The best way to create a backup of Audio CDs

[J_C_Denton1]

Hi all, Id like to know the way to create an accurate backup of original Audio CDs.
Is it by Copying On-the-Fly, or copying to hard disk as WAV and converted back (EAC)?

Or is there any other better methods?

Thanks!

 

[Kelvie1234]

I think the latter would be better, as EAC is the probably one of the most accurate way to extract data.

Although.. this should probably not be under the Portable Audio forum..

 

[daxx]

I usually drop the original CD in one drive and a blank CR-R in the writer, then use Nero's CD-Copy function to create a disk image, then burn that image to the CD-R. I get copies that sound the same as the originals. The few times I converted the CD to WAV, then back to CD-audio I noticed a drop in quality.

I guess this is related to portable audio because I won't take my original CD's out of the house, only the copies. I figure that is someone breaks into the car and takes a wallet full of copies, I've only lost a few dollars for the blanks and wallet. If I lost a wallet full of original CD's, that would cost me $250+ to replace them all, assuming I could locate good quality copies of a lot of my (now deleted) music collection.

 

[J_C_Denton1]

Daxx perfectly explains my reasons to backing up CDs. Its damn expensive to replace (if it is still possible to buy in the future)

However, Im confused!

One suggested On-the-Fly, while another suggested Convert-to-WAV.

Can someone please clarify! (Or there is no accurate way to do it?)


Now, I wonder converting Audio CDs to WAV can be called a "Compression" ? If so, would it be a Lossles or Lossy?

 

[Kelvie1234]

Converting to WAV would be the accurate way... it's lossless.

Extracting it with EAC will get every single 1 and 0 off that disc.. and when you copy it again.. it'll reproduce every single 1 and 0... therefore creating an exact copy.

With On-the-fly.. too many things can go wrong... so by far the better way would be to rip from WAV using EAC.

I suspect bad extraction if you notice a drop in quality in WAV.. as that shouldn't happen.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Properly configured EAC is the only way to be absolutely positively sure that you will have a bitwise-accurate copy.

At this time.

PS I moved it to source, but not sure if that was necessarily where to put it...if the thread-starter cares to state where he would like it, I would happily oblige...

 

[blessingx]

As far as I know WAV is not lossless. I didn't think it was compression at all.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Quote:

Originally posted by blessingx As far as I know WAV is not lossless. I didn't think it was compression at all.

"Not lossless" implies "lossy" -- is that really what you meant? 'cause it's not.

Lossless, in this case, means "lossless transfer of data", not compression, I think.

 

[blessingx]

Yeah confused by Now, I wonder converting Audio CDs to WAV can be called a "Compression" ? If so, would it be a Lossless or Lossy?

Glad you were able to figure it out.

I'm going to do a lossless money transfer to the pizza delivery guy shortly.

 

[Kelvie1234]

Quote:

Originally posted by blessingx I'm going to do a lossless money transfer to the pizza delivery guy shortly.

Haha.. tell the delivery boy that too..

 

[greenhorn]

Some people say the Plextools (a soft they give with Plextor CD writers) is even better than EAC.

I use Plextools myself. I can't say if it gives better results than EAC (of course it also has this "correct errors" facility!)... BUT IT's SOOOOOOO MUCH EASIER TO USE!!!

 

[Musicfan123]

What's EAC?

 

[Glassman]

the best extraction tool ever -> EAC

the BEST and ULTIMATE way to copy CDs is properly configured EAC (read & write offset correction and Secure mode extraction).. when I rip some CD and then write it on blank CD-R, then rip the CD-R I end up with EXACTLY the same file.. so

if you can achieve this with your drive, then you're ok - nothing can be better

 

[greenhorn]

Quote:

Originally posted by Glassman the best extraction tool ever -> EAC the BEST and ULTIMATE way to copy CDs is properly configured EAC (read & write offset correction and Secure mode extraction).. when I rip some CD and then write it on blank CD-R, then rip the CD-R I end up with EXACTLY the same file.. so if you can achieve this with your drive, then you're ok - nothing can be better

As I said: people who know much more than I do about this issue say that Plextools beats EAC

 

[pbirkett]

Well if EAC does EXACT COPIES then how can Plextools be better?

The only time I've read about Plextools being better than EAC is when its used on a Plextor drive (duh) on damaged CDs where EAC cannot read them / takes hours.