If you’ve copied files called Track01.cda, Track02.cda and so on from an audio CD, you’ve probably found that they won’t play, won’t convert and are only 44 bytes each. That’s not a fault. CDA files don’t contain any music at all. This guide explains what they are and how to get real MP3 files from the CD.
What a CDA file actually is
Audio CDs don’t store files the way a USB drive does. Music is recorded as one continuous stream of audio, in the Red Book CD-Audio format created in 1980. To let you browse a music CD like a folder, Windows shows each track as a small CD Audio Track shortcut with the .cda extension.
Each CDA file holds only a pointer: which track it is, where it starts on the disc and how long it lasts. The music stays on the CD. That’s why:
- every CDA file is 44 bytes, whatever the track length
- copying CDA files to your computer copies only the pointers
- once the CD is removed, the CDA files point at nothing and can’t play
- no converter can turn a copied CDA file into MP3, because there’s no audio in it
The fix: rip the CD
To get MP3s, the audio has to be read from the disc itself. This is called ripping. You need a computer with a CD drive (an inexpensive USB CD drive works) and the CD in the drive.
Windows: Media Player
On Windows 11 the current Media Player app can rip CDs:
- Insert the CD and open Media Player.
- Select the CD in the sidebar.
- Open Settings to choose the rip format, such as MP3, and the bitrate.
- Select Rip CD. The tracks are saved to your Music folder.
On older systems, Windows Media Player Legacy does the same: choose Rip settings › Format › MP3 and Audio quality, then Rip CD.
Mac: Music app
- Insert the CD and open the Music app.
- Open Music › Settings › Files › Import Settings and choose MP3 Encoder, with a quality setting.
- Click Import CD when the disc appears.
Older Macs use iTunes in the same way.
VLC (Windows, Mac, Linux)
VLC can also convert CD tracks: choose Media › Convert / Save, open the Disc tab, select Audio CD, pick a track, and use the Audio – MP3 profile. It converts one track at a time, so the apps above are faster for whole albums.
Choosing the format and quality
- MP3 at 256 or 320 kbps for a music collection on phones and in cars.
- FLAC if you want a perfect, lossless archive of your CDs. You can make MP3s from it at any time with FLAC to MP3.
- WAV if your ripping software doesn’t offer MP3. Convert afterwards with WAV to MP3.
If you ripped to M4A (AAC), for example with the Music app’s default AAC encoder, M4A to MP3 converts the files.
Common questions
Can I convert CDA files without the CD? No. The files contain no audio. You need the original disc, or another copy of the music.
Why does my CD show no tracks? It may be a data CD containing MP3 or WMA files instead of an audio CD. In that case, copy the files directly; there’s nothing to rip.
Is ripping legal? Rules vary by country. Ripping CDs you own for personal use is allowed in many places but restricted in some. Sharing ripped music with others is not allowed.
What about old audio tapes? Tapes need to be recorded into a computer through an audio interface or a USB cassette player, saved as WAV, then converted to MP3.
Summary
CDA files are shortcuts, not songs. Put the CD in the drive, rip it with Media Player, the Music app or VLC, and choose MP3, or FLAC for a lossless archive you can convert later.