Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Ripping Software

I know this has been discussed before, however, can someone please recommend good audio ripping software. For example, ripping a CD to FLAC. Are there any audible differences in FLAC and Apple Lossless?

I finally made the plunge and got a Sonos, so I want to make sure I use some good ripping software. I was reviewing Exact Audio Copy.

Thanks!

Nick

dBpoweramp, buy the reference version. It's cheap.

All lossless formats sound the same, if someone tells you differnt ask what they have been smoking.

Congrats on the Sonos...have had mine for nearly year and am very happy with it...you will not be disappointed...

As far as ripping software is concerned I completely agree with George...

Thanks guys!

Dont forget Tunes on a Mac

I clearly hear a difference decoding FLAC in my PC as apposed to in my Squeezebox 3. Not that decoding in the SB3 sounds bad(still sounds smooth) it's just more detailed, clearer highs, bigger soundstage and better detailed bass decoding in the PC and streaming PCM direct to the SB. It sounds much closer to the CD playing back in my 598 when decoded in the PC.

Ron

Having used at least half a dozen ripping solutions, from iTunes to EAC, I find dBpoweramp Reference stands apart as a clearly better choice. Ripping that is both fast and guaranteed accurate, support for all output formats, HDCD decoding, and much superior metadata access. Also, some powerful transcoding tools are provided as well. The interface is slightly quirky, but nothing compared to EAC.

The only thing that could be different "in theory" is jitter, FLAC decoding in the SB3 is bitperfect. I should hope any potential difference in jitter is handled by your double dejitter setup.

George,

You would think so but it is noticably different in my setup. Both ways bitstreaming play back DTS just fine. Now that I say this I'll try both ways using my DTS tracks and see if it make a difference too. I would think not so much with DTS playback. It might be jitter related or maybe a different dither noise shape? I suppose that is possible and maybe more likely than jitter.

Ron

To cover any chances that DTS can cover up the errors. I've also recorded the outputs and diffed them with the original FLAC. By the way this exactly the testing I was doing trying to get the G68 to bypass it's "518ish" behavior (it always does some processing). The only way I could verify the G68/861 received bitperfect data was to record at the Digital Tape Output which is a perfect bypass (I don't think it even runs through the FIFO but I can't be sure).

Boy my Time Life collection is taking up a lot of time converting all my music. Big Band and Swing music just isn't very popular! Plus I need to edit each song year and sometime fix spelling with these titles. Still I'll be loving it when I am finished. I already love playing what ever I want of what I have already converted. Music that was out of sight and mind will get listened too now.

Ron

Hi Ron,

It's a really great way to access your music. As most of us (converts) have found, you actually listen to far more music than ever before this way. I've purchased more music than ever in the last 3 years or so too.

Re: ripping and tagging speed. I always buffer my rips into a rip folder BEFORE sending to the main music library. I do this as I can fix all the tags after the rips. I don't slow the rip process down itself. I also fix any artwork issues in there too. When ready a quick blast of 'Synctoy' and we're done.

You will now doubt have OCD like the rest of us and be trying to get it 100% right first time....fight that urge. All tags can be fixed afterwards. You may even change the way you want to do certain bits. That's all fine too.
Mp3tag is the one for that.

In the bottom left of BP Ripper, you can save different profiles. This can be helpful e.g. if you want to store a ripped CD in a CD title folder rather than artist folder. Simply change the string to what you want it to do.

oh...and make sure you have the HDCD plugin on all rips.

Set the player to random and really surprise yourself with what you've not heard for a long time.

cheers