Audio question - recording directly to a CD

[tnf]

I need to find out for someone if there is a way to record audio from a microphone directly onto an audio CD. For example taking a weekly lecture to one without using a computer. I need a system that is pretty much self-contained and as easy to use as possible. I've heard about CD-recorders that work almost just like old tape recorders did, but have absolutely no experience with such things.

Any information is appreciated. Again, we need something to take audio input from a microphone and burn it directly to an audio CD - a ready to go audio CD. If this device can copy CDs to make multiple copies that would be great too.

In fact, for those of you really in the know about such things - here's my whole request -

1) Need to take audio from the microphone directly to a CD to record a weekly lecture.

2) Need to be able to make multiple copies of that CD rather quickly to be given out after the lecture.

Need 1 is more pertinent than need 2.

Thanks.

[Geebs]

There is a way, it's a laptop.

[tnf]

i know. but i'm looking for a means to do it sans computer.

[R00k]

I'm not 100% sure, but I will give you an educated guess.

If you want a solution that does what you're looking for, I don't know that one exists, but I imagine it does, and costs a bit of money. If your school is willing to pay for it, that would be your best solution.

If not, your best bet is to make your own solution (which I would probably prefer anyway). I'd recommend having recording software running on a PC hooked up to a mic in the classroom. You can turn it on right before you start speaking (hit a single button), and it will record it to a standard format (wav, mp3, or whatever you like).

Then you can set up a scheduled task on the computer, to automatically convert the file(s) and burn them to an audio CD every evening.

Or, if you needed them available right after every class, you could just run the batch file that converts & burns the files as soon as you stop lecturing - still just a simple button click.

Currently (AFAIK), there is no way to record audio DIRECTLY to a CD. It has to be recorded to a file on the hard drive, and then converted and burned to a CD in audio format.

[+JuggerNaut+]

There is a way, it's a laptop.

yep

[R00k]

i know. but i'm looking for a means to do it sans computer.

Without any computer at all? Good luck.

[Geebs]

Plus the average CD duplicator (which you'd need for copies) is considerably bigger and much less portable than a powerbook - and costs pretty much the same

[tnf]

I'll find a link to a typoe of device i am talking about.

[phantasmagoria]

is minidisc completely out of the question? because that would be ideal.

[4days]

had a quick google and there are a couple of miniCD things (i.e. useless), but not CD.

same sort of thing exists for files (for photographers mainly), didn't see anything that mentioned being able to do CD audio (since it looks like it'd need to go to a flash device first).

[tnf]

http://www.djmart.com/tacdcdre.html


There - it looks like it is a CD-recorder and doesn't need a computer. But I am not sure if it doesn't, hence my asking in this thread. It looks to me like you could hook the microphone up to that and record directly to the CD (guessing that there is a ram buffer or something to hold the data in or whatever). The reason that this cannot rely on a computer is that it is for a small group that needs something as non-computerish as possible. If a computer glitch arises, there is nobody to fix it (at least not all the time). That being the case, the request was for something self-contained that would basically involve dropping a cd in and hitting record like you would with a tape player.

I know laptops and minidiscs are fine and dandy for this, that isn't at all what I asked

[tnf]

URL Not working

[+JuggerNaut+]

at least for that price, you'd get more use out of a laptop. but, if you or the school has money to burn, more power to ya. also, that sure is a waste of technology for something that sounds fine in a compressed format of 48>64kbps mono.

[R00k]

http://www.tascam.com/Products/CD-RW750.html

[R00k]

You're having a party?

[MKJ]

i know. but i'm looking for a means to do it sans computer.

Without any computer at all? Good luck.

they have camcorders that burn directly onto dvd. im pretty sure there are cd-dictaphones

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

I suggest this...

http://www.tascam.com/Products/CD-RW750.html

[Geebs]

My god, why the FUCK would you want one of those?

[tnf]

I don't.

I'd use a laptop and software to do this. But when it is a group of old people who don't even know how to use a mouse, something like this will solve the problem because it really boils down to putting a CD in and hitting record.

I'd rather show them how to do that when they get this thing than have to show them how to use a computer and software.

[tnf]

I don't.

I'd use a laptop and software to do this. But when it is a group of old people who don't even know how to use a mouse, something like this will solve the problem because it really boils down to putting a CD in and hitting record.

I'd rather show them how to do that when they get this thing than have to show them how to use a computer and software.

[Foo]

How many copies is multiple and how long is 'rather quickly'. Even that rackmount solution there will take minutes to burn a single disc, and I'm guessing you're talking about five or more discs and in the space of 10 mins or under. Not likely.

What you're looking to try and do seems highly awkward and as just about everyone here is hinting, if you really want people to be able to walk away from a lecture with a copy of it the you need to look at other options, because your criteria is shitty.

[tnf]

Also going to get a 1 to 4 CD duplicator.

Now, again, I KNOW this is an awkward solution to a problem that could be solved with a laptop and free software. But the parameters I was given were to find a non-computer solution to allow them to make CDs. This was about all I could find.
If you really must know, it is for some small town church populated mainly by old people whose technological prowess extends about as far as changing batteries in a TV remote. My first suggestion was to use a laptop, but I might as well have asked them to go split an atom. So I told them I'd look into a means of doing it without a computer. This option is attractive to them because they don't have to worry about computer problems in general complicating things, and to be honest, in their position, I can understand that desire. They've used a simple tape-recorder for the last 20 years for this, so if there is one thing they can do it is hit 'record'.

But I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS.

[Foo]

Presumably if they've used a tape recorder then they've either used a lot of recorders at once, or they've only made 1 tape copy and taken a long time afterwards making multiple copies (or sent the single tape around everyone?).

If that's the case, then could the CDs be mailed or distributed later on? With that restriction out of the way, your options look a lot healthier.

[tnf]

This is a small group. They want to have about 10 or so CD's ready at the end of the whole deal, and then the option of spending an hour or so after church getting the rest of the CD's ready for anyone who wanted one to pick up later or be sent out to them.

[Foo]

If there's a gap between the end of the sermon and the whole shebang then I guess that'll work alrite. Well boring for the poor sap doing it though.