Best sw for ripping audio CDs?

I and a lot of other people use exact audio copy ( http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/ ).

I've used EAC (=Exact Audio Copy) to rip my entire CD collection to HD, in combination with Lame to do the MP3 encoding. Encoded to variable bit rate MP3's (using 225Kbps on average). The results sound pretty good to me. EAC will also automatically get CD info and create the dir structure of your choice. Once set up the whole process is pretty painless. Best of all, both programs are freeware.


-Rob-

Thank you. I'll start the project tonight then..... ;-)

I recommend you get Screenblast SIREN Jukebox . It is the best all around jukebox software with quality to match EAC+Lame. You can rip directly into WAv files (uncompressed) or Perfect Clarity Audio (Lossless compression like Lime) all in one step.


This is reincarnation of Sonic Foundry SIREN Jukebox. A truly banchmark piece of software in its class. greggplummer was the SIREN project manager a few years ago.


You can also encode and transcode in MP3, OGG and WMA. SIREN can upload selected music files into protable player or burn a CD. Excellent value for $29.

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I followed your link to LAME, but from what I read this is not a complete package but just the engine? Or am I missing something?


Like the thread starter, I want to rip my private collection to MP3 for home use.

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You are correct. EAC has a front-end for LAME and can encode directly to MP3, if you wish.


Jason

Originally posted by VGN:

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Did anyone read this line in the 'posters' first post? He wants to put his whole collection onto his HDD in .wav format. You guys have all posted an MP3 encoding software.


Personally, I think he would be surprised at how much HDD space he'll need to put all of his collection on, in .wav format. EAC is an excellent MP3 encoder and I hope that VGN would consider ripping his collection to the MP3 format instead of .wav format.


Please excuse me if EAC does rip to .wav format as well as MP3. I do use EAC occasionally (and have been happy with it) but I haven't checked to see if EAC does .wav. I mostly just rip my collection in .wma format.

I use good old Music Match to rip to .wav format.

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Actually EAC is first and foremost a very accurate ripper. After that it can optionally encode to various formats using 3rd party encoders. EAC can definitely rip to wav files. Here is a good EAC tutorial.


Jay

Does Screenblast Siren no longer support accessing an online database for CD information? It's not displaying the track listings for me, and when searching their Knowledge Base, it says that the product will no longer have this feature. That really sucks if I have to type in the track listings for each and every CD!

I'll put another vote in for Music Match. I have found it to be one of the easiest ways to rip CDs to your hard drive and at the same time keeps them CDs nicely organized in a labeled folder.

CDEX is great.

OK I have downloaded EAC, which file type of LAME do I need? and what is the process to install them to work together?

KevinYee,


Siren no longer uses CDDB, but you can set it up to use FreeDB instead. For instructions, visit this entry in their FAQ .


Brian

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See this Quickstart guide and the link I listed above for info.


Jay

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Thanks Jay, after I posted the question, I began reading the guide, hmmm I hope that I do better at ripping and encoding! I've got to get these things in order...

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I have used CDex with LAME to transcode my high bitrate MP3 files to lower bitrate MP3 for use in my portable MP3 player. The product works great for that application. It probably works well for normal ripping also.


Jay

Another vote for Musicmatch. I've been using it since 1999 and it has worked very well for me. It has excellent organisational capabilities and makes the ripping process very simple.



Lester

For people that are interested in ripping to MP3 with EAC/LAME. This thread has some useful info regarding how to use EAC and experiences with different bitrates.


Jay