Ripping CDs (decently)

Django x2

Django x2

Django x2

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Is that a word? Is now...

Thought I'd post here rather than the Windows Software forum. I'm looking for a really nice light app thats easy to use to rip some of my CDs.

In the past, I've CDeX and found it to be OK but I never really seem to have time to play with all the settings to get the best out of it.

What is out there that is quick and easy to use? Is CDeX ok? If so, what settings would you recommend?

Thanks

EDIT: Forgot about EAC, but that confuses the hell out of me too
 
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http://xs.vc/eac/Lossy/lossy.html

Follow the above guide- d/l EAC and LAME and rip your CDs properly. It only needs setting up once, then you'll have good quality rips, rather than crappy ones (Hint: use vbr V0 - anything else is a waste of time or space).

EAC is not hard to use. Once you follow that guide, all of 5 minutes to do, you won't have to set it up again. Insert CD, tell EAC to rip it, get high quality rip! :)
 
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If you are going to rip your CD's you might as well put them in a lossless format such as FLAC.

There are guides available on the same site that Hellsmk2 posted.

+1 for EAC etc. Once setup it is very simple to use and you know you are getting a perfect copy. Especially if you create cue sheets as well.
 
I've always used Audiograbber with Lame mp3 codec ripping at variable bit rate high quality, does the trick...
 
What is EAC, never heard of it. I know FLAC is supposed to be the best quaility but is it the same as CD quality? Ive always used MP3 for space, used to be 128mbps now a lot of my tracks are 192kbps or higher.
 
320 is really a waste of time if you're sticking to mp3 - V0 is just as good with much smaller files. Why waste time recording dead data like CBR does? :)

V0 all the way, or FLAC if you have oddles of HDD space.
 
mattyj1085 said:
What is EAC, never heard of it. I know FLAC is supposed to be the best quaility but is it the same as CD quality? Ive always used MP3 for space, used to be 128mbps now a lot of my tracks are 192kbps or higher.
Click to expand...

It allows you to rip CD's in a better state than most rippers, as far as I know it can correct errors and make lightly scratched CD's more playable. Never really used it much though.

i still rip using WMP @ 256 MP3 and use MP3tag to put the album art on.
 
I use EAc to rip to flac. It's really not hard to setup and as hard disk space is now so cheap the file size isn't an issue either. It's quick and easy to convert flac to mp3 for portable devices as well.
 
Hellsmk2 said:
320 is really a waste of time if you're sticking to mp3 - V0 is just as good with much smaller files. Why waste time recording dead data like CBR does? :)

V0 all the way, or FLAC if you have oddles of HDD space.
Click to expand...

Not really a problem though? a 1TB HDD is £80 and that will hold more than 30,000 tracks in FLAC. (I have 100GB of FLAC, 5% is 24 bit though, 3000 tracks, 1wk, 4days 4 hours).

What is a waste is using a lossy encoder if you are ripping all your music again.

EAC also gives you a cue sheet so you can convert what you want to burn to wav and then burn it using the cue sheet so it is identical to the original CD.
 
Just used EAC to rip 'Brain Thrust Mastery' by We Are Scientists to my pic, on the advice of this thread.

Can't believe the difference i'm hearing over mp3, just so much more clarity and depth, it's amazing! Going to re-rip my collection in FLAC soon now. This is using an xfi-xtremegamer (no options on, no EQ) and some creative inspire speakers. I think i'm going to have to get a proper amp and some bookshelves to appreciate it the most, these speakers are 6 years old now, were £50 then!

Anyone recommend a good starter setup? I'm thinking cambridge audio A1 and tannoy speakers at about £100 the pair?

EDIT: Can anyone also recommend the nicest looking, easiest and most complete software for playing back FLAC? I'm using VLC atm and it's hardly designed for it. Is it possible for WMP to play it with a mod?
 
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alexhull24 said:
EDIT: Can anyone also recommend the nicest looking, easiest and most complete software for playing back FLAC? I'm using VLC atm and it's hardly designed for it. Is it possible for WMP to play it with a mod?
Click to expand...

My personal choice is Foobar2000
Plays anything and best of all is very versatile.

Songbird may be better if you want something pretty.

WMP can play FLAC, you 'll need to download the codec for it though.
http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html
 
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