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If I have absolutely no space concerns, what is the best program and settings to rip CD's? Basically, I'd like to be able to archive my entire CD collection onto my computer. Because of my listening habits I rarely sit and listen to a full album of any artist, so what i want to do is create a mix CD of only the songs I listen to - but I want bit for bit copies to be played back on a high resolution system...
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Hey gang:I re-installed EAC lately, and when I set it up (this time) I was getting higher extraction speeds (about 10x). After fiddling around I got the burn speed down to 2.5x again (I think it was the "allow slower extraction speed" option.) In any case, when I did rips at 10x and then ran glitch removal, I was getting #glitches in the hundreds to thousands, depending on the track.
At 2.5x, I was getting ZERO glitches (consistently) on the CD I was extracting last night.
Anyone have any idea what a glitch *is* and why there are so many at 10X extraction speed and ZERO at 2.5X?
when i slowed my ripping down i got better *perfect* results....
A glitch is basically a bit error. There can be quite a few reasons ripping slower causes fewer or less of them, such as less vibration in the CD mechanism, so less read errors, slower speed=less buffer overrun, etc.Not sure if your software uses error correction while ripping, or if it even gives you that option, but the one I use has the option to use it or not, and it runs noticeably slower when error correction is on.
Brassteacher:EAC does implement error correction, and can be set up to "permit lower extraction speed" I find that with these enabled you get extraction speeds of around 2.5 times, and "zero glitch" rips.
If "permit lower extraction speed" is disabled, the speed jumps up to about 10 times, but glitches can be had in the hundreds if not thousands. Very bad.
This setting is a must for EAC IMO.
I can't seem to find "permit lower extraction speed" in my EAC "Options". Where do I find it?
Gerry
....thanks, Presto. So much for instant plug-and-play, as we would love to expect. Whether it's iTunes or EAC, there are specific operations details all of us need to know before proceeding with hard disc playback.
It's my understanding that the Glitch Removal is simply a wav editing processing that removes pops and clicks. In other words, it should only be used on a track that is very scratched and damaged and you could not extract a better rip (and has audible pops and clicks). The Glitch Removal is not error correction and will not give you a more accurate rip. In fact it is known that EAC's implementation will find a lot of false positives. (Sounds within a song that it thinks are pops and clicks)As for the difference in the ripping speed. The best way to determine your optimal rip speed is to rip a track at multiple speeds. Then use the "Compare WAVs" tool. If the one ripped at 10X is identical to the one ripped at 2.5X then there is no need to use the slower speed. (Unless of course you have a scratched/damaged disc)
I recent used the compare wavs tool on the same files except on was ripped faster (I to just re-did eac). Anyhow, it took a while, and then it just reported a blank screen.THe screen had something like "errors found" on the top line, but nothing below them. It was just blank.
I guessed tha there were no errors, but it wasn't specifically clear if this was the case, or if this was an glitch.
Yes, when the screen comes up blank, that means they are an exact match. No errors. If there were any discrepancies, they would be listed by error (such as "different samples") and then the position (time).
Exact Audio Copy + properly selected cd/dvd drive for ripping + right setup + CDs that are pristine enough to be ripped 1:1.There is nothing better as of yet. It takes a little bit of work, but produces both 1:1 bit-perfect audio-data files and 1:1 exact cd copies if needed.
http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/
Several instructions on the net on how to use, which drive to choose and how to setup the system.
I think there's finally something better than EAC. Check out dBpoweramp Music Converter (Reference) R12. With the reference version you can disable caching on some CD drives (like Plextor). Very important. And instead of re-reading each sector as EAC does (jiggling the read head back and forth - which will wear out your drive) dBpoweramp will read an entire track and then go back and re-read if necessary. If it matches with AccurateRip - then no need to re-read.
Jm,I sounds like you want to rip your files and burn cds with only the songs you want on them. So the songs go from CD-> PC -> CD. Is this right.
If so, then hear is a guide that may get you better than identical copies:
http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/whitepaper/White Paper on Black CDs ver 3.1.pdf
However, if you are going to go to all that trouble, I suggest you forget about burning CDs and just make a Music computer.
It is WAY more convenient to make playlists for playback (you can random music you select for HOURS) vs. cds. Also, when you consider the sonic advantages of playing off a hard drive vs. a cd, it just makes sense to ditch the cd in favor of better sound and convenience.
D,
yes, that is what i'd like to do (CD-> PC-> CD). I would make a music computer if the quality matched my CD player - i guess it's all bits stored, but I've got a Meridian I'd like to continue to use for critical listening.Another question (from an obvious newb). If I rip in iTunes with the 44.1khz, 16-bit mode, won't this create a file that is the same as the original (w/o error correction)?
Jm,Meridian is good stuff, but don't dismiss a pc based system that soon. If your meriidan has digital inputs you can have the best of both worlds. Or if you have a dac/ trans combo, then just integrate the computer as a transport.
Or you could sell the Meridian and probably have enough scratch to make a comparable PC based one. There is a poster here that has some DCS gear, and will probably disagree, but many here have ditched some notable gear for a pc.
One day, the CDp as we know it will cease to exist....
Anyhow, I don't mess with itunes that much, but what you need are .wav files, and iTunes will not rip that way. Even if you select the lossless option, you would still have to convert it from apple lossless to .wavs. Files can still be 16/ 44 and be compressed.
Perhaps your meridian will play other files, but if it is billed as a normal cdp, it is looking for cda files (which are shortcuts to the .wavs on the disk).
So follow the directions in the link and you should be able to create some identical if not better copies.
OH, you didn't say if you were a mac user or not. If you are, just disregard all this, I have no clue how to do what you want on a Mac. But there are those that do and I am sure we will hear from them if you are a mac user.
Great advice. Also, didn't mean to offend anyone using a PC based system - i have a Meridian DAC that i'll see if I can hook my Mac up to...I use my PC, though, as the music server since i've wiped the drive of all non essential programs for room.So even though iTunes says it will import in WAV (44.1k, 16bit) is it not then a .wav file? And, if it is a .wav then it should be the same as the original?
No one is offended. You may be surprised if done correctly, how good things can sound.Anyhow, you are totally right. For some reason i thought that iTunes didn't do wav...I bet because I have EAC for that, so I just erased that functionality from my mind (it is a space thing these days). It does creat .wavs, and if you select error correction, I don't see why that wouldn't work, if you have a burning program.
Sweet! You've been really helpful. I've been using EAC but because some of the filenames are long it freezes my computer and I was getting really frustrated with having to rename the files twice...Also, there is an option to import (rip) the cd's in iTunes at either 48k or 44.1k (may be opening pandora's box) - which one do you think will result in the best sound?
Stick with the redbook standard 44.1kIt has been a while since I used eac or ripped disks for that matter, but what does the file name have to do with it, and why can't you control that?
it has everything to do with the longer filenames in eac, which I'm sure i could control if I really wanted to take the time. iTunes just wasn't importing those files correctly.
Try going to the EAC menu, sub menu EAC Options, the filename tab and try putting this format string in the naming scheme field:%D-%C-%N-%T
This will create a filename that contains:
CDARTIST-CDTITLE-TRACKNUMBER-SONGTITLE.xxx where xxx is the format mp3, ape, or whatever you have chosen. Only as much of the songtitle as will fit will be used (usually all of it).
Of course if you could use \ instead of a - in the naming scheme to create subdirectories if you wish.
You might also check in the same EAC menu, same sub menu EAC options, the directories tab to be sure you have the location you would like for songs to be placed.
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