Create CDs and DVDs

Create your own CDs and DVDs

You can create these types of discs in iTunes:

  • Audio CDs, which you can play on any standard CD player.

  • MP3 CDs, which you can play on MP3-capable CD players or your computer. To burn an MP3 CD, all the songs on it must be in MP3 format. If your playlist includes songs in other formats, such as songs purchased from the iTunes Store, you need to convert them to MP3 format before you can burn them on a CD.

  • Data CDs and DVDs, which you can use to store and transfer files.

Tip:  iTunes can print a playlist formatted for use as a jewel case insert; choose Command-P and select “CD jewel case insert.”

Create a CD or DVD

  1. Create a playlist that contains the songs or files you want to burn to the CD; make sure the items you want to include have a checkmark beside them.

  2. Insert a blank disc.

  3. Select the playlist and choose File > Burn Playlist to Disc.

    If Burn Playlist to Disc doesn’t appear in the menu, the playlist you selected can’t be burned to a CD because it contains items with usage restrictions (for example, a song your computer isn’t authorized to play).

  4. Select a disc format.

  5. If you’re creating an audio CD, choose your options:

    • Change the recording speed: Choose an option from the Preferred Speed pop-up menu.

      When you burn an audio CD, iTunes automatically uses the best recording speed for the CD. However, if your blank CD is rated for a slower speed than the maximum speed of your drive, or if you experience problems creating CDs, you may want to change the recording speed to match the CD’s rating.

    • Change the amount of silence between songs: Choose an option from the Gap Between Songs pop-up menu.

    • Have all the songs on the disc play at the same volume: Select Use Sound Check.

    • Include information that disc players in some vehicles can display: Select Include CD Text.

  6. Click Burn.

It might take several minutes to burn a disc. You can cancel the burn by clicking the Cancel button Delete icon, an X inside a gray dot next to the progress bar, but if you’re using a CD-R or DVD-R disc, you won’t be able to use it again.

Note:  If the playlist contains more items than will fit on the disc, iTunes burns only the number of items that fit on one disc, and then asks you to insert another disc to continue burning the remaining items. If you’re creating audio CDs, only the last disc burned includes track information (song title, artist, and album). Songs on the other CDs are identified only by track number (for example, “Track 01,” “Track 02”).

See also
Usage rights for iTunes Store purchases