Convert MP3 audio CD to cassette?

Die-hard Infopackets Reader 'Avey' writes:

" Dear Dennis,

I have created an audio CD of all my favorite songs on 1 disc in MP3 format. I want to convert this MP3 CD to cassette for my car stereo, as my car does not have a CD player. I normally use my portable radio (which also has a CD player) to record my audio CDs directly to cassette, but for whatever reason, it will not play my MP3 CD that I made. I have used store-bought [regular] audio CDs and converted them with my radio without any problem in the past. I am desperately trying to find a way to transfer my MP3s on CD to cassette so I can play them in my car stereo. Can you help me? "

My response:

Not all CD players can play MP3 music files [only newer generation CD players can], which is why your portable radio won't play the MP3 disc you made. The store-bought CDs you have are in another media format [WAV format], which is why you are able to convert them directly to cassette using your radio.

RE: Recording directly from the Computer to the Stereo

If your radio supports "line in" you can simply plug your radio to the computer (speakers out / line out) using a special Y-cable converter and record it that way. This type of cable should be available at your local electronics store [such as Radio Shack]; to ensure that you get the correct cable, tell the store representative what you're trying to do. The cable should look like an ear-phone jack cable on one end (which plugs into the computer) and two RCA cables on the other (where it plugs into the radio).

RE: Converting MP3 Audio to Standard Audio CD format (and then to the Cassette)

If you don't have a "line in" on your radio, you'll need to convert your MP3s to standard audio CD format and then record them from your radio to the cassette. To convert MP3s to a standard audio CD format, you need to change each of the MP3 files to WAV format and then burn them using your favorite CD burning program.

Note that you won't be able to fit as many songs on a standard audio CD (compared to an MP3 CD) because standard audio CDs use a much lower compression ratio. For example: you will be able to fit only 74 minutes worth of audio (or roughly 800 megabytes of WAV files once they have been converted over from MP3 format).

If your CD burning application does not support this feature you will need to use an MP3 to WAV converter. I believe WinAMP [freeware] can do this with a plugin (I'm not sure what the plugin is called because it's been so long since I used it). You can also use ImTOO CD Ripper to convert MP3 to WAV (and many, many more formats). ImTOO CD Ripper was just posted in Tuesday's newsletter.

ImTOO CD Ripper Review

RE: Recording directly from MP3 to standard audio CD format (without the need to convert)

Most -- but not all -- CD burning programs of today will convert MP3 to WAV automatically without you having to convert them yourself and then burn ... but this was not the case in earlier computing days. If you just want to burn your MP3 directly into WAV without the hassle of converting each and every file, you might want to consider purchasing Ashampoo Burning Studio 5. It's only $19.95 through our web site [regular $29.99] and does a lot more than just music CDs.

CD Mastering Software (Ashampoo CD Burning Suite Review)