Ripping CD Using XLD

Did you "open" the cd with XLD, or in Finder?  In XLD, go to File | Open Audio CD.  Once you "open" something with XLD, it automatically proceeds to rip it according to the settings.  (My Macbook Pro does not have an optical drive, but this is how XLD works with files in folders and I seem to recall it works that same way with cd's; no "rip now" button.)

Hi Bart. Thanks for your reply. 

The CD seems to have opened automatically in ITunes. I closed this and opened again in XLD (the Itunes icon is still hopping about at the bottom of the screen though).

It hasn't started ripping automatically, but I notice there's a tab at the top of the CD info screen called 'Extract' so I'll try that.

All the best.

David

David, yes, OS X (and windows) want to do certain things automatically that can get in the way of other software.  So be sure to shut down iTunes before you start doing other stuff with the cd otherwise XLD might think that the disc is already in use and not want to rip.

"Extract" is the right verb so hopefully that works

Extract will do it ... 

You can tell iTunes not to rip CDs you insert automatically ... And you can tell XLD how to behave too. XLD will ask you where you want to put the files it extracts. I ask it to create a log and cue file. You can also tell it to put the music in your iTunes library. 

I'm not convinced it rips any better than iTunes, but it gives you confidence it has done a good job With iTunes you never really know ... However when i compare the PCM between XLD and iTunes it is the same. 

Bart, Guido, thanks very much.

The test album I ripped seemed to copy OK.

Guido, I put this straight onto my NAS rather my ITunes, as once I (hopefully) get going I don't want to start clogging up my laptop's hard disc. 

My trial of XLD was just based on other forum feedback; I'll give ITunes a shot too. 

(Apologies for 2nd question, but what are log and cue files? Is that a folder for each album? I really should look for "Ripping for Dummies" for Christmas!)

I do have another problem with my NAS/ Superuniti now which is stopping me playing any music yet, but I'll open another thread for this).

Thanks again for the XLD advice.

Log files give you a report on how well XLD has done ... It compares its rip with records of other people's rips and will tell you if it has a problem. Cue files can be useful if you want to move the files around .. they provide an index and contain all the information about the CD just ripped. You could ignore them, but i like to keep them as occasionally they are useful. 

Go to: "Apple Menu/System Preferences.../CDs & DVDs/"

Switch "When you insert a music CD:" from "iTunes" to "Ignore" (or the App you like e.g. XLD).

Thanks Guido. 

Yes, I checked the album files on the NAS and there's a log file there: it seems to suggest that everything copied fine. No sign of a cue file though - should this be alongside the tracks and cue file?

Thanks Adrian. I'll do that.