Best Software to Rip WAV files?

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bibb:
Doc,

There are some freebie demos available, Amarra and Pure Vinyl to name just two,
Joe

I'm still a PC Luddite, and I believe these are Mac softwear, but I assume there are similar PC offerings?

Yes indeed Doc, here in one of the other threads.

Joe

quote:

Originally posted by js:
They sound different to me. It's free so why not?

Typical js tease.

C'mon man, off the fence.

Which do you prefer? I assume you are talking about the latest releases of either. I shall be giving them a thorough go this week. My initial reaction is that they are both usefully better than standard output.

Joe

I was referring to the rippers. EAC and DB are both good but I like the DB interface better. Trust me, If I always said exactly what I think, less would get sorted here. Opinions vary with time and they appear closer than in the past. A PC isn't my main source but I've used one for high res since well before the HDX. I was late to CD rips because I preferred my CDP and still do with that format. To each his own. Maybe Naim's DAC will suit me well enough for one dig converter. I think Ken will end up with an HDX as player for CDs. I may to but haven't decided yet. The convenience is nice and we're kinda spoiled by the HiRes stuff and 24/96 LP transfers. Worked even better than expected with the sample DAC we tried.

Joe - You seem like a guy more interested in listening to music than looking at it - what then in your opinion should I use to get the best rip of CD based music in iTunes - WAV, Apple Lossless or what?

Cheers
Andy

quote:

Originally posted by AndyF:
Joe - You seem like a guy more interested in listening to music than looking at it - what then in your opinion should I use to get the best rip of CD based music in iTunes - WAV, Apple Lossless or what?

Cheers
Andy

Andy,

I wouldn't use WAV because of the lack of tagging. If space is not an issue, then use AIFF - if you would prefer to minimise the space your lossless files take up, then Apple Lossless.

When selecting your choice in the iTunes 'import settings' tick the "with correction" box. Job done. There are other settings under iTunes to automatically download info and artwork. IIRC you have to open an iTunes account which is handy but you don't have to use.

All three are lossless formats and supported by other ripping software.

Joe

quote:

That is correct, hence "reliably". I have done more testing and it really isn't worth it. This is bald men discussing a comb.

But reliably there was a difference between iTunes and XLD rips. Telling which was which was more difficult. I may have had some poor original iTunes rips when i did my first full rip but XLD is the ripper of choice for me now. We can compare on mine when you come over (if the bloody snow goes !)

Cheers

James

quote:

Originally posted by james n:

quote:

That is correct, hence "reliably". I have done more testing and it really isn't worth it. This is bald men discussing a comb.

But reliably there was a difference between iTunes and XLD rips. Telling which was which was more difficult. I may have had some poor original iTunes rips when i did my first full rip but XLD is the ripper of choice for me now. We can compare on mine when you come over (if the bloody snow goes !)

Cheers

James

take a look at this:

Rip CD Quality discussion

Can be educational.

Yep Ferenc - i've read that before and agree they all should be the same but as usual in audio circles, what measures the same can sometime not sound the same. I'm happy with XLD.

'I wouldn't use WAV because of the lack of tagging. If space is not an issue, then use AIFF - if you would prefer to minimise the space your lossless files take up, then Apple Lossless.'

Thanks Joe. I currently have two iTunes libraries on one account - one using AAC for my iPhone and iPod, with another (sat in an external hard drive) using WAV as a library for distributing my CD library via an Apple Airport Express to my NAC 282. Very handy without the cost of a HDX. I may look at using AIFF files for the latter in future.
Thanks
Andy

quote:

Originally posted by james n:
Yep Ferenc - i've read that before and agree they all should be the same but as usual in audio circles, what measures the same can sometime not sound the same. I'm happy with XLD.

I am happy with my iTunes rips, some 7000 cds now, since 2004. I am using an external Plextor Premium 2 (earlier Premium) on a Mana table and all cds cleaned and demagentized before ripping.
Just to add some spice to the topic subject. It gives me a piece of mind.

It's funny as I went to Wavelab for rips before I knew of EAC because I didn't like the results in Itunes. As I've said before, some setups may just be more Itunes freindly than others. Those old outboard Plexors (pre DVD) make some great sounding CDRs besides.

Still talking about "why not rip with iTunes"???

For many reasons...

A non-exclusive list:

- No Cue Sheet
- No Log
- No Secure Mode ripping
- No Drive Offset Correction
- No defeating of cache
- No proper gap detection (is there?)
- No FLAC

Ferenc, no offense but... you use a Mana for your drive and demagnetize the CDs but find a burst mode, possibly error riddled rip acceptable?

I get that you might be Mac only.... if you are use XLD.

2 cents
-p

quote:

I am using an external Plextor Premium 2 (earlier Premium) on a Mana table and all cds cleaned and demagentized before ripping.

Pot, Kettle etc

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
Still talking about "why not rip with iTunes"???

For many reasons...

A non-exclusive list:

- No Cue Sheet
- No Log
- No Secure Mode ripping
- No Drive Offset Correction
- No defeating of cache
- No proper gap detection (is there?)
- No FLAC

Ferenc, no offense but... you use a Mana for your drive and demagnetize the CDs but find a burst mode, possibly error riddled rip acceptable?

I get that you might be Mac only.... if you are use XLD.

2 cents
-p

Re-iTunes. Patrick you like all the ripping obsession. It makes me wonder what you worried about when all you had was a CD player.

The chap asked about problems with iTunes - the evidence suggests no reason to think so just because it doesn't satisfy nerdy appetite for figures.

I accept js's contention that hardware may make a difference - but only because that would mean time and money trying bits of kit when I'd rather spend both on me choons, like Andy. Besides, once again there is only subjective opinion and knowing me I'd try the 'wrong' ones.

As I said, I don't think there is any evidence that iTunes rips are sonically inferior. I have XLD and Max and can easily compare. There seems to be so much else that makes a demonstrable difference that getting one's tights (pantyhose) in a twist over rips makes no sense.

The other thing is that it becomes so much "noise" that puts people off computer audio, when in reality a computer and iTunes is plenty good enough to better very expensive CDPs if you have a decent DAC. It would be a great shame if civilians were put off the idea of trying a computer with the new DAC purely because a bunch of geeks like to get really nerdy about stuff that really does not matter.

It's hard to see how Kent Poon's studies could have been more thorough - I guess he could have run the whole lot on a selection of different drives.

But maybe he has some semblance of a life left. LOL

Joe

quote:

Originally posted by ferenc:
take a look at this:

Rip CD Quality discussion

Can be educational.

Thanks for that ferenc. A really clear, concise explanation, the best I've read so far. I shall continue to use iTunes!

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

Ferenc, no offense but... you use a Mana for your drive and demagnetize the CDs but find a burst mode, possibly error riddled rip acceptable?

I get that you might be Mac only.... if you are use XLD.

2 cents
-p

Not a problem. I used my Dell with EAC as well for a while but did not find it really different. So I am very happy wth my method as it is, will not change it in the future I think.

It is not "nerdy" Ferenc... It is just correct.

iTunes CANNOT produce a proper rip. In some cases it might lop off the beginning of the CD. If it produces errors, you wont know. It doesnt make cue sheets for use down the road with programs (like cPlay) that use them. Burst mode rips are not bit perfect.

You are backing yourself into a corner. No wonder you don't plan on ever leaving iTunes.

Question.... if you encounter errors on a rip, wouldnt you re-rip? Is that nerdy?

I am not sure what your experience with EAC was but there isnt any more "reading of data" than looking at the end of the log for either "There were no errors", or "There were errors."

The log tells you the track and the location of the errors. Then you can listen to the offending track and see if it is audible or unacceptable.

I have never said once that an iTunes rip sounds inferior to anything else. I cant discern between a EAC/FLAC rip vs. iTunes/ALAC without pure guessing.

That isnt the point. The point is that EAC and XLD give you tools and control to make the best rip possible. In the exact same way the HDX does. Why would someone resist that?

Tell me you are lazy, tell me you dont know how to set it up, tell me you just dont care.... But dont tell us iTunes rips are just as good. Its for kids.

Is using the HDX to rip CDs "nerdy"? Is using a free program on a existing computer that produces rips as perfectly as the HDX, silly?

iTunes is OK, not great, for playback, but for ripping it falls way short.

-p

I have tried various ripping software I can hear no difference, itunes creates bit perfect rips that is it, please don't push this 'only the HDX rips perfectly ' nonsense down our throats.

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
It is not "nerdy" Ferenc... It is just correct.

iTunes CANNOT produce a proper rip. In some cases it might lop off the beginning of the CD.

-p

Get a grip man. I think we might notice if the beginning of a track was missing.

Happy error counting.

Joe

quote:

This hobby needs things to obsess about, just add it to the other stuff.

The fact that we are here, bangin' those keys, proves your point Joe.

Perhaps I'm lucky that I enjoy vinyl, CD and Mac/DAC music replay without getting too obsessive.

I have learned that a properly implemented Mac/DAC set-up, using iTunes with 'Apple Lossless' rips, can sound astonishingly good, and I love the facilities it offers.

This doesn't mean I'm going to abandon my LP12 and Naim 500 system, which have their own different strengths.

John.

Hi PC, I'm sure you are a smart chap, so why not add a link to an EAC and an iTunes rip on a short but popular track (for download reasons, plus we may have the track to rip) so we/I can make a bit comparison to prove your point?

Regards,
Peter

I do find this confusing. Surely, with music CDs I'm very familiar with and regularly play through my 555 player, some quite old and beat-up, I'd be likely to hear if my iTunes "rip" of same was naffy?

I've ripped a whole shedload of them, and although the MAC/Lavry source isn't quite up to the 555, it's still overall pretty damn good. And I've yet to hear an obvious glitch in any of the rips. That's good enough for me TBH.

Tony

Completely agree. As an aside, have you thought about trying a hiFace between your Mac and Dac?

quote:

I have never said once that an iTunes rip sounds inferior to anything else. I cant discern between a EAC/FLAC rip vs. iTunes/ALAC without pure guessing.

iTunes rips are also good enough for me. If you have problems the likelihood is that you have shonky hardware or badly looked after discs. End of.

Love 'end of'. Very definitive. No room for further discussion then? LOL. One could just as easily say if you can't hear it, your setup is shonky but that wouldn't be very nice either. It's possible that results do vary from computer to computer without shonkiness. I think most would agree that having a way to ensure a low shonky quotient would be a good thing as every one I've tried, which is a 1/2 dozen or so, must be shonky.