File format compatible with iTunes and J.River

I am afraid WAV is the only format compatible with both iTunes and J. River.

Just curious, why J. River? Why don't you just use iTunes on PC?

I planned to use J.River because it is my understanding that you can not bypass the KMixer with iTunes on WinXP. If there is a way to bypass the KMixer I would probably just use iTunes. Does someone know how to do that?

I use dbpoweramp to rip to APE for archival storage. dbpoweramp can also do lossless conversion to any format. I play APE directly using J River as my player with usb-audio.de AISO drivers to a variety of USB to DAC devices including HAG, offramp and Trends. I think this combo gives terrific sound and is future-proof.

Proving your rip is "bit perfect" at more than 99% of your tracks is harder than most folks realize (Google Digital Audio Extraction if you care). J River is a ripper is fine but not the best for compulsive types.

phil

> Anyone have any suggestions for a file format that is
> lossless and compatible with iTunes and J.River?

Don't worry about changing to a mac in the future. Once you have your files in one lossless file format, it is an easy mechanical operation to convert them to ALAC. Plenty of time to locate the right utility. Go with Flac for niow and you'll be fine.

> J River is a ripper is fine but not the best for
> compulsive types.

Check your compulsion to be sure it is rational. I'm familiar with the theoretical problems with DAE. In practice, they have not mattered much for me.

I carefully compared the audio data for files ripped with J.River and EAC for CDs in three categories:

- CDs that J.River ripped without having to re-read any blocks for which the first 2 reads didn't agree. EAC and J.River created files matched in every case I tried.

- CDs with some blocks that J.River had to re-read to get a consistent result. EAC and J.River created files matched in every case I tried.

I compared results for dozens of CDs in these categories before ending my tests.

- CDs that J.River couldn't read with confidence in the result. I continued to try to read every such CD until I hasd ripped about 1500 CDs. EAC was unable to rip any of these CDs. NOT ONE!

I have always taken good care of my CDs. Most were read by J.River without any extra re-reads (1st category.) About 3-5% required some reads but were ripped with high confidence. About 1% could not be read with confidence. (In 2000 CDs, that's about 20 CDs.) A few were afflicted with visible holes from a known problem at a pressing plant in Europe in the 80s. Others had small spots. None had giant scratches.

If you have lots of CDs with scratches, dirt and other visible problems, your experience might vary. Do your own comparisons. There is way too much armchair theory on the net and too little actual results from careful tests.

EAC using Test&Copy secure mode and J.River secure mode are roughly equal in speed. dBpoweramp can be much faster if your driver provides accurate C2 error info or if your disks are in the AccurateRip database. Most of my collection is A) not in an online tag database or B) tagged wrong because it is classical music. With J.River I get the tags right when I rip the CD. Much less wear and tear on me than EAC or dBpoweramp.

test was 2000 discs ripped.
10 consistent errors split between visually perfect and visibly damaged CDs using Plextor drives with C2 detection

Therefore 99.5% accuracy on a per cd basis and about 99% on a per track basis

Today "compulsive" industrial processes are considered imperfect at 99.999%. As I said "compulsive". supply your own confidence levels.