How do you tell if there is a pregap using EAC?, Comparing wavsplit and EAC results Options

[ponchorage]

How do you tell in EAC if there is a Track 1 pregap? Will the start time show a time later than 0:00:00.00? When I choose to detect gaps, it shows the gap times. I only tried one CD but, the time for the gap for it said 2 seconds.

The reason I ask is I was trying out a utility by Tangerine called wavsplit. It takes a cue sheet and a wav image as input and then produces wav files for each track. He gives the option to add the track 1 pregap to the beginning of Track 1 while also adding the other pregaps to the end of each track. EAC does not keep the Track 1 pregap unless ripping to an image file.

I did a couple of tests. I ripped Track 1 of a the CD mentioned above using EAC. I then ripped an image and cue sheet. I used wavsplit twice to split the wav image to separate tracks for each song, one time adding the track 1 pregap and again not adding the track 1 pregap.

I then did a wav compare in EAC comparing:

EAC ripped Track 1 (no pregap) vs. wavsplit produced Track 1 (no pregap)

and

EAC ripped Track 1 (no pregap) vs. wavsplit produced Track 1 (with pregap)

Both resulted in no differences between the files. The only thing I can think is happening is that wavsplit will only add anything beyond the redbook standard 2 seconds of pregap to the beginning of Track 1. This would explain my results on this particular CD since it's pregap is exactly 2 seconds.

Anybody have any ideas?

[Synthetic Soul]

Basically, the disc you tested has no pregap.

I have discovered a few discs so far with TRACK 1 INDEX 0 entries:

• Skunk Anansie - Stoosh
• Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
• Block Party - Silent Alarm
• Lemon Jelly - '64 - '95

The beginning of the Lemon Jelly cuesheet is as follows:

CODE

PERFORMER "Lemon Jelly"
TITLE "'64 - '95"
FILE "CDImage.ape" WAVE
 TRACK 01 AUDIO
   TITLE "Intro"
   PERFORMER "Lemon Jelly"
   INDEX 00 00:00:00
   INDEX 01 01:23:18
 TRACK 02 AUDIO
   TITLE "'88 AKA Come Down On Me"
   PERFORMER "Lemon Jelly"
   INDEX 01 01:47:53

... and Bloc Party's:

CODE

PERFORMER "Bloc Party"
TITLE "Silent Alarm"
FILE "CDImage.ape" WAVE
 TRACK 01 AUDIO
   TITLE "Like Eating Glass"
   PERFORMER "Bloc Party"
   INDEX 00 00:00:00
   INDEX 01 03:22:70
 TRACK 02 AUDIO
   TITLE "Helicopter"
   PERFORMER "Bloc Party"
   INDEX 00 07:42:69
   INDEX 01 07:44:69

You need to find a CD where track one's gap is detected as larger than the standard 2 seconds. You also need a drive that can rip that pregap (mine can't).

I have looked at the Delphi source of WavSplit previously, and all that the pregap setting does is change track one's INDEX 01 value from the original (e.g.: 03:22:70 above) to 00:00:00. Simple, but effective.

Edit:spelling

This post has been edited by Synthetic Soul: Mar 31 2005, 22:15

[Cosmo]

Will the start time show a time later than 0:00:00.00?

The only thing I can think is happening is that wavsplit will only add anything beyond the redbook standard 2 seconds of pregap to the beginning of Track 1. This would explain my results on this particular CD since it's pregap is exactly 2 seconds.

Anybody have any ideas?

In my experience of ripping images, EAC only rips track 1 pre-gap that is beyond 2 secs. The start time is shown as the pre-gap minus 2 seconds (if over 2). So my guess is that your assumption (about wavsplit acting in similar fashion) is correct. (Either that, or your image rip had no pregap appended to begin with...)

This post has been edited by Cosmo: Mar 31 2005, 23:07

[ponchorage]

Thanks Synthetic Soul and Cosmo. That nicely answered my question.

[Synthetic Soul]

NB: If you still question WavSplit's ability you can easily test the pregap switch by creating your own wave file and cuesheet with pregap.

E.g.: take a decent length track WAVE file and a cuesheet like:

CODE

FILE "myfile.wav" WAVE
 TRACK 01 AUDIO
   INDEX 00 00:00:00
   INDEX 01 00:30:00
 TRACK 02 AUDIO
   INDEX 01 01:00:00

... and run WavSplit on it with and without the switch. Without the switch track 1 should begin mid-song. With switch you should hear it from the beginning.

I'm 99% sure it will work though.

[damir]

eac shows the first track in red if there's a pregap. or at least it does for me

[Never_Again]

That's nice. Just two years ago it didn't.

[Synthetic Soul]

That's nice. Just two years ago it didn't.

This was introduced with EAC 0.95b1 in May 2005 (link).