Ripping on MACs

[antubaro]

I have always been using iTUNES with error correction to rip my CDs and transfer the file on a Quadra LACIE 2T disk array running in RAID 1 but I wonder whether other softwares like MAC (highly recommended for file format conversion) or Perfect Copy (running on Windows) are any better and are worth the effort (particularly for Perfect Copy). What is everybody else experience?

Andrea

 

 

 

[Lord Chaos]

I've been using Itunes for the last two years, and am pleased with it. One big advantage it has over other programs is that it uses a better database for track info, meaning you have to do fewer corrections.

 

Nearly all discs rip perfectly. Occasionally I'll have a problem with a defective disc, but that happens with any program except the ones specifically designed for it, and they take much longer to rip. Itunes is a good compromise. I just send the defective discs back... or rip them with Itunes on another computer.

 

I just bought a 1 terabyte RAID 1 system for my music. I'm not looking forward to copying all 435GB to it...

 

[Lizard_King]

I suggest you use Bootcamp, VMWare , etc. and install XP. Then download the free app called Exact Audio Copy and use Secured Mode. There is no app out there that is better and nothing at all for the lowly Mac platform.

 

[mpmct]

Oy. Totally silliness. Too bad.

 

 

 

 

[cfmsp]

 

 

"The myth of EAC superiority has been exploded", or so says a post on this topic at Audio Asylum - PC Audio, which references a comparison done by a mastering engineer.

 

http://www.designwsound.com/dwsblog/?page_id=535

 

The consensus opinion seems to be that EAC is preferable when ripping discs which are significantly damaged, but it is slow. IOW, you pay a time penalty using EAC but this might be helpful ripping a disc that cannot be correctly ripped with other software. There is NOTHING better about a successful EAC rip than with a successful rip with any other software, except in the odd instance of damage.

 

 

As for Macintosh options, using iTunes WITH error correction turned on will be satisfactory for most people.

 

Since the Macintosh platform is Unix-based, it can run programs that are ported from Linux. The top (or one of) Linux ripping program - CDParanoia - has been ported and included (as a library) in two programs offered on the Macintosh.

 

Max seems to be the most well known and most often recommended. http://sbooth.org/Max/

BTW, sbooth.org also offer Play for playback.

 

Another is Pillage. http://www.bratproductions.com/software/pillage.html#introduction

 

 

There's also a rumor that just dragging and dropping (on a Mac) may sound better, but I can't vouch for that, and don't know how that could be the case. I assume it could be as good, soooo...if you want to avoid iTunes altogether, that's a simple alternative to consider.

 

The downside of using ripping software other than iTunes (and this includes EAC) is getting CD Track Data automatically.

 

A new program called TuneUp has been able to automatically supply track information (post rip) for the small sample of non-iTunes rips that I've tried thus far. You can try it out before purchase.

 

...and I'd suggest that if you're seeking advice on tools for a Mac that you listen to advice of those who actually use a Mac rather than those who continually trash the 'lowly' macintosh platform.

 

YMMV,

 

enjoy the music,

clay

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Surely you jest Lizard King?

 

 

 

 

[Al]

doesnt really need exploding. For a long time now, many an EAC user has been well aware that its only real advantage is that it laughs in teh face of damaged disks, instead of spitting them out, as many rippers do. It just depends how important this is to you.

 

The accuracy of any ripper can be argued about, until you conclude that in order to tell if there are audible innacuracies, you would have to listen to every rip.

 

 

 

[Innertuber]

I've had one CD so far that would not rip using iTunes on Macbook. Tried it on the iMac and it ripped fine. Why bother with anything else unless you are having major problems?

 

[cfmsp]

 

 

I believe the answer to your question is contained in the name of the dedicated ripping software program that originated on Linux - a platform whose development community have no shortage of humor (or irony) represented in their naming of software.

 

In this case - CD Paranoia

 

EAC was developed in an age when ripping was a much less reliable event than today.

 

 

enjoy

clay

 

 

[audiozorro]

If iTunes is too easy, use EAC. Many people need a challenge and others believe 'no pain, no gain'.

 

Here's something to get your mental wheels rolling:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=64467

 

Personally, I use and love iTunes on my Mac. I use iTunes for all of my ripping and it is my primary music library management software. I also copy my iTunes music library to my MediaMonkey XP music server. My XP music server also has all my FLAC files that I have not yet converted to AIFF using Max.

 

CD ripping should be easy. DVD-A and SACD are more of a challenge. But when I want to be challenged, I will digitize some LPs.

 

[alcina]

I tend to use XLD (http://tmkk.hp.infoseek.co.jp/xld/index_e.html): I rip to FLAC and it was one of the ones recommended to me. I rip to FLAC because I don't have large amounts of disk space so I have to compress, and despite being a mac fan boy I don't like being tied to iTunes for apple lossless as I also use a lot of other *nix and the occasional windows. And I'm in the habit of FLAC now. I just found XLD easier to use than Max. YMMV!

 

I have had to resort to EAC for a disc that nothing else would rip (didn't always play that well either) and it appears to have ripped it perfectly, so I think that for damaged discs EAC probably still is the best out there - after all clicks and jumps don't sound too great even if the "working" bits sound the same as with any other ripper! But, that was one disk out of many, many disks. Not worth changing my favoured platform for - just borrow someone's Windows machine if you have a disc that won't rip on anything else.

 

[Wavelength]

Don't waste your time with EAC... as it has been seen here there is no difference in ripping preformance between iTunes and EAC:

 

http://www.designwsound.com/dwsblog/?page_id=535

 

There was another article and I cannot find it now from a German recording industry that said iTunes on a MAC was superior to EAC.

 

Guys... it use to that EAC was the only program in town. Now it's pretty easy to do this with any application.

 

Thanks

Gordon

 

[Lord Chaos]

I keep intending to buy a music server, but the old Powermac G4 still keeps going without problems. I've ripped close to 2000 CDs with its onboard drive and am, most of the time, pleased with the results.

 

The major annoyance is that if Itunes does have a problem reading a disc, it gives no hint. I don't know about it until I listen to the music and hear the drop-outs. I always have error correction turned on but there's still no indication of trouble. This happens only rarely.

 

When it does happen, I rip the CD using Itunes on my PC and then transfer the files to the Mac library. The CD drive on the PC is better than the one in the Mac; I'm thinking about buying an offboard Plextor drive to use with the Mac.

 

I'm using Itunes 7.something on a 1.5 GHz Powerbook 17-inch, with a LaCie 500GB USB drive. Output is to a Benchmark DAC1 USB and either Denon AH-D7000 headphones, or the living room stereo. The music library will soon move to a Newer Tech 1 terabyte RAID 1 system on Firewire, from Other World Computing. This should alleviate the occasional USB dropout, in addition to protecting the library.

 

[Al]

So ill say this then shut up on this one.

 

1 - there seems to be an asumption that people use itunes. this isnt always true.

 

2 - EAC's claim over the others is pretty much 100% accurate rips almost 100% of the time. This is still true of EAC, but of very few other rippers. I've had several tracks that EAC has taken over an hour to rip. They have ripped with no audible problems and a report has told me where to listen for them, too. What would have happenned with other rippers?

 

3 - im really very amused that people on this site of all are prepared to say "meh, it does the job" where rippers are concerned, but will debate "jitter" forever and a day. Then start again LOL!

 

My apologies. I got a bit irritated. All meant in the best possible taste and humour tho.

 

Now, go in peace with whatever software floats your boat.