Music cd converter

[jay1023]

hi all the audiophile. i am clueless and need everyone to give me suggestion how am i going to covert all my cds to flac, aiff, dsd. Do you guys have any software recommendation?

[kumakuma]

If you are using a Mac, XLD is my preferred program for ripping CDs.

[jay1023]

hi there~ as for now i am using windows now ~~ any recommendation for that?

[Audio_ELF]

dbPowerAmp is usually recommended. The alternative is EAC.

[Allan F]

dbPowerAmp is usually recommended. The alternative is EAC.

 

I agree with the above for Windows. dBpoweramp is a commercial product whereas Exact Audio Copy (EAC) is free. IMO, dBpoweramp is worth every penny because of all the features it provides.

 

You mention DSD. You normally can't rip SACDs to DSD because of Sony's copyright protection. However, there is a way which involves using an early model Sony PS3 and special software. I won't go into any detail here because there is a very lengthy thread on the topic: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/sacd-ripping-using-your-ps3-part-2-a-7495/ Or you can google "SACD Ripping".

 

Welcome to CA!

[esldude]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/cddarip/

 

CD XP Ripper

 

This one isn't too bad either. Free, might as well download it and see what you think. Pretty simple to use and does all the basics like tagging the rips etc. The interface isn't gee whiz, but it works fine.

 

I have done ripping with a number of things. db poweramp has the most creature comforts I suppose. Try a couple of the free ones to rip a few CD's then look at the features of db poweramp and see if you find them worthwhile. Any software that gets you accurate rips and does tagging for metadata is fine.

 

After doing all my CD's the first time over a few days I now will use Foobar or EAC when adding one or two new CD's to my music.

[audiventory]

I agree with the above for Windows. dBpoweramp is a commercial product whereas Exact Audio Copy (EAC) is free. IMO, dBpoweramp is worth every penny because of all the features it provides.

 

You mention DSD. You normally can't rip SACDs to DSD because of Sony's copyright protection. However, there is a way which involves using an early model Sony PS3 and special software. I won't go into any detail here because there is a very lengthy thread on the topic: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/sacd-ripping-using-your-ps3-part-2-a-7495/ Or you can google "SACD Ripping".

 

Welcome to CA!

 

Possibly, jay1023 said about converting CD to DSD files (DSF or DFF audio files)?

 

Better use DSF due it have metatags support (song name, album, performer,...)

[jay1023]

thank you so much guys~~ as i have recently start to purchase all the singer cds i love. I am looking for high resolution songs as i am going to use a DAP with my sennheiser amperior to listen to my music. So is it possible to get DSF files or convert all my cds into those format? any recommandation where can i get the biggest online store for cds or dsf format music?

[dpstjp2]

Converting a CD to DSF format will not make the tracks sound any better, and adds a further set of processing to what are native PCM files. It will also limit them to hardware that can read DSD.

 

Rip your CDs to FLAC or AIFF. The posters above have given you plenty of good alternatives.

[YashN]

Converting a CD to DSF format will not make the tracks sound any better, and adds a further set of processing to what are native PCM files.

 

That's very system and implementation-dependent. What if the output stage for DSD 2x is better?

[jay1023]

ok thank you all! any earphone that can recommend? to suit all this HD tracks?

[audiventory]

Converting a CD to DSF format will not make the tracks sound any better, and adds a further set of processing to what are native PCM files. It will also limit them to hardware that can read DSD.

 

Rip your CDs to FLAC or AIFF. The posters above have given you plenty of good alternatives.

 

I agree with YashN.

 

Theoretically for PCM DAC better PCM formats, for DSD - DSD formats. But I heard different opinions. Need try own system (player - operation system - drivers - DAC).

 

DSD128 by my measurements better PCM24 ( How Impact to Audio Quality of PCM to DSF Conversion. 1-bit DSF vs. PCM ).

 

But it is complex matter again.

[blownsi]

ok thank you all! any earphone that can recommend? to suit all this HD tracks?

 

The Headfi forums are a wealth of knowledge but let me start by asking a few questions:

 

Budget for headphones?

What are you going to drive them with?

What kinds of music do you like?

Would you like an over ear, on-ear or in ear?

[jay1023]

The Headfi forums are a wealth of knowledge but let me start by asking a few questions:

 

Budget for headphones?

What are you going to drive them with?

What kinds of music do you like?

Would you like an over ear, on-ear or in ear?

 

hey erm budget not too expensive less than 500 bucks more than 200 bucks. planning to use fiio X1 to drive them. using flac music format and i am all rounder listen to all genre expect for heavy metal. mostly are pop r&b club mix and rock music like bon jovi.

[jay1023]

I agree with YashN.

 

Theoretically for PCM DAC better PCM formats, for DSD - DSD formats. But I heard different opinions. Need try own system (player - operation system - drivers - DAC).

 

DSD128 by my measurements better PCM24 ( How Impact to Audio Quality of PCM to DSF Conversion. 1-bit DSF vs. PCM ).

 

But it is complex matter again.

 

hi there wow erm i have a hard time understanding the names what is pcm? does 24 41 128 all this make a different i dont really know how to differentiate them. mind explaning it to me?

[audiventory]

hi there wow erm i have a hard time understanding the names what is pcm? does 24 41 128 all this make a different i dont really know how to differentiate them. mind explaning it to me?

 

PCM = WAV, AIFF, FLAC, APE, CD, mp3, ... (formats with multibit samples - 16/24/32 bit [integer] and 32/64 bit floating point)

main sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kHz

 

DSD = DSF, DFF, SACD ISO image (formats with 1-bit samples)

sample rates: D64(2.8 MHz = 44.1 x 64), D128(5.6 MHz = 44.1 x 128), D256(11.2 MHz = 44.1 x 256), D512(22.5 MHz = 44.1 x 512)

 

DSD DAC simpler multibit DAC.

[jay1023]

PCM = WAV, AIFF, FLAC, APE, CD, mp3, ... (formats with multibit samples - 16/24/32 bit [integer] and 32/64 bit floating point)

main sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kHz

 

DSD = DSF, DFF, SACD ISO image (formats with 1-bit samples)

sample rates: D64(2.8 MHz = 44.1 x 64), D128(5.6 MHz = 44.1 x 128), D256(11.2 MHz = 44.1 x 256), D512(22.5 MHz = 44.1 x 512)

 

DSD DAC simpler multibit DAC.

 

so i believe flac will be a better choice to use am i right? how does the main sample rates affect the music?

[audiventory]

so i believe flac will be a better choice to use am i right? how does the main sample rates affect the music?

 

FLAC save free space on HDD.

 

Generally, sample rate and bit-depth better use maximal for your DAC.

 

Practically, need check sound for different sample rates with your system.

[jay1023]

FLAC save free space on HDD.

 

Generally, sample rate and bit-depth better use maximal for your DAC.

 

Practically, need check sound for different sample rates with your system.

 

 

how do i know which will be a better choice? i am using Fiio X1. portable DAP!

[jhwalker]

jay1023 -

 

CDs are always produced in 16-bit depth, 44.1kHz sampling rate (i.e., 16/44 or "Redbook") format. As dpstjp2 pointed out in post #9, ripping CDs to anything other than 16/44 PCM (FLAC is probably your best choice, as it saves disk space and supports all the tags you need) is unnecessary and may be detrimental, as any conversion to another bit depth (e.g., 16>24) , sampling rate (e.g., 44>96), or format (e.g., PCM>DSD) invariably involves discarding the original content on the CD and replacing it with something that has been run through a conversion program. That converted data may or may not "sound better" to you on your system . . . but what will certainly not be the original data that was on the disk.

 

If you want to try converting to other formats *after* you've ripped a bit perfect copy of your CD then, by all means, give it a whirl. But don't throw away the original data at the time you rip it.

[Jabs1542]

jay1023 -

 

CDs are always produced in 16-bit depth, 44.1kHz sampling rate (i.e., 16/44 or "Redbook") format. As dpstjp2 pointed out in post #9, ripping CDs to anything other than 16/44 PCM (FLAC is probably your best choice, as it saves disk space and supports all the tags you need) is unnecessary and may be detrimental, as any conversion to another bit depth (e.g., 16>24) , sampling rate (e.g., 44>96), or format (e.g., PCM>DSD) invariably involves discarding the original content on the CD and replacing it with something that has been run through a conversion program. That converted data may or may not "sound better" to you on your system . . . but what will certainly not be the original data that was on the disk.

 

If you want to try converting to other formats *after* you've ripped a bit perfect copy of your CD then, by all means, give it a whirl. But don't throw away the original data at the time you rip it.

 

Which gets us back to dBPowerAmp since it comes with an app that will convert just about everything except DSD formats. It would be very easy to; a) rip a CD to 16:44, then b) covert a copy to a few other bit depth / resolutions (i.e. 24:96) and check it out yourself. This will let you experience the sound and get a feel for dealing with the data (high res files get rather large). I agree with John, up converting may not be the best path - and even if you can't hear a difference dealing with the larger files for no appreciable gain is often the deal breaker - particularly when using a portable device.

[One and a half]

Converting a CD to DSF format will not make the tracks sound any better, and adds a further set of processing to what are native PCM files. It will also limit them to hardware that can read DSD.

 

Rip your CDs to FLAC or AIFF. The posters above have given you plenty of good alternatives.

 

DACs like PS Audio DS, Meitner, Playback designs internally use DSD128 and from there start the "to Audio" conversion. So whether a CD is converted before the DAC to DSD or not, is largely a matter of deciding disk space. I found any DSD is easier on the ear than PCM.

 

To convert anything to DSD, I used to use Jriver, however better results are obtained from AudioGate 3.0. Dbpoweramp can convert DSD to PCM, not the other way round for the moment.

[Jabs1542]

Dbpoweramp can convert DSD to PCM, not the other way round for the moment.

 

I tried that just last week, dBPowerAmp did not recognize the DSF files. Am I missing a setting somewhere?

[songswelove]

Hi John,

 

I'm new in everything. Please forgive me if this isn't the right forum to ask. (Or, I should start a new thread?)

 

Project Software/Hardware: PC, Win7, Adobe Audition (2.0), music CDs, mic/digital mixer, MacBook Air, Yosemite. (no fancy speakers system).

 

Question:

I want to produce the best quality CD (given my equipment + music), I should rip CD (Adobe can extract CD with settings like: MMC Read CD, CD speeds (1936 kBps), and buffer size (16kb)), mix sound tracks, and save the file as WAV and/or AIFF as the master file.

 

Do I really need to look into MAC rip software posted in this forum like XLD or MAX etc? (If necessary, I can spend some time ripping those CDs in my Mac.)

 

Since I don't have Audition for MAC, I have to use Audition in my PC and get the WAV or AIFF output. I should also assume the end product CD to be the same whether I finally burn it in a Mac or PC, right? (As long as the sample rate/type is set 44100, bit depth is 16 bits.)

 

I lost a huge stock of master files but I still have some MP3 files which were converted from those master files. Reading posts everywhere makes me realize that I couldn't possibly convert those mp3 files back to their original richer wav or aiff. That means I have to redo the masters.

 

Thank you very much for your time.

 

FYI:

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/550033?tstart=0

[flatmap]

hey erm budget not too expensive less than 500 bucks more than 200 bucks. planning to use fiio X1 to drive them. using flac music format and i am all rounder listen to all genre expect for heavy metal. mostly are pop r&b club mix and rock music like bon jovi.

 

For this kind of music, I'd certainly consider at the VMODA offerings... either the XS for super portable on-ear or the Crossfade M-100 for slightly larger over-ear (circumaural) style. The M-100 has more bass. There are many many options in this price range.