I have finely taken the plunge.

[StanleyMuso]

I've upgraded the old computer with extra memory, big hard disk drive, and a Liteon DVD burner and have been exploring the intricacies of DVD shrink.

I have of course been making my own audio CDs for years, but what I'd like to find out, is it possible to create a long playing music only DVD by copying several CDs onto a DVD? If it was possible, it would be a great way to create a compilation of several hours for party use.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[noddin0ff]

It's very possible to create them, you simply burn all the files onto the DVD. The issue is the capability of the player. A CD only player will not read DVD's; DVD players need to be able to play data DVD's. I think that if your home DVD player says it will play MP3 DVD's then you should be able to do this (burn all the tracks as mp3...). My equipment predates this capability, but I imagine there are more file options with newer players. If your computer plays DVD's then you simply select all the filies on the DVD as your playlist from within your favorite music application.

[StanleyMuso]

It's very possible to create them, you simply burn all the files onto the DVD. The issue is the capability of the player. A CD only player will not read DVD's; DVD players need to be able to play data DVD's. I think that if your home DVD player says it will play MP3 DVD's then you should be able to do this (burn all the tracks as mp3...). My equipment predates this capability, but I imagine there are more file options with newer players. If your computer plays DVD's then you simply select all the filies on the DVD as your playlist from within your favorite music application.
Good suggestion. According to my DVD player manual, it says you can play up to 8 hours of mp3, as long as they are not divided into directories. It had not occurred to me to convert to mp3 because of all the stuff I've heard about losing quality during compression. I suppose if I convert at the highest level, the drop off in quality should not be too drastic, and besides, during a party, who would notice? Guess I've got some experimentation ahead of me.

[Mike Anderson]

" If it was possible, it would be a great way to create a compilation of several hours for party use. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Here's what I did: Forget burning anything. Just put everything on your computer, and use it as your music server. The only limit then is the size of your hard drive.

I got a 500 GB LaCie external drive and burned all my CDs in FLAC. I've got about 5,000 songs on it, and growing rapidly. I can make a party play list as long as I like, randomly shuffle it, etc, etc.

I use a Squeezebox2 (see http://www.slimdevices.com/index.html ) -- not only does it allow me to access my entire music collection from the convenice, I can also get any internet radio station I want. Hi-quality sound via 24-bit Burr-Brown DAC (or digital outs if you want to spend big bucks on a DAC).

Tough to beat.

[StanleyMuso]

Here's what I did: Forget burning anything. Just put everything on your computer, and use it as your music server. The only limit then is the size of your hard drive.

I got a 500 GB LaCie external drive and burned all my CDs in FLAC. I've got about 5,000 songs on it, and growing rapidly. I can make a party play list as long as I like, randomly shuffle it, etc, etc.

I use a Squeezebox2 (see http://www.slimdevices.com/index.html ) -- not only does it allow me to access my entire music collection from the convenice, I can also get any internet radio station I want. Hi-quality sound via 24-bit Burr-Brown DAC (or digital outs if you want to spend big bucks on a DAC).

Tough to beat.
that I have much to learn. I haven't yet gone beyond making basic compilations on CD-Rs from my collections. It's ceratinly an interesting hobby, isn't it?