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Tutorials

Rip / extract / copy / grab / convert CD audio means read compact disk audio data and store it into computer files. To extract CD ripping software is used. Read step-by-step guide how to convert CD to music files and what is sound quality there.

How to rip CD > Sound quality > Tips and tricks >

To rip CD audio on Windows or Mac OSX to WAV, FLAC, mp3 and other formats:

Insert music compact disk and open audiophile safe CD ripper AuI ConverteR 48x44*

[Download FREE for Windows] [ Download FREE for Mac ]
Push Open button and select track(s) from CD-audio (file placed on CD).
In right part of the main window select output (target) file format, sample rate and bit depth.
In Directory output files select absolute path.
Assign album artwork*
Push Start button and wait for end of extraction. Check ripping errors.

Watch and share: How to rip CD audio to WAV, FLAC, mp3 and other

Sound quality

Lossless CD extraction

To extract CD audio in lossless mode:

in Settings (in right bottom of the main window push Settings button) > General > check "Don't make DSP..." switch;
in right part of the main window select output (target) format WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, sample rate 44100 Hz and bit depth 16 bit.

Read How to choose best CD rip format >

Compact disk reading errors

In ideal, a CD ripper software must get CD data without errors. It is maximal sound quality.

Error here is difference between audio data into ripped files and files, that were used to record the CD. This difference is out of control the CD user with any CD ripper.

To found reading fault, CD rippers use optical drive abilities and additional compact disk data processing.

But no one ripping software guarantee 100% probability of correct error detection.

Fortunatelly, most of optical disks are extracted without faults (despite the they may be there).

CD drive is very important matter for fault detection and recovering quality. The drive detect and try fix faults directly during physical medium reading. Some devices form C2 error flags. However, as author know, C2 implementation is different for various devices and not all drives form these flags.

CD extraction software may be matter for successful fault detection.

We should consider CD drive and ripping software as single system in every case.

CD rippers may perform non-correct data detection procedures. Some of rippers use C2 flags there. The detection procedure implementation depend on compact disk extraction software.

If fault are found, AuI ConverteR try to recover damaged audio data.

For details watch video and read how to choose best CD rip software >

If CD ripper perform resampling, sound quality is matter of used software.

Tips and tricks

To open all tracks, use Open dir button.
Use always absolute target directory (example: c:/music). It is impossible use relative folder, because it is placed on CD.
AuI ConverteR always use safe extraction with maximal available abilities. There is no necessary to adjust the extraction software's settings to achieve its best result.
Safe extraction is slow process.
To achieve maximal effectiveness and reduce CD-drive load, CD tracks are extracted sequentially (track-by-track).
If CD tracks are resampled, the sound processing of several tracks is performed in parallel (if software edition allow it).
AuI ConverteR get text metadata from free Internet database. The ripper assign target directory and track names according metadata.
If the CD extractor found fault it is not mean that is real wrong information there. Because non-correct data may be recovered into optical drive and the ripping software.

CD ripping error displaying

AuI ConverteR use safe ripping technology by Audiophile Inventory. The technology allow to be offline Internet during ripping and suitable for rare CDs.

If ripping is finished with errors, in the main window > Log tab, CD ripping error table will shown.

Each row is CD track with error. There are fatal errors (cannot be fixed by CD ripper) and probably recovered errors.

Recovered errors don't guarantee, that data is recovered correctly.

Above the table RED light show that fatal errors is present. Or AMBER light show that there are probable recovered errors only.

Both fatal and probably-recovered errors may be either audible or inaudible.

If compact disk extraction issues there, you can to see its physical place into ripped files with visual error display.

Read more about safe CD ripping technology here >

Does ripping CD ruin it?

CD ripping is more intensive process than usual playback. As rule compact disk is re-readed several times.

Optical disk is readed contactless way. But some mechanical load due rotation and laser heating may impact with time to disk physical properties, theoretically.

Author don't know about real cases of optical disk damaging due ripping.

What is the difference between burning and ripping a CD?

Ripping CD is extracting compact disk data content to computer files.

Burning is recording computer files to compact disk.