CD Ripper/MP3 Encoder: AudioGrabber or AudioCatalyst.

[Noriaki]

They use a similar front end, but use different mp3 encoders.

Catalyst uses Xing and Grabber uses Fraunderhauff (sp) which is better?

 

[John]

FWIW I have always used AudioCatalyst. However I hear that LAME is a more viable alternative.

 

[xtreme2k]

for most of the computer speakers

whatever encoder makes no difference since it is usually the speakers that we have that is limiting the quality of sound rather than the MP3 itself (unless you record at less than 128kb)

 

[blurredvisionx]

I prefer the Fraunderhauff encoder. Had too many problems with Xing.

 

[Spicollidriver1]

I have catalyst and I like it. I tried grabber and it just wasn't as good but I think it was nitpicky.

 

[xtreme2k]

i must say i like audiocatalyst

encoding at 160/192 gives pretty good quality and EXCELLENT speed

10x encoding on my 700E at 868/124

 

[Noriaki]

Correction:
AudioGrabber uses Fraunderhauf by default, they recommend you download LAME, you can also use blade if you really wanted to.
I think you can use just about any encoder you want..it's $25.

AudioCatalyst as near as I can tell uses Xing only, it's $30
It's Xing $5 better than Lame?


And my speakers is an RCA shelf system two 50watt "full" range speakers and a dedicated sub which I haven't actually added yet.

 

[mosdef]

I really like EZ CD-DA Extractor. Great interface, very easy to use.

-mosdef

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

Fraunhofer is Z best!

 

[Eli]

Xing, Blade, LAME, etc, all suck. I can't stand them, they sound aweful at any given bitrate, compared to Fraunhoffer. I use Easy CD-DA Extractor.

 

[Pepsi90919]

AudioCatalyst is AudioGrabber with Xing thrown in.

 

[Spoooon]

Do MP3 Encoders Sound Different?

A good article comparing different encoders.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

yup i read that article when it first came out... like i said, fraunhofer is z best!

 

[Zucchini]

The problem is that comparison is rather old. The new versions of LAME beat fraungher I had a link somewhere.. grumble.. but it wasn't ars. Those bums never updated their comparison.

 

[Zucchini]

Better version of do encoders sound different. i think its under analysis

 

[ATLien247]

So is there a CD ripping program available that uses the latest and greatest version of LAME? I'm looking for something similar to AudioCatalyst, with the automatic MP3 encoding and CDDB features... but I don't want my MP3s to sound like sh*t! Any ideas?

 

[Zucchini]

Cdex and EAC both can use lame and cddb.

 

[Noriaki]

<< So is there a CD ripping program available that uses the latest and greatest version of LAME? I'm looking for something similar to AudioCatalyst, with the automatic MP3 encoding and CDDB features... but I don't want my MP3s to sound like sh*t! Any ideas? >>



I settled on AudioGrabber v 1.7
You can use Fraunderhauff or LAME for an encoder.
It rips (10-12x on my Pioneer, 14-15x on my Yamaha) from the CD, and you have lots of options what to do with it...
- Wav only
- Wav and Mp3
- Mp3 only with intermediate Wav
- Mp3 only on the fly


It has CDDB features built in, and the encoding is automatic as long as you check the MP3 box. It comes with a freeware version of Fraunderhauff (sucks horribly..I'm sure the full version is better, but this is limited to 56kbps) but to get LAME you just have to download a single DLL file.

I use 192kbps encoding and everything sounds great, very close to CD quality and I can fit 7-9 albums on a single CDR.

 

[Nutcase99]

Most definatly AudioCatalyst even though they are both pretty much the exact same thing, I just like the look and freel of Catalyst better.

 

[Zucchini]

Huh? Audiocatylst comes out at the bottom of every test. Its trades quality for speed.

 

[prontospyder]

ATLien247:

CDex...easy to use, great quality, and it costs nothing.