Any of you EAC experts know if you can rip directly to Apple Lossless? If so, how do you get the codec into the program? Does EAC import the artwork for you or do you have to do it manually? I'm too lazy to do it manually so if you have a recommendation on an automated approach that would be great. Thanks.

I was also looking for an answer to this question, which is how I ended up here. After a little bit of searching I found this nifty little (free) package:

http://www.digital-inn.de/exact-audio-copy...k-released.html

I just downloaded the lastest release, which has AccurateRip and pretty much all the important audio encoders built in. All you do is load either the EAC or AccurateRip configuration and then select a profile for the audio codec/quality you desire.

It even has iTunesEncode built in, which is what you are probably after. With iTunesEncode, EAC handles the extraction and then sends the wav files to iTunes to be ripped (AAC,MP3,etc.) or compressed (Apple Lossless). It's all automatic too, but you have to remember to set up iTunes to your desired compression before you start the process. iTunes takes care of the tagging and organization (and album art if available) just as it would if you were using the iTunes software from start to finish.

That should do the trick.

I took it a step further though, and actually changed a few of the settings in the pre-configured EAC profiles based on information I found in this EAC tutorial:

http://www.teqnilogik.com/tutorials/eac.htm

After a little tweaking and experimentation, I created and saved a couple of my own profiles which I now use exclusively.

One thing that took me awhile to figure out, was how to create a burned copy of the image before further processing. I listen to cds in my vehicle, but I don't like to use the original. I always make a backup and then archive the original. My goal was to only do the extraction once and then use this wav to create a backup cd, a lossless compression (ALAC) and a lossy version (AAC).

I ended up using a EAC for the extraction only, just to create an image and cue sheet. I then burn the image to a cdr using this (free) program:

http://www.burrrn.net/?page_id=4

Then I mount the same image into a virtual drive using this (free) program:

http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/index.php?

Then I finish the deal in iTunes. The virtual drive shows up just like a normal drive in iTunes. Using the regular ripping tools in iTunes, the first thing I do is create an Apple Lossless copy. Then I switch the encoder to AAC and create a lossy version in the same destination folder as the Lossless copy. iTunes will prompt you at this point - asking you if you want to replace the ALAC files with the AAC files. Simply click do not replace to start the process. It's fast too! I use smart playlists to keep them separate and organized. It works good. Also, I do not enable error correction in iTunes, as it would be redundant having already done so in EAC. Besides, it's really only a virtual cd at this point being read in a virtual drive.

Like I said, the idea is to not have to do more than one extraction in EAC. The image is then easily burned to a cdr. Then iTunes does it's thing. I know there are a couple of programs that will automate everything, but I haven't found the energy for that yet...

As for album art, there are plenty of ways to get it if iTunes can't find it. Do a search, or try these:

http://www.slothradio.com/covers/index.php
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.buy.com/default.asp

Hope this helps.

Thanks. Sounds perfect. Why not just use iTunes? What is this program doing for you if iTunes is ending up doing the ripping? Or am I misunderstanding and EAC is doing the ripping?

With this setup EAC is actually extracting the audio from the cd. iTunes has nothing to do with the extraction. I just don't think iTunes is as capable as EAC when it comes to extracting audio from anything less than pristine source discs.

Remember, I'm only using a virtual drive within iTunes to process the audio information that EAC has already extracted from the actual disc. I feel like the ripping is kind of immaterial with a high quality extraction obtained. I could just use iTunes right from the start and bypass all the other steps, but I prefer to let EAC handle the extraction. I was using EAC long before I got my first iPod. I trust it.

I think the above was the confusing bit.

The bolded part should have said "lossily compressed" and the italic part should have said "losslessly compressed". The word "extraction" in this case was synonymous with "ripping". Specifically: "ripping" doesn't require that you use a codec (either kind) to compress, you can always rip to to a raw PCM file or WAV (PCM with a header).

-brendan

Sounds like I should just wait for the Apple lossless codec to be released for the new dBpoweramp software. It seems like it might do what I want in one step and with nearly the same accuracy as EAC.

I've always just assumed ripping and encoding were the same thing. I can see how my comments could have been confusing.

EAC for all your "ripping" needs - I guess...

Thanks for the heads-up brendan.

If you want to use dbPowerAmp then go for it, from what's been said so far I wouldn't discourage you from leaving EAC. However, if you would rather just use EAC it really isn't difficult to simply use EAC with iTunesEncode.

If I understand the readme it should simply be a case of setting iTunesEncode.exe as your external compressor, choosing to use a User Defined Encoder, setting the extension to .m4a, and using the command line:

-e "Lossless Encoder" -a "%a" -l "%g" -t "%t" -g "%m" -y %y -n %n -i %s -o %d

If you want to add artwork in the same process then you may need to add an application like REACT or MAREO into the equation - to enable you to grab artwork from the Internet before calling iTunesEncode.

I typically just use EAC to rip a CD direct to Lossless and archive. From Lossless I can always convert to WAV to make an audio CD or convert to any compresssed format via dBPoweramp or Foobar for my PC library and iPod.

Yet many here always make an image and cue sheet. Why is this better than just storing Lossless files. Am I missing something? Should I have been saving the CDs as an image rather than a collection of Lossless files?

Off topic (TOS #5). This thread may help though.