EAC vs Dbpoweramp

coolsax

OK, I know there are currently a few threads, but not sure which route to go.. , now that I have my NAS and my USB DAC, I want to be able to rip to FLAC for my 2 channel system and also do a conversion to 320kpbs MP3 for mine and the wifes Ipods, which of these 2 programs would be the best and most accurate at doing this as they seem to get the most love? Not sure yet what progam i'm going to be using for playback, but it won't be Itunes, mostly considering Media Monkey and Foobar currently though Jriver seems to get a lot of love as well.

nspindel

I used to do the same thing - I used EAC for ripping, and dbPowerAmp for the transcoding.

However, it really got to the point where it became too much of a pain in the neck. So much work every time you want to listen to a cd.

I switched to using ALAC, and do my ripping with iTunes now, with error correction turned off. Not quite the same as EAC, but close enough for me, 3000 cd's later. And now instead of transcoding to mp3 for the ipods, I let iTunes transcode the ALAC to 128kb AAC on the fly whenever I put something on the iPhone. There's an option in iTunes to do that for you.

I play via a Squeezebox. Squeezebox plays ALAC, so I'm fine there. And now no need to maintain a second copy of my library at a lower bitrate just to put on portable devices, iTunes does it all for me. Soooooo much simpler.

adam2434

EAC to rip to FLAC.

Foobar for FLAC playback

Foobar for FLAC to MP3 conversion for Zunes and iPods. Having the same program for playback and transcoding is pretty convenient, I think.

Actually, I have a Squeezebox now and rarely use Foobar for playback, but still use it to correct tags and for transcoding.

For FLAC to MP3 conversion, I have Foobar use the LAME encoder to create variable bit rate (VBR) MP3's at the highest quality setting, which averages around 235 kbps. VBR is cool because it lowers the bitrate a bit during quite passages and maximizes the bitrate during complex passages, making efficient use of file size.

ben62670

I finally went with WINamp. It tags very well, rips fine, and plays fine. WINamp also plays nice with Ipods.

coolsax

Well I was actually hoping to eliminate the Transcoding since dbpoweramp has a multi encoder which allows you to encode two at the same time Ie FLAC and MP3, I didn't know if EAC, or any other ripper, had this option as well or not.

blakeh

I rip with DBpoweramp
I tag/play/manage/convert with MediaMonkey

I also use MediaMonkey to manage my iPod (it will do FLAC -> MP3 conversion on the fly).

coolsax

so then the ipod will sync with media monkey then, just like it does for itunes?

blakeh

Yes, MediaMonkey sinks with any generation ipod. My entire library is in FLAC, and when I want to add songs to my iPod, I just highlight the songs, and click "send to iPod." MM automatically converts them to MP3 and transfers them over to my iPod.

coolsax

wow.. well then I will have to give it a try then.. thanks!