Preferred Method to Rip CDs to Lossless???

[slipperybidness]

I want to go through and re-rip several of my CDs to a lossless format. I have reviewed through some of the previous threads on here, so please don't bash me for that. The reason for re-ripping is that many of my CDs were auto-ripped to iTunes a long time ago at a default quality that isn't lossless.

Anybody have suggestions on the best program to do the ripping? What about for playback (I do have Foobar2000 already). Also, from what I've read, it seems that the actual file format is determined by what makes it easiest for me to access.

In general, my iTunes library has a lot of music that is good quality, a lot that isn't so good, and music that is my girlfriend's. So, I want to keep my iTunes library as kind of a catch-all, generic playlist, and use my lossless files for critical listening sessions (and my vinyls of course ).

Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

 

[sholling]

Almost anything does a the job well enough to be usable for a ripping a handful of CDs but as always I like dbPowerAmp Reference ($38) best. Once you setup your preferences for naming and filing conventions you just feed it discs and it rips, names, tags, and files albums automatically. Then once you've ripped the library you run the included batch converter to make a copy of all or part of the library in any portable player format you prefer. If you want free then try Exact Audio Copy I know from experience that it works well.

As for players I haven't decided if I like Foobar or the full (paid) version of Media Monkey best. Foobar is simple and uncluttered if homely while MM is pretty, an excellent ripper, and has the best tag editor that I've used. I have Foobar on my HTPC and MM on my PCs.

If you want to get really serious watch the video starting 24 minutes in.

http://revision3.com/tekzilla/ripmonster-3000/patricks-ripmonster-3000-batch-rips-cds

 

[its phillip]

I use exact audio copy + flac. Here's a handy guide to configuring eac: EAC Guides

foobar is my player of choice.

 

[slipperybidness]

I use exact audio copy + flac. Here's a handy guide to configuring eac: EAC Guides

foobar is my player of choice.

And it looks like EAC is a free software?

I may give that a go first before I go out and spend $ on a solution.

You ever re-burn CDs from the FLAC files. It says that is a big advantage of EAC in the guide, that you can re-burn a bit-perfect CD as needed. Is that really a big problem with FLAC? Or are they "creating a problem" for other s/w? The reason I ask is b/c some of my old cds are pretty beat up. Several have light scratches and a few will get the Disk Dr treatment. Then, hopefully I can archive / retire the original CDs.

 

[its phillip]

Yes, EAC is freeware. I don't make other copies of discs, but yes, you can make bit perfect copies from your eac rips.

 

[sholling]

Bits are bits and any burning program that supports FLACs will burn a perfect CD from perfectly ripped FLACs. Besides features what you're getting from premium rippers like EAC and dbPowerAmp are their ability to compensate for some small amount of damage on the CD they are reading.

 

[slipperybidness]

Besides features what you're getting from premium rippers like EAC and dbPowerAmp are their ability to compensate for some small amount of damage on the CD they are reading.

Didn't realize that. This seals the deal, that is the exact thing that I need.

 

[sholling]

You should watch that video I linked it's interesting.

 

[slipperybidness]

Up and running with EAC and Foobar.

Perhaps a little bit of extra work but the price was right. For the most part, I think I should be set. I do like Foobar already and especially the ability to personalize and customize the layout.