+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection (/showthread.php?tid=295954)
Pages:
1
2
Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - Harbourmaster - 04-22-2025
I'm getting ready to redo my music collection with two objectives in mind.
1: Improved sound quality
2: Better Organization of files
Currently my music is in a mishmash of formats and bit rates, going all the way back to the first version of iTunes. Since storage space is no longer a limitation I am planning on re-Ripping all of my CD's in one of the lossless formats but have not yet settled on which one yet.
Most of my listening will be done either on the computer or an iPod. With the computer I am currently using VOX for playback, I can also stream to connected devices in my home, including a Harmon Kardon Receiver connected to a pair of Altec Lansing speakers in my living room.
I would prefer to keep all the music files in one place if possible and do not really want to surrender them to the Apple Music app.
Any and all suggestions welcome.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - clay - 04-22-2025
I'd probably go with a high-bitrate (256 or 320 kbps) MP3 (LAME encoder). For me, that's the sweet spot when I care about the balance of sound quality, file size and compatibility.
I use the xACT app for my encoding: http://xact.scottcbrown.org I use the "encode to source directory" option, if you already have your ripped files in whatever folder structure you want to use. xACT also encodes to a variety of lossless formats, including Apple Lossless.
I re-ripped my CDs maybe 10(?) years ago, and haven't felt the need to do it again, though I suppose it's possible I could do it at some point in the future if there is some leap forward in terms of file formats, quality, etc.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - GGD - 04-22-2025
When did it years ago I saved the .aiff files for archiving which is the uncompressed digital data direct from the CD. From there I could create the compressed files in any format at any time in the future without needing to repeat the manual process of loading/ripping the physical CDs again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - pdq - 04-22-2025
I put my stuff in Apple lossless format.
Just sounded safe, and the files are still considerably smaller than aiff.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - ka jowct - 04-22-2025
I also did Apple Lossless. I started ripping my CDs as AIFF but they wouldn't play properly on my iPod Classic, so eventually I went with Lossless. Probably should have done both, since I have no desire to rerip hundreds of CDs.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - pqrst - 04-22-2025
I long ago standardized on 192k for music. Got a fair number of audio book files which I do at 32k to keep size down. I’ve been putting a fair number of audio books on my Apple Watch (connected via Bluetooth ear bud) for use on the go. Which I am finding let’s me leave my iPhone at home more And more.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - Rolando - 04-22-2025
AppleMusic (the Service) or iTunes In Cloud/Match will match or upload your music at 256 MP4.
I cannot tell the difference between those and lossless.
If you have anything at lower quality than 256 MP4 (equivalent to 320 MP3) and it can match it, you will get better audio easier than re-ripping.
If you do re-rip, then theoretically Apple Lossless or FLAC is equivalent to uncompressed.
BTW, for organizing, I always put the year of the album in front of the name, since I always sorted my CDs by Artist, then release date.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - mrbigstuff - 04-22-2025
Excellent and timely topic as I'm contemplating what the hell I'm going to do with over 1k CDs.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - anonymouse1 - 04-22-2025
IIRC, there are error correcting ripping programs that supposedly fix jitter and/or other problems. That’s 20 year old knowledge, though.
Re: Advice wanted: preparing to RE-Rip my CD collection - RAMd®d - 04-22-2025
When did it years ago I saved the .aiff files for archiving which is the uncompressed digital data direct from the CD. From there I could create the compressed files in any format at any time in the future without needing to repeat the manual process of loading/ripping the physical CDs again.
Storage is still somewhat cheap, if not as cheap as years past.
I too, rip to AIFF.
But then I re-rip some CDs to ALAC.
What is an easy way to batch convert some AIFF to ALAC, instead of re-ripping some CDs.
Back before times of cheap storage, to save space I'd only rip some songs from a CD.
That was a mistake, as I found I now like some that weren't ripped.
So it's much easier, now with somewhat cheap storage, to rip the whole CD, maybe with the exception of some tune you just hate.