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How to burn music to a CD
Burn music to a CD two ways: a classic audio CD that plays everywhere, or an MP3 CD that holds far more. cdBurner does both.
There are two kinds of music disc, and the difference matters. An audio CD stores tracks in the universal CD-Audio format every player understands, including old car decks. An MP3 CD is really a data disc full of MP3 files — it holds far more songs, but only plays on gear that supports MP3 discs. cdBurner makes either; this guide covers the audio CD.
What you'll need
- A Windows 10 or 11 PC with a CD, DVD or Blu-ray writer (internal or external USB).
- A blank CD-R — it plays in more devices than CD-RW.
- Your music files.
- The free cdBurner burn agent — a one-time, 2-second install.
Step by step
Connect the burn agent
Open onlinecdburner.com and connect the one-time burn agent.
Pick “Audio CD”
Choose the Audio CD source instead of Files.
Add your tracks
Add your music files — up to about 80 minutes of music — and put them in order.
Insert a CD-R and burn
Keep Finalize on so the disc plays in any CD player or car stereo, then click Burn.
Tips for a clean burn
- Keep Finalize switched on so the disc plays in any car or home CD player.
- Burn audio at a moderate speed — very high speeds cause skips and ticks on cheaper discs. See the best burn speed for a CD.
- Put the tracks in playback order first — a Red Book audio CD has no folders, just a track list.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Burning an MP3 data disc when you wanted an audio CD — it won't play in older or car CD decks.
- Using CD-RW for a car stereo; many players refuse rewritable discs.
- Forgetting to finalize, so the disc reads as blank in other players.
Why cdBurner is different
Unlike Nero, ImgBurn or the others, cdBurner needs no heavy software — just a 2-second helper, and your files never leave your PC.
- 100% free — no trial, no watermark, no nag screens.
- Private — files are written locally and never uploaded to a server.
- No bloatware — one small signed helper, not a heavy install.
- Built on Windows' native IMAPI2 engine, so your discs read everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Will this CD play in a normal CD player or car stereo?
Yes. cdBurner writes a real Red Book audio CD and finalizes it, so it plays in virtually any CD player, car stereo or hi-fi — not just a computer.
How many songs fit on an audio CD?
About 80 minutes of music — typically 18–20 songs. To fit more on one disc, make an MP3 CD instead, which holds hundreds of tracks.
Should I use CD-R or CD-RW?
Use CD-R. Many car and older players refuse rewritable CD-RW discs, and CD-R is cheaper and more reliable for audio.
Is cdBurner really free?
Yes — completely free and ad-supported. No trial, no watermark and no paid tier.