CD Ripping Software

I want to finally rip my personal CD collection to mp3. I know there are a TON of software products out there. What would be a good one with a nice, simple interface that is reliable and speedy? At one time I kept RealPlayer on my computer ONLY for this reason - it was soo simple. But, there's no way any Real product ever goes back on my PC.

 

you won't find anything better than dBpoweramp Music Converter™ nicknamed the Swiss Army knife of audio
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

 

At this moment, nice, simple interface and speedy are concepts incompatible with reliable
If you are going to be anal (is this a correct word?) about this, your head will start to spin

This is a really nice tool. Another nice tool is CDex.

 

EAC [Exact Audio Copy] - http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/

 

Andre´s EAC and spoon´s dBpoweramp R12 are the only "secure" rippers at this moment.

 

I've never heard this, although I use EAC and CDex. What do you mean?

With both EAC and CDex, I have them both configured to use the latest version of LAME.

http://lame.sourceforge.net/index.php

 

EAC vs CDex
dBpowerAMP R12 new Secure Ripper

 

Thanks for all the responses so far. They all look so complicated! When I did ripping a couple of years ago, I used RealPlayer. Everytime i put in a CD, it asked, "Do you want to save these tracks?" I could say yes and it would save them as mp3 192-bit. They sound fine to me. The simplicity was incredible. However, I can't stand the tactics, marketing, customer service, you-name-it of Real. I will NEVER put another Real anything on my PC. But I don't understand how they made it so easy and it seems to be so difficult now. Is there anything as user-friendly as what I described?

 

Actually, I was looking at something else from the same company. dBpoweramp Music Converter looks pretty simple. I'm open to more ideas. I'd love to find a tool I could use and rely on for my collection.

 

I keep reading about #1 DVD ripper being a good program. Is it legal to sell in this country yet? I see it is available on the net but not sure it will download.

Will it do this job?

 

The question is: are you going to be (anal?) about CD ripping?
If not, you only have to pick dBpoweramp or CDex.
If yes, you´ll have to learn quite a bunch of concepts: offsets, cache, C2 pointers, pressings, AccurateRip, gaps, cue sheets, hidden tracks, codecs settings, tagging, art work, etc.

 

Anal - as in the Freudian sense? Particular to the extreme? No, not at all.
I am thinking that dBpoweramp may be just the ticket?

 

Doesn't it rip just DVDs?

 

I didn´t know that this is a Freudian phrase

You are right. dBpoweramp will serve you perfectly Now, think about all the research and headaches that you´ve avoided

 

you won't be disappointed, I've ripped my whole collection with dBpoweramp with no problems. The quality is that good I never go near my stereo these days but listern to all my music on the computer through my $50.00 noname chinese speakers that sound like $1000 speakers, don't know how they do it.

 

This can´t be possible. You listen to overcompressed music (most pop/rock of these days) or you´re suffering from serious hearing damage.

 

O/T but I regress

Two types = retentive and expulsive

http://inst.santafe.cc.fl.us/~mwehr/PEDevAnalStage.html

 

these speakers are pretty good for 50 bucks, ok I might of got a little carried away with the $1000, and yes you might be nearly right about my hearing, and I admit I can't be bothered getting up to walk over to the stereo [ no it doesn't have a remote or stacker, still has knobs and dials] , but they are still pretty good for $50

 

Good reading
Thanks malformed
Long-term audio archiving for the anal-retentive guy

Thanks for the explanation Now, it makes sense

 

My favourite in windows was www.mediamonkey.com combined the best cataloging and ripping features in one. Uses ogg/lame/flac so you get top quality rips.

I preffered to make uncompressed copies then compress them after in a batch job which could run overnight.

Infact I used to use EAC to grab a copy and then use Mediamonkey to handle the compression and organisation.

 

AudioGrabber would be my choice

 

Isn't this information more important when you want an exact copy of the CD? I understand that the poster is interested in converting to MP3.

Anyway, if your digital player supports ogg, you could consider that sound format as well, the general concensus is that ogg delivers higher quality.

Please, enable AccurateRip in dbPowerAmp.

 

Just wanted to thank everyone for some very helpful posts!

 

You are right. However, Genady asked about "reliable rippers".

Excellent advice