Hello everyone,

as I'm about to build a new server to store around 1000 CDs in some lossless format I thought this forum might be able help a beginner answer the following:

Which lossless format would be the best for these goals:

1. AS MUCH METADATA AS POSSIBLE, IN AS USABLE FORM AS POSSIBLE
Because the original CDs will be stored(, locked and hidden...) in the basement after this, I would like to store as much information into the files as possible. Preferably every bit of information available from CDDB etc. This data should also be usable if I, for any reason, would like or be forced later to convert the files to some other 'permanent storage' format or while converting the files daily on-the-fly for use in some portable device (i.e. the conversion application should be able, in the case of permanent conversion, to move all the info and, in the case of daily use, the most important information info to the new files or file/directory names and structure.) (Although, probably for daily use it would be much easier to just have all the files as MP3s/AACs as well, not to convert them on-the-fly from the lossless files everytime I go for a jog...)

2. OPTION TO SAVE THE WHOLE DISC IN ONE GAPLESS FILE WITH SOME KIND OF CUE-INFO OF WHERE DO THE SONGS START/END
For live concerts and other continous recordings. Again, can this info be used when converting to other format (even if selecting only some songs, i.e. can the continous file be split later into individual songs)?

3. FORMAT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY SOME POPULAR PLAYER AND JUKEBOX SOFTWARE WHICH PROVIDES BIT-PERFECT PLAYBACK VIA S/PDIF
Would not wan't the KMixer messing up the playback. My ultimate goal is to replace my beloved "used to cost ALL too much" separate cd-player, so SQ is the most important thing together with usability. Bells and whistles aren't. So far I've used WinAmp, of jukebox sw I have no experience.

File size or CPU-requirements won't be the deciding factors (the server will be built from the scratch), nor the supported OSs (only Win). So far I've been trying to make a decision between Monkey's Audio and WMA9 Lossless but aren't sure which one answers the before mentioned needs better. Of FLAC I know nothing about...

Any input would be appreciated, wouldn't want to find out I'm using a completely wrong format while ripping disc n:o 879...

With best regards,

Tatu

I believe the answer is FLAC. You can add vorbiscomments until you get tired to FLAC files. You can also add ID3v2 tags containing your covers or whatever you need.

It doesn't really matter. What you need is a program that is able to read the tags in whatever format they might be and write the new tag to the new files in whatever format you might use.
FLAC uses vorbiscomments. APE (monkey's audio) uses apev2 tags.
Frontah or foobar can read and write any tag format as far as I know.


Why is that needed? Lossless formats are gapless.
Anyway: FLAC can save cue sheets inside the files.
You can also make APL files which is similar AFAIK (not having tried any of the mentioned methods).


APE has a directshow plugin so any player like WMP could do.
APE and flac was plugins for both winamp and foobar2000.