1 CD, 2 Rips, Bitrate differences in extracted FLACs?

I can't speak to whether the 2 rips differed at all, though I'd highly doubt any difference that may exist would be significant at all (aka 1 bit in a lot)

However, the FLAC encode can be different.  Perhaps while you performed one compression, your antivirus software kicked in, or your processor was slightly warmer than normal.  With the CPU not working as efficiently, then at the same level of encoding, the compression could be SLIGHTLY less efficient at finding better patterns. 

Just a guess, but it seems logically consistent

If you use foobar, try using the bit comparator to see if there are truly any differences.

If I understand correctly you have done

CDx > rip > WAV1 > Split > FLAC1

CDx > rip > WAV2 > Split > FLAC2

Are the WAVs bit identical?

What tool did you use to convert and split to FLAC?

As El_Doug suggested it might be related to CPU load.

All I know is that the compression level in FLAC means the amount of effort FLAC might spend to find the best possible compression.

If this is a limit in time, then it is possible that the efficiency of the compression is system load dependent.

An interesting experiment would be:

• Convert a WAV to FLAC on a nearly inactive system
• Convert the same WAV on a heavy loaded system, play a video, do a backup, some gaming, etc so lots of CPU and I/O

Wonder if this will make a difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roseval 

As El_Doug suggested it might be related to CPU load.

All I know is that the compression level in FLAC means the amount of effort FLAC might spend to find the best possible compression.

If this is a limit in time, then it is possible that the efficiency of the compression is system load dependent.

 

An interesting experiment would be:

• Convert a WAV to FLAC on a nearly inactive system
• Convert the same WAV on a heavy loaded system, play a video, do a backup, some gaming, etc so lots of CPU and I/O

Wonder if this will make a difference.

That's absurd.  It will just take longer to encode if the CPU is busy doing something else.  FLAC encoding is deterministic.  The bitrate won't change if the encoding settings are the same and the input was identical.

The OP should use the accuraterip feature of EAC + a test & copy to ensure the rips are correct

I ripped Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" to ALAC , once with iTunes and once with DBpoweramp. The rip encoded with iTunes is 900kbps. The rip encoded with DBpoweramp converter is 901kbps. Each of these rips sounds identical played with iTunes media player, or played on foobar. I don't know what the addition or absence of one kbps means.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereodude 

That's absurd.  It will just take longer to encode if the CPU is busy doing something else.  FLAC encoding is deterministic.  The bitrate won't change if the encoding settings are the same and the input was identical.

I agree.

My guess is that the encoder was having a bad day, which led to a less than optimal compression ratio. And as from the bit comparison, this difference in compression had absolutely no effect on the sound quality.

Perhaps one was encoded in level 7 compared to level 8, or something like that.

Maybe it's about the silent groove, that's to say, spacing between selections.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterling1 

Maybe it's about the silent groove, that's to say, spacing between selections.

That's the first thing that came to my mind when I read this. Are the track lengths starting and stopping at exactly the same times? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrksgrn 

In my case, both were level 8 FLAC. But I will try the test again.

Was the tagging and album art identical?