Suggestions for pre-ripping CDs to HD before x5 purchase

fluger · 11-04-2005, 10:17

I'm planning on getting a 60GB x5 when they come out, but it's going to be at least a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I want to start ripping my CD collection to my computer HD now since I have a lot of CDs.

I downloaded audiograbber to rip the CDs, but was wondering whether I should be ripping them in .wav format or .mp3 format. (The reason I was thinking of ripping in .wav format so I have the option of converting to another compressed format other than .mp3 that the x5 is compatible with. Are there any big advantages to the other formats? I want good sound quality, but I have about 400 CDs and 100 LPs I'll be recording with the line-in, so HD space will be an issue.

Also is this going to make more work for me down the road? i.e. should I wait to get the x5 software and rip the CDs through that, or will I just be able to drag&drop my files into the jetaudio software

doniago · 11-04-2005, 10:52

I almost never use JetAudio, Audiograbber worked fine for me, though I prefer EAC lately.

I always rip directly to OGG. Ripping to WAV is nice if you would want flawless backups of your music, but unless you intend to put the WAVs directly on the player you're then faced with needing to convert them to MP3 or what-not later.

HiMDforMe · 11-04-2005, 11:28

i personally wouldn't rip to wav just because i don't need a perfect digital copy of my music, and wouldn't put wav on the X5 because the files are so huge. i'd rip straight to ~256-320kbs mp3 or ogg and you're still getting a high quality file without eating up a ton of space on your harddrive and making you convert them from wav to mp3 anyway. unless you do want wav on your x5, but they tend to be around 30-40mb per track from my experience. but you could still get about 1500 or so tracks of that size on 60GB if my math is correct.

fluger · 11-04-2005, 11:29

I did a little homework on OGG and it looks like it is the superior to mp3. I take it http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/the best free program to do this?

doniago · 11-04-2005, 12:48

EAC has worked well for me. Setting it up to rip to OGG is a bit tricky, but nothing you probably can't handle. There's webpages out there that go into it...try a websearch, or I can send you a link later today.

Dark Helmet · 11-07-2005, 04:07

Have a root around the EAC site. There is a guide there that explains how to set it up for whatever file type you wish to use. They include recommendations on how to get the best quality for each file type too.

11-04-2005, 10:17	#1
fluger Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 14	Suggestions for pre-ripping CDs to HD before x5 purchase I'm planning on getting a 60GB x5 when they come out, but it's going to be at least a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I want to start ripping my CD collection to my computer HD now since I have a lot of CDs. I downloaded audiograbber to rip the CDs, but was wondering whether I should be ripping them in .wav format or .mp3 format. (The reason I was thinking of ripping in .wav format so I have the option of converting to another compressed format other than .mp3 that the x5 is compatible with. Are there any big advantages to the other formats? I want good sound quality, but I have about 400 CDs and 100 LPs I'll be recording with the line-in, so HD space will be an issue. Also is this going to make more work for me down the road? i.e. should I wait to get the x5 software and rip the CDs through that, or will I just be able to drag&drop my files into the jetaudio software

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11-04-2005, 10:52	#2
doniago I, Like, Do Stuff Here. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 4,651	I almost never use JetAudio, Audiograbber worked fine for me, though I prefer EAC lately. I always rip directly to OGG. Ripping to WAV is nice if you would want flawless backups of your music, but unless you intend to put the WAVs directly on the player you're then faced with needing to convert them to MP3 or what-not later.

11-04-2005, 11:28	#3
HiMDforMe Rockbox5 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 995	i personally wouldn't rip to wav just because i don't need a perfect digital copy of my music, and wouldn't put wav on the X5 because the files are so huge. i'd rip straight to ~256-320kbs mp3 or ogg and you're still getting a high quality file without eating up a ton of space on your harddrive and making you convert them from wav to mp3 anyway. unless you do want wav on your x5, but they tend to be around 30-40mb per track from my experience. but you could still get about 1500 or so tracks of that size on 60GB if my math is correct.

11-04-2005, 11:29	#4
fluger Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 14	I did a little homework on OGG and it looks like it is the superior to mp3. I take it http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/the best free program to do this?

11-04-2005, 12:48	#5
doniago I, Like, Do Stuff Here. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 4,651	EAC has worked well for me. Setting it up to rip to OGG is a bit tricky, but nothing you probably can't handle. There's webpages out there that go into it...try a websearch, or I can send you a link later today.

11-07-2005, 04:07	#6
Dark Helmet Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 27	Have a root around the EAC site. There is a guide there that explains how to set it up for whatever file type you wish to use. They include recommendations on how to get the best quality for each file type too.