Hi,
In message , Raymond RUSSELL
writes
I want to copy individual tracks for safekeeping from audio CDs onto my
hard disk,
and then copy selected tracks from there onto my own CDs.
What are the methods, formats, etc available
The names MP3, WAV, AAC don't mean much to me.
Can someone explain the advantages / drawbacks ?
16 bit 44.1kHz Wav is (essentially) the native format of redbook CD
audio. mp3 and AAC are lossy coding formats (put simply, they throw away
some data to save storage space or transmission bandwidth, and use
clever algorithms to decide what to keep and what to chuck away).
What is the best
a) to ensure quality rather than space-saving ?
A good start is to rip to wav format using EAC (Exact Audio Copy). This
will usually give you a copy of the track on hard disc that is
indistinguishable from the original CD, and it will occupy the same
storage space. If you want to save some space without quality loss, use
a lossless compression system such as Monkey's audio. I don't have the
URLs to hand, but a quick Google search will find them. Lossless schemes
have the advantage that you can get back exactly what went in if you
ever have to make another copy of the CD if your original gets damaged.
b) more with space-saving in mind ?
That depends on how much space you want to save, versus how much quality
you want to lose. If you want to know what's at the bleeding edge of
lossy compression systems, check out the forums at
www.hydrogenaudio.com. As a rough guide, AAC at its optimum bitrates
will generally outperform mp3 at the same bitrates. mp3 is getting a bit
long in the tooth; there are better lossy codecs available now.
--
Regards,
Glenn Booth