I'm really into older tech, and I want to burn a playlist onto a CD for listening on my Walkman—yeah, I'm that niche! I have a Chromebook, but I heard it can't handle burning CDs at all. Luckily, I also have a MacBook, but it's only got Type-C ports, which is super frustrating. I did manage to find a USB-C to USB adapter that lets me connect my CD drive to the MacBook. The only issue is, I don't know how to download my playlist and transfer it to the CD. Plus, when I put the blank CD in the drive, it doesn't show up anywhere on my Mac. I really need some help with this since I'm not very tech-savvy!
4 Answers
Make sure your external CD drive is capable of burning discs. Some drives only read data and don’t write. Check the manual or find the model number on the bottom of the drive to confirm this. If the blank CDs aren't showing up, that’s a bad sign and might indicate the drive isn't designed to handle them. Also, drivers could be an issue—does your Mac even recognize the drive when you plug it in? You should see a drive icon on your desktop
What kind of MacBook do you have? The current Music app should be able to burn discs just fine! If your Mac is older, definitely use iTunes. Just a heads up, Apple's SuperDrive works well with a USB A to C adapter, but avoid using a hub if you can help it.
I have one of the newer models, so I think I’ll check if the Music app works!
Here are some Apple support links that might help you out: [Creating CDs and DVDs](https://support.apple.com/guide/music/create-your-own-cds-and-dvds-mus890140c28/mac) and [Intro to Burning CDs and DVDs](https://support.apple.com/guide/music/intro-to-burning-cds-and-dvds-mus03854c438/1.5/mac/15.0). Also, if you’re considering a new drive, check out this [external CD drive](https://www.amazon.com/External-Portable-Rewriter-Compatible-Desktop/dp/B096SQK922?th=1).
You might want to try using iTunes or the new Music app on your Mac. Back in the day, I created playlists with mp3s and just popped in a blank disc to hit the burn option. Not sure about the details, but that was the gist of it 15 years ago! If the Music app is not an option because of your Mac's age, perhaps stick with iTunes.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll check that, sounds like a good plan.
Ah man, it doesn’t show anything for blank discs when plugged in. Not a good sign, huh?