best cd ripper

[jason]

What's a simple, easy to use cd ripper. One that has a great output quality.
With the latest LAME encoder update. I've been using WMP because it has the best info grabber.

[olyteddy]

CDEx is my fave.

[fritzi93]

CDex for simple ripper, EAC for scratched discs nothing else will rip.

[citanool]

EAC guides:
http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_and_Lame
http://www.chrismyden.com/bestmp3guide.php
http://mp3.radified.com/
http://www.teqnilogik.com/tutorials/eac.shtml

[MysticE]

CDEx is my fave.

Using the LAME 'preset standard' setting (VBR).

[olyteddy]

I use 96 to 256 kbs VBR. Usually averages out to about 210 kbps.

[jason]

I've always used CBR, is VBR a better setting?

[neomaine]

Jason,

The only time you really need CBR is when trying to sync audio to video. Just makes it easier for editing/encoding tools in general.

However, for simple audio/music, using VBR will help keep the file size small - which is why you're using MP3 in the first place - while allocating the bitrate where needed. Same principle as VBR for video.

[t0nee1]

Yeah, CDex for simple ripping, EAC or dBpowerAmp for archiving ( think out of the box) to Flac-->foobar2k for MP3 -V 2 ~ 192 kbit/s and or AAC/m4a for my portables...
And yes CDex rips to Flac as well.....Different strokes for different folks...

[jason]

Is there anything better than the latest version of LAME?
As far as encoding.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Is there anything better than the latest version of LAME?
As far as encoding.

WMP 11 uses the Fraunhofer codec,they invented the format.I still think LAME(3.96 or better) does a better job at low bitrates.
I always use CBR for player compatibility,my home and car stereo have problems with VBR.

[jason]

I was wondering what WMP used for encoding. It use to be Xing. I guess they switched it up.

[Seeker47]

CDex for simple ripper, EAC for scratched discs nothing else will rip.

I like EAC a lot also. Gets the "between tracks" part right as well, thanks to the cue sheet feature. Before I started using EAC, the beginning / ending of many tracks would be incorrect.

[Seeker47]

EAC guides:
http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_and_Lame
http://www.chrismyden.com/bestmp3guide.php
http://mp3.radified.com/
http://www.teqnilogik.com/tutorials/eac.shtml

Thanks for posting those !

[jason]

Is there a CD ripper that allows you to go in and change the LAME codec with the latest update?

[Jim44]

In EAC, all you're doing is pointing it to where you have LAME located on your computer (it's not "built-in"), so you can use whatever version of LAME you want to use.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Is there a CD ripper that allows you to go in and change the LAME codec with the latest update?

CDex also allows you to update,just drop the lame_enc.dll file into the CDex folder.

[olyteddy]

The $15 (Pro) version of WinAmp uses the Fraunhofer encoder too. It also uses CDDB and Gracenote as the data bases.

[GKar]

Fairstars CD Ripper (Has most of the codecs included) and Audiograbber (needs LAME), just drop the latest LAME into the appropriate directory.

[jason]

Thank you for the help.

[jason]

Winamp uses the latest codecs, they have LAME3.98.2 and the latest Fraunhofer. They seem to update more than WMP.