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?

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:



... and Bloc Party's:


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

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...)

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

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:



... 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.

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

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

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