So I've decided to start re-ripping my CDs to my computer to have as an archive. This will make for easier playback while I'm at law school and give me peace of mind knowing my CDs and live shows are backed up. However, the choice as to formats and such seems complicated. I poked around a bit at Hydrogen Audio, but there's so much information there that it's hard to get a clear picture of things. 
Anyway, I was hoping some friendly Head-Fiers could help me out here. This is what I want.
1. Lossless encoding. I would like to use a lossless format, but I'm not sure if FLAC or ALAC would be the best for my needs.
2. Exact replication of CD, if necessary. I would like the ability to burn audio CDs from the lossless files that would duplicate exactly the original CD. I understand from Hydrogen Audio that there are some issues with the gaps. It seems like the way to make it work is to create an image file and cue sheet, although you'd still miss the gap before the first track. Still this seems like the most accurate way to do it. If you rip to individual files, it looks like the gaps are appended to either the file before or after, so a burned audio CD wouldn't be the same. What I want to figure out is if the "exactness" of ripping an image file + cue sheet is outweighed by the convenience of ripping to individual files.
3. Tagging I would like to be able to tag these files with lots of information, such as artist, album, track name, track number, disc X of Y, year, album art, genre, comments, etc. I do not want to enter this information manually, I'd like a program that will automatically add the tags from freedb or whatever at the ripping or encoding stage. I would like to be able to go from my lossless files -> mp3/aac/whatever and retain the tags in their entirety. It looks like FLAC cannot handle album art and ALAC can.
4. Conversion Since this is an archive project, I'd like to be able to come back to these files in a few years and still be able to work witht them (otherwise, what's the point, right?). Is there any software that will manipulate and convert ALAC <-> Other Formats?
I'd really appreciate any suggestions on how to tackle this project. I've already ripped my CDs twice, so I'd like the third time to be a charm, i.e. I don't want to do it a 4th time. So, Head-Fi Computer-as-Source gurus, what should I do here?
Anyway, I was hoping some friendly Head-Fiers could help me out here. This is what I want.1. Lossless encoding. I would like to use a lossless format, but I'm not sure if FLAC or ALAC would be the best for my needs.
2. Exact replication of CD, if necessary. I would like the ability to burn audio CDs from the lossless files that would duplicate exactly the original CD. I understand from Hydrogen Audio that there are some issues with the gaps. It seems like the way to make it work is to create an image file and cue sheet, although you'd still miss the gap before the first track. Still this seems like the most accurate way to do it. If you rip to individual files, it looks like the gaps are appended to either the file before or after, so a burned audio CD wouldn't be the same. What I want to figure out is if the "exactness" of ripping an image file + cue sheet is outweighed by the convenience of ripping to individual files.
3. Tagging I would like to be able to tag these files with lots of information, such as artist, album, track name, track number, disc X of Y, year, album art, genre, comments, etc. I do not want to enter this information manually, I'd like a program that will automatically add the tags from freedb or whatever at the ripping or encoding stage. I would like to be able to go from my lossless files -> mp3/aac/whatever and retain the tags in their entirety. It looks like FLAC cannot handle album art and ALAC can.
4. Conversion Since this is an archive project, I'd like to be able to come back to these files in a few years and still be able to work witht them (otherwise, what's the point, right?). Is there any software that will manipulate and convert ALAC <-> Other Formats?
I'd really appreciate any suggestions on how to tackle this project. I've already ripped my CDs twice, so I'd like the third time to be a charm, i.e. I don't want to do it a 4th time. So, Head-Fi Computer-as-Source gurus, what should I do here?
