insert the sleeve art yourself, but that's easy, just copy it from the Album within iTunes and paste it into whatever programme you use, or search for the cover art on the web.
So, there are many options here... good luck! It takes some time, unless you go for the easiest of all options, printing within iTunes.