What does rip cd mean? Rip or extract or copy or grab or convert CD audio means reading audio data from a compact disk and storing the data into computer files. To extract a CD, ripping software is used. Read this step-by-step guide and watch the video on how to convert CD to music files and what is ripping sound quality.
To rip CD audio on Windows 11, 10, 9, 8, 7 or Mac OSX to WAV, FLAC, mp3 and other formats:
AuI ConverteR has several price/functionality options that allow saving your budget for the required functionality. You can expand Modula-R abilities later by purchasing new modules. Unlimited-time license, major updates (... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x > ... versions) are paid.
* All prices on this page are in U.S. dollars without V.A.T. and other applicable taxes and fees. The prices are recommended. Information on this page is not a public offer.
[MINIMUM PRICE] for full functionality of AuI ConverteR, in comparison with Modula-R edition that is including all modules.
![ALL-OPTIONS are included [PROduce-RD edition]](/soft/images/full-functionality2.png)
Decription
All abilities are included in PROduce-RD version. It allows saving budget, comparing purchasing of the full abilities (all modules) of Modula-R edition. Unlimited-time license, paid major updates (... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x ...).
[MINIMUM PRICE] essential safe CD ripper to WAV, FLAC, AIFF (16 bit / 44 kHz only) [consists of 1 module]
![CD ripper to WAV/FLAC/AIFF 44.1 kHz/16-bit only [Modula-R edition]](/soft/images/cd-rip-44-mod.png)
Decription
[CD ripper (core)] module may be purchased separately and support:
[RECOMMENDED] configuration for convert
CD, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, mp3, other PCM (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit, 32 bit float)
to
FLAC, WAV, AIFF, mp3, other PCM (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit, 32 bit float) with manual album artwork assigning [consists of 3 modules]
![CD ripper to WAV/FLAC/AIFF with album artwork assigning [Modula-R edition]](/soft/images/cd-rip-192-artwork-mod.png)
Decription
[CD ripper (core)] module may be purchased separately and support:
* AuI ConverteR 48x44 Free allows ripping the first CD-audio track in the "Source files" list of the software main window.
For the second and further input CD-audio tracks, 2-second of silence will be muted in the middle of the ripped files.
CD ripping of all tracks in the list is available in PROduce-RD and configurable Modula-R editions.
Free edition doesn't assign artwork to the ripped files. Artwork assigning is available in all-included PROduce-RD and configurable Modula-R editions).
Read more about price options here >
To extract CD audio in lossless mode:
Read How to choose best CD rip format >
In ideal, a CD ripper software must get CD data without errors. It is maximal sound quality.
Error here is a difference between audio data into ripped files and files, that were used to record the CD. This difference is out of control of CD user with any CD ripper.
To find reading faults, CD rippers use optical drive abilities and additional compact disk data processing.
But no one ripping software guarantee 100% probability of correct error detection.
Fortunately, most optical disks are extracted without faults. Recovered errors may be there.
CD drive is a very important matter for fault detection and recovery of broken data. The drive detects and tries fix faults directly during physical medium reading. Some devices form C2 error flags. However, as the author knows, C2 implementation is different for various devices and not all drives form these flags.
CD extraction software may be a 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 depends on compact disk extraction software.
If fault is 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 performs resampling, sound quality is a matter of used software.
AuI ConverteR uses safe ripping technology by Audiophile Inventory. The technology allows being 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 be shown.
Each row is CD track with an 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.
Below the table, RED light shows that fatal errors are present. The AMBER light shows probable recovered errors only.
Both fatal and probably-recovered errors may be either audible or inaudible.
If compact disk extraction issues are there, you can see it on ripped file's timeline with visual error display.
Read more about safe CD ripping technology...
AuI ConverteR allows assigning custom metadata application (in some versions) that meets special requirements.
See Settings > CD ripper / ISO:
CD metadata executable - path with name of the application that accesses to Internet database with CD metadata. The application should works with macros (see below) like free cdmetadata utility. For MacOS select binary executable directly (not .app bundle).
CD metadata executable params - command line parameters of the application.
Executable params may contain macroses, that AuI ConverteR replaces to values:
%driveletter% - [for Windows only] drive letter of asked CD. Don't enclose the macro in quotes.
%tocfilepathname% - [for macOS only] path with name of .TOC.plist file that is located on CD. Don't enclose the macro in quotes.
%tocfilepath% - [for macOS only] path of .TOC.plist file (without name) that is located on CD. The path does not contain "/" or "\" at the end.
%cddbfilename% - path with name of *.cddb file that is generated by CD-metadata application and contains metadata description, that should generate the application. Don't include the macro in quotes.
%cddbfilepath% - path of *.cddb file (without name) that is generated by CD-metadata application and contains metadata description, that should generate the application. The path does not contain "/" or "\" at the end.
The name of the result file should be generated by the CD-database application in format "audio%num%.cddb",
where %num% - sequential number of .cddb file, that generated by the executable. There are may be several files, if the database has several entries for asked CD.
Example of parameters for Windows utility in Settings > CD ripper / ISO > "CD metadata executable params" field:
%driveletter% %cddbfilename%
or
%driveletter% "%cddbfilepath%/audio0.cddb"
All macros are included in quotes inside AuI ConverteR before pass to CD-database utility.
For MacOS utility, in Settings > CD ripper / ISO > set empty "CD metadata executable params" field.
AuI ConverteR set automatically:
"toc_file_path_name_on_selected_cd" "output_cddbfilepath/audio%num%.cddb"
You can set:
%tocfilepathname% %cddbfilename%
or
"%tocfilepath%/.TOC.plist" "%cddbfilepath%/audio0.cddb"
%num% is macro for the cdmetadata utility to create one or several .cddb files (1 file per 1 database entry). cdmetadata program replaces %num% to number. For multiple files, the numbers are various.
[Windows]
drive metadatafile [cddbserver-adress-url] [cddbserver-port]
[Mac]
tocfile metadatafile [cddbserver-adress-url] [cddbserver-port]
[Example] Command line in AuI ConverteR's Settings > CD ripper / ISO > set empty "CD metadata executable params" field:
%tocfilepathname% %cddbfilename% http://freedbtest.dyndns.org
As default, cdmetadata utility uses gnudb.org database. It has some limitations for using.
If it's impossible to use the database and/or its metadata due to the limitations, you can either try to find a compatible database that has no such limitations, or turn off obtaining the metadata.
To turn off the obtaining of the metadata, in Settings > CD ripper / ISO in both fields "CD metadata executable" and "CD metadata executable params" enter "NONE".
After the CD-datdabase application is finished, AuI ConverteR looks for audio*.cddb file in the direcrory %cddbfilepath%.
Other compatible database application may be linked with AuI ConverteR via command line.
Examples of CD databases that are compatible with cdmetadata utility:
http://gnudb.gnudb.org
http://freedbtest.dyndns.org
http://freedb.dbpoweramp.com
Also, you can look for way to set up a local cddb/freedb server.
WARNING: Before using any metadata database, check its license for compatibility with your way to use.
See details about metadata database using with AuI ConverteR in the EULA.
AuI ConverteR is capable to get text metadata from Internet database.
Some CDs can have multi description in Internet CD-metadata database. As example, descriptioons in different languages.
If the database return several descriptions for one CD during ripping, AuI ConverteR show to user request window.
In upper drop-down list possibly select what metadata you prefer.
If pushed Cancel button, all metadata will ignored.
You can try external USB drive to read CD.
First, check and/or replace cable. As rule, thick qualitative cable is required. Also, some cables contains two USB connectors. Try connect both ones.
Using of doc stations, connected to computer, also can cause ripping errors. It's recommended to connect CD-drive's USB cable to the computer directly.
If you uses Mac with USB-C only, it's recommended to use USB-C CD-drive device.
The author don't know public serious researches what CD-ripper is actually the best (safest). About criteria and methods, that you can perform right at home to test CD-ripping software read here...
How to rip CD on Windows and Mac OS X read here...
How to rip CD on Mac OS X read here...
For majority of cases used CD-ripper software is not matter.
If you have audible sound quality issues with iTunes, see here.
If you have issues with sound quality (interruptions, silences, pops/clicks, etc.) check "error correction" option in import settings or try alternative ripping way.
Yes, it can. When import CD choose mp3 format.
AIFF (.aiff) or ALAC (.m4a) or WAV (.wav) may be recommended as lossless formats.
However, ALAC have lesser size. WAV may have issues with metadata processing in a musical software.
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 the disk physical properties, theoretically.
Author don't know about real cases of optical disk damaging due ripping.
Burning CD is copying files (including audio) to re-writable/writable CD with special burning software and writable CD-drive.
Ripping CD is extracting compact disk data content to computer files.
Burning is recording computer files to compact disk.
Read more at CD ripping F.A.Q. >
