BleepingComputer.com: CD quality recording to PC?

Hi,

I'm finally getting around to putting my CD collection on my PC. I'm using Windows Media Player's ripping utility at "Best Quality" which is 320 kbps only I've noticed that even with this resolution the PC playback is still not as vibrant as the actual CD.

Is there a way to copy your CD's to match the CD playback quality? if so how can this be accomplished?

Thanks,

John

This post has been edited by Johnz414: 22 January 2010 - 12:43 PM

I'd say, it depends on your audio card, speakers, etc. quality.

If you want to rip files that are truly "CD quality" you need to find software that will allow you to rip as WAV files. These can be compressed (a bit) using a lossless format, like FLAC.

I don't use WMP so I don't know if that's an option. I personally use software that came with one of my MP3 players to do this, but I have used Free Rip in the past, so I know that it will rip WAV files from CDs. You can get it at Cnet:

http://download.cnet.com/FreeRip-MP3/3000-...4-10050140.html



You might also check Bleeping Computer's list of free alternatives to commercial software for other alternatives:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic3616.html

CDex will also rip to .wav.

Thanks for the advice, I have been also recommended from a friend to use WAV and fortunately WMP has WAV.

So, I can either re-rip everything or use a converter to convert the ones already ripped to .mp3 in order to convert them to WAV.

In playing with it so far it looks like I may have to re-rip them all. It might be the easiest way to go.

Only I'm finding that when ripping as WAV the meta data is not kept with the rip files at their file locations. The meta data appears in WMP with the individual music entries there in WMP but not at the WAV files at their folder locations like it does when ripping to .mp3 files.

Anyone know how to make the meta data appear with the files in their folders? Much of the meta data isn't even available when ripping WAV and certainly not editable. I really would like to access it and be able to edit it. Anyone?

Thanks.

This post has been edited by Johnz414: 23 January 2010 - 12:49 AM

Check out the setting in windows media player. Also make sure you have the newest version installed. There should be a setting for audio ripping. Make sure you have it set to either mp3 or wav and that the audio quality is set to the absolute best. Also I believe that VLC audio player (which is a free download) will let you rip audio cd's to your computer.