I suppose it's impossible to build an image of an audio CD in Windows...

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Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
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...with freeware and Nero anyway. That's "build." Not "rip."


[edit]
I know this should probably go in the "Software for Windows" section...but I figure there are more music enthusiasts in Off Topic.
[/edit]

While searching Google, I found lots of other people posting on message boards and asking how to do this, but they didn't get any valid answers.

I subscribe to iTunes Match and I want to import a few of my obscure soundtrack CDs into iTunes. I already have FLAC rips with CUE files. The original discs are buried in storage somewhere and I probably won't see them again for a long time (I've looked).

Converting the FLAC files to WAV format and then to Apple Lossless format would require me to tediously enter all the metadata manually (genre, disc track info, artist, titles, performers, dates, etc). I have the CUE file for each CD, so I can easily convert the FLAC files to WAV (the filenames referenced in each CUE file) then burn a CD using ImgBurn and re-rip in iTunes (defeated, I eventually ended up doing this for one of my albums).

Initially, I was determined not to waste a CD-R disc because I *know* that this should be possible. I use Slysoft's Virtual CloneDrive to mount CD images...so all I needed to do was assemble the WAV files into an image, mount it, rip to iTunes, and umount/delete the temporary image. This way, iTunes would get all the metadata from the Gracenote CD database.

ISO is never a valid image format for an audio CD rip because it uses a particular file system that does not apply to audio CDs (an audio CD image must define multiple tracks; ISO only defines a filesystem contained within a track). A proper image rip would typically be CUE+BIN format...where CUE specifies the locations for each track and the gaps between them. So I really need to merge a bunch of WAV files into BIN format and generate another CUE file. I tested to see if Virtual CloneDrive supports CUE+WAV, but it does not.

I'm not sure, but it sounds like generating the BIN file might even be possible with a copy/concatenate command...but I'd still need a CUE file. ImgBurn can burn an audio CD from CUE+WAV or CUE+BIN, but it can't build an audio CD image (CUE+BIN) from WAV files or even from CUE+WAV. ImgBurn can do so much, I think this is some kind of oversight that it lacks this capability.

After Google-ing for other free software solutions, I couldn't find anything. I remembered that Nero has a "Nero Image Drive" -- so I should be able to load the CUE+WAV in Nero and "burn" to the image drive, then mount the resulting CUE+BIN in Virtual CloneDrive and rip to iTunes. Nero 2014: Each time I try to burn to the image drive, it fails instantly with a "Canceled by user" message -- what?!

Defeated, I finally had to waste a disc and just burn / re-rip a CD I already own. The others will have to wait until I find the original discs. :(

Is there an easy solution that I'm missing here?
 
Last edited:
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,733
17,216
126
??? you can put together wave files and burn to iso. Plenty of free ISO creating software.
 
K

Kerry56

Member
Oct 16, 2004
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Perhaps I've missed something in your first post, but ImgBurn can build a CUE file for you from WAV files.

Tools-->Create CUE file

And a few people I know like a little tool called Burrrn: http://www.burrrn.net/?page_id=4
But its not one I've used, so I don't know if it will fit your needs. It may only output to an optical disc.
 
Last edited:
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
DaveSimmons said:
dbPowerAmp can convert FLAC to apple lossless:
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/
Click to expand...

videogames101 said:
alcohol 120

i mean, it costs money, but having an actual good image program is invaluable
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll check these out.

sdifox said:
??? you can put together wave files and burn to iso. Plenty of free ISO creating software.
Click to expand...

Name one please. ImgBurn will only let me burn when I selected my CUE file. It will not let me take CUE+WAV and create CUE+BIN.

Kerry56 said:
Perhaps I've missed something in your first post, but ImgBurn can build a CUE file for you from WAV files.

Tools-->Create CUE file

And a few people I know like a little tool called Burrrn: http://www.burrrn.net/?page_id=4
But its not one I've used, so I don't know if it will fit your needs. It may only output to an optical disc.
Click to expand...

I have the CUE and the WAV files. I need CUE with a single BIN file to use with a virtual drive.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,733
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Last edited:
GregGreen

GregGreen

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2000
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You should see if you can find a different program to convert from FLAC->ALAC. On OS X, I use XLD to do this all the time and going from FLAC to ALAC directly should keep you from having to deal with re-entering meta data. I'm sure there is some Windows equivalent of XLD.

EDIT: After doing a little looking, it appears you can do this with dBpoweramp's Batch Converter mode

EDIT2: I now realize that someone already suggested this and you already said you would look into it. Did it work for you?
 
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Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
sdifox said:
Err whut? You can build iso with imgburn. Just specify red book.
Click to expand...

I'm not talking about ISO, which can only define a file system within a single CD track.

A proper image file that can define multiple tracks is CUE+BIN. This is necessary to image an audio CD.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,733
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Ichinisan said:
I'm not talking about ISO, which can only define a file system within a single CD track.

A proper image file that can define multiple tracks is CUE+BIN. This is necessary to image an audio CD.
Click to expand...

Multiple track, single session is the standard cd. All you need to make sure is the cd identification field is filled out properly for itunes to pick it up. Itunes should be smart enough t9 figure out what cd it is from the number of tracks and lengths as ong as you keep them in original order.

CD-Text is the other option but it is rather limited.

I am pretty sure imgburn can build bin file.


http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?...older-by-using-a-mini-image-destination-file/
 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
sdifox said:
it just needs to be single session...you have the cue file no? cue + bin = done. give it a try, build one, mount it and you will be able to play it.



http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/burn_audio_cds_from_music_files_with_imgburn.cfm
Click to expand...

The internal format of the BIN is wrong (data and not audio). CUE+WAV to CUE+BIN was the original goal -- or even just WAV to CUE+BIN. That guide only tells me how to output to a CD-R, which is what I wanted to avoid.

Anyway, Virtual CloneDrive doesn't support CUE+BIN anyway, so I was barking up the wrong tree in the first place.

Maybe another virtual drive supports CUE+WAV and I wouldn't have to convert to CUE+BIN. Even if there is no free virtual drive with this capability, I'll be looking into the direct FLAC-to-ALAC option.

Thanks for your help.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,733
17,216
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Ichinisan said:
The internal format of the BIN is wrong (data and not audio). CUE+WAV to CUE+BIN was the original goal -- or even just WAV to CUE+BIN. That guide only tells me how to output to a CD-R, which is what I wanted to avoid.

Anyway, Virtual CloneDrive doesn't support CUE+BIN anyway, so I was barking up the wrong tree in the first place.

Maybe another virtual drive supports CUE+WAV and I wouldn't have to convert to CUE+BIN. Even if there is no free virtual drive with this capability, I'll be looking into the direct FLAC-to-ALAC option.

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...


the same method is used for creating bin file... did you not see the drop down option bin?

you are overthinking it.
 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
sdifox said:
the same method is used for creating bin file... did you not see the drop down option bin?

you are overthinking it.
Click to expand...

It makes a BIN file that contains and ISO or UDF file system with data files. It does not produce a music CD image with CUE+BIN using CUE+WAV for input.

The only output option available for CUE+WAV is burning to a physical disc.

Following the guide in your link, you are in write mode and there's no save-as dialog. You can only choose a target drive.
 
M

Mushkins

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2013
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0
If you already had a cue+bin for an audio cd with the bin in the right format, wouldn't it be possible to simply edit the contents of that bin file (remove the old WAVs, insert the new WAVs) and then rename them so it uses the cue file you already have? Seems like this is an odd feature for CD burning software not to have in the first place, my only thought is that there may be some licensing attached to the formatting that free burner softwares arent willing to shell out. If that's the case, you might need to go to a higher tier paid product specifically tailored for audio cd creation from source files.
 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
GregGreen said:
You should see if you can find a different program to convert from FLAC->ALAC. On OS X, I use XLD to do this all the time and going from FLAC to ALAC directly should keep you from having to deal with re-entering meta data. I'm sure there is some Windows equivalent of XLD.

EDIT: After doing a little looking, it appears you can do this with dBpoweramp's Batch Converter mode

EDIT2: I now realize that someone already suggested this and you already said you would look into it. Did it work for you?
Click to expand...

From what I can tell, dBpoweramp costs money.

I need to do this again for another CD. Maybe I can find a Mac user willing to just convert with XLD for me.
 
sweenish

sweenish

Diamond Member
May 21, 2013
3,656
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Why are you guys still talking about creating a full image. dbpoweramp or foobar2k will do direct FLAC to ALAC.

In foobar, make sure you're set up to convert, load the *.cue, then convert.

This is so roundabout for no good reason.
 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
sweenish said:
Why are you guys still talking about creating a full image. dbpoweramp or foobar2k will do direct FLAC to ALAC.

In foobar, make sure you're set up to convert, load the *.cue, then convert.

This is so roundabout for no good reason.
Click to expand...

Except I originally wanted my metadata in iTunes to show I ripped the actual CD, like all the others in my library. I don't want to add to some statistic that shows all iTunes Match suhscribers are abusing it with pirated music.

I know I've used Foobar2000 for conversions before...even back when I created this thread. Now I can't find any options for that.

dBpoweramp isn't free, apparently.
 
sweenish

sweenish

Diamond Member
May 21, 2013
3,656
60
91
Does iTunes match actually match the file type? All you need to do is show iTunes that you have the album, right? You'll get matched an iTunes Plus copy (256 kbps VBR).

ALAC seems completely unnecessary. I would just convert to mp3 (lossy AAC if you care that much) and get it matched.

Or would you actually be using the ALAC files?

EDIT: I just realized this was a bumped thread.
 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
I want it to be lossless for my own archival purposes. Also, I use iTunes home sharing when possible because Apple TV and other devices on the network support ALAC that way and don't support FLAC.

I do use Match for my mobile devices. In the car. Where my speakers suck anyway.

The hundreds of CDs in my library were personally ripped and I'm sure there's metadata in the files to indicates that. I'm sure most Match users just pirate their music.

When I'm back home, I'll have to figure out how to do the conversion with FB2K.
 
Last edited:
sweenish

sweenish

Diamond Member
May 21, 2013
3,656
60
91
I wasn't sure if you wanted the actual ALAC since you already had FLAC. But since you do, googling how to use qaac with foobar2k should get you there.

From what I saw, it's a bit of a custom setup, but you'll only need to set it up once.
 
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