Introduction: How to Rip CDs to an MP3 Player Using Windows Media Player
My daughter bought an MP3 player and asked me to put her favourite CDs on it; I realised this was a great opportunity for another Instructable!
If you aren't technically minded it can be really confusing the first time you get an MP3 player; what you need to do is to load music files called MP3s onto it. These can be converted from a CD in a process called 'ripping'. This is really simple and can usually be done on software bundled with the computer.
These instructions are for Windows; it will be similar on other systems, try typing 'Play CD' or 'Rip CD' into the search box on your computer to see what media software it has installed.
Ripping music from CDs is legal if you own the CD and only use it for your own use. It is illegal if you don't own the CD or distribute the music.
Supplies
MP3 player
USB cable (usually supplied with MP3 player)
CDs
This MP3 player had zero storage so I needed a microSD card, you won't if your MP3 player has storage built in
Computer or laptop with a CD drive
Step 1: The MP3 Player
Put the MicroSD card in, if you need to. Plug your MP3 player into the USB slot on a computer or laptop with a built-in CD/CDROM player. This will start it charging.
Open Windows Media Player and insert CD. It should run automatically and the track list appear in the window.
Step 2: Rip the CD
Click 'Rip CD'. The CD will start to run fast and progress bars will appear on the tracks. When it has finished replace with the next CD.
Step 3: Open File Explorer
Whilst the CD is ripping you can open file explorer to see that the MP3 player is added as an external 'Removable Drive'. If you are having problems you can check here; if it's not showing up then the computer isn't recognising it, there's no memory in it or it's not connected.
Step 4: Synchronise MP3 Player With Computer
Select all the songs to want to copy to your MP3 player and drag them across to the right of the window. (See images for tips.) Press 'Sync'.
Step 5: All Done!
You can see the progress of the files being transferred to your MP3 player from the progress bar. It will tell you when you can disconnect your MP3 player and you are all done.
Enjoy you tunes!
3 Comments
4 months ago on Step 5
It worked for me. Thank you for sharing. Prior to finding this post, I was feeling very frustrated as I couldn't transfer songs from my CD which I got for Christmas in my MP3. You saved me a lot of time. My Window Media Player setup - window 10 - was slightly different from the steps you shared, but following your direction, I was able to find my way.
Question 2 years ago on Step 5
I have been trying to copy several CDs to my Sony NW A45 mp3 player, following your instructions. The first one worked perfectly, but ones I have tried since haven't. The mp3 files are set up on my Windows 10 laptop without any problem, but when I drag and drop them to the MUSIC folder of the mp3 player, unplug the latter and look under Albums, is isn't there. What am I doing wrong?
3 years ago
I had a little MP3 player like the one your daughter bought, but with 1 MB of internal memory. They are a great bargain with or without internal memory, especially if ordered on-line. The price is around the cost of lunch for one at a fast food restaurant. Mine eventually came to be of no use for me, though. I was loading Podcasts onto mine and some Windows Update made my PC no longer able to talk to the player. You may be able to avoid that with the SD card. I had another MP3 player from a recognized company, also with internal memory. After a time, a tiny internal battery was depleted and I could not change it. Now I use my iPhone as my player for Podcasts and audio Bible files. The audio Bible requires audiobook player software by means of an app. for that. When I recently got a new phone, the app. I had been using was not available for the new phone and I had to go to a different audiobook player app., but my MP3 files were already on my new phone and getting the player linked up with the files was pretty easy. iTunes may be useful for music files, but do not bother with it if you are loading files that need to remain in a certain sequence, like an audio Bible. iTunes will mix them up each time there is a system update. I used the free version of a 3rd party software to load the MP3 files to be played by the audiobook player. The new app. I have for an audiobook player includes an uploading feature already built into the player software, but I have not used it because the files I want were already on my phone. All of this is to say changes in systems happen regularly and an old reliable way to hear favorite things may go away against your wishes. Then you need to look around to see what is possible so you can continue to listen as before.