Creating CD from Hi-Res files

[meltemi]

Originally Posted by MilkMusic

Most software for burning audio CDs already include a format conversion feature. Check the features and choose different CD burner software if necessary.

Format conversion usually means converting from/to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC etc.

But the task asked for is PCM (e.g. 24bit/48kHz) to PCM (16bit/44.1kHz) conversion. AFAIK many software for burning audio CDs does not support these features.
May be Audacity could do the job.

Does anyone know of other software for burning audio CDs, which supports dithering and noise shaping? Thanks.

Martin

[jimtranr]

While I haven't burned any CDs in quite a while, I use TASCAM Hi-Res Editor to convert DSD (up to 11.2MHz) and high-resolution PCM (up to 384KHz) files to 16/44 WAV files that could be burned to CD with appropriate software. The Editor software is free and runs on Windows. I've experienced no hiccups or apparent sonic anomalies with the conversions, so I'd expect that if the CD burning software you use is up to the task, you'd end up with acceptable-sounding CDs.

[MilkMusic]

Originally Posted by meltemi

Format conversion usually means converting from/to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC etc.

But the task asked for is PCM (e.g. 24bit/48kHz) to PCM (16bit/44.1kHz) conversion. AFAIK many software for burning audio CDs does not support these features.

Yes, audio CD burning software will do the conversion, no problem.

First of all, many of those formats (WAV, FLAC and others) are already PCM data anyway. Second, the OP was going to purchase the hi-res file from Qobuz, which will download as FLAC, ALAC, WMA, AIFF, or WAV (user's choice).

Last but not least, I just tried it and it worked, using nothing more than the lowly Windows Media Player app that is included with Windows 10. Simply click the Burn button at upper right, drag music files into burn list, and start the burn. The music files can be any format supported by Windows Media Player (the long list of formats is here). Windows Media Player will automatically do any necessary conversion into audio CD format. I used some hi-res FLAC files of various resolutions ranging up to 24/176. It created a redbook audio CD that works fine.

[meltemi]

Originally Posted by jimtranr

While I haven't burned any CDs in quite a while, I use TASCAM Hi-Res Editor to convert DSD (up to 11.2MHz) and high-resolution PCM (up to 384KHz) files to 16/44 WAV files that could be burned to CD with appropriate software. The Editor software is free and runs on Windows. I've experienced no hiccups or apparent sonic anomalies with the conversions, so I'd expect that if the CD burning software you use is up to the task, you'd end up with acceptable-sounding CDs.

TASCAM Hi-Res Editor (v1.03).
Thanks jimtranr. Excellent tip.

Martin

P.S. TASCAM Hi-Res Editor exists since 2015 (5 years by now).
I have been doing professional downsampling and wordlength reduction for over 20 years now.
There did exist a number of (non professional) solutions, though almost all of them were sonically not good enough.