Best CD-to-MP3 ripper?

[MDesigner]

What's a good ripper? I have some CDs I'd like to dump to MP3 format. Tried Audio Catalyst.. didn't work right, I switch to ASPI mode and it says CD drive not ready. I have ASPI 4.6 (my OS is WinXP). Any other software I could use? Not impressed by Audio Catalyst.

Thanks!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Try using the search box here and in Off-Topic, this gets asked every few days.

 

[BlueWeasel]

My personal favorite: Cdex Homepage

 

[BCYL]

Try the AT FAQ...

I use EAC + LAME, works very well....

 

[Davegod]

as per the at faq, EAC+LAME. Easily the best quality MP3 to my ears.

 

[MDesigner]

LAME encoder sucks big time. At 128Kbps, I can hear "warbling" and other artifacts. I know it's free, but still...

I use the Mp3 encoder that came w/ SoundForge. I think it's Xing.. really good stuff.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: MDesigner
LAME encoder sucks big time. At 128Kbps, I can hear "warbling" and other artifacts. I know it's free, but still...

I use the Mp3 encoder that came w/ SoundForge. I think it's Xing.. really good stuff.

LAME has always sounded fine with me, I doubt LAME itself is your problem.
I've seen multiple sources stating that Xing sucks for sound quality though.

Oh well, Ogg Vorbis owns anyway

 

[Davegod]

Originally posted by: MDesigner
Oh well, Ogg Vorbis owns anyway

quality ogg encoder of choice? I used to have some odd right-click thing but it was pretty pants tbh.
While your at it, whats your opinion of WMA (ignoring that its done by MS ) ?

 

[Sunner]

I don't have any WMA files, and I don't think I've listened to any, in fact I dont know much about it at all, so I don't really have any oppinion.

But IIRC, MS hasn't opened WMA, have they?
And it does include support for DRM, no?

If either of those is true, then it sucks, no matter who develops it

Oh and I just use an encoder I found at vorbis.com, don't remember what it was called, was a while since I encoded a file(Im too lazy), but it works fine for me, not very fancy but that doesn't bother me.

Soon Nero will be releasing some public docs on how to write plugins as well, which will enable anyone who wants to to write a plugin to decode/burn ogg files on the fly, once that happens Im all set

 

[de8212]

My personal favorite: Cdex Homepage

 

[Joemonkey]

i prefer audiograbber w/ lame...

 

[Workin']

Originally posted by: MDesigner
LAME encoder sucks big time. At 128Kbps, I can hear "warbling" and other artifacts. I know it's free, but still...

I use the Mp3 encoder that came w/ SoundForge. I think it's Xing.. really good stuff.

Xing has been proven to be the absolute worst encoder. I've never heard LAME make a bad mp3 - and I've made thousands and thousands of them.

Folks should try reading the FAQ's, too... (and they will be updated soon, as soon as I can find this elusive thing called "free time")

 

[DallasTejas]

I've been using MusicMatch Jukebox Plus as my ripper/player for over a year.

 

[zodder]

I've been using MusicMatch Jukebox Plus as my ripper/player for over a year.

I've heard a lot of good things about MusicMatch Jukebox. I've used Easy CD-DA and gotten very good results, but I've always wanted to try out MusicMatch.

 

[Shagga]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
My personal favorite: Cdex Homepage

Another one for CDex.

 

[resinboy]

cdex for me as well

Resinboy

 

[MDesigner]

Originally posted by: Workin'

Originally posted by: MDesigner
LAME encoder sucks big time. At 128Kbps, I can hear "warbling" and other artifacts. I know it's free, but still...

I use the Mp3 encoder that came w/ SoundForge. I think it's Xing.. really good stuff.

Xing has been proven to be the absolute worst encoder. I've never heard LAME make a bad mp3 - and I've made thousands and thousands of them.

Folks should try reading the FAQ's, too... (and they will be updated soon, as soon as I can find this elusive thing called "free time")

Shall I encode an mp3 via LAME to prove my point to you? I will show you how crappy 128Kbps sounds in LAME, compared to Xing.

 

[Workin']

Shall I encode an mp3 via LAME to prove my point to you? I will show you how crappy 128Kbps sounds in LAME, compared to Xing.

OK. Seriously, I would like to see for myself, because this has not been my experience. But you'll also have to include the original .wav file so I can hear that, too.

 

[resinboy]

do that many people still encode in 128? Most people I know use at least 192.

Resinboy

 

[MDesigner]

Yes, people still use 128Kbps.. mostly for game music. Sometimes there are technical requirements that game composers have to follow.

Have a listen to this little bit I cranked out real quick:

http://www.samhulick.com/128ktest.wav (original WAV)
http://www.samhulick.com/128ktest_xing.mp3 (encoded w/ SoundForge 6)
http://www.samhulick.com/128ktest_lame.mp3 (encoded w/ LAME)

You might have to listen really carefully. Try putting headphones on if you can't hear it. The LAME encoding has digital compression artifacts. The other mp3 has VERY little.. obviously you're going to have some at 128Kbps, but it is apparent that the Xing encoding beats the LAME encoding.

 

[Workin']

I couldn't hear a difference using my PC speakers. I'll have to dig out my headphones or burn them to a CD to play on my $10k stereo.

 

[MDesigner]

I am able to hear the difference by plugging some good monitor headphones (Sony MDR-7506) directly into my Audiophile 2496 soundcard (pro audio card).

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: Workin'
.....to play on my $10k stereo.

*drools on keyboard*

 

[igowerf]

Another vote for CDex

 

[zodder]

I think you guys have convinced me to use CDex now.

When I choose the MP3 option on the side to rip off the CD, does it automatically use LAME (which I chose as my encoder) to encode the MP3s?