ripping cds to computer.

AeR0

just wondering what everyone is using?


i was using windows media player and ripping to wav file... no compression.


any thoughts or better ways?

AeR0

and yes i keep my ripped files in 2 locations as ive already lost it once!

thank god i kept all the cds ive bought over the years..

DaveHo

dbpoweramp ripping to FLAC. Smaller than wav, still lossless, & can be converted to anything else you might want.

AeR0

if they are smaller than wav files are they not compressed than?

DaveHo

Sure they're compressed, but that doesn't mean they can't be lossless.

AeR0

good point.


i decided just to rip them with windows media player....

thanks for the input!

Devlon

I use a freeware Exact Audio Copy (EAC). Is easy to use and gets all the metadata (album art). Ripping to FLAC (foobar) will end up getting you about about 40-45% more disk space for more music. FLAC does in a sense compress, but only to the limits within human hearing. So if a WAV file contains a range of say 5k-50k, FLAC may compress it into being 20-20k which to all still sounds uncompressed and is usually indistinguishable from a WAV file.

BlueFox

Devlon wrote: »

FLAC does in a sense compress, but only to the limits within human hearing. So if a WAV file contains a range of say 5k-50k, FLAC may compress it into being 20-20k which to all still sounds uncompressed and is usually indistinguishable from a WAV file.

Where did you get that from?

dragon1952

FLAC is lossless bro. It's only compressed for storage.

jaygax

i use EAC for my flacs too.

StantonZ

I use EAC and rip to FLAC; it also creates WAV files (by default) which you can then convert to anything else you want (like MP3).

Clipdat

Audiograbber to 320kbps MP3 Joint Stereo, LAME encoding plugin.

JerryR1verz

EAC with LAME plugin for audio. I usually do 320k and I do not have experience with FLAC so not sure if I could tell the difference.
MakeMKV and DVDFabDecrypter for DVD's. Ripping only disc's that I own.... goes without saying-jus sayin' - 8+)

tonyb

kevintomb wrote: »

My current comp, WMP, at 320kbs MP3.

Your ripping cd's to MP3....not even lossless ? Why ?

RduNC

I use WMP WAV (lossless) Best Quality. Have never compared it to other methods, but seems to do the trick for me. I stream through my router(ethernet not wireless) to my pioneer then out to the speakers. Sounds good to me, but like I said, never tried any other ways.

AsSiMiLaTeD

This topic has been discussed here many times. Most people prefer FLAC or ALAC as it preserves the sound quality, has a smaller size and supports tagging. I use dbPowerAmp, would not trust iTunes or Windows Media Player to rip my music...

StantonZ

I recently wrote an article about ripping, storage, and a low-cost media (audio) server you might want to have a look at:

http://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-media-server

voltz

I just started re ripping all my music to FLAC's using Jriver media center when I realized my Ipod classic wasn't going to be very happy with me if I kept it up so I switched to ALAC

WLDock

As soon as I get a couple of drives, I think I will finally get started. Been talking about it for the last three years or so. Its time...as I don't even have a place to store my CD's.

tonyb

WLDock wrote: »

As soon as I get a couple of drives, I think I will finally get started. Been talking about it for the last three years or so. Its time...as I don't even have a place to store my CD's.

Cool, find yourself a nice dac that will compliment the sound signature you like, or dive into that Oppo 105 you have your sights on.

WLDock

Yeah, the 105 seems like a a good way to go about it and stay under $1500 and have a disc player to boot. However, I was digging the Sony ‎HAP-Z1ES player at the show this weekend.

tonyb

You can find the 105 for about a G note now, some used,some demo's, but a lot cheaper than retail.

Loud & Clear

Just using iTunes to rip wav for now. Thinking about downloading the Pure Music demo to see if there's any benefit.

Moose68Bash

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

This topic has been discussed here many times. Most people prefer FLAC or ALAC as it preserves the sound quality, has a smaller size and supports tagging. I use dbPowerAmp, would not trust iTunes or Windows Media Player to rip my music...

Why do you not trust iTunes for ripping CDs?

I understand the reasons for not using iTunes of Media Player for play back, but what has been unreliable about either or both for ripping?

Yes, this makes me nervous because I have been using iTunes for ripping to AIFF (without any apparent problems).

steveinaz

I use EAC and rip to Flac. I use free MediaMonkey for tags/editing, etc.

tonyb

Moose68Bash wrote: »

Why do you not trust iTunes for ripping CDs?

I understand the reasons for not using iTunes of Media Player for play back, but what has been unreliable about either or both for ripping?

Yes, this makes me nervous because I have been using iTunes for ripping to AIFF (without any apparent problems).

I wouldn't worry so much about it. I use ITunes to rip cd's, not because I want to but for ease of use and the wife. ITunes has a certain level of grunge in the higher frequencies mostly heard at higher volumes. For most music listening and reasonable volumes it's not noticed though. I have noticed since adding the Cary dac that a lot of that noise in the upper frequencies from ITunes has gone away. I want to keep things as simple as possible for the wife, in case something happens to me. She isn't the best with computer programs and downloading music....moving files from one place to another, troubleshooting, etc. That way she can continue on listening to decent music even after I'm not around.

Aside from the ease of use for ITunes, there really is no other reason to keep using it...imho anyway.

nspindel

I use EAC and rip to flac in secure mode. The primary reason why I use it is just that I have been using it for 10 years, it works perfectly, so no reason to change. I think there are probably easier solutions available now, but I really don't do much ripping any more. When I buy music these days, it's usually records, sacd, or hdtracks downloads. Can't even remember the last time I bought a cd.

bthogan

iTunes for ALAC (playing ipod through cd player DAC is big part of my system). dbpoweramp for FLAC -> ALAC.

PolkieMan

Using an LG Blu-ray Burner I use Clone CD for the CD's that I have or borrow and then I convert them to 320k MP3 with Windows Media Player for my USB stick uses.
This way I can always go back, make a prefect clone again, if I have the need using ImgBurn.

PolkieMan

You can store them at my place. I would even convert them and then send you a hard drive with all of them as FLAC files.

WLDock wrote: »

As soon as I get a couple of drives, I think I will finally get started. Been talking about it for the last three years or so. Its time...as I don't even have a place to store my CD's.

billbillw

StantonZ wrote: »

I recently wrote an article about ripping, storage, and a low-cost media (audio) server you might want to have a look at:

http://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-media-server

I saw that article. It is nice idea. I have two older Core 2 Duo laptops around the house. The actual pricing might be off a bit though. Apparently, you found a VXPocket sound card for much less than the going price because I haven't seen one for less than $85 since your article was posted. I now have a search on eBay for VXPocket and hopefully someday, I will snag one for under $50.