Cool Edit Pro

[Rpl77]

Ok. I'm about to embark on archiving journey. I have 4000+ cds. I would like to use the best software package(s) to rip, encode, archive and burn the highest quality CDs. Since I have a 200GB external hard drive space is not an issue. My operating system is Windows XP Media Center running on a Toshiba laptop. The laptop has a 2.4 GB processor and 1 GB of RAM. I also have a IPOD that I plan to run on Windows. I am looking for some help.

Thanks
Rich

RPL77@aol.com

[MagicAlex]

Welcome Rich..good to meet ya.

All you really need is EAC. It's free and is the best out there. Get it here. (http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/)

I will admit that the settings "have a learning curve" but once you get it set you'll have no problems. There's plenty of good info here on the forum. Just do a search. Good luck!

:)

[krabapple]

Originally posted by MagicAlex
Welcome Rich..good to meet ya.

All you really need is EAC. It's free and is the best out there. Get it here. (http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/)

I will admit that the settings "have a learning curve" but once you get it set you'll have no problems. There's plenty of good info here on the forum. Just do a search. Good luck!

:)

I am guessing that he intends to store his collection as mp3 -- not sure if EAC does that. I'm not sure 200 gigs is enough to store 4000 + discs as .wavs.

[MagicAlex]

Originally posted by krabapple


I am guessing that he intends to store his collection as mp3 -- not sure if EAC does that. I'm not sure 200 gigs is enough to store 4000 + discs as .wavs.

Krab...EAC does have a comprssion option as well. It'll rip a track and immediately compress it with your favorite external compression program with custom command line qualifiers if you set it up.

[Paul C.]

Yes, you can configure EAC to compress using the LAME MP3 encoder, which I understand is perhaps the best (?). I have used LAME to encode a few tracks that I've ripped with EAC, using one of the highest bitrate settings. The results are pretty good to listen to - perfect for listening in the car or on headphones at work.

I recently tried the Ogg Vorbis format - seems to deliver good results, although I haven't compared directly with MP3. I found that at the highest quality setting, I was getting files that were one third the size of the original WAVs - I know MP3 and other formats (including Ogg) can go a lot smaller in file size, but of course that's where you start trading off sound quality. Depending on what you want to do, I would suggest doing some test compressions at different bitrates and see what you think - don't overcompress, as your ears will regret it.

[Grant]

Hey! Cool Edit Pro 2.1 is the PERFECT choice for what you want to do. It also has all the tools you need to tweak and make the best of your CD-Rs. Also, you can burn a CD with the free plug-in.

I use CEP and have burned over 1000 CD-Rs of all types.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Paul Christie


I recently tried the Ogg Vorbis format - seems to deliver good results, although I haven't compared directly with MP3. I found that at the highest quality setting, I was getting files that were one third the size of the original WAVs - I know MP3 and other formats (including Ogg) can go a lot smaller in file size, but of course that's where you start trading off sound quality. Depending on what you want to do, I would suggest doing some test compressions at different bitrates and see what you think - don't overcompress, as your ears will regret it.

Archive to CD-R first. Don't mess with compressing until after you make your CDs.

I have done my own tests and found Ogg Vorbis to be no better than .WMA. A lot of people here disagree with me, but you have to do YOUR own tests to find out what worls.

It hurts to hear compressed files, especially in the car. I won't do it.

[Paul C.]

Look, I agree with you Grant - I would only bother with compression if I wanted to do something like make a 5 hour music compilation disc for a party. I don't have a CD player in my car, but I would have thought compressed tracks in the car would sound fine. I guess it depends on the quality of your car stereo.

Given that rpl77 is planning on using an iPod, I would assume he wants to use compression - why else would he want to archive 4000 CDs? Why not just clone them, if you want to stay with CD audio? I don't know how much music you'd get on an iPod without compression.

[RetroSmith]

I have the same problem. I've built an "Audio Server" and need to rip like 500 Cds onto the 320 Gig HD. While I'm still looking into "Lossless Compression", the file size will STILL be in the 'hood of 10 megs each, which is too much. I'm leaning toward archiving everything thru EAC, using LAME at 320kp, which seems to yield a very good sounding file at around 3 megs , missing only the "Air" around certain sounds.

Anybody here have anything better?

Mikey

[krabapple]

Originally posted by MagicAlex


Krab...EAC does have a comprssion option as well. It'll rip a track and immediately compress it with your favorite external compression program with custom command line qualifiers if you set it up.

OK, thanks. Can you tell I don't do much mp3 work? :p

(When I have, I've used the Razor 'LAME' encoder, whatever that means --and I've tended to use such high bitrates that it's almost silly to have bothered compressing at all. More recently I've tried lossless SHN, which also generates smaller-than-wav-but-still-huge files)

[Sckott]

You can't crush audio in lossless format any much further than Shorten and Monkey's Audio without losing PCM information. Lame does work great, as an MP3 encoder.

[RetroSmith]

Yes, Grant is right. I've been looking into Lossless Compression and al the ones Ive seen still generate HUGE files. I think its LAME at 320 for me. The files still sound excellent and space usage is minimal.