iPod: The Missing Manual, 7th Edition

Burn a Playlist to a CD

Making a CD out of your favorite playlist takes just a few simple steps with iTunes: Get your blank disc ready and click along.

❶ Select the playlist you want to burn. Check to make sure your songs are in the order you want them; drag any tune up or down to reorder.

❷ When you're ready to roll, choose File→Library→“Burn Playlist to Disc” (or click the Burn Disc button at the bottom of the iTunes window). When the Burn Settings box pops up, pick the type of disc you want to create (see the previous page for your choices).

❸ Insert a blank disc into your computer's drive when prompted. If your computer's got a CD platter that slides out, push it back in. Then sit back as iTunes handles things.

iTunes prepares to record the disc, which may take a few minutes. In addition to prepping the disc for recording, iTunes has to convert the music files (if you're burning an audio CD) to the standard format used by audio CDs.

Once iTunes has taken care of business, it lets you know that it's now burning the disc. Again, depending on the speed of your computer and disc burner, as well as the size of your playlist, the recording process could take several minutes. When the disc is done, iTunes pipes up with a musical flourish. Eject the disc and off you go. But if you want to make a nice looking CD cover...