Quick Scan
Create your playlist.
Get the right size and organize it to taste.
Select "Burn Disc".
While waiting, take a look at the jewel case insert print options.
How Do I Create an Audio CD From iTunes?
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So you've started to get some of your music in iTunes and you would now like to make a CD for the car or living room. What do you do? It should be obvious, right? Well, not exactly, but it is pretty easy once you know how.
Before you start, make sure you have a CD-R disc to work with. Several would be better in case it doesn't come out right at first. Most any brand will do. I'd skip paying extra for CD-RWs, and DVDs won't work for this.
Go ahead and slide the disc into your Mac. You might get a pop up that asks what you want to do when a CD is inserted. It doesn't matter much what you select. Go ahead and select Finder and move on if you don't already have a preference. If this is too confusing, wait until iTunes prompts you to insert a disc.
The process in iTunes is pretty much 2-steps: Make a playlist and select it, then choose "Burn Playlist to Disk" from the File menu.
Start by making your playlist. For details on this, review this good article from iLounge. One thing to look for while finessing your list is keeping it to a size that fit on a CD. When your playlist is selected, look at the bottom of the iTunes window for the size, seen in the image below. A standard CD will hold 650 MBs and up to about 74 minutes of music. Basically, it will hold a little more than your store-bought music CD, about 15-20 songs.
Once you've got the right songs and put them in the order you want, go ahead and hit the "Burn Disc" button along the bottom right of the iTunes frame or select it from the File menu. If you haven't put in your disc yet, do it now when it prompts you. The process should take a few minutes. In the mean time check out the…
Bonus Tip: You can print pretty cool jewel box inserts from iTunes for the music in your playlist. Explore your options by selecting your playlist and Choosing Print from the File menu. I like the white mosaic (below).
Do you have any tips to share that you've found helpful? What about more questions? Let us know in the Comments section below!