i can hear faint cracks when i listen to some tracks. i have configured EAC according to coaster factory, and am using secure mode. in some tracks i can hear slight crackling mostly on quiet areas of the track. and its only on some tracks. i know there a lot of variables.

question, is it possible to get a no errors 100% track quality rip, but still have cracks that are not on the original recording. maybe from scratches.

i just want to make sure that if it is cracking that is it either supposed to be there or it is due to the sound card. file integrity is the main concern.

thanks
sneetches

Try listening directly from the original CD on your PC or a standalone player and see if you hear the same noises. If you do (and the disc isn't scratched), then you don't have a problem.

Listen to something you didn't rip. Perhaps download an good quality mp3 file of the same recording, if you know where to find one. If you still hear crackles it's time to buy a new soundcard.

Or it could be an over-compressed master...

maybe it is recorded from a vinyl?

.. or maybe some drives operating in Pio mode ...

are the crackles consistent? If you hear some, can you rewind and hear the exact same crackle?

yes i can rewind and hear them again. my main concern is that it is not from an inaccurate file. and its not on a majority of the tracks, its faint. does kinda sound like a vinyl but not as consistent or loud.

I'd rip one of these tracks in burst mode, test and copy. If the CRC values match, then it's very likely to be a good rip. If they mismatch, then maybe your secure mode settings weren't optimal.

can you help me understand more about burst mode?