Which format / quality to rip CD's to a PC?

adamski49

adamski49

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As it says above really. I know this is partly down to sound quality and personal taste but some pointers would be useful.

After ripping something like 100 CD's in wma format at max quality of 192 Kbps, today I finally got around to getting a lead to connect the sound card to the hi-fi and, err, it sounds a bit flat :(

I've had a dig around but nothing definitive as to which way to go so I've dabbled with the settings again and have a number of choices with the following results:

Windows Media Audio - Max 192 Kbps (4 min track = 5,677 Kb)
Windows Media Audio (variable bit rate) - Not keen on this option.
Windows Media Audio Lossless - 470 - 940 Kbps (4 min track = 24,489 Kb)
mp3 - Max 320 Kbps (4 min track = 9,402 Kb)

I'm thinking either the mp3 format (+ will be around for a while, bearable quality for feeding to office and bedroom stereos, can be copied to mp3 players / - use CD's in the lounge stereo) or WMA Lossless (+ highest quality available, can be used everywhere / - large files, too big for mp3 players?).

Also, does the sound card make any difference? I only have onboard sound. Would a quality sound card help?

Any advice / experience appreciated before I rip the other 200 odd CD's.

Cheers

Adam :)
 
The sound card won't amke any difference to the ripping, only the playback...and some onboard sound chips are as good as year old decent sound cards.

MP3 at 192kbs is adequate for most uses unless you're an audiophile with quality kit......it's a good compromise between quality and size of file.

Decent speakers and the set up should cure the flatness......but what is the onboard sound you have??


You can get an Audigy 2 card now for less than 20 quid...might actually be worth doing but as I said, I don't think the ripping bit will be affected in any way 'cos that's just a digital coding issue rather than a sound production issue.
 
Thanks for the replies. I've just spent the last two hours reading various 'wma vs mp3' type forums, tests etc :sleep Basically I shouldn't be able to tell the difference between the ripped stuff and a CD at 192 Kbps and over - the war regards MP3 vs WMA rages on though :D

The onboard device is 'SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio' in a 3+ year old Dell P4 system. Streaming internet radio has the same flat sound as the ripped stuff when compared to FM radio so I'm coming to the conclusion that a quality sound card is the answer.

Any recommendations for a cheap, quality sound card or will the Audigy2 suffice? I don't want surround, 5.1 etc just a good quality stereo output to the hi-fi.

I'm definitely no audiophile, just a fussy bugger with a keen ear ;)

Cheers

Adam :)
 
Bugger! It's all gone quiet. The DFX thing has muted anything played through media player. What am I doing wrong?

Real Player and all the usual windows sounds are still there. :nenau

Adam
 
Try Exact Audio Copy - free download.
You also need the external LAME compressor - another free download.
Rip CDs at -alt-preset-standard.
This gives mp3's at 192kbps variable bitrate.

I think this gives the optimal balance between sound quality and file size.

Do a google search, there's loads of info on EAC and LAME.
 
Thanks. I saw the LAME stuff but have decided to stick with WMA at 192Kbps as I've already copied so many CD's.

As for the Media player silence... err... guess who must have hit the mute button in error at some point :doh :blush

DFX seems to have done the trick, thanks Tuned.

Adam :)
 
adamski49 said:
Thanks. I saw the LAME stuff but have decided to stick with WMA at 192Kbps as I've already copied so many CD's.

As for the Media player silence... err... guess who must have hit the mute button in error at some point :doh :blush

DFX seems to have done the trick, thanks Tuned.

Adam :)
Click to expand...

It's a really good little add on :D make the music sound sweeter.. great for vocals
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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