Ripping CD Optimally

1) flac

2) exact audio copy (windows)

3) any usb burner will work with your computer - here is one

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenDrive-External-Compatible-BackItUp/dp/B076CY7PW5/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2PL4N4ZNHAG2G&keywords=cd+burner&qid=1650344076&sprefix=cd+burne%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-8

Audio format - best to preserve CD quality and keep the maximum AQ (audio quality, I hope?) is WAV.

For a discussion on the relative merits of WAV and FLAC, see this short explanation - its reasonably non -technical and covers most bases sufficiently (including compatibility issues).

@papyneau 

I recommend using WAV format to rip your precious CD collection. Couple of things to consider with ripping, the storage of your rips and are you going to continue buying CD’s in future? If the answer is yes, then you should invest in a decent quality ripper and storage device. Most NAS are noisy and comes with a wall wart (another source of AC noise).

I recommend Bluesound Vault 2i which offers both ripping and storage of your files. 

After investigation, ALAC, or ALAC is as good as WAV and handles metadata which is pretty useful.

Thanks for the Vault 2i recommendation,it would pair nicely with my Node. It is out of stock atm, but I'll keep an eye open.

@papyneau 

Another reason to consider Vault 2i as it will replace your Node :-)

Dbpoweramp to lossless compressed flac format and any good quality cd drive and you are good to go.

1. flac. or wav

2.  dBpoweramp is top o the iist of "most worth it" to me.

3. I've used mostly cheap ones. They often perform better than OEM.

That said, Pioneers are nice.

flac or wav.

DBPoweramp CD Ripper  Free (still?), tried and true, full Accurate Rip verification.

If you already have a PC or Mac with built-in  DVD/CD Drive, use it.  or buy and install the internal drive.  Typically SATA, 16x or 24X.  Cheap and equal to quality of any other rip. 

I have been moving along as technology progressed. Ripping, a great idea in 2005. A waste of time in 2022. Put your efforts and money into streaming. For $14.99 you will get access to all your CDs and a few hundred thousand more. I have 2,000 CDs in racks acting as diffusers. I have gigabytes on my network and on my PC. None of them used. I stream, or occasionally listen to vinyl.

Streaming, CDs, stored files, and vinyl can sound the same at all levels of investment today.

 

Does anyone have familiarity with Melco Audio products?  Specifically their D100 optical drive for CD ripping?

Hi,

Thanks for your answers. I started this project and share what I did and how it's going so far.

I ripped about 45 of my CD for about 17 gigs. It will take some time, but I'm having fun doing it. I listen to some of my old CD, right after ripping them, to greet them in their digital afterlife. 

-Papyneau

 

ALAC format

My reasons:

It's lossless

It carries its metadata.

It compatible with roon

It compatible with Music available for free in on Apple eco system I am using. In the future, I might decide to stop using roon (or more honestly to pay monthly fees because roon is fantastic!) In Music, I'll have the exact same music for free. But not the roon added value of course.

No. 2 contender, FLAC, is not compatible with Music. That was the decisive factor.

 

dBpoweramp 

I'm using the free trial, but I'll buy when it expire. So far, the app works flawlessly. Ripping to Apple Lossless format using Burst methods, with occasional Secure. All this with AccurateRip query-ripping-result-cross-presing verification. A beautiful piece of machinery really.

All this with an old-fashioned-not-in-a-good-sense UI that yet, remains extremely functional.

ROOFULL External CD DVD Drive USB 3.0

42,53 CAD (37$ + taxes) on Amazon. Am I a monster?

I need to use a USB 3.0 to USB-C converter. I noticed the type of adapter have an impact on the drive capacity to detect a CD. If I use the "USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter" discs cannot be detected in (very) approximately 20% of cases. A "USB-C to USB Adapter" improve the situation significantly.

I found the usbc port on my laptop (MBP) I plug the drive into makes a difference. I "seems" it seems that the drive and the power needs to be on the left side OR they simply need to be plugged on the same side. 

But the right adapter plugged correctly, it works perfectly. Not a read failure since I found the the right setup. Its looks the drive needs a certain level of power to work normally.

It's 40$, I didn't expect it would be easy.

 

 

Nice!

 

I use dbpoweramp to flac lossless format. Music server is Plex and library resides on a usb drive connected to PC running Plex server. I often use airplay to stream to various hifi devices at cd quality from iPhone mainly. Plexamp is my main app on iPhone for streaming via AirPlay. Also use other music streaming apps that stream at cd res like radio paradise.

Picard is free and also useful for auto tagging when needed to supplement tagging in dbpoweramp. Also dbpoweramp provides the manual tag editor that is useful in rare cases when auto tagging fails.

 

Also digitize my vinyl collection slowly over time and add to my music library. Use a Rega mini phono to Audacity digital mastering software on PC for that.

I may try Roon at some point if I add a high res streaming service like quobuz but with thousands of ripped albums and growing and Spotify to explore when needed (decent sound but not cd res) I have more than enough to listen to for a long time.

I recently replaced separates with a Cambridge Evo 150 all-in-1. Review coming here soon.

I’ll take any and all cd’s you want to give away!  I’ll pay shipping and toss you some cash for lunch with a friend.  Pm me if interested