Hi,

I'd like to know what the Apple users among us use to rip CD's to their OSX device?
Right now I use iTunes to rip to ALAC but I have the feeling iTunes will already be compressing the files while ripping them.
I have the nagging feeling iTunes doesn't "fully" rip into an uncompressed format.
I'd prefer a standalone tool to get the best possible results.

Any ideas?
I use MAX to convert from FLAC to ALAC for the things people share here, but for straight-from-CD-rip I still need something good :)

Of course it's compressing the data. FLAC and ALAC always compress.

You should take a look at Ostgems Signature :

http://forums.ffshrine.org/member.php?u=978596

Of course it's compressing the data. FLAC and ALAC always compress.

Yes, but iTunes is known to bake the cake even worse than a conversion does by default. Also for some reason shares I get from here in AAC sound WAAAY better than CD rips in iTunes to ALAC.
To put it in layman terms: I don't have to turn up my volume as much on my iPhone. And it doesn't have anything to do with mastering because it's not another loudness war entry. It's just a blues cd. But when I play it on my iPhone it's very quiet.
I just don't think the tools I use are good enough.

You should take a look at Ostgems Signature :
http://forums.ffshrine.org/member.php?u=978596
Thanks, I will.

Yes, but iTunes is known to bake the cake even worse than a conversion does by default.

:erm: It is?


Also for some reason shares I get from here in AAC sound WAAAY better than CD rips in iTunes to ALAC.

I assume the AAC is coming from the iTunes store?
They like to have things "Mastered for iTunes" which is another way of saying, "we engineered it to sound louder through our crappy earbuds". So... do the AAC files sound better, or louder?

Have you compared a score's CD to its respective iTunes store release? Or are you taking a random CD from your shelf and noting that a completely different set of music from iTunes sounds better?


To put it in layman terms: I don't have to turn up my volume as much on my iPhone. And it doesn't have anything to do with mastering because it's not another loudness war entry. It's just a blues cd. But when I play it on my iPhone it's very quiet.

Exactly. It's just a blues CD. It sounds quiet because no loudness war shenanigans were done in the mastering process... whereas the AAC you found here likely did entail some loudness war goings-on behind the scenes.


I just don't think the tools I use are good enough.

It's all placebo. On paper, one program might rip "better" files than another, but to the human ear these differences are imperceptible. Don't worry about it.

:noonecares:

TL;DR

XLD

If you really distrust ALAC, you can select AIFF (in iTunes), which is like WAV except it supports metadata so you can still tag it and give it album art.

Compatibility is lower, but it works on all iOS devices.

:erm: It is?
I read that over on www.head-fi.org when looking into buying a FiiO instead of my iPod (which is dead now coincidentally).

I assume the AAC is coming from the iTunes store?
They like to have things "Mastered for iTunes" which is another way of saying, "we engineered it to sound louder through our crappy earbuds". So... do the AAC files sound better, or louder?
Have you compared a score's CD to its respective iTunes store release? Or are you taking a random CD from your shelf and noting that a completely different set of music from iTunes sounds better?
I haven't compared the iTunes release of the blues album to my physical copy. I'll do that. It defintely sounds very 'clear' and not so much loud (the AAC I mean).


Exactly. It's just a blues CD. It sounds quiet because no loudness war shenanigans were done in the mastering process... whereas the AAC you found here likely did entail some loudness war goings-on behind the scenes.

Do you have any tips on how I can remaster a blues album? I know it sounds stupid with nothing to go on (I can point you to the album though) but I'd like to know if it can be remastered in any way.

TL;DR
XLD

Thanks DAK, have XLD lined up according to ostgems' instructions so next FLAC I get we'll know :)

If you really distrust ALAC, you can select AIFF (in iTunes), which is like WAV except it supports metadata so you can still tag it and give it album art.

Compatibility is lower, but it works on all iOS devices.

I don't distrust ALAC. I distrust iTunes' native converter :)

I assume the AAC is coming from the iTunes store?
They like to have things "Mastered for iTunes" which is another way of saying, "we engineered it to sound louder through our crappy earbuds". So... do the AAC files sound better, or louder?
Have you compared a score's CD to its respective iTunes store release? Or are you taking a random CD from your shelf and noting that a completely different set of music from iTunes sounds better?
Okay... so:
The Spotify album version is a lot quieter than my FLAC to ALAC rip or the iTunes version.
The iTunes version doesn't have a "Mastered for iTunes" label but IS in its own right louder than my own album.
Generally speaking regarding loudless levels the physical album sounds best, but personally I feel the remastering could have been done better.
I'm not sure. I'll play around with EQ and see where it takes me.

Thanks for the tips on XLD, everyone.