Getting Started: Rip to ? File Format?

NC Lee · Nov 20, 2014

Want to end up with music on HD as primary source.
What format should I rip CDs to that will be compatible with whatever hardware I end up with (circular question?)
I have some music files in WAV and some in FLAC now- both work or convert to one format? Rip new ones to FLAC?
Exact Audio Copy good tool?
Thanks.

Bruce B · Nov 20, 2014

Exact Audio Copy to FLAC

garylkoh · Nov 20, 2014

I use dBpowerAmp and rip to FLAC Uncompressed

rockitman · Nov 20, 2014

dBpowerAmp also lets you decode HDCD encoded CD's to 24/44.1 so that any future dac's that don't support HDCD...the sound will be correct. Playing HDCD's on a player that does not decode HDCD yields poor, un dynamic sound, ime.

esldude · Nov 20, 2014

Another vote for FLAC. Handles meta-data better than most others.

garylkoh · Nov 20, 2014

rockitman said:
dBpowerAmp also lets you decode HDCD encoded CD's to 24/44.1 so that any future dac's that don't support HDCD...the sound will be correct. Playing HDCD's on a player that does not decode HDCD yields poor, un dynamic sound, ime.

Yes, it makes quite a "huge" difference. Without decoding, some HDCDs can sound a bit distorted. I used to use Foobar with the HDCD decoder, but I think that decoding first with dBpowerAmp sounds better. Of course, IMHO and when I say sounds better, it just means that I prefer the sound. All the usual disclaimers - no double blind testing, etc.

rockitman · Nov 21, 2014

Agreed Gary. I buy a lot of Grateful Dead live shows that they continue to release. They are still encoding them with HDCD. I bet half the people buying them don't even realize they are not hearing them at their full potential.

NC Lee · Nov 21, 2014

What naming convention should I use? The EAC default doesn't put songs into a folder by artists name, which I have done prior.
I don't want to pick a media tool next month and then need to rename my music so it displays ideally.

edorr · Nov 21, 2014

NC Lee said:
What naming convention should I use? The EAC default doesn't put songs into a folder by artists name, which I have done prior.
I don't want to pick a media tool next month and then need to rename my music so it displays ideally.

just change the default setting to whatever you want it to be.

FrantzM · Nov 21, 2014

For what it costs go with dB Poweramp. Also try to set the ripped CD to individual files rather than a one big file. If for any reasons somthing goes wrong you and some corruption occurs, you would lose some songs, not whole albums.
Also do think of backing-up your ripped files...
There is a free application from Microsoft called Synctoy that works extremely well. Use it consistently

Audioseduction · Nov 21, 2014

garylkoh said:
I use dBpowerAmp and rip to FLAC Uncompressed

I 2nd that!

Audioseduction · Nov 21, 2014

edorr said:
just change the default setting to whatever you want it to be.

I have DBpoweramp set to: Artist/Album Title/Track Title

Johnny Vinyl · Nov 21, 2014

I use MediaMonkey Gold and rip to FLAC uncompressed.

garylkoh · Nov 21, 2014

dBpowerAmp allows you to use any structure/naming convention you specify. When you start up the software in default mode on the lower left corner of the screen you get the naming convention. Click [set] and you can specify naming/folder structure.

Same with EAC - you have to specify and not just rely on the default.

Alrainbow · Nov 23, 2014

uncompressed flac. db poweramp /
al

NC Lee · Nov 26, 2014

FLAC is compressed- but lossless.

Alrainbow · Nov 26, 2014

Dbpower amp and others allow for flac no compression
Just saying.
Al

WLVCA · Nov 27, 2014

Another vote for dbPoweramp and flac.

When I first started ripping a few years ago i ripped to wav with Windows Media Player - big mistake. Too much missing album art and other issues.

Ended up re-ripping / converting everything to flac and moving to the JRiver player.

Live and learn.

Diapason · Nov 27, 2014

I'm in the process of ripping my CDs to FLAC using EAC, which is a painstaking process but I at least feel confident that I have good rips. However, I haven't started on classical yet as I have yet to see a good system for tagging classical works. Anyone got any suggestions that have worked for them in the real world?

Alrainbow · Nov 27, 2014

In this digital age we must pic a camp and try others in comparring to yours. I do not beleave there is right and wrong it's more choice. If DBPOWER amp and j river soud great that's fine.
I build servers based on SER 2012 and AO. They just sound Differant if not all te exact same parts
Does this make it right or wrong. No it just shows us there is many ways to make music and they all can be unique. Finding what sounds great and easy to use is where you want to head.
I too try tried wav so called super sound. It's just not true. Source is paramount as is the DAC. Flac no compression is fine but if it's real dsd you have downloaded keep it as such. Up or down sampling plays hell on the music. Ignorant cd rip it to such.
Al

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