FLAC Encoders/Decoders

_SBradley_ · 12 Sep 2009 at 01:27

Hi guys!

I'm looking to rip my CD collection for playing via the wireless network. (I already have it ripped as WMAs, but I'll slowly go through replacing those with a lossless format.)

Could anyone suggest a decent* FLAC encoder for Windows? (Windows Media Player doesn't do FLAC, right?) A single program for encoding and playback on the PC would be perfect, but I don't mind if the encoder does encoding only.

Thanks!

* Decent could mean fast, simple, lightweight. And, of course, accurate. (I'm guessing the output from any encoder should be identical to any other!?)

lunarwolf · 12 Sep 2009 at 01:30

try this http://www.xiph.org/dshow/, should enable you to play flac files on WMP

EDIT http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html this is good info source for other flac related questions

dbmzk1 · 12 Sep 2009 at 01:37

_SBradley_ said:
Hi guys!

I'm looking to rip my CD collection for playing via the wireless network. (I already have it ripped as WMAs, but I'll slowly go through replacing those with a lossless format.)

Could anyone suggest a decent* FLAC encoder for Windows? (Windows Media Player doesn't do FLAC, right?) A single program for encoding and playback on the PC would be perfect, but I don't mind if the encoder does encoding only.

Thanks!

* Decent could mean fast, simple, lightweight. And, of course, accurate. (I'm guessing the output from any encoder should be identical to any other!?)

http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/

And pretty much any audio player software will play FLAC. Personally I use http://www.foobar2000.org/

lunarwolf · 12 Sep 2009 at 01:39

hehe EAC is what i use but would hardly call it simple, intuitive and quick

marc2003 · 12 Sep 2009 at 01:44

lunarwolf said:
hehe EAC is what i use but would hardly call it simple, intuitive and quick

that's because people normally post 26 page guides to set the thing up when it really isn't necessary.

just follow the setup wizard, select flac when prompted (it's bundled so you don't even have to set it up). and then use accuraterip to set your drive offset (a few clicks is all it takes- no faffing about in the options). it really couldn't be any easier.

Berserker · 12 Sep 2009 at 01:46

I use CDex and metaflac. CDex has built-in rip to FLAC support, but it is using an old FLAC library which isn't nearly as good as the current version. I was planning to use EAC but the website was down when I started and I'd already got the tag information for 100+ CDs in CDex format, so it made sense.

It's not the easiest solution, I'll admit (I had to use a few guides I found via Google to set it up right, and I have to run metaflac again after ripping each album to add replaygain).

_SBradley_ · 12 Sep 2009 at 09:47

Thanks for the links! I'll check those out.

Berserker said:
but it is using an old FLAC library which isn't nearly as good as the current version.

That's what I was thinking earlier: are there differences in the output from different encoders? Shouldn't all encoders theoretically produce the same output? I'd give accuracy higher precedence than anything else.

I'd already got the tag information for 100+ CDs in CDex format

That made me think. I already have all the tag info (artist, album name, composer, etc.) for my entire library stored within my WMA files. If there's any way to avoid my having to type that in again, it would save me a lot of time!

james.miller · 12 Sep 2009 at 10:22

_SBradley_ said:
Thanks for the links! I'll check those out.

That's what I was thinking earlier: are there differences in the output from different encoders? Shouldn't all encoders theoretically produce the same output? I'd give accuracy higher precedence than anything else.

There shouldnt be, being lossless. there would be a difference in filesize but its not something i've ever worried about lol

_SBradley_ · 12 Sep 2009 at 10:36

james.miller said:
There shouldnt be, being lossless. there would be a difference in filesize but its not something i've ever worried about lol

I was being even stricter than that: I assumed the encoding algorithm and output were strictly defined. I must admit, I haven't read the spec (yet

).

Phil99 · 12 Sep 2009 at 10:51

_SBradley_ said:
That made me think. I already have all the tag info (artist, album name, composer, etc.) for my entire library stored within my WMA files. If there's any way to avoid my having to type that in again, it would save me a lot of time!

Exact Audio Copy has an option to download the track info before you rip

_SBradley_ · 12 Sep 2009 at 11:10

Phil99 said:
Exact Audio Copy has an option to download the track info before you rip

I'm more pedantic than you think: downloaded info would require editing for sure.

Maybe I can export the details from my library and get EAC to download from my own web server!?

marc2003 · 12 Sep 2009 at 11:32

_SBradley_ said:
Maybe I can export the details from my library and get EAC to download from my own web server!?

not possible.

there are many ways of transferring tags though. mp3tag allows you to export tags to a text file. you can then import them into your new flacs.

and foobar also has the feature to copy tags in between files.

in both examples, it's absolutely imperative the files are in the same order. in theory, you could do your whole collection at once assuming you've done the necessary checks.

Cyclone · 12 Sep 2009 at 11:35

Aimp2 is capable of ripping & playing of FLAC files.

Tis a very good player.

If you download it get the full version as the beta version has the 'tools' removed.

NeilF · 15 Sep 2009 at 11:34

MediaMonkey - It's the only thing I use to setup, convert and maintain my entire music collection.