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Archiving CDs to HD...suggestions?

i'm thinking of moving and wondering the best way to consolidate my 3k CD collection to a hard drive, which would be much easier to move.

clearly i'd go into PC/Mac-based audio in my new abode.

but a few questions first:
1) does the cd drive matter to the rip? or do i just need to use a good software like EAC or the like to ensure an accurate rip?

2) if i rip on a PC, do i have to use a PC in the future, or can i use a Mac against my external music store if it was created under a PC?

3) what sort of redundancy is in order? RAID 1? RAID 5? or just another HD the same as the one i plan on playing from, and simply use it as a backup?

4) which uncompressed file format should i use? AAC or something else?

5) any estimate of how much storage would be required for 3k CDs? or would it be feasible to split my music collection across 2 primary HDs...like A-L, M-Z...which is really asking if playback software can read across multiple drives in one virtual "library"

6) are rips sensitive to vibrations, power conditioning, etc?

thanks for any suggestions
RC
rhyno

Showing 1 response by truckwhisperer

truckwhisperer
2 posts
 
I have done the same. I paid my daughter a little extra summer spending money and had her rip our 400 CD's onto my Mac Pro, and spend the time making sure the itunes interface got all the album pictures right. This is then on wi fi from my office to our music room to Apple Airport Express base station, which I have connected via Toslink to my krell DAC. This hardware can be simplified further if a mac mini is used near your rig.

I select my music either with an Ipod or iPad we have around.

Because I now have our music in the computer realm discipline is used to back up my library. This is an Apple centric but it does seem to work well. This was all a very cheap solution and I am glad to get rid of the clutter of so many CD's around.

The most important things: Sound - its great. Ease of Use - Its great and is slick if you are apple centric. Another pleasant surprise is using the itunes the many 100's of itunes radio stations for exploring or background music.

The only downside I have so far is that stream is interrupted if somebody uses the microwave.
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