Ripping errors - cause, solution, fixes?

Posted by: Et in Arcadia on 23 October 2017

For the first time in 8 years of happy HDX ownership I encountered a ripping error with a newly acquired CD (Steeleye Span - Winter). On each of two tracks (track 8 and 10 if you know the album) a single error showed up on the ripping monitor on each of the two tracks.

I have checked out the CD by ripping via iTunes on a Mac; no problem. I obtained another copy of the same album; same issue exactly on the HDX. The album rip competed, but apparently skipped over those two tracks. The ripping seemed to proceed normally on each track when it paused, the time counter paused and after a good few seconds the error count went from 0 to 1.

The HDX is old (first issue in 2009) but has been serviced recently including a new CD mechanism.

So in the HDX database I now have a working version of the album, minus two tracks. Can somebody advise as to what I can do to fix the problem.

1. Can I rip the two tracks on another device (I have both Mac and Windows PCs) and transfer to the HDX?

2. How would I effect the transfer; just copy and paste into the relevant folder on the HDX MQ directory?

3. What software would I use to create the rip (my experience so far is limited to HDX and Mac/iTunes)?

You suggestions appreciated, as I am baffled. As an aside, if someone could explain why error correction doesn't fix the problem in flight I would be interested to know. Many thanks.

Posted on: 23 October 2017 by ChrisSU

You can rip the CD on a Mac using any bit-perfect CD ripper, edit the metadata if necessary, and then transfer it to the downloads folder of your HDX. Do not add it to the Music/MQ folder. You will be able to edit the metadata for this album on a Mac, but not on the HDX - but it should still play just as well as if the HDX had ripped it.

I believe the earliest HDX did not have a downloads folder, in which case the above solution might not be practical, but as yours has been for a service/mech replacement, maybe it can?

To answer your specific questions:

1. Better to delete what you have and rip the whole album again.

2. Copy and paste, or drag and drop, is fine, but put it in the Downloads folder.

3. iTunes will do it, although I'm not a fan. Other options include XLD (free) and dbPoweramp (not free). 

Posted on: 23 October 2017 by Consciousmess

I’d advise you get it upgraded to 2Tb at Naim, I’m sure they can rectify the problem too. The speed of use improves as well due to upgraded memory. It’s quieter also. You’d then get a DOWNLOADS folder.

Posted on: 23 October 2017 by David Hendon

It may be that that album had an anti-copying coding on it, as you had two CDs with the same problem.

The "single error" is just the HDX saying that that track didn't copy because of error(s). I used a US (basically the same ripping firmware as HDX I think and I never saw it count errors above one per track.

Anyway I agree with all of Chris's suggestions.

best

David

Posted on: 23 October 2017 by jon h

Check the log file on the hdx for the word “error”

Posted on: 23 October 2017 by Et in Arcadia

Thank you for the rapid replies, and apologies for not being clear; although this is a first batch HDX, I have had it upgraded to 2TB and do have a Downloads folder.

I am in the process of ripping using EAC, which reports something wrong with tracks 8 and 10. The glitch however is so far undetectable by ear.

I need to spend a little more time with EAC to understand how its repair capabilities work out.

I checked the HDX error per Jon's suggestion only to find it empty.

I will report back when I have completed the ripping and transferred the result to the Downloads folder.

 

Posted on: 24 October 2017 by Harry

I would rip it on my PC using dBpoweramp or similar. Software abounds for PC and Mac. I had to do this with a few CDs that my HDX couldn't cope with.  It didn't take me long to realise that dBpoweramp was just as reliable at ripping and infinitely better at tagging. Rips sounded the same on the HDX.

Posted on: 24 October 2017 by Et in Arcadia

Having followed above advice I now have a complete album in the Downloads folder, visible and playable (if All Music selected). Many thanks.

HOWEVER when I tried to change the genre, via Manage Music/Assign Genre/Select Artist/Steeleye Span it sticks at Loading (note: sticks on the Artist not the CD); after a delay it then reverts to the home screen. Tested and found no a problem with other artists e.g. Neville Brothers.

Can you advise on how to change assign Genre on Download files? Was this something I should have assigned in EAC when I made the original rip?

 

 

 

Posted on: 24 October 2017 by ChrisSU
Et in Arcadia posted:

Having followed above advice I now have a complete album in the Downloads folder, visible and playable (if All Music selected). Many thanks.

HOWEVER when I tried to change the genre, via Manage Music/Assign Genre/Select Artist/Steeleye Span it sticks at Loading (note: sticks on the Artist not the CD); after a delay it then reverts to the home screen. Tested and found no a problem with other artists e.g. Neville Brothers.

Can you advise on how to change assign Genre on Download files? Was this something I should have assigned in EAC when I made the original rip?

Albums in the Downloads folder can't be edited by the Naim interfaces, you need to use a metadata editor on your computer. You don't have to move the album back to your computer to do it, just navigate to it, open the album in your chosen metadata editing app, and make your changes. I find Metadatics very good for this, but if you don't buy music downloads, any editor will do.

Posted on: 24 October 2017 by David Hendon
Et in Arcadia posted:

Having followed above advice I now have a complete album in the Downloads folder, visible and playable (if All Music selected). Many thanks.

HOWEVER when I tried to change the genre, via Manage Music/Assign Genre/Select Artist/Steeleye Span it sticks at Loading (note: sticks on the Artist not the CD); after a delay it then reverts to the home screen. Tested and found no a problem with other artists e.g. Neville Brothers.

Can you advise on how to change assign Genre on Download files? Was this something I should have assigned in EAC when I made the original rip?

 

 

 

I suspect the reason that it sticks on the artist "Steeleye Span" is that it is searching to see whether it can find any  rips in the Music folder (which are editable) and when it finds none, it exits the search.

best

David

Posted on: 24 October 2017 by Harry

As Chris said above. You'll be needing something than can do tags properly. dBpoweramp or your preferred software. You won't hurt the rips but you might render them more susceptible to indexing and searching.