I don't know a lot about audio quality etc. I just want to encode my CDs into itunes with gapless playback. I've heard abut oggvorbis. Does that format go into ipod? What is the best software to encode and convert CDs/other file types to MP3s with gapless playback.

Welcome. I suggest you check the WIKI.

Ogg vorbis does not work with itunes. Guide to Gapless MP3s

Thanks alot! So EAC gives gapless playback? What about CDX or audiograbber? I want to use a program that can convert too. One more question, does gapless playback depend on the encoder or the program?

Gapless depends on the encoder and the player; not the program doing the ripping, unless it's configured incorrectly or is flawed in some way.

iTunes supports both gapless encoding as well as gapless playback, provided the files have gapless information that it understands (Lame, anything encoded with iTunes, and Nero AAC, IIRC).

EAC converts just fine, BTW.

All of the above information is easily available by searching the forum and reading the wiki!

Lots of different options on gapless and coding formats. And it does depend on both format of file and player. If you're looking for REALLY SIMPLE from the IPOD point of view, you could rip your CDs with ITUNES into AAC format at maybe 192 or so. You'll find that this is transparent for many, many listeners, and this automatically works as gapless on both ITUNES and the IPOD. Even MP3 files ripped from almost anywhere (including ITUNES) are mostly gapless. LAME encoded MP3 files are gapless in many different players, including IPOD.

I personally use LAME encoded MP3 files (-V2 new) to play on my IPOD. I have many live concerts and gapless albums and all work perfectly gapless on the IPOD (and on ITUNES). If you really want to know more about this, search on "gapless and ipod" or "gapless and itunes" and you'll find enough reading material to keep you busy for a few days. EDIT: to get you started:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....c=48231&hl=