Best audio CD backup util?

[darkjester]

Hi. I was nostalgically looking through my audio CD's that I've had for many years (and haven't listened to since I discovered MP3s ), and noticed that some aren't doing so well. The data side is blotchy, and some of the music skips, etc. I heard that after so many years, some CDs start to mess up. This concerns me because at one time I spent a lot of money on these discs, and I'd love to keep the music around. The solution? Back them on MP3.

So there are a lot of CD -> (WAV or) MP3 converters/rippers out there and I was wondering which you guys would recommend. I'd prefer for the software to be free, but if it's really good, I'd gladly pay for it. The program I'm interested in should be able to query the web for all the album info and then export that info to the ID3 tag of the corresponding MP3 (or, at the very least, appropriately name the file of the corresponding WAV file). Other useful features would be great!

Any suggestions/recommendations? Thanks in advance!



PS: For all the cynics out there, I am actually just backing up my purchased audio CD's, so please don't bother thread-crapping. ...Besides, I don't think anyone would want my music.

 

[Workin']

Please read the FAQ's:

CD Ripping

MP3 Encoding

 

[Bglad]

If you are serious at all about sound quality and reliable play on other audio only cd players, you should think about just buying an audio cd recorder like the Pioneer.

If not, try Audiograbber which does everything you ask and has pretty good fault tolerance settings.

The computer is just not a good way to work with music. But then if you are thinking of taking it to mp-3 you probably don't care anyway.

 

[richleader]

Yeah, why bother with MP3? I mean, I have my collection on Mp3 too, but heck, just do exact CD copies of them and put the originals away.

 

[Workin']

<< Yeah, why bother with MP3? I mean, I have my collection on Mp3 too, but heck, just do exact CD copies of them and put the originals away. >>

Exactly. Even the best mp3 files are of measurably lower fidelity than the original CD.

BTW, if you decide to go with mp3's Audiograbber is a (relatively) poor ripper and costs $20. EAC (from the FAQs) is free and of MUCH higher quality. And be sure to use LAME to encode the files.

<< The computer is just not a good way to work with music. >>

I'll disagree with you there but we've been down that road before Like everything else in life it depends on your resources and your goals.

 

[MazerRackham]

<< Yeah, why bother with MP3? I mean, I have my collection on Mp3 too, but heck, just do exact CD copies of them and put the originals away. >>



This is what I would do.... just make dupes of all your CDs. I do this for my car, since I don't want my originals subjected to the heat and dust of everyday life in a car