[billybob_jcv]

Ok, so I tried ripping the same cd in a few different formats and bit rates, and I'm having a hard time hearing any difference. I wonder if it is because:

1. My ears are not yet attuned to hearing a difference
2. My headphones are not high-end enough to reveal subtle differences in fidelity
3. My iphone is not a good enough source to reveal subtle differences in fidelity
4. The style of music I'm testing with is not right  (industrial/metal).

Probably a combination of/or all of the above, lol.

Also, why the heck can't I right click my mouse to do anything when composing a reply? All it says is "paste" when I right click...

5. Once you achieve an adequate level of quality, the format doesn't really matter.

 

[redsandvb]

  I'm trying to find the best/ easiest to use audio player to use in Windows 7. I have itunes but don't want to use it. I want to rip my cd's into AAC 256 kbps VBR to listen to on my iphone 4s.
 
I can figure out how to get Foobar2000 to transfer onto my phone, and although I like Media Monkey and the transfer to iphone works good, the AAC encoder is not included in the free version (except as a 30 day trial).
 
I'm new to all of this and still trying to figure it out, so thanks for any advice!

If you have foobar and iTunes (v10.5 or newer) still installed you could just rip with foobar straight to TVBR m4a/aac.  When you installed foobar, did you install the 'Optional' components?  If not, re-install, choose Custom install, look in the Optional features and choose Convertor, etc...I forgot what they're actually labeled.
 
Next, download the qaac zip from here https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/cabinet, current version is 2.44.  FYI, qaac's home page https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/home
Unzip, and from the 'x86' folder copy qaac.exe, msvcp120.dll, and msvcr120.dll into the 'C:\Program Files (x86)\foobar2000' folder.
Or simply install the foobar Free Encoder Pack, http://www.foobar2000.org/encoderpack
 
Rip w/ foobar:
http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Ripping_CDs_with_Foobar2000
 
BTW, after clicking 'Rip' I would click 'Verify with AccurateRip'
 
To rip to m4a/aac click the 'Proceed to Convertor Setup dialog' button-->click 'Output Format'-->'Add New' or 'Edit' an existing entry
Choose 'Custom' for Encoder
Encoder File:  point to C:\Program Files (x86)\foobar2000\qaac.exe
Extension:  m4a
Parameters: -V 109 -o %d - --no-optimize
Bit depth-->Format: Lossy
 
OR, if you've installed the Free Encoder Pack
Choose AAC (Apple)
Variable Bit Rate
move the Quality slider to pick your estimated bitrate (VBR Q 109 for ~256kbps)
 
Set 'Destination' as you like
Set 'Processing' to none
 
click 'Convert'

 

[Mcgeggy]

 
If you have foobar and iTunes (v10.5 or newer) still installed you could just rip with foobar straight to TVBR m4a/aac.  When you installed foobar, did you install the 'Optional' components?  If not, re-install, choose Custom install, look in the Optional features and choose Convertor, etc...I forgot what they're actually labeled.
 
Next, download the qaac zip from here https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/cabinet, current version is 2.44.  FYI, qaac's home page https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/home
Unzip, and from the 'x86' folder copy qaac.exe, msvcp120.dll, and msvcr120.dll into the 'C:\Program Files (x86)\foobar2000' folder.
Or simply install the foobar Free Encoder Pack, http://www.foobar2000.org/encoderpack
 
Rip w/ foobar:
http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Ripping_CDs_with_Foobar2000
 
BTW, after clicking 'Rip' I would click 'Verify with AccurateRip'
 
To rip to m4a/aac click the 'Proceed to Convertor Setup dialog' button-->click 'Output Format'-->'Add New' or 'Edit' an existing entry
Choose 'Custom' for Encoder
Encoder File:  point to C:\Program Files (x86)\foobar2000\qaac.exe
Extension:  m4a
Parameters: -V 109 -o %d - --no-optimize
Bit depth-->Format: Lossy
 
OR, if you've installed the Free Encoder Pack
Choose AAC (Apple)
Variable Bit Rate
move the Quality slider to pick your estimated bitrate (VBR Q 109 for ~256kbps)
 
Set 'Destination' as you like
Set 'Processing' to none
 
click 'Convert'

Thank you very much for taking the time to provide those steps. Yes, I had already downloaded the encoder pack and later something from qaac that ended up allowing my iphone to show up under File settings.
 
It's probably something simple, but I can't figure out how to get it to automatically name the file - when I click convert in the converter setup dialog box, it wants me to type in a name in "please select a destination folder" on my C drive under My Music where it is going to save the file. Why do I have to type in the name of the artist/album?

 

[redsandvb]

   
It's probably something simple, but I can't figure out how to get it to automatically name the file - when I click convert in the converter setup dialog box, it wants me to type in a name in "please select a destination folder" on my C drive under My Music where it is going to save the file. Why do I have to type in the name of the artist/album?

 
Did you also install the freedb tagger option of foobar, or fill in the Artist, Album, etc information?
 
When you get to the Convertor Setup box click 'Destination'.
If you want albums & files stored in something like C:\Music\Artist - Album\Tracknumber - Title.m4a
 
Output Path-->pick the main folder you want it in, C:\Music
 
Output style and file name formatting-->Convert each track to an individual file
Name format:
\%artist% - %album%\$num(%track%,2) - %title%
You can click on the '...' button for more choices.  See the Preview window to check final result.
 
Click Back
 
Click Convert
 
 
BTW, When all is set as you like I suggest saving it as a Preset before converting.  Also set the Processing section to none.