iTunes Import CD Question

[IronMentality]

I want to import my CD library into my new iTunes + iPod combination. There are a lot of different ways you can set the file types, and other bits per second settings.

Besides naturally I want it at 320 kbps (stereo), what should I fine tune so I can import at the highest quality?

Thank you!

 

[AsianriceX]

iTunes + LAME mp3 encoder

--alt-preset insane
for 320kbps CBR

More info on LAME settings

 

[MrChad]

I would use Exact Audio Copy + LAME to rip my CDs. "--alt-preset standard" gives me great results without wasting a bunch of space like 320 kbps CBR does.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

FWIW radio used 256k rips.

For my own use I do 192k rips

AAC is 128k (what you get from Apple)

 

[IronMentality]

AsianriceX: The program you linked too seems to be only for the Macintosh. I have overheard something about "LAME" being the best for encoding. Is Exact Audio Copy the best backup option for me?

 

[AsianriceX]

I assumed you were using a mac since that was mentioned in your sig.

I personally use Exact Audio Copy like MrChad and use a simple GUI like "Multi Frontend" to handle my Lame encoding needs. I believe EAC also has an encoding option, but you'll have to download the LAME codec from http://lame.sourceforge.net and configure EAC to use the LAME executable.

I'm a little anal and only use lossy mp3's for my DAP and prefer to have lossless copies of my CDs for backup. I use the FLAC codec at http://flac.sourceforge.net
It's just another compression codec, but when you decompress flac files, they're bit perfect copies of the original source wave.