Good CD Ripper/MP3 program???

[Byrd2a]

I am currently using Xing Audio Catalyst 2.1 and am fairly new to the ripping/MP3 arena. I am fed up with Xing due to poor audio quality on rips (hissing/popping..etc) I have played with all the settings and nothing helps. Their Xing MP3 player also sucks. Lots of MP3 I download from Napster hiss and pop like a big dog on their program but play just great on Media Player or the Napster player.

Can anyone provide me some input on a better program to use? I sure would appreciate it.

Later.....

T-Bird 750/256MB PC133/Maxtor 15GB/A7V/Asus 6600 deluxe/Soundblaster 16/

 

[Workin']

Many people (including me) think that LAME is the best mp3 encoder out there at the moment. If you get CDEX, it includes a ripper and the LAME .dll's. Looks a lot like Audio Catalyst except it makes mp3's that actually sound good.

I suggest using variable bit rate (VBR). In the CDEX encoder settings page, set it to VBR4, minimum bitrate 96 kbps, and Joint Stereo. This gives a good balance between quality and file size. If you want better quality, set VBR3, 2, or 1, and bump up the minimum bit rate. But I very rarely hear any artifacts using VBR4, 96, JS, even on very high quality stereo equipment.

 

[IamDavid]

Music Match Juke box. It is the best program I've ever used for ripping\encoding\playing\burning\ and anything else to do with audio on the cpu.

 

[Strafe]

LAME is definitely the best encoder, and I think EAC is the best ripper. If you want as close to perfect as possible, this is the way to go. Go to r3mix for an education.

 

[Workin']

Music Match Juke Box - that's funny! It uses a crippled Fraunhofer encoder, which sucks compared to LAME. I'm not saying that MMJB doesn't have some good features - just that it's nowhere near the best sounding.

Some people on these forums have had problems with EAC when using LAME with VBR. That's why I use CDEX.

 

[Fumiup]

Where was that link?

EAC and Lame here in a few minutes while I look for it....

Oh ya! That was it! R3Mix as posted above

 

[Descend492]

exact audio copy is by far the best - it checks to see whether it has exactly duplicated the information over 60 times. Get it at www.exactaudiocopy.com.