best free software for converting cd to mp3

[Soltydog]

What's peoples recommendations on the best free software for converting cds to mp3 format. I used to use musicmatch, but it appears that is no longer available

 

[PBancroft]

iTunes?

 

[alecstilleyedye]

yes, itunes.

 

[BenScoobert]

I just use windows media player

 

[Dan B]

I use http://packages.debian.org/abcde and encode with http://lame.sourceforge.net/ , though these days more often I'm ripping to flac than mp3 anyway.

 

[rh100]

If you just want mp3's then windows media player is perfectly capable, remember to check the settings to get the desired format and quality options

 

[HLaB]

I like real player; I sometimes use media player but in the earlier versions unless you had the mp3 codec it would only do wma. I don't know if it still a problem or if I have the codec

 

[Carwash]

Whether or not iTunes is free software depends very much on your usage of the word 'free'. :/

I'd recommend cdparanoia with lame - both of which are what coruskate's abcde uses, I think (it's a wrapper script).

 

[2Loose]

I use CDex and have done for years, but so many other thing will do it nowadays.

 

[dodgy]

I wouldn't install iTunes unless you need it to manage your ipod or iphone. Windows Media Player does a good enough job, but if you're looking to extract the maximum quality, then there are better options.

FWIW I use WMP set to the highest quality setting.

 

[amnesia]

The BEST (ie the one that will give you as close a copy of a CD as you can get with a lossy format) is EAC - Exact Audio Copy.

It's quite slow though, unless you have a fast PC.

I have copied CDs that are virtually indistinguishable to me on a high end separates system*... and I have above average hearing according to my BUPA health-check a couple of months ago.


http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/


Pointless if you're going to listen to the MP3s on an eyefone or some generic MP3 player, though.




* consisting of Arcam amps / CD player / KEF iQ50 series speakers / QED cables

 

[2Loose]

I have copied CDs that are virtually indistinguishable to me on a high end separates system*... and I have above average hearing according to my BUPA health-check a couple of months ago.

A digital copy is an EXACT copy and if you play it on the same kit, it will be completely indistinguishable. If you rip a CD to MP3 then the audio quality will depend on the mp3 codec used to convert from WAV to mp3 format and also the conversion bit-rate.

I have used exactcopy though - it is very good and enabled me to rip the music from a copy protected CD which most of the other rippers wouldn't do. This issue was down to the protection system used though, which is quite seperate to the music data on a disk.

 

[amnesia]

A digital copy is an EXACT copy and if you play it on the same kit, it will be completely indistinguishable. If you rip a CD to MP3 then the audio quality will depend on the mp3 codec used to convert from WAV to mp3 format and also the conversion bit-rate.

I have used exactcopy though - it is very good and enabled me to rip the music from a copy protected CD which most of the other rippers wouldn't do. This issue was down to the protection system used though, which is quite seperate to the music data on a disk.

Sorry - I mean I have ripped CDs to MP3 using EAC and the results are (as near as damnit) indistinguishable from the original, even on high end kit.

 

[rh100]

The BEST (ie the one that will give you as close a copy of a CD as you can get with a lossy format) is EAC - Exact Audio Copy.

It's quite slow though, unless you have a fast PC.

I have copied CDs that are virtually indistinguishable to me on a high end separates system*... and I have above average hearing according to my BUPA health-check a couple of months ago.


http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/


Pointless if you're going to listen to the MP3s on an eyefone or some generic MP3 player, though.




* consisting of Arcam amps / CD player / KEF iQ50 series speakers / QED cables

Uh oh... I can see where this going - dive for cover everyone

 

[rh100]

Years ago (possibly pre mp3? mid 90's) I would rip a cd just as a WAV.

If that is an exact copy, and with space considerations a non issue now with 1T and more drives available, why not just use wav's now? OK mp3 or your favourite codec for portable use but for home systems is the way to go?