One for the Softies

[Rogue Wave]

I have recently bought an MP3 player and was wondering what is the best ripping software and Soundcard is!

My ears aren't happy with the results so far but I can get a lot of music on a small unit. My player goes up to 196KBS does any player do more!

ta!

Codders this could be your chance to shine!

[roycruse]

Ive always found this nice little free application great for ripping and encoding mp3s etc...

CDEX

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I have recently bought an MP3 player and was wondering what is the best ripping software and Soundcard is!

My ears aren't happy with the results so far but I can get a lot of music on a small unit. My player goes up to 196KBS does any player do more!

ta!

Codders this could be your chance to shine!

Haven't ripped for a long time - just "obtain" them as MP3 files!!! Don't really bother with the MP3 players either - just use my IPAQ.

http://www.fliptech.net/bitrate.shtml

Good charts showing the difference in bitrates etc and the losses you get.

A lot depends on what Codecs you use as well.

To be honest the best quality is to use the same old system your ears hear - a very clever system with infinite bit rate - what is it called - analogue!!!

Funnily enough they are now looking at analogue again as a way of storing more data etc onto hard drives and cds etc.

Digital is way over rated - all or nothing is the best way to describe it.

[codprawn]

Coming back to your specific question - if you look at the link I pasted 196kbs should be enough - if you aren't happy with the quality try different headphones etc first.

Also try various codecs and different bits of software before you go any further.

Try out MP3s downloaded off the net - do they sound any better or worse than your ripped files???

[eupa]

This is a nice one...http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

Jonathan

[DJL]

Originally Posted by codprawn

infinite bit rate - what is it called - analogue!!!

Interesting comment - how exactly does it have an infinite bit rate?

Originally Posted by codprawn

Funnily enough they are now looking at analogue again as a way of storing more data etc onto hard drives and cds etc. Digital is way over rated - all or nothing is the best way to describe it.

Digital only describes a system that uses discrete values - all digital electronics are just analogue systems and at the basic level are designed as such. Quantum computing will bring the first "real digital" system.

[DJL]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

My ears aren't happy with the results so far but I can get a lot of music on a small unit. My player goes up to 196KBS does any player do more!

Soundcard shouldn't have any effect on the quality of ripped CDs. Your encoder should be transferring the data digitally from the CD.

128kbps MP3's should sound fine - although you can tell the difference between MP3 and CD on decent speakers, I wouldn't have thought you would while listening on an average pair of head phones.

There are a number of freeware MP3 encoders;
http://sourceforge.net/projects/cdexos
http://www.eusing.com/CDRipper/CDRipper.htm

http://www.sourceforge.net is quite a good place to look for programs - they usually have something to do what you want and the software’s not likely to harbour any crap like spy ware. Site is a bit techy though.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by DJL

Interesting comment - how exactly does it have an infinite bit rate?



Digital only describes a system that uses discrete values - all digital electronics are just analogue systems and at the basic level are designed as such. Quantum computing will bring the first "real digital" system.

I was on more about the way in which the data is stored.

[eupa]

Dont want to cloud the discussion - but I am a Sony mini disk man myself.
Initially was very dissapointed with quality of MP3 players - although I must confess as a storage medium for my cd library and ease of tranportability converted all cd's to mp3's. I think the MD system has been over looked in recent times - yet the sound quality is vastly superior to an MP3 player ( Sony ATRAC -MD- LP2). Agree Codders???.
And while we are at it, ARCHOS had a 20giga player way before the IPOD came out?? ( another discussion because the IPOD in my mind is very overated and quality very low)


Jonathan

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

My ears aren't happy with the results so far...but I can get a lot of music on a small unit.

And that's the crux of it Stu.

The CD is a digital representation of an analogue source and then it's further damaged by MP3ing it and your ears can tell. By definition, MP3 is poor quality music.

...but I can get a lot of music on a small unit.

Never mind the quality, feel the width.

The modern way.