what is the best container to convert audio cd into?

[MGadAllah]

Hello
I've some audio cd and want to convert it to digital format but do not know what is the container to keep it to the best maximum quality?

[DB83]

There is no such thing an an audio only container.

An audio CD is recorded in LPCM(WAV) quality. You can rip your CD to this format and retain maximum quality. Compress to mp3 and you do lose some but higher the bitrate the less the loss. Same goes for WMA.

A good lossless format is FLAC. Still compressed but takes less space than LPCM.

It also depends on how you intend to play these.

[MGadAllah]

so the best option is to save into .wav

[MGadAllah]

here is the containers i can save as into ?

[mike20021969]

Choose either Wave (Microsoft) (*.wav) or FLAC Audio (*.flac).

[MGadAllah]

Thanks a lot

[jagabo]

Flac is compressed with a lossless algorithm, reducing the file size by about 30 to 50 percent. But it requires you have a player that supports flac. WAV is supported Windows natively. Note that WAV isn't always uncompressed PCM. WAV files can contain audio compressed with lossy codecs like MP3.

[MGadAllah]

Thanks for the info

[yoda313]

Just an fyi for practical purposes just use mp3 at 320kpbs. It is not lossless by the true definition but it will give you good results and the file sizes aren't too impractical.

Otherwise just rip to wav and you will have the original audio as it was encoded on the cd. (some ripper programs may call it "cd audio or cd-wav or something with cd in it to note original untouched audio)

But mp3 at 320kpbs will give you the most flexibility for playback purposes in my opinion.

[Cornucopia]

There is no such thing an an audio only container.

Maybe you didn't realize it, but that's exactly what a WAV file is: an audio-only container. As was mentioned, it can contain LPCM, ADPCM, Float PCM, MP3, DTS-padded, AC3-padded, and more codec types. AIFF is a similar audio-only container (mainly for Macs & Amigas).

Scott

[Hoser Rob]

MP3 @ 320 may be OK for some sound sources, especially a ton of popular music made in the last decade which is compressed to death. There is no low level info to lose if the dynamic range is only 1 or 2 dB.

But the OP wants best possible quality, which means uncompressed WAV or a lossless codec like FLAC or ALAC. ALAC is like FLAC but it's an Apple version. Any decent software player will play it but non Apple devices probably won't.

Actually, if you want maximum device compatibility and aren't going to play everything from software on a computer 320K MP3 isn't a bad choice, but you do take a quality hit.

I sometimes do encode my lossless music files to mp3 320, but only if it's really badly recorded. Otherwise I use FLAC.

Some software players (notably wmp) don't support FLAC. If so, use another one. Not supporting it is ridiculous.

[johns0]

Unless you plan to play on uber hi fidelity equipment then 320k mp3 will be good enough.

[mike20021969]

Some software players (notably wmp) don't support FLAC.

Although if you install a flac codec, WMP will play them.

I can't remember where I got mine from (maybe a codec pack), but this may help others:

http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html

[jman98]

Although if you install a flac codec, WMP may play them.

There. Fixed that for you.

After having seen with my own eyes on my own PC a fully up to date WMP refuse to play an unencrypted WMV file given to me by a friend and having seen VLC play the exact same file without any issues, the only thing I'd say that WMP will do is be a POS.

[jagabo]

You need a codec (specifically a decoder) and a file reader/splitter.

[mike20021969]

There. Fixed that for you.

It didn't need fixing for me - my FLAC's play flawlessly.

I've never had a problem using WMP, or playing .flac files (and others inc. .mov and .flv) in 9 years (of owning a computer).

[MGadAllah]

The only codec pack i used to install always is k-lite mega codec.
Do not know if it is the best choice or not.

[enim]

what is the container to keep it to the best maximum quality?

I am sticking to the word container rather than audio format. WAV is a container.
Bigger is better (container), it can contain many things. The only disadvantage is portability.
So, you have to compromise somewhere for Quality, Size, and Portability.

already been said

320k mp3 will be good enough.
Flac is compressed with a lossless algorithm
my FLAC's play flawlessly.

Listen both FLAC and 320k mp3, and differentiate.

[noemi7]

Xiph offers DirectShow flac codec which adds support for flac in i.e. Windows Media Player. However, Foobar is best choice imo, and doesn't require external codecs.