How to Convert MP3 to WAV and Burn an Audio CD

To burn a CD that plays in any CD player, such as a car stereo, a hi-fi or an old boombox, you need an audio CD, and audio CDs use one exact format: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo PCM. That’s the same audio inside a CD-quality WAV file.

This guide shows how to prepare your MP3s as CD-ready WAV files and burn them on Windows or Mac. If you only need the WAV files, our guides on converting MP3 to WAV on Windows and on a Mac cover every free method.

Audio CD vs MP3 CD

There are two very different kinds of music CD:

Feature	Audio CD	MP3 CD (data disc)
Plays in	Every CD player	Only players that say “MP3”
Capacity	74–80 minutes of music	Many hours
Audio format on disc	44.1 kHz, 16-bit PCM	MP3 files

If you want maximum compatibility, burn an audio CD. That’s what this guide covers.

Do I have to convert to WAV first?

Not always. Most burning programs can take MP3s and convert them to CD audio behind the scenes. Converting to WAV yourself is still useful when:

• Your burning software only accepts WAV (many professional and older tools do)
• You want to edit first: trim silence, normalize volume, add fades
• You’re sending files to a duplication service that asks for WAV
• You want to check exactly what will go on the disc before burning

Step 1: Convert your MP3s to CD-quality WAV

1. Open our free MP3 to WAV converter.
2. Open Output settings and choose:
   • Sample rate: 44.1 kHz (CD / music)
   • Bit depth: 16-bit (standard)
   • Channels: Same as MP3 (stereo)
3. Drop in all the MP3s for your CD.
4. Click Download all as ZIP and unzip the files into one folder.

Most music MP3s are already 44.1 kHz, so nothing is resampled. If an MP3 is 48 kHz or 22.05 kHz, the converter resamples it to 44.1 kHz cleanly.

Tip: rename the files with track numbers first (for example 01 Song name.wav, 02 …) so they stay in order.

How many songs fit?

A standard 80-minute CD-R holds 80 minutes of audio, whatever the file sizes are. As WAV that’s about 847 MB at CD quality (a 74-minute disc holds about 783 MB). Add up the song lengths, not the file sizes. Our WAV file size calculator shows the size for any length.

Step 2: Burn the audio CD on Windows

Windows Media Player Legacy (included with Windows 10 and 11) can burn audio CDs:

1. Insert a blank CD-R.
2. Open Windows Media Player Legacy and click the Burn tab.
3. Open Burn options (the small menu at the top right of the Burn tab) and choose Audio CD.
4. Drag your WAV files into the burn list in the order you want.
5. Click Start burn.

Want no gaps between tracks (live albums, DJ mixes)? Use a burner that supports Disc-At-Once (DAO) mode with a gap of 0 seconds; free tools such as CDBurnerXP offer this.

Step 3: Burn the audio CD on Mac

You’ll need a CD burner; most modern Macs need an external USB drive.

1. Open the Music app and add your WAV files to the library (File → Import).
2. Create a playlist (File → New → Playlist) and drag the songs in, in order.
3. Select the playlist and choose File → Burn Playlist to Disc.
4. Choose Audio CD, set the Gap Between Songs (choose None for gapless), and click Burn.

Tips for a great-sounding CD

• Use CD-R, not CD-RW. Many older players can’t read rewritable discs.
• Burn at a moderate speed. Slower burns are often more reliable in older car stereos.
• Even out the volume. If songs come from different sources, normalize them in an editor first (see our Audacity guide).
• Don’t expect better sound than the MP3. The CD will sound exactly like your MP3s; see does converting MP3 to WAV improve quality?

Troubleshooting

• “Disc full” with fewer than 80 minutes: CD capacity is measured in minutes, and each track gap (usually 2 seconds) counts too. Remove a song or set gaps to zero.
• The CD plays on a computer but not in the car: you probably burned a data disc. Burn again choosing Audio CD.
• Tracks are in the wrong order: rename files with leading numbers before adding them, or reorder the burn list.

Frequently asked questions

Can a car CD player play WAV files from a data disc?

Usually not. Most CD players, including many car stereos, read audio CDs and, in newer models, MP3 or WMA files on a data disc. WAV files copied onto a data CD are often not recognised at all. To be safe, burn the WAVs as an audio CD, which every CD player supports, or check your player’s manual for the file formats it lists.

What happens if my WAV files are 48 kHz or 24-bit?

Most burning programs, such as the Music app on a Mac, convert them to 44.1 kHz, 16-bit automatically, because an audio CD can’t hold anything else. Some professional and older tools reject them instead. Converting with the CD preset (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) avoids both problems and lets you listen to exactly what will go on the disc before you burn it.

Can I add track names (CD-Text) to the audio CD?

Yes, with the right software. On a Mac, tick Include CD Text in the Music app’s burn settings; it uses the song titles and artists from your library. Converted WAVs carry no tags, so fix the names under Get Info first. Windows Media Player Legacy doesn’t write CD-Text, but free tools such as CDBurnerXP do. Your player must support CD-Text to show the names; many car stereos do.

Can I burn an audio CD with the new Media Player app in Windows 11?

No. The newer Media Player app is built for playback and has no Burn tab. Audio CD burning is still available in Windows Media Player Legacy: type its name in the Start menu to open it, or add it from Optional features in Settings if it’s missing. Free tools such as CDBurnerXP also burn audio CDs and offer gapless Disc-At-Once mode.