Maximum PC

I don't know a ton about audio and video conversions - I know a little, - I know there are different types (although I can't for the life of me figure out why there are so many - can we not settle on ONE format type?) - I know there are different codecs but again, I don't know why. What I don't know is what will play on what - obviously, an mp3 will play on nearly anything. A .wav file, I think only on pc - which concerns me and I'll post why shortly. Then there's the windows media file type. I don't know what these will play on other than a windows pc.

My goal: I'd like to back up my entire CD collection in it's ORIGINAL lossless format. I'd then like to be able to convert to mp3 and burn as necessary. Simple, right? Well - maybe - if one knows what the original format actually is - which I don't. It looks like I have four windows media audio choices: windows media audio, windows media audio pro, windows media variable bit rate and windows media audio lossless. Then I have mp3 - and I thought this had a variable bit rate selection but apparently in win7 it is set permanently to whatever bit rate defines an mp3 file. Last, there is .wav lossless.

I think I should use .wav lossless but I don't know. I want to be able to convert those within the windows environment to an mp3 track for use on an mp3 player or whatnot.

This will be a permanent hard drive back up to protect loss from damage and theft (3 years ago I lost 1000 dollars in CD's to theft from vehicle and I'm still trying to replace them).

What format should I rip in?

** I know there are a lot of versatile programs out there to manipulate audio/video but I'd really like to keep this as simple as possible and with no additional cost so please keep answers confined to the windows 7 environment - thanks. - I'm also kind of lazy and really don't want to learn new software. :p

*** Burning/transferring - under "burn" now I see no option to change settings to convert filetype and such. It also seems to want to burn only to disk - what about transferring to an mp3 player and converting to a filetype that mp3 player would use? or converting lossless to mp3 before burning?

If you are sticking to using Media player to rip/burn your discs, then wav lossless would be fine. For the record, as long as the playback device has the proper codec it will play the file. Moving on, Media player should automagically convert the files to something your mp3 player can use. As for setting the specific settings to mp3, I don't have that information currently.

Alternatively, if you want the best you can rip the files in EAC (Exact Audio Copy) to FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) and use a music manager such as Media Monkey to fine tune your collection. This does take a bit of setup and if you are really anal about it, it's worth it.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos ... _audio_cds

Honestly, MP3s are good enough for most people, and can be encoded in archival quality (meaning on normal speakers, you won't be able to tell the difference). You can set the bitrate when ripping the disc using EAC.
FLAC is one of the best lossless formats.


I'm not sure what you're asking on the last question. If I had more time, I'd read it more thoroughly, but I have stuff to do.

I can easily tell the difference between an mp3 rip and a lossless one on both my home stereo and on my car stereo. Pc speakers, while very good - it's much harder to tell the difference due to built in surround sound emulation. mp3's sound tinny and have lifeless bass. You'd have to be deaf not to notice the difference. :p

Thanks for the response on EAC and FLAC. I never even knew what those codecs were until now. I'll look for an app to do that when I have time. For now, saving them in .wav lossless.

As for the 'last' question - I was asking how to convert files from one format to another once they are ON my pc. According to the windows media player site at windows.com - there is no way. It's not a built in function. They want you to rip in wma and use only windows products. I get so sick of propriety. Aren't we all pissed off enough at MS's various bullshit antics without them tossing more dry logs on the already raging inferno of backlash?

I found a program at cnet.com to convert them once they are on there. I wanted this ability so that once I had my library archived I could, at some future point, convert to a higher quality mp3 and burn some compilation disks for the road. Secondary to that, I wanted the ability to convet to my mp3 player and while I'm pretty sure the embedded software does this, I wanted to make sure I had the ability.

btw - The reason I'm being so picky as to sound quality -- this will be CD backup for all my cd's but also this will be the first phase of my HTPC and probable eventual media server. It's already connected to my home theater flatscreen and 5.1 surround receiver.

I can tell you there's an enormous difference in sound quality from mp3's and videos downloaded off the web and this lossless format in my current configuraation.

Thanks for the help.

EAC is the program to do MP3s or FLACs.