Converting .wav files

> Hence my question - can I copy .wav files onto the laptop HD & burn them on a CD-RW in .cda ???

Yes for sure - sorry don't know which bits of Windows does this, but on a Mac you certainly can as iTunes will do it for example (make a playlist of the WAV files and burn it to CD) - Roxio Toast is another app that will oblige. You must have a similar function on Windows. 

I am obliged Mr Fawkes

Now I need go buy some CD-RW's

My PC has Windows Media Player that does the burning bit.

Mike, would be interested what the music is.  I travel to Kenya often for work and am always looking for great local music.

mutterback,  its just a collection of traditional music with choirs & various percussion bands, plus some electric stuff. 

I heard some choirs during my visit in the last few weeks & liked some of the vocal harmony.   Not at all keen on the tourist stuff - if I hear Jambo Bwana one more time .........  

Some of the live choirs I heard reminded me of South African choirs who I have heard & have on CD,  but which I have to say are so much professional.

I mentioned this to a someone I know who lives in the Nairobi area who has an interest in recording live events. He keeps it all on his network system - hence the .wav files - & he thought I might like some so he burnt x2 DVD's full & shoved them in my hand.  

Having listened to them - well lets say don't give up the day job. 

Some is OK & I will be copying those tracks, but maybe only half a CD full.

Mike, what about western African music? I am really enjoying Kassee Mady Diabate at the moment.. and from Zimbabwe, The Four Brothers, with their style of chimerunga and soukous.

Simon

Mrs. Hook was born and raised in South Africa, and she introduced me to the music of sub-Saharan Africa about 30 years ago. She likes a lot of the more traditional music, where I prefer the fusion of traditional African and modern Western music.  Some of my favorites, by country of birth, include: 

Senegal - Baaba Maal, Ismael Lo, Orchestra Baobab, Pape and Cheikh, Wasis Diop, Youssou N'Dour,

Mali - Amadou and Mariam, Habib Koite, Issa Bagayogo, Kasse-Mady Diabate, Oumou Sangare, Rokia Traore, Vieux Farka Toure, 

Ivory Coast - Dobre Gnahore,

Guinea - Sekouba Bambino,

DRC - Papa Wemba,

South Africa - Black Umfolosi, Mafikazolo, Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, The Bayoyo Boys, and Vusi Mahlasela.

Have been lucky enough to have seen many of these artists perform live. A local theater, The Cedar Cultural Center, dedicates a couple of weeks each summer to African music (likely in support the growing Somali and Kenyan immigrant populations of the Twin Cities).  We try to get to at least a couple of shows each year. It's something different, and always great fun!

Hook

Simon & Hook,  seems this thread needs moving to the Music Room.  

Apart from .wav file conversions, my main interest in this is coral harmony, but I do enjoy all of these types of music & have been to live events with most of Hooks list from SA.  So called world music of the electric variety, straying into ethnic jazz, given a choice I do tend to prefer that from west Africa, although I can't say the same about jazz without putting SA on the top. 

Getting back to coral stuff I can't help but mention Drakensberg Boys & Stellenbosch University Choirs. However smaller close harmony choirs are were I am at & some of my best experiences are with local groups of friends.    

I was in a bar in Hluhluwe, a small SA farming town, & 5 guys who were part of the local church choir started an impromptu practice session for just themselves - unforgettable harmonies in traditional isicathamiya (Black Mambazo style) harmonies. 

A largish 20+ group raising money for a local school in Arusha, Tanzania, came into our lodge & gave an amazing hour of unaccompanied local language to modern western singing.

But the best has to be an impromptu session by 3 people from Kiepersol SA.  I was having a sundowner with work colleagues when they offered to sing for us. A soprano as clear & pure as a bell, a contralto with a texture like I've never heard before or since & a real deep bass with a tone & range that was astonishing.  

Problem is you never get that kind of experience from a record no matter how well its recorded or how good your hifi system is. 

Mike,

I'd avoid CD-RWs if I were you.  Stick with write-once CD-Rs.  CD-RWs are not so reliable and reputedly add high levels of "jitter".  CD-Rs are a bit cheaper too.

Point taken Richard - thanks. 

Hi Mike -

Love your stories of impromptu music!  I don't know Natal very well, and have never been to Hluhluwe, but I do know the Lowveld.  Many years back, Mrs. Hook's sister used to live in White River, and she had a friend who ran a lodge north of there, somewhere between Kiepersol and Hazyview.  Don't recall its name, but I do remember they served a great Sunday brunch. And, of course, it is in such a beautiful area, with the most amazing long views. For example, "God's Window"...

Our next visit is April/May of next year, and am very much looking forward to it.  I guess that red clay really does get under one's toenails!  My sister-in-law now lives in Barberton, so more fun places to explore! 

ATB.

Hook