Rick,

It sounds like what you are missing is a program to convert standard audio 
tracks to MP3s. The "Real Player" program is one that will do that for you. 
After downloading and installing the program, there will be several tabs 
near the top of the window. The second tab should be 'Music & My Library'. 
Once on that screen you have to select the drive that you have inserted the 
CD into. Under view on the left side of the program window should be a menu 
titled 'View' with a list of options including 'CD / DVD'. Click that and 
you should see a list of all of the audio tracks on the CD. Highlight them 
all and then in the menu 'Tasks' below the 'Vew' menu select save from the 
list. You'll get a window that pops up that allows you to save the files at 
different quality levels. I'm not sure which one works best for bird 
recordings but if you select a higher quality you'll have larger files and 
vice versa. Since we're talking bird songs and not the London Symphony, I'm 
not sure that the lower qualities would be unacceptable for field use. You 
can experiment or perhaps someone else on the listserve with some experience 
will have better information on this since I have not done this with bird 
recordings, only music. The download site is www.real.com and there is a 
free version of the program that will allow you rip the CDs. Once the files 
are converted to MP3 format your problems should be solved.

Ed Boyd
Westminster, MD
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Sussman" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 7:50 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] mp3's


> Hi all,
> I'm looking for help with my new birding "toy". Does anyone have any 
> ideas
> for where to go to find bird songs on the net in mp3 format which I can
> download to my player? I tried (actually my wife tried, as I'm sort of a
> techno-flunkie) to download the Stokes CD's but they would not convert for 
> some
> reason. Seems we need something already in the mp3 format. I know someone 
> out  there
> can help!
>
> Email me on or off list. Thanks in advance.
>
> Rick Sussman
> Ashton,MD
>