Actually, it shows like the first set. So, basically, I ripped on EAC and then double-clicked on the file to play on WMP (or Foobar). The name of the file is as following:
Keb'Mo' - A better man.flac
Oddly enough one file is recognized with the WMP icon. This is: Keb'Mo' - Slow Down.m3u
Regardless the name, if I play any *.flac file with either Foobar or with WMP, it will play it but it will not allow me to search for Album, Artist, etc. WMP or Foobar will only list the album within "My Libraries" folder - and when I go to the "Artists" folder, it would simply list the album under "Unknown". Odd.
One final question (sorry...) I haven't figured out how to copy/burn a CD using EAC? How do you do your copies?
Thanks so much for all this help. Really.
Josep |
WMA is Windows Media Lossless compression. A CD of 700 MB gets compressed into 40-50 MB with no mathematical losses (as long as you have the error corrector turned on in Windows Media Player).
You can transfer WAV into WMA using WMP. |
Thanks! yes, that's right forgot to say that you can choose the level of compression of WMA; and even if you choose lossless, it's quite faulty - specially during the reading part. (Even when installing ASIO4ALL.com and choosing error correction)
This is from Wavelength Audio's website: (http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/Cosecant-eac.html)
"Windows has a terrible little problem called the K-Mixed. It basically is a component of Windows that mucks with the data before it goes out the USB port. To fix that problem there is a little free program called ASIO4ALL.com that replaces the K-Mixer and sends out unaltered data to the USB Port."
About Apple Lossless, I have heard that it's rather lossy as well, and Windows Media Player (WMP) does not accept it. I think I am going to go .WAV. (Hard drive space is rather cheap these days...) The problem is that .wav seems not to like tags.
Have you found a way to rip with EAC and yet be able to manage the library through WMP or Meedio? |
Hi Edesilva,
thanks for the information. Can you tell me how can I get Windows Media Player AND Meedio to recognize the tags from FLAC copmression? I don't use Apple Lossless because I have a PC and use Windows Media Player.
WMP will play FLAC but it won't classify album, composer, etc.
Ideally I would rip everything using Windows Media Player, but many people have told me that it's lossy, with audiable differences. What I like about it, is that it's very simple and it keeps the library clean - but what it´s most important to me is good sound.
Meedio on the other hand allows you to rip on WAV but I don´t trust it as a ripping system.
What do you recommend? |
Well, I have been going back and forth and still haven't found the option that suits me best.
Actually, if I rip using EAC I do get the album/artist/track in each file but the problem is that EAC saves it in whatever folder you designated.
With WMA it was way easier because you would rip the CD and it would organize for you albums, artists, etc. So it would be easy for you to look for a particular CD, even if you don't remember the name of the album, etc. With EAC and with Foobar, to my understanding, you have to create the folders to keep them organized.
Basically, I am just looking for a way to easily rip my CDs lossless and then a way to play them that allows me to keep them organized (just like WMA). I don't really prefer Meedio. The only thing with Meedio is that it allows you to use the TV as your interface.
Edelsiva, do you recommend using Apple Lossless with PC? Does it allow you to organize your rips just as I described?
Thanks, and sorry with all these questions. |
Edelsiva,
I am just really impressed with all this information. First of all, I hope you feel better from your cold. In NY, temperature is just crazy. We are over 50 degrees these days. What an odd winter.
I "think" I understand what you are saying. But I feel I have to put it in place. For now, I only used two players (Windows Media Player and Meedio). None of them recognized the tags from EAC. Well, they did, they recognized the track name, artist and all in each file, but they didn't input the file in their libraries so searching would be easier. The truth is that I didn't set up EAC as you explained it. I will try these coming days.
Again, thanks for the info! I am really really impressed.
Josep |
One last question, do PCs read ALAC format? I am not sure I will end up using the tagging scripts you mentioned and maybe in the future I go Mac. (Still deciding...) |
this is great! thanks! I have tried what you told me. And eventhough WMP or Meedio recognize the file name (with album artist in it) and add it to My Libraries, they do not add it to the internal library of the program (the one that lets you search for Album/Artist, etc.)
Now, I am curious what should I do. Whether using ALAC or FLAC. (I am about to rip my entire collection and I don't know what to do.) Eventually I might use an iPod but it's somewhat unlikely that I move to Mac. (Used PC all my life and I am very familiar with it).
How can I rip to ALAC using EAC?
thanks, Josep |
Hi, well, I tried a million combinations of what you told me and decided that the way you have it set up is probably the best one. I don't like to work around Foobar so I can use Meedio or WMP. iTunes is fine as a player. One More question: since AAC is lossy, won't these rips be lossy?
This is what I did:
(1) I finally installed the iTunes encoder for EAC from the link you sent me. Thanks!
(2) Your link (http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1358221��) to change encoding AAC to ALAC was not working. I found in some site a line to add to EAC to generate ALAC files using the iTunes encoder. (I am not sure if this allows the rip to be lossless)
(3) I use iTunes to manage my libraries and if I eventually use an iPod I won't have any problems
(4) When I want to rip a CD and still make a copy of it as a back up, what I do is deselect the option on EAC ("delete WAV file"), rip it compressed, and then I write the CD using these WAV files. After this, I simply delete the WAV files manually. (Is this the fastest way of doing this?)
I realize I am asking way too many questions. It's just that you have been extremely helpful
Again, thanks!
Josep
PS. Next step, remote controlling my PC. I have the laptop sitting 50 feet (15 meters) from my amp. Gordon from Wavelength told me that I should not be using USB extendors (which would reach 15 meters) to connect my PC to the USB DAC Wavelength Audio Brick. My interconnect is 1 meter. He adviced me building a 50 feet interconnect of Kimber cable or Accrotec cable instead of running USB extendors. The problem is that that will cost me several grand. What can I do? |
(I got it! I didn't realize that I have to set it so iTunes uses ALAC encoding, plus I had to change the EAC command line to use lossless encoding.)
Anyway, can you still help me out on the question about remote controlling the PC?
"I have the laptop sitting 50 feet (15 meters) from my amp. Gordon from Wavelength told me that I should not be using USB extendors (which would reach 15 meters) to connect my PC to the USB DAC Wavelength Audio Brick. My interconnect is 1 meter. He adviced me building a 50 feet interconnect of Kimber cable or Accrotec cable instead of running USB extendors. The problem is that that will cost me several grand. What can I do?"
Thanks!!!!
Josep |
Pit, haven't tried that route. So far, the cheapest thing for me it´s been Salling Clicker for $20 it allows you to control iTunes and WMP from your bluetooth device
Ed, I was wondering whether I can ask you one more thing. I have been playing around with EAC --> iTunes (ALAC) software with so far good results. I have one last question. When I burn my CD on EAC (set up to be converted to ALAC through iTunes), then the resulting file is saved in a folder that EAC creates. IN ADDITION, iTunes generates its own mpeg4 file saved into the iTunes folder which is the one that it plays. If I delete the file created from EAC nothing happens, I still can play the file from iTunes. I wonder whether that file is really ALAC. Plus, should I delete the original file created by EAC?
Finally, do you have any idea how to modify tags within iTunes?
Thanks!!
Josep |
Eric, thanks (again) for the info. Following your instructions has been easy to modify tags in iTunes (thanks!), but I am still not 100% sure on the quality rips I get from EAC. This is what I get:
0) I checked under Edit/Preferences/Advanced/General that the option "Copy filesto iTunes Music Folder" is unchecked
1) Everytime I rip any CD with EAC, it creates where I designated (with EAC) a folder with the name of the Artist and the CD Title. In it, it leaves (for each song) two files .WAV (which I request in EAC not to delete so far) and .ALAC (which I request to be saved with this extension name)
2) While iTunes "translates" the wav file into iTunes, it creates an "iTunes" folder where it saves also the tracks on MPEG4 (I have no idea why and whether they are Apple Lossless) with tags and all.
3) So I am left with two files created by EAC: WAV and ALAC and another file created by iTUnes.
4) The tricky thing is that if I double click on the alac file, iTunes start but it will not play the file. Both files, MPEG4 and Alac, are the same sizewise, which makes me believe that the Mpeg4 is in fact Apple Lossless, but I am still not sure
5) Finally, if I delete the ALAC file created by EAC, the song still plays at iTunes.
As you can imagine, I just want to get it right, so I can start Phase 3 (Burning all my collection into the new Lacie 250Gb hard drive that I've bought.)
Again, I really apologize for the headache. This is tougher than I expected.
Josep |
Eric, can't thank you enough for your comments - as usual.
I went to iTunes and selected Get Info. The files show as Apple Lossless. Then, went to EAC and the only difference I see is that under compression options, in external compression I had ".alac". So I changed it to ".m4a".
I am assumig that the folder where EAC creates its files has to be the same one than the iTunes folder (in iTunes, under Edit-Preferences-Advanced) right? What happens if they are different folders?
Josep |
Eric, again, thanks. You must think I am retarded!
No, the "copy files to iTunes directory" option is not checked. However, still it's creating the files twice.
I think I know why. Under EAC Options, I have the following naming scheme: %I\%A\%C\%N-%T (which neatly organizes EAC files for Genre\Artist and so on.
However, what EAC does is it creates the .m4a file in that folder following the naming scheme AND in the folder designated in iTunes. If I delete one, I can still play the other one.
How can I prevent this from happening?
Thanks!
Josep |
Eric, I finally figured it out! After two weeks...
I unchecked in EAC the option "Use CD Text information in CUE Sheet" under EAC Options/Tools. Also unchecked "Create m3u playlist on extraction.
These were creating a duplicate of files. Now, it works flawlessly as you said.
BTW, I got the two 16 ft USB extendors. I connected two to reach to my DAC. I did AB comparisons and it sounds way better without the extendors. I feel Gordon was right but building a long interconnect is going to be pretty overwhelming. I've been recommended to use silk insulated solid silver wire; and that's so expensive (reaching to 30 ft)
Also, I've been suffering the Kmixer problem. How do you avoid kmixer with iTunes/ALAC and USB DAC? |
