Music Back up: FLAC to MP3?

[OptimumSlinky]

So, after spending way too much time in iTunes, I'm in the process of backing up all of my CDs (some 350+ albums of electronic dance, ambient, movie scores, and rock) to my media laptop using Exact Audio Copy and FLAC.

Problem: I have an iPhone and 80GB iPod.

Solution: FLAC to LAME? Does anyone have any experience with this? Looking for good programs that aren't going to f#ck with my file sound quality or replace them FLAC files. Just want to make duplicate copies using LAME so I can then load 'em into iTunes and my iPod.

Before you scream and shout, I did search and didn't find this covered previously. Kthanxcya

 

[KentState]

I did the exact same thing. I ripped everything to FLAC using EAC and then use foobar2000 to convert to other formats. It can blow through hundreds of FLAC files in a few minutes, if not seconds.

 

[Eug]

If you're using iTunes, why didn't you just use iTunes lossless? I'm just curious.

 

[queequeg99]

If you're using iTunes, why didn't you just use iTunes lossless? I'm just curious.

If you're in the Apple ecosystem, this is exactly what I would do. I had actually ripped over 1,000 CDs to FLAC a couple of years ago. Then my wife got into the Apple crap and I eventually was faced with the prospect of supporting her addiction. I used foobar2000 + qaac to convert everything. No problems at all.

Ripping new stuff, I just go straight to Apple lossless.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

I was using Apple's lossless codec, but my problem is iTunes as ripper. I have a fair number of CDs with some decent wear and tear on them sadly, and EAC does an infinitely better job of error-correction, verifying data, and ensuring the WAVs are actually encoded properly and not filled with glitches from the scratches.

iTunes, on the other hand, is still stupidly buggy in Windows, just rips ruthlessly at high speeds and does zilch in terms of checking data to ensure quality rips.

So, since I'm a paranoid bastard, I go with EAC. Even then, I've got three albums that even it can't save.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

I did the exact same thing. I ripped everything to FLAC using EAC and then use foobar2000 to convert to other formats. It can blow through hundreds of FLAC files in a few minutes, if not seconds.

Okay, thanks to KentState, we can call this one solved. For paranoid/anal enough to go through the extra steps, this is the best way to do it. I created two sub-folders in My Music, one called FLAC, one called LAME. I rip all the CDs using EAC (taking advantage of all of it's extra features) into the FLAC format in the FLAC folder. I then use foobar200 and LAME 3.99.5-64 to convert said FLAC files into VBR MP3s.

Since modern CPUs are so stupidly powerful, it literally take foobar2000 about 1-2 seconds to convert a song. It's an extra step and isn't as brainlessly simple as iTunes, but I think it's worth it.

 

[s44]

For lossy I prefer AAC via Nero plugin (included now with foobar I think?) to LAME/MP3.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

For lossy I prefer AAC via Nero plugin (included now with foobar I think?) to LAME/MP3.

Any particular reason?

 

[s44]

Any particular reason?

Better quality per bitrate (I use ~250kbps).

 

[Gintaras]

So, after spending way too much time in iTunes, I'm in the process of backing up all of my CDs (some 350+ albums of electronic dance, ambient, movie scores, and rock) to my media laptop using Exact Audio Copy and FLAC.

Problem: I have an iPhone and 80GB iPod.

Solution: FLAC to LAME? Does anyone have any experience with this? Looking for good programs that aren't going to f#ck with my file sound quality or replace them FLAC files. Just want to make duplicate copies using LAME so I can then load 'em into iTunes and my iPod.

Before you scream and shout, I did search and didn't find this covered previously. Kthanxcya

Maybe it helps somehow...

I transfered all music DVD's(TS folders) to ext HDD - a few hundred DVDs...and audio - .flac or mp3's there too...
Bought another 2TB ext HDD to make a backup.

Now, I do watch music videos - DVD thru my Argosy Media player, don't need to get up and change DVDs in dvd player - Argosy Media player remote control does it.

Same could be done with Music Audio...

Why need to downgrade quality - from flac to mp3?

 

[JAG87]

I was using Apple's lossless codec, but my problem is iTunes as ripper. I have a fair number of CDs with some decent wear and tear on them sadly, and EAC does an infinitely better job of error-correction, verifying data, and ensuring the WAVs are actually encoded properly and not filled with glitches from the scratches.

iTunes, on the other hand, is still stupidly buggy in Windows, just rips ruthlessly at high speeds and does zilch in terms of checking data to ensure quality rips.

So, since I'm a paranoid bastard, I go with EAC. Even then, I've got three albums that even it can't save.

You can rip straight to ALAC with EAC...... google it.