COPYING C.D.' s

This is fairly technical, but it gives as good a recording you will get.

If you don't mind the fiddly aspect, use Exact Audio Copy. You will need to find a copy of the LAME (mp3 encoder) DLL on the Net, but once done, this utility not just rips, but does very thorough error checking (assuming you have secure ripping turned on) to ensure that music is copied without any errors or other issues.

Of course, the resulting WAV files are large (~650 megs for an average album), but one can always use iTunes to convert it to a smaller format. I keep the WAV files on a separate hard disk, then convert them to good quality AAC files for the iTunes library. This comes from a few years ago, where you had so many competing formats, mp3, AAC, OGG, ATRAC3, and WMA, so with this method, if I wanted audio in a format my old Sony player could understand, I'd encode it with ATRAC3. The Zune gets AAC or WMA. The iPod gets AAC.

Of course, these days, it isn't an issue -- everything understands AAC, and the old Zune is long since retired, so I use Apple's main format for anything in my library these days.

I just use WMP and rip to my thumbdrive. Plays in my car, on the Jensen in the camper and everywhere else I have tried it. MP3 is decent enough sound for the sound systems in a camper and car unless you are an audiophile and have high $$$ equipment. Nice to be able to have all my music and put on whatever I want.

I use iTunes for ripping, since it is going to my iPod eventually. The USB input on my car radio also knows the format and can see most of the iTunes library information.

But if what you have is a simple MPG player, that should be your target format. Every PC media player can deal with it.

I have always used CDex - it is free from -here-

Mr Wizard, if you purchase media from say the ITunes store, you can put it on every thing you own with the publishers blessing, including CD's etc.

i never meant to imply it couldn't be done
i have copied OR created my share of CD's

i only mean the RIAA will do 'what ever they can' to stop said 'fair use'
and not to expect that the CD you buy next yr, to be as easy to copy as the one you bought last year

i have ripped all of the DW's favorite music and recorded TV performances and transferred them to her Android tablet

I have a great deal of respect for our Mod here but, I have never had a problem with ripping using WMP or my favorite Nero Burning. I don't remember ever trying to rip a Sony CD or Tape, so I really can't answer to that. I do know that CDs I have copied and tried to play on Sony players will not play.

It is my understanding that the courts have upheld the right to copy a CD or Cassette for personnel use. I don't trust my wife's 6 CD changer in her Explorer to return my CDs so all she gets are copies.

the RIAA does everything they can to stop 'fair use' 'self use' copying/ripping
Sony is Notorious for 'root kit' which infected your PC when inserted in your PC
and was taken to court about it

You want Media Monkey. Its free, not clunky and flaky like WMP, and is easy to use.

wa8yxm wrote:


Some publishers are not so accommodating and if they catch you doing it they get kind of nasty. This has resulted in copy management systems being put on recording equipment such that You can not make copies.. EVEN IF IT IS A LIVE RECORDING OF MYSELF SINGING A SONG WRITTEN BY ME (and yes there are such recordings) and I'm the one who made the recording I can not copy it the way it should be copied.. (I can copy it, no problem, but that's because I paid for the stuff needed to do the job).

Umm, no, that's incorrect. Its called "fair use" (although the RIAA does not like to use that term, it exists). You can legally copy anything you want so long as its for your own personal use. You cannot share it on the Internet, you cannot give it away, you cannot resell it while keeping the original. Even the RIAA acknowledges this. See the "Copying CDs" section at the bottom of this link: http://www.riaa.com/physicalpiracy.php?content_selector=piracy_online_the_law

chevyman2 wrote:
This may be harder to do if you are using Windows 7. Even in WMP I cant seem to "rip" using my Windows 7.

Should be a straightforward process in WIN 7. I've had no issues(x64).






Start Windows Media Player. Place a CD in your drive. Should auto play by default. Otherwise, just select the CD. You should see an option above to "Rip CD". However, I would first click the "Rip settings" drop-down, and set the format type and quality.


Another option is to use the Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 FREE. It's a great free CD/DVD/Bluray burning appplication. I've burned hundreds of DVDs/CDs and also Bluray discs using regular DVDs.







You just need to select "Rip an Audio CD", choose your "Output Format", and click the "Change options" button to set quality levels.