[ooh]

(Oops, I think the title should be changed to CD-->WAV, but I don't think I can change it...)

Hey out there,

A while ago I began converting my CDs to MP3, and over time I began to wonder if I have the best setup for what I want to do. Could anyone help to confirm or add to my process, or submit their ideas for a better process?

My goal is to get all my CDs onto the purest, uncompressed format so I can re-encode as I wish. I do not want to have to mess with the physical process of dealing with CDs again, if I can avoid it.

I am generally not looking for shortcuts or assumptions--I want to know the method for the most comprehensive, guaranteed best possible sound.

Right now I am using Audiograbber on a desktop computer with Windows XP, Intel Celeron 3 GHz processor, 512 MB ram, CD/DVD R/RW drive.

I have Audiograbber set to go to WAV, no normalization, and using tags from FreeDB. I don't run any programs while I'm using Audiograbber, except those processes that run in the background, maybe (ZoneAlarm firewall, AVG Virus program).

I have the settings on buffered burst, Default DAE speed, ASPI access via Win NT/2000 calls, IDE ATAPI drive, rip as much as possible to RAM (Max 399). Pretty much all the other program settings are as they came.

Windows settings have the CD-ROM at digital CD audio enabled, DMA if available on all IDE drives, 672-1344 for virtual memory.

So far the drive looks to be getting the audio at 20x, which is more to my preference (fast).

Did I miss anything?

Questions:
1. What is the most efficient way to setup tags? I know I can use a tagging program, but is there an automated way to get all detailed tags setup without having to use such a program?

2. Are checksums involved at any point? How do serious people check to make sure the CD has copied correctly?

I'm guessing some people actually do a single speed copy method. I'm reluctant for the amount of time it will take--is this method really necessary?

I would think by Red Book standards, the CD already has a self-checking mechanism (I know there's something there about error correction and some kind of algorithm for jitter and other mechanical errors).

Mostly I want to make sure I got the CD on the drive as best as I can.

I appreciate any info. Thanks!

One thing I do not believe, however:

1. That the manufacturer or model specifications of any components involved will contribute to a significant difference in actual, recognizable sound quality.

 

[Febs]

Use EAC and encode to FLAC.

 

[ooh]

Aack...

Thanks for the info but, I have already decided to go to WAV.

I need any information about converting to WAV. I'm sure there are some specifics, but I don't know what I'm missing from the above.

I'd also imagine a bunch of the stuff I mentioned doesn't matter at all, but I don't know what.

As before, I'd change the title if I could, but I can't.

Also, I forgotten to look into EAC. Oops! Does this program have easier settings to ensure an *exact* copy? Is it better than Audiograbber? As far as I can remember, a lot of people on here use it...I'll have to check it out.

Thanks again

 

[Febs]

1. You can change the title. Edit --> Go Advanced.

2. WAV is a waste of space for this purpose.

3. You say you want to set up tags, but you can't set up tags with WAV.

 

[ooh]

Febs,

Thanks!

Sorry about the quick response...I didn't see that you had put in a link!

I have a lot of space for WAV, so any savings are negligible to me (or I expect that by the time I run out, a new drive will be cheap enough).

I found the following from your link...

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index...._Configuration

The above describes how to use EAC for "near perfect" rips.

I will be using the above settings. And I will look into the "gap settings" as well. But, I would think serious, super perfectionists would have something to disagree about. Any thoughts?

For the tags, I didn't think WAV supported tags. I will eventually convert to another format, though. So all the tagging stuff has to be done after the conversion? I was hoping for a more automated process. So far I've been using a tagging program to derive the tags from the file information.

Anyone have any other ideas about the process? I'm sure some go even further than just the above settings?

Thanks again

 

[Wodgy]

You should go with FLAC even if you don't need the space savings. FLAC supports full tagging, but even if you also don't care about that, FLAC files include checksums that can be verified. This means you can check the integrity of your library later, which is important if you ever need to restore from a backup and want to be sure nothing has gone wrong.

Also, if you're intending to really archive your music, you should generate CUE sheets after you rip. This lets you completely reconstruct the original CD, or change the pregap scheme later should software come along later that properly supports pregaps (none does right now). Not all rippers currently support CUE files; this is currently the only major drawback of dbPowerAmp. So true archiving right now basically means using EAC, even though it can be tricky to set up.

 

[Nebby]

I would recommend some sort of checksum generator like SFV or PAR if you're going to use wav files, so that you know when your files have changed.

 

[ChaseD13]

trust me, flac is the way to go. tags are soooo useful (especially if u decide to use a player that needs them).

you can always covert back (using foobar dbpoweramp etc to wav if you REALLY wanted to, with 0 quality loss).

nowadays, wav is useless.

 

[ldj325]

I hope I am not threadjumping here, if so let me know and I'll move this. I've got to decide on a archiving startegy fairly soon.

I also am not worried about hard drive space, as soon I'll probably have about 1.6 terrabytes available. I was planning on archiving in WAV. Key question is will the iPod support FLAC playback?

My needs are archiving about 1000 vinyl albums and 200-250 CDs. My goals are to 1) Archive digitally on HD, maybe have back up CDs/DVDs/ 2) Support playlists and music selection on a 60GB 4th gen iPod Photo 3) be able to make playlists and burn to CD for audio playback in the car (CD only) & universal player in my office 4) computer playback to external DAC--probably the Apogee Mini DAC.

Does FLAC support all the above and still get the nod over WAV? Or suggestions for a better way to achieve these goals.

(As an aside in case anyone reading has knowledge pertaining to this, I am considering "ripping" the vinly into the computer at 24 bit 96kHz via Pro Tools LE so that I have this level of playback available through the computer to DAC.)

 

[mwallace573]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldj325 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Key question is will the iPod support FLAC playback?

This is probably the only question of yours I can answer. Yes, the iPod can play FLAC, but only if you install Rockbox on it.

 

[senny-ftw]

My needs are archiving about 1000 vinyl albums and 200-250 CDs. My goals are to 1) Archive digitally on HD, maybe have back up CDs/DVDs

Do you realise that, if you fill your 1.6TB, backing up to disc would require 340 DVDs and this would take more than 24 solid hours to complete? And if you rip your vinyl albums and CDs to CD-quality 44.1KHz 16-bit WAV, that this would take up more than half your 1.6TB already?

To both of you: I can understand the desire to store WAV files so that you can go back and re-rip to the latest codecs whenever you like... but do not underestimate the work required to maintain, organise and back up a WAV collection.

Here's what I do, and what I recommend to you

...

I use iTunes to manage my collection - with tagging, smart playlists, etc. I rip my CDs to Apple Lossless and then I put my CD in storage. This way, I have 4000 songs in 35GB (WAV would be approx 220GB) - which fits nicely on an iPod and is backed up twice, using two external hard drives, with one kept off-site. I can re-rip from CD if I want a different format, but I think that's unlikely.

I just noticed that iTunes has a WAV ripping option - can you store tags and metadata in iTunes with WAVs?

 

[Agent Kang]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs /img/forum/go_quote.gif Use EAC and encode to FLAC.

Another vote for FLAC using EAC.

 

[whistler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ooh /img/forum/go_quote.gif (Oops, I think the title should be changed to CD-->WAV, but I don't think I can change it...)Questions: 1. What is the most efficient way to setup tags? I know I can use a tagging program, but is there an automated way to get all detailed tags setup without having to use such a program?

Just to say where I am coming from. I store my WAV files on a LaCie 500gb drive connected to a Linksys NSLU2 NAS device. Which then feeds a Linksys WMB54G music bridge from my main PC.

1 - MediaMonkey using the Tag using Filename option. What I did with my WAV library, 9300+ files, is to select Library>Location>Network>All this will give you a list of all the files in whatever directory/location you store them. Right click on the All and select "auto-tag from filename" it will take awhile depending on the library and should work for 90% of the files. You can sort the resulting file view to see which files didn't tag.

 

[Febs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by senny-ftw /img/forum/go_quote.gif I use iTunes to manage my collection - with tagging, smart playlists, etc. I rip my CDs to Apple Lossless and then I put my CD in storage. This way, I have 4000 songs in 35GB (WAV would be approx 220GB)

Are you certain that you're using Apple Lossless? That level of compression is consistent with AAC at 224kbps, not Apple Lossless.

 

[ldj325]

Quote:

Originally Posted by senny-ftw /img/forum/go_quote.gif My needs are archiving about 1000 vinyl albums and 200-250 CDs. My goals are to 1) Archive digitally on HD, maybe have back up CDs/DVDs Do you realise that, if you fill your 1.6TB, backing up to disc would require 340 DVDs and this would take more than 24 solid hours to complete? And if you rip your vinyl albums and CDs to CD-quality 44.1KHz 16-bit WAV, that this would take up more than half your 1.6TB already? To both of you: I can understand the desire to store WAV files so that you can go back and re-rip to the latest codecs whenever you like... but do not underestimate the work required to maintain, organise and back up a WAV collection. Here's what I do, and what I recommend to you ... I use iTunes to manage my collection - with tagging, smart playlists, etc. I rip my CDs to Apple Lossless and then I put my CD in storage. This way, I have 4000 songs in 35GB (WAV would be approx 220GB) - which fits nicely on an iPod and is backed up twice, using two external hard drives, with one kept off-site. I can re-rip from CD if I want a different format, but I think that's unlikely. I just noticed that iTunes has a WAV ripping option - can you store tags and metadata in iTunes with WAVs?

Well, I knew there was a reason I was putting this project off.

Seriously, I appreciate the information. I was thinking that this would be a multi-month project. Given the estimate of the number of DVDs, I would probably just burn to disk my favorite albums/playlists. I have a caddy system set up for swapping out hard disks. I can get a couple of 750GB hard drives, and use one as my offsite back up. (I've already got 4 - 300 GB hard disks and they work well with the caddy system.)

Can Apple Lossless be reconverted to .wav at a later date with no loss?
And can FLAC reconvert as well?

And obviously I am going to have to experiment with the 24 bit/96 kHz conversion to find the space requirements as well as any sound quality improvements.