Ripping Woes: I Need an Accurat Front End and a Stable Lame

Parato_Optimal 2005-06-05 21:23:13 UTC #1

I want to rip discs to CBR, 320-bitrate, Stereo.
I believe this is --alt-preset insane

I also want to rip discs to VBR, 128-320-bitrate,
Joint Stereo.
I believe this is --alt-preset standard

I've tried two front end programs, CDex and EAC.
I used --alt-preset insane which produced Joint Stereo Mp3s with CDex but Stereo Mp3s with EAC. What the?

I've tried Lame 3.96.1 and Lame 3.97 Alpha.
I know I shouldn't use the Alpha as it's a beta version.

I tested CDex with both Lame versions as Internal
Encoders => lame_enc.dll placed in CDex folder. Both
Lame versions produced similar size files. However,
they were several times smaller than files produced by
EAC. CDex produced Joint Stereo files with complete
ID3 Tags that are readable/editable by third party
tagging programs.

I tested CDex with both Lame versions as External
Encoders => directed CDex to the respective Lame
folder to find the Lame.exe. Both Lame versions
failed to produce an Mp3 file as an External Encoders
with CDex.

I tested EAC with both Lame versions as External
Encoders. They produced similar size files that were
several times larger than the files produced by CDex.
EAC failed to produce ID3 tags. Winamp shows a
limited pop-up window of file info rather than the ID3
Tag info page. Third party tagging programs can not
SEE the files produced by EAC to add or edit tags.
The files produced by EAC are in Stereo whereas those
produced by CDex are in Joint Stereo.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Test Results
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ripping
Lou Reed-NYC Man: The Collection-01-Who Am I

Ripping with CDex EXTERNAL LAME 3.96.1 Encoder

320bit Selected

LAME DOS window pops-up momentarily.
A 1KB file is created. This is a failure.

Ripping with CDex EXTERNAL LAME 3.97 Alpha Encoder

320bit Selected

LAME DOS window pops-up momentarily.
A 1KB file is created. This is a failure.

Ripping with CDex INTERNAL LAME 3.96.1 Encoder

Lam.dll 3.96.1 placed in CDex directory

--alt-preset insane
320bit Selected
J-Stereo radio button is automatically checked and
then grayed-out.

File size = 13,048KB
44100Hz Joint Stereo

Ripping with CDex INTERNAL LAME 3.97 Alpha Encoder

Lam.dll 3.97 Alpha placed in CDex directory

--alt-preset insane
320bit Selected
J-Stereo radio button is automatically checked and
then grayed-out.

File size = 13,036KB
44100Hz Joint Stereo

Ripping with EAC External LAME 3.96.1 Encoder

--alt-preset insane
320 kBit/s Selected
High Quality Selected

File size = 57,519KB
PCM, 44100Hz
2 Channels
16 bits per sample

Though I included settings to creat ID3 tags and a
file was created, Winamp displays a different sort of
file info window with the above info rather than the
usual tag info window.

Tagscanner shows no tags or files to list when I
browse the folder created by EAC.

Ripping with EAC External LAME 3.97 Alpha Encoder

--alt-preset insane
320 kBit/s Selected
High Quality Selected

File size = 57,519KB
PCM, 44100Hz
2 Channels
16 bits per sample

Though I included settings to creat ID3 tags and a
file was created, Winamp displays a different sort of
file info window with the above info rather than the
usual tag info window.

Tagscanner shows no tags or files to list when I
browse the folder created by EAC.

sTisTi 2005-06-06 04:39:57 UTC #2

I'd suggest all2lame. Easy and reliable.

cerberus 2005-06-06 05:00:40 UTC #3

try plextools (i shouldnt have said that)

Parato_Optimal 2005-06-06 14:12:42 UTC #4

Isn't it strange that the same command produces such a difference in files size between the two front ends?

The --alt command should over-ride any other non-selected command by the front end. I can excuse some tampering of the frontend to play with Stereo/Joint Stereo. That's minor. But the file size is an extreme difference. The tag issue is simply odd.

sTisTi,
Thanks, I'll give all2lame a try.

Cerberus,
Thanks, how will plextools help and will it help with a non-plextor drive?
I know a few cerberuses.

cerberus 2005-06-07 04:49:59 UTC #5

buy a plex drive and use plextools.
That is a good help :p.
you can rip audio in plextools , from a non plex drive.
i dont know if plextools work if u dont have any plex drive in the system.

good for you

Parato_Optimal 2005-06-07 11:07:36 UTC #6

sTisTi,
I tried all2lame and found it to be an encoder only and not a ripper.

I need to rip and encode.

Thanks

Never_Again 2005-07-01 18:43:08 UTC #7

The title of this thread should read "I need a brain". If you are too dumb to tell a WAV file from an MP3, you should probably be using Windoze Media Player.