Best way to rip CD's

MAX.

Look for it on the net.

Linn's website has some guidance on setting it up.

Rips the disc properly, gets the catalogue, converts to file format of choice and plonks it into iTunes.

Easy peasy.

John.

Thanks for this....

I've downloaded the software and got a cd to rip into iTunes in FLAC format no problem.

I'm unable to play the file tho. Do I need other software to do this? Or if I add say a Sonos streamer will it stream the FLAC file from iTunes?

Thanks

PS - I can't find the help guide on the Linn website

The computeraudiophile website has a very comprehensive guide to CD ripping strategy and methodology.

iTunes, iPods etc will not play FLAC files.

Apple Lossless therefore the way to go (though not yet decoded by Naim hardware unfortunately).

For Apple Lossless set the preferences in Max to Apple MPEG-4 Audio and choose Lossless from the encoder options.

For the ripper, choose full CD paranoia and C2 correction in the error correction options.

Can't find the Linn document at the moment, saw it the other day though.

Regards,

John.

groovy

Re: Decoding..... If I use a Sonos streamer will it will need to be hooked up straight to a pre-amp and not optically via a Naim DAC?

I'm struggling to understand how these things work. Does the Sonos make it playable through a Naim DAC using Apple Lossless or does the Sonos do this job before churning out an analogue signal...?

Not familiar with the Sonus I'm afraid.

The format of the original file is pretty irrelevant to the dac as whatever it is you connect the dac to has to change the data into a standard SP/DIF format which is the language of consumer dac's (AFAIK).

You're not alone in struggling to understand how all this works so don't worry. I'm on that path myself.

John

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So the Naim DAC won't play apple lossless ?

Seems strange as you can plug an iPod into it?

The way I plan to hook in the longer term is via a mac mini via optical into a DAC

Naim DAC will play Apple Lossless from an iPod wired directly to it.

There is a cap on 24 bit / 48kHz files so truly high res stuff (24/96) will have to be downsampled first.

Mac mini is one way to go.

For myself I have decided to rip the files using Max on my Macbook to a directory on a NAS and feed a streamer (Linn or Naim) from this into my Supernait (which has a good dac built in).

I am part way there already but using iTunes to stream via a hard wired ethernet connection to an Airport Express which then puts the data to the Supernait via a optical link.

Sounds fantastic but needs a copy of iTunes running which I would rather avoid (as I like to keep hifi a separate thing from computers if that makes sense).

quote:

Originally posted by MontyMusic:

I was about to rip into iTunes (apple lossless) but have read bits on this forum and others that FLAC is a better format.

You've no doubt been asked a million times but what is the best Mac software to use to rip and play these files. Everything I've come across on the www seems very complex. I use iTunes normally but I understand FLAC can't be ripped here. I like the fact that iTunes tags and files the songs for me. Is there a similar program (which doesn't cost the earth) that can do what iTunes does with FLAC? Does FLAC really sound better than apple lossless?

I just need pointing in the right direction. I don't want to spend weeks ripping files only to find a better way later....!

Thanks

No, FLAC does not taste better than ALAC. It is just more ubiquitous. And what does iTunes do with FLACs? It ignores them. Shame.

If you are using a Mac for replay, I cannot see any reason to use FLAC. The FLAC players for Mac are subpar (Play, Cog, Songbird).

Simply rip to AIFF in iTunes. I would recommend AIFF as it is supported out of the box by most players, should you decide to change platforms. I dont think ALAC has a lot of legs. I would only use it if you want to play full resolution files on your iPod/Touch/Phone and want to save a little bit of space. (in this case I typically covert my lossless to V0 or 320 for iPhone use)

If you care to try to attempt a rip that gives you the best chance at a perfect rip, either use XLD or MAX. Both will tag files as you desire.

In the final analysis, I wouldn't stress to much. If you rip to a lossless or compressed lossless format, you can always convert WITHOUT any loss to any other codec in the future.

If you really want it to be as simple as possible, just use iTunes to rip to AIFF. BUt there are slightly more comprehensive rippers out there, like Max and XLD. Although they have a slightly higher learning curve.

If starting from scratch I cant see a reason not to use a program that allows for drive offsets, hidden tracks, gap detection, a log file, cue file etc.... Meaning, dont use iTunes.

-Have fun!
Patrick

In the final analysis, I wouldn't stress too much. If you rip to a lossless or compressed lossless format, you can always convert WITHOUT any loss to any other codec in the future.

Dear Patrick,

As you know I have done my ripping to ALAC. What you wrote above I did not know. It is reassurung to know. One day I may pick your brains as to how!

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by MontyMusic:
groovy

Re: Decoding..... If I use a Sonos streamer will it will need to be hooked up straight to a pre-amp and not optically via a Naim DAC?

I'm struggling to understand how these things work. Does the Sonos make it playable through a Naim DAC using Apple Lossless or does the Sonos do this job before churning out an analogue signal...?

sonos z90 has optical/75ohm /and input for pre amp. £260 controlled by iphone

I might have got this wrong but one of the reasons to use FLAC or ALAC over WAV or AIFF is (I thought) that metadata is embedded within the files rather than catalogued separately.

This might have an implication if departing from iTunes in the future.

Is this correct?

AIFF supports tagging. Yes, avoid WAV.

quote:

Originally posted by rich46:

quote:

Originally posted by MontyMusic:
groovy

Re: Decoding..... If I use a Sonos streamer will it will need to be hooked up straight to a pre-amp and not optically via a Naim DAC?

I'm struggling to understand how these things work. Does the Sonos make it playable through a Naim DAC using Apple Lossless or does the Sonos do this job before churning out an analogue signal...?

sonos z90 has optical/75ohm /and input for pre amp. £260 controlled by iphone

Limited to 16/44. Limited playlist/library size. I don't recommend.

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
In the final analysis, I wouldn't stress too much. If you rip to a lossless or compressed lossless format, you can always convert WITHOUT any loss to any other codec in the future.

Dear Patrick,

As you know I have done my ripping to ALAC. What you wrote above I did not know. It is reassurung to know. One day I may pick your brains as to how!

ATB from George

George, although you cannot correct what iTunes might have done when you ripped, you can easily convert everything to FLAC, WAV or anything else. You can do it manually with some programs, and in batches by something like dbPoweramp.

It has been proven with hundreds of thousands of cycles of FLAC>WAV>ALAC>WAV>FLAC>ALAC>FLAC>WAV> ad infinitum, that there is no loss.

So if you end up with a media player, handheld device, car stereo, Naim DAC, etc, that doesn't jive with ALAC, you could deal with that easily.

Thanks! Details may be needed [possibly years] later!

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
AIFF supports tagging. Yes, avoid WAV.

But Naim does not appear to support AIFF on the HDX, Uniti etc.

Nor ALAC (which is convenient for sharing with an iPhone).

Frustration!

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
In the final analysis, I wouldn't stress to much. If you rip to a lossless or compressed lossless format, you can always convert WITHOUT any loss to any other codec in the future.

Indeed. And to perhaps relieve even more stress, I thought it could be useful to mention that there are tools that can batch-convert an entire music library while preserving directory structure and tags (unless one is using some esoteric tag-field that is not supported by the target-format - artist, album, track and such always are).

For Microsoft Windows one such tool is dbPoweramp, which also runs fine on Linux using Wine. As for Mac, others can perhaps chip in.

So, I'm guessing from this that FLAC is the way forward......

If that is so, then what is the best way to stream to a Naim DAC? Is the DAC wireless? from what I've read it's only wireless with an iPhone/Touch which doesn't support FLAC. Is direct wire (Ethernet) the way to do it from a Time Machine?

Also, in MAX (ripper) what should I set the compression to? The default is 5. Should it be ZERO?

Sorry about the zillion questions......!

Monty,

Check out the Naim website. I think your available inputs are digital, digi optical and BNC.

USB is for flash drives only, not direct connection to computer.

No ethernet. It is not a streamer.

The best way to stream to Naim DAC?
HDX
NS01
UniQute
Uniti
Transporter
SB Touch
etc...

If you are going to use Mac and Apple peripherals e.g. Apple TV, I wouldnt rip to FLAC. Stick with AIFF.

If you are willing to use a PC for this, you are really opening up the door. You could then use FLAC wonderfully.

-p

Hi,

Using a MAC with iTunes and FLUKE plug-in.
All my music is ripped to FLAC and plays very well in iTunes on the MAC.

Give it a try...

Rgds
MA

Excellent

They play as 'Quicktime movie files' in iTunes

Are they still FLAC files or have they been converted?

Thanks

They remain exactly the same FLAC files (you can also play them trough a squeezebox directly to the DAC if you like).

Another nice tool is SONGBIRD.This one (iTunes/Foobar like) natively accept FLAC files and also has an app for iphone (remote ctl//see appstore).

Rgds
MA