Thought I'd share with you some additional background on the CDX.
I don't know where the Swap or CD Exchange actually began but I started participating in one around 2001 or so. It was awesome to come home from a long day of work and pop in a CD from a total stranger and find something new and interesting. I still have one of those original discs somewhere. More importantly, I still listen to a lot of that music today. Here are a few of the FAQs and Guidelines I'd put together previously. Hope they help answer some of your questions and alleviate some of your fears.
FAQs/Guidelines:
Is this legal?
This is in no way intended to run afoul of the RIAA. We are not file sharing or anything of the sort. Think of this as a modern day "Mix Tape" for friends. and arguably falls under fair use provisions.
What if I hate the mix somebody made?
Turn it off. Seriously. Not everyone has the same tastes in music and what sounds great to you may sound like racoons mating to someone else. There is really no reason to mock somebody because you disagree with their musical sensibilities. Be respectful, play nice and don’t poke out any eyes.
How should I send my mixes?
Within the US, Media Mail is probably your best, cheapest option. Internationally, you should speak to your local post office to get an idea on the best solution.
How should I package my mixes for post?
Please pack them carefully. Few things are more disappointing than receiving a broken gift. A bubble envelope is ideal. Most parcel or drug stores will offer envelopes specifically designed for CDs.
I’ve never made a mix before. What do I do?
There are no real rules to making mixes, but if you feel the need for guidelines, you might try reading some postings at a site like
Art of the Mix. I recommend reading their suggestions and then flushing them from your brain. Just make something you would want to listen to.
Okay, but how do I actually make the CD?
As far as technical requirements, you will need a computer with a CD Burner and burning software such as Toast, iTunes or Easy CD Creator. This isn't really the space for learning how to burn CDs so if you need help, Google is your friend.
What kind of music should I use?
The goal of this project is for you to share interesting music with random people. Ideally you should veer away from music so popular that it is likely to be familiar to most people. But again, these are not rules, they are guidelines, so nobody will stop you for sending out the usual suspects (McLachlan, Amos, Indigo Girls, etc.) should you so desire. And even if your tastes are quite mainstream you can still surprise people with obscure tracks from popular artists.
Some of the most successful mixes have a theme, be it stylistic, topical or esoteric. It is a useful crutch upon which to lay the foundation of a successful project. It should probably not be too specific though so you don't get locked into a theme where there are too few songs to choose from.
It's also helpful to include a track list with artist information. If you're feeling creative you can go all out and create cover too. Be as expressive as you'd like.
What format should the CD be?
Your mix should be a normal CD, playable in any CD player.