EAC Lossless Backup: Difference between revisions

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This tutorial is written for people who want to rip their CDs, but still desire to maintain the same quality as the CD and the same flexibility as MP3s. Compression systems that produce MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis files work by removing part of the data using [[Psychoacoustics]] and then compressing the remaining data. The result is a loss in quality. This tutorial will walk you through the steps required to produce lossless backups of your CDs using [http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/ Exact Audio Copy] V0.95 beta 4 and the Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) but almost any encoder can be used.
This tutorial will walk you through the steps required to produce lossless backups of your CDs using [http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/ Exact Audio Copy].


The features that currently makes EAC the best CD audio ripper compared to CDex (read [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=20&t=3164 article]), iTunes, and others is its ''secure extraction mode'' and ''offset correction''. Secure extraction is a system for verifying the data that was extracted from the CD and then if one piece doesn't match, EAC will scan that section of the disc a number of times to see if it can recover the data. This means that if there's a problem with your disc, such as scratches, EAC will return to the area in question, and painstakingly re-survey the damaged sectors, so it can reproduce the audio information contained on your CD as accurately as possible onto your hard drive. The offset correction fixes the errors that comes from your drive. The head of you drive isn't very accurate at finding the beginning of music files so it ends up cutting either a piece at the beginning or the end off. This piece is normally very small and most likely consists of silence but it might be helpful for live disc that have no gaps or silence between tracks. EAC will fix your drives offset to make sure you get ALL the data off the CD.
'''Note''': Beginning with version 1.0b2, EAC switched to a different scheme for passing track info to the chosen command-line encoder. This article was written at the time of a prior version and therefore uses the old scheme. To compare the two sets of placeholders and amend this page’s command-lines accordingly, see the guide and table at [[EAC placeholders]].
 
The downside of EAC is that it's not the easiest program to configure. You'll need to configure EAC only once; After that, you'll never need to worry about it again.  


=Configuring Exact Audio Copy=
=Configuring Exact Audio Copy=
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==EAC Options==
==EAC Options==
These options are discussed in detail in the [[EAC Options]] guide.
'''Extraction'''
'''Extraction'''
* ''Fill up missing offset samples with silence:'' Unchecked (In later configuration, you will fix your drive offset error so there will be no missing offset samples.)
* ''Fill up missing offset samples with silence'' : Checked
* ''No use of null samples for CRC calculations:'' Unchecked (This option isn't really important and has absolutely no influence on the extraction quality.)
* ''No use of null samples for CRC calculations'' : Unchecked (This option isn't really important and has absolutely no influence on the extraction quality.)
* ''Synchronize between tracks:'' Checked (See here)
* ''Synchronize between tracks'' : Checked ([http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Exact_Audio_Copy#Track_synchronization_technology See here])
* ''Delete leading and trailing silent blocks:'' Unchecked
* ''Delete leading and trailing silent blocks'' : Unchecked
* ''Skip track extraction on read or sync errors:'' Unchecked
* ''Skip track extraction on read or sync errors'' : Your decision.
* ''Skip track extraction after duration longer than:'' Unchecked
* ''Skip track extraction after duration longer than'' : Your decision.
* ''After each:'' Unchecked (It will just make things slow and unless your drive over heats it's useless)
* ''After each: XX mins of extraction, cool down the drive for YY mins'' : Use only if necessary.
* ''Lock drive tray during extraction:'' Checked (Prevents accidental opening of drive tray)
* ''Lock drive tray during extraction'' : Checked (Prevents accidental opening of drive tray)
* ''Extraction and compression priority:'' Normal for most people; Idle for old and slow computers; High for computers with multicore processors or multiple processors.
* ''Extraction and compression priority'' : Normal for most situations; Idle for old and slow computers; High for computers with multi-core processors or multiple CPUs.
* ''Error recovery:'' High
* ''Error recovery'' : Medium or High (Depending on the disc, setting this to high can hinder EAC's ability to report errors and may not improve the odds of getting accurate data.)


'''General''' - All options here do not affect the extraction and compression of the CD so choose what you see fit.  
'''General''' - All options here do not affect the extraction and compression of the CD so choose what you see fit.  


'''Tools'''
'''Tools'''
* ''Retrieve UPC/ISRC codes in CUE sheet generation:'' Your decision.
* ''Retrieve UPC/ISRC codes in CUE sheet generation'' : Your decision.
* ''Use CD-Text information in CUE sheet generation:'' Checked
* ''Use CD-Text information in CUE sheet generation'' : Your decision.
* ''Create '.m3u' playlist on extraction:'' Your decision.
* ''Create '.m3u' playlist on extraction'' : Your decision.
* ''Automatically write status report after extraction:'' Your decision. It is good to include this when sending to other people so they know it was a successful extraction.
* ''Automatically write status report after extraction'' : Your decision.
* ''On extraction, start external compressors queued in the background:'' Checked. Use 1 compressor thread because most computers will compress faster than they can extract.
* ''On extraction, start external compressors queued in the background'' : Checked unless it causes problems. Use only one compressor thread unless your computer has a multi-core processor or multiple CPUs.
* ''Do not open external compressor window:'' Checked (Doesn't affect the extraction but it prevent the compressor program from opening the Command Prompt)
* ''Do not open external compressor window'' : Your decision. (Depending on how the external compressor is configured this feature may not work as expected.)
* ''Activated beginner mode, disable all advanced features:'' Unchecked (You no beginner with this guide.)
* ''Activate beginner mode, disable all advanced features'' : Unchecked (You're no beginner with this guide.)


'''Normalize''' - Disable normalization; the CD should be mastered anyways.
'''Normalize''' - DISABLE normalization; this is supposed to be a lossless backup!


'''Filename''' - This can be whatever you would like it to be. I personally find the best organization is as follows:
'''Filename''' - This can be whatever you would like it to be. Here's an example:
* ''Naming scheme:'' %A\(%Y) %C\%N - %T
* ''Naming scheme'' : %A\(%Y) %C\%N - %T
* ''Various Artist:'' Various\(%Y) %C\%N - %T (%A)
* ''Various Artist'' : Various\(%Y) %C\%N - %T (%A)


'''Catalog''' - Not important
'''Catalog''' - Not important


'''Directories''' - Up to you. I have mine pointed to 'My Music' in windows.
'''Directories''' - Up to you.


'''Write''' - Nothing to do with extraction here.
'''Write''' - Nothing to do with extraction here.


'''Interface''' - Use "''Installed external ASPI interface''". If the option isn't available, install [http://www.nero.com/nero7/enu/ASPI_Driver.html Nero's ASPI Driver].
'''Interface''' - Try the native interface first. If it doesn't work, try an external one.  [ftp://ftp6.nero.com/wnaspi32.dll Nero's ASPI Driver] is the most common, but [http://radified.com/ASPI/forceaspi.htm ForceASPI] may offer better compatibility.


==Drive Options==
==Drive Options==
These options are discussed in detail in the [[EAC Drive Options]] guide.
'''Extraction Method'''
'''Extraction Method'''


Select "''Secure mode with the following drive features (Recommended)''"
Select "''Secure mode with the following drive features (recommended)''"
Place a Audio CD in the drive and run "''Detect Read Features...''"
Place a Audio CD in the drive and run "''Detect Read Features...''"
With the information obtained select:
With the information obtained select:
* ''Drive has 'Accurate Stream' feature:'' Enable if your drive has Accurate Stream. (This feature prevents jittering.)
* ''Drive has 'Accurate Stream' feature'' : Enable if your drive has Accurate Stream. (This setting tells EAC not to perform additional synchronization.)
* ''Drive caches audio:'' Enable if your drive has Caching. (This will erase the cached data after every read so that the secure mode can actually work. If your drive doesn't cache then it's a good thing for CD ripping with EAC.)
* ''Drive caches audio'' : Enable only if EAC reports your drive as caching. If EAC reports your drive as not caching then you may safely disable this setting. (Enabling this setting cripples your extraction speed.  It provides no benefit when used with drives that are reported by EAC as not caching.)
* ''C2 Error Info:'' Disable (Some drives don't report this accurately so its a safe bet to let EAC handle C2 error checking.)
* ''C2 Error Info'' : It is safe to enable this setting if your drive provides C2 error information, but usually only when used in conjunction with AccurateRip or with the generation of a separate test CRC to compare with the read CRC. [This feature provides a speed increase by reading data from the disc only once, relying on your drive to report errors that could not be corrected.  Some drives (typically old models by Plextor) can do this reliably; however, many drives will fail to report all uncorrectable errors. If you're not getting matching read and test CRCs (see the section on [[#Ripping a CD]]) or AccurateRip cannot verify all of the tracks on a disc, try ripping again with this setting disabled.  If CRCs match as a result of disabling this setting or tracks are more consistently verified with AccurateRip, then leave it disabled.]
* If your drive caches audio data, it may be more efficient to use Burst mode in conjunction with AccurateRip and generate test CRCs for tracks that cannot be verified as accurate.  Tracks ripped in Burst mode that are verified with AccurateRip or generate identical read and test CRCs are every bit as secure as if they were ripped in Secure mode.


'''Drive'''
'''Drive'''
* ''Drive read command:'' Select Autodetect read command now so that it will not have to figure it out every time your rip a CD.
* ''Drive read command'' : Select Autodetect read command now so that it will not have to figure it out every time your rip a CD.
* ''"Big Endian" byte order (Motorola):'' Only select this if extracted tracks consist of noise. Otherwise, leave it disabled.
* ''"Big Endian" byte order (Motorola)'' : Only select this if extracted tracks consist of noise. Otherwise, leave it disabled.
* ''Swap channels:'' Only select this if your drive has the stereo channels backwards. Otherwise, leave it disabled.
* ''Swap channels'' : Only select this if your drive has the stereo channels backwards. Otherwise, leave it disabled.
* ''Spin up drive before extraction:'' Enable (It takes just a second and is a safe precaution).
* ''Spin up drive before extraction'' : Only select this if your drive has difficulty reading data on spin-up.  Otherwise, leave it disabled.


'''Offset / Speed'''
'''Offset / Speed'''


Visit the [http://www.accuraterip.com/driveoffsets.htm Accurate Rip: CD Drive Offset Database] and find your drive and offset value. If your drive isn't in the database you can find a CD from [http://www.accuraterip.com/keydiscs.htm this list] and run 'Detect read sample offset correction...'
Visit the [http://www.accuraterip.com/driveoffsets.htm AccurateRip Drive Offset Database] to find your drive's read offset correction value. If your drive isn't in the database you may want to install AccurateRip and let it configure the read sample offset correction for you (you may want to install AccurateRip anyway since it really enhances EAC's ability to verify your rips).  A more painful alternative in determining your offset correction is to find at least two CDs from [http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/index.php/overview/basic-technology/list-of-included-reference-cds/ this list] which give you identical results when running "Detect read sample offset correction...".  When using this method it is imperative that the number in the right-hand column of the table matches (as closely as possible) the number found along the on inner-ring of your CD.
* ''Use read sample offset correction:'' Enable and enter your drives offset value into the field.
 
* ''Override Lead-In and Lead-Out:'' Disable (Your offset should be correct so this is not necessary and will only result in an inaccurate extraction).
* ''Use read sample offset correction'' : Enable and enter your drive's offset value into the field.
* ''Speed Selection:'' Actual
* ''Overread Lead-In and Lead-Out'' : Press the button that says "Detect read sample offset correction".  Enable this setting if it says your drive can overread from both the Lead-In and Lead-Out or if it says Lead-Out and your offset correction is positive or if it says Lead-In and your offset correction is negative.  Otherwise disable it.
* ''Allow speed reduction during extraction:'' Enable
* ''Speed Selection'' : Actual (You may want to adjust this when ripping discs that produce errors.)
* ''CD-Text Read capable drive:'' Disable
* ''Allow speed reduction during extraction'' : Enable (Disabling this setting may improve accuracy with some drives.)
* ''CD-Text Read capable drive'' : Enable if your drive supports it.


'''Gap Detection'''
'''Gap Detection'''
* ''Gap/Index retrieval method:'' All of these will result in the same quality rip. If the current Gap detection is slow switch to something different and see if it is faster. For most people Detection method A is fastest.
* ''Gap/Index retrieval method'' : This will not affect the extraction quality. Choose the method that gives the fastest results (usually method A).
* ''Detection accuracy:'' Secure
* ''Detection accuracy'' : Secure (You may have to reduce the level if EAC hangs while detecting gaps.)


'''Writer''' - Not related to extraction.
'''Writer''' - Not related to extraction.
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==Compression Options==
==Compression Options==
[[Image:EACandFLAC.png|thumb|300px|FLAC configured with tagging support]]
[[Image:EACandFLAC.png|thumb|300px|FLAC configured with tagging support]]
These options are described in detail in the [[EAC Compression Options]] guide.
'''Waveform''' - Can be ignored because it does not affect compression to any other format besides wav.
'''Waveform''' - Can be ignored because it does not affect compression to any other format besides wav.


'''External Compression''' - You may use many different encoders for this section. See below for most lossless encoder options.
'''External Compression''' - You may use many different encoders for this section. See below for most lossless encoder options.
* ''Use external program for compression:'' Enable
* ''Use external program for compression'' : Enable
* ''Parameter passing scheme:'' User Defined Encoder
* ''Parameter passing scheme'' : User Defined Encoder
* ''Bit rate:'' Don't matter because it's disable automatically when using a user defined encoder
* ''Bit rate'' : N/A. This gets ignored when using a user defined encoder and following the additional command line options specified below.
* ''Delete WAV after compression:'' Enable
* ''Delete WAV after compression'' : Enable
* ''Use CRC check:'' Disable
* ''Use CRC check'' : Disable
* ''Add ID3 tag:'' Disable (encoder does it automatically).
* ''Add ID3 tag'' : Disable (encoder does it automatically).
* ''Check for external programs return code:'' Disable
* ''Check for external programs return code'' : Your decision.


'''''Encoding Options'''''
'''''Encoding Options'''''
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[http://flac.sourceforge.net/ Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)]  
[http://flac.sourceforge.net/ Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)]  
* ''Use file extension:'' .flac
* ''Use file extension'' : .flac
* ''Program, including path, used for compression:'' Browse and locate 'flac.exe'.
* ''Program, including path, used for compression'' : Browse and locate 'flac.exe'.
* ''Additional command line options:''
* ''Additional command line options'' :
  <font style="color:green">'''-8'''</font> -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%g" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "genre=%m" %s
  <font style="color:green">'''-8'''</font> -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%g" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "genre=%m" %s
:<font style="color:green">'''Note:''' The green portion is where you would change the compression level or add settings for the FLAC encoder.</font>
<font style="color:green">'''Note:''' The green portion is where you would change the compression level or add settings for the FLAC encoder.  You may want to add -V in order to verify that there were no encoding errors.</font>


Apple Lossless using [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=35242 iTunes CLI Encoder] (iTunes required)
Apple Lossless using [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=35242 iTunes CLI Encoder] (iTunes required)
* ''Use file extension:'' .m4a
:Note: If you have ''On extraction, start external compressors queued in the background'' checked in  EAC Options, make sure you have it set to use only ''one'' compressor thread.
* ''Program, including path, used for compression:'' Browse and locate 'iTunesEncode.exe'.
* ''Use file extension'' : .m4a
* ''Additional command line options:''
* ''Program, including path, used for compression'' : Browse and locate 'iTunesEncode.exe'.
* ''Additional command line options'' :
  -e "Lossless Encoder" -a "%a" -l "%g" -t "%t" -g "%m" -y %y -n %n -i %s -o %d -d
  -e "Lossless Encoder" -a "%a" -l "%g" -t "%t" -g "%m" -y %y -n %n -i %s -o %d -d


[http://www.monkeysaudio.com/ Monkey's Audio] w/ [http://www.synthetic-soul.co.uk/wapet/ Wapet for tagging]
[http://www.monkeysaudio.com/ Monkey's Audio] w/ [http://www.synthetic-soul.co.uk/wapet/ Wapet for tagging]
:Note: Monkey's Audio doesn't support tagging command lines so Wapet must be used in conjunction.
:Note: Monkey's Audio doesn't support tagging command lines so Wapet must be used in conjunction.
* ''Use file extension:'' .ape
* ''Use file extension'' : .ape
* ''Program, including path, used for compression:'' Browse and locate 'wapet.exe'.
* ''Program, including path, used for compression'' : Browse and locate 'wapet.exe'.
* ''Additional command line options:''
* ''Additional command line options'' :
  %d -t "Artist=%a" -t "Title=%t" -t "Album=%g" -t "Year=%y" -t "Track=%n" -t "Genre=%m"
  %d -t "Artist=%a" -t "Title=%t" -t "Album=%g" -t "Year=%y" -t "Track=%n" -t "Genre=%m"
  <font style="color:red">"C:\Program Files\Monkey's Audio\MAC.exe"</font> %s %d <font style="color:green">-c2000</font>
  <font style="color:red">"C:\Program Files\Monkey's Audio\MAC.exe"</font> %s %d <font style="color:green">-c2000</font>
:<font style="color:red">'''Note 1''': This needs to point to where the MAC.exe is located and please ensure that " " is around the full location.</font>
:<font style="color:red">'''Note 1''': This needs to point to where the MAC.exe is located and please ensure that " " is around the full location.</font>
:<font style="color:green">'''Note 2''': The green portion is where you would change the compression level or add settings for the FLAC encoder.
:<font style="color:green">'''Note 2''': The green portion is where you would change the compression level.
::Fast = ''-c1000'' ; Normal = ''-c2000'' ; High = ''-c3000'' ; Extra High = ''-c4000'' ; Insane = ''-c5000''</font>
::Fast = ''-c1000'' ; Normal = ''-c2000'' ; High = ''-c3000'' ; Extra High = ''-c4000'' ; Insane = ''-c5000''</font>


[http://www.wavpack.com/ WavPack] (see also: [[EAC and WavPack]])
[http://www.wavpack.com/ WavPack] (see also: [[EAC and WavPack]])
* ''Use file extension:'' .wv
* ''Use file extension'' : .wv
* ''Program, including path, used for compression:'' Browse and locate 'wavpack.exe'.
* ''Program, including path, used for compression'' : Browse and locate 'wavpack.exe'.
* ''Additional command line options:''
* ''Additional command line options'' :
  -h -w "Artist=%a" -w "Title=%t" -w "Album=%g" -w "Year=%y" -w "Track=%n" -w "Genre=%m" %s %d
  -h -w "Artist=%a" -w "Title=%t" -w "Album=%g" -w "Year=%y" -w "Track=%n" -w "Genre=%m" %s %d


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* Insert a CD you would like to rip.
* Insert a CD you would like to rip.
* freedb should automatically get the CD information, if it doesn't go back to the ''EAC Options>General'' and enable "''On unknown CDs''" and select "''automatically access online freedb database''". Make sure you put an email address in the freedb / Database options or else you cannot get access.
* freedb should automatically get the CD information, if it doesn't go back to the ''EAC Options>General'' and enable "''On unknown CDs''" and select "''automatically access online freedb database''". Make sure you put an email address in the freedb / Database options or else you cannot get access.
* Select ''Action>Create CUE Sheet>Multiple WAV Files With Corrected Gaps...'' (shortcut key combination: Alt+O)
* Select ''Action>Copy Selected Tracks>Compress...'' (shortcut key combination: Shift+F5, or press the MP3 button on the left side of the GUI).
* Run ''Action>Test and Copy Selected Tracks>Compress...'' (shortcut key combination: Shift+F6)
* Review AccurateRip results.
* While the program extracts the CD open the cue Sheet that it made with a text editor such as notepad and run ''find/replace'' and replace .wav and WAVE with the files extension you used for compression (ie for FLAC replace it with ".flac" and "FLAC" or for Apple Lossless replace it with ".m4a" and "Apple Lossless"). Also delete all the directory folders using the find/replace feature by leaving the replace field empty (for the recommended file naming scheme, delete ARTIST\(YEAR) ALBUM\). Save the cue sheet and move it into the folder where the music is located (ie ARTIST\(YEAR) ALBUM\). When the CD is done extracting and compressing the CUE can now be used to write a CD using a program that is compatable with EAC's noncompliant CUE sheets such as [http://www.burrrn.net/?page_id=4 burrrn] (Nero will not work unfortunately).
** If using Burst mode or Secure mode with C2 error information, highlight any tracks that cannot be verified as accurate by AccurateRip (hold ctrl key to highlight multiple tracks) and then select ''Action>Test Selected Tracks'' (shortcut key: F8).
* Enjoy your perfectly ripped music.
* Select ''Action>Create CUE Sheet>Multiple WAV Files With Gaps... (Noncompliant)''.
* If you want the cue sheet to reference the newly created compressed files instead of wave files open it with a text editor.  Perform a ''find/replace'' operation to replace .wav and WAVE with the extension and appropriate type you used for compression (e.g. for FLAC replace it with ".flac" and "FLAC" or for Apple Lossless replace it with ".m4a" and "Apple Lossless"). Also delete all the directory folders using the find/replace feature by leaving the replace field empty (for the recommended file naming scheme, delete ARTIST\(YEAR) ALBUM\). Save the cue sheet and move it into the folder where the music is located (ie ARTIST\(YEAR) ALBUM\). The cue can now be used to write a CD using a program that is compatible with EAC's noncompliant cue sheets such as [http://www.burrrn.net/?page_id=4 burrrn]. (Nero will not work because it is not compatible with noncompliant sheets).
* Enjoy your music.


==See also==
==See also==
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[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:EAC Guides]]
[[Category:EAC Guides|lossless & EAC]]

Latest revision as of 11:26, 12 June 2023

This tutorial will walk you through the steps required to produce lossless backups of your CDs using Exact Audio Copy.

Note: Beginning with version 1.0b2, EAC switched to a different scheme for passing track info to the chosen command-line encoder. This article was written at the time of a prior version and therefore uses the old scheme. To compare the two sets of placeholders and amend this page’s command-lines accordingly, see the guide and table at EAC placeholders.

Configuring Exact Audio Copy

Open the EAC menu and edit the following options:

EAC Options

These options are discussed in detail in the EAC Options guide.

Extraction

  • Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Checked
  • No use of null samples for CRC calculations : Unchecked (This option isn't really important and has absolutely no influence on the extraction quality.)
  • Synchronize between tracks : Checked (See here)
  • Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : Unchecked
  • Skip track extraction on read or sync errors : Your decision.
  • Skip track extraction after duration longer than : Your decision.
  • After each: XX mins of extraction, cool down the drive for YY mins : Use only if necessary.
  • Lock drive tray during extraction : Checked (Prevents accidental opening of drive tray)
  • Extraction and compression priority : Normal for most situations; Idle for old and slow computers; High for computers with multi-core processors or multiple CPUs.
  • Error recovery : Medium or High (Depending on the disc, setting this to high can hinder EAC's ability to report errors and may not improve the odds of getting accurate data.)

General - All options here do not affect the extraction and compression of the CD so choose what you see fit.

Tools

  • Retrieve UPC/ISRC codes in CUE sheet generation : Your decision.
  • Use CD-Text information in CUE sheet generation : Your decision.
  • Create '.m3u' playlist on extraction : Your decision.
  • Automatically write status report after extraction : Your decision.
  • On extraction, start external compressors queued in the background : Checked unless it causes problems. Use only one compressor thread unless your computer has a multi-core processor or multiple CPUs.
  • Do not open external compressor window : Your decision. (Depending on how the external compressor is configured this feature may not work as expected.)
  • Activate beginner mode, disable all advanced features : Unchecked (You're no beginner with this guide.)

Normalize - DISABLE normalization; this is supposed to be a lossless backup!

Filename - This can be whatever you would like it to be. Here's an example:

  • Naming scheme : %A\(%Y) %C\%N - %T
  • Various Artist : Various\(%Y) %C\%N - %T (%A)

Catalog - Not important

Directories - Up to you.

Write - Nothing to do with extraction here.

Interface - Try the native interface first. If it doesn't work, try an external one. Nero's ASPI Driver is the most common, but ForceASPI may offer better compatibility.

Drive Options

These options are discussed in detail in the EAC Drive Options guide.

Extraction Method

Select "Secure mode with the following drive features (recommended)" Place a Audio CD in the drive and run "Detect Read Features..." With the information obtained select:

  • Drive has 'Accurate Stream' feature : Enable if your drive has Accurate Stream. (This setting tells EAC not to perform additional synchronization.)
  • Drive caches audio : Enable only if EAC reports your drive as caching. If EAC reports your drive as not caching then you may safely disable this setting. (Enabling this setting cripples your extraction speed. It provides no benefit when used with drives that are reported by EAC as not caching.)
  • C2 Error Info : It is safe to enable this setting if your drive provides C2 error information, but usually only when used in conjunction with AccurateRip or with the generation of a separate test CRC to compare with the read CRC. [This feature provides a speed increase by reading data from the disc only once, relying on your drive to report errors that could not be corrected. Some drives (typically old models by Plextor) can do this reliably; however, many drives will fail to report all uncorrectable errors. If you're not getting matching read and test CRCs (see the section on #Ripping a CD) or AccurateRip cannot verify all of the tracks on a disc, try ripping again with this setting disabled. If CRCs match as a result of disabling this setting or tracks are more consistently verified with AccurateRip, then leave it disabled.]
  • If your drive caches audio data, it may be more efficient to use Burst mode in conjunction with AccurateRip and generate test CRCs for tracks that cannot be verified as accurate. Tracks ripped in Burst mode that are verified with AccurateRip or generate identical read and test CRCs are every bit as secure as if they were ripped in Secure mode.

Drive

  • Drive read command : Select Autodetect read command now so that it will not have to figure it out every time your rip a CD.
  • "Big Endian" byte order (Motorola) : Only select this if extracted tracks consist of noise. Otherwise, leave it disabled.
  • Swap channels : Only select this if your drive has the stereo channels backwards. Otherwise, leave it disabled.
  • Spin up drive before extraction : Only select this if your drive has difficulty reading data on spin-up. Otherwise, leave it disabled.

Offset / Speed

Visit the AccurateRip Drive Offset Database to find your drive's read offset correction value. If your drive isn't in the database you may want to install AccurateRip and let it configure the read sample offset correction for you (you may want to install AccurateRip anyway since it really enhances EAC's ability to verify your rips). A more painful alternative in determining your offset correction is to find at least two CDs from this list which give you identical results when running "Detect read sample offset correction...". When using this method it is imperative that the number in the right-hand column of the table matches (as closely as possible) the number found along the on inner-ring of your CD.

  • Use read sample offset correction : Enable and enter your drive's offset value into the field.
  • Overread Lead-In and Lead-Out : Press the button that says "Detect read sample offset correction". Enable this setting if it says your drive can overread from both the Lead-In and Lead-Out or if it says Lead-Out and your offset correction is positive or if it says Lead-In and your offset correction is negative. Otherwise disable it.
  • Speed Selection : Actual (You may want to adjust this when ripping discs that produce errors.)
  • Allow speed reduction during extraction : Enable (Disabling this setting may improve accuracy with some drives.)
  • CD-Text Read capable drive : Enable if your drive supports it.

Gap Detection

  • Gap/Index retrieval method : This will not affect the extraction quality. Choose the method that gives the fastest results (usually method A).
  • Detection accuracy : Secure (You may have to reduce the level if EAC hangs while detecting gaps.)

Writer - Not related to extraction.

Compression Options

FLAC configured with tagging support

These options are described in detail in the EAC Compression Options guide.

Waveform - Can be ignored because it does not affect compression to any other format besides wav.

External Compression - You may use many different encoders for this section. See below for most lossless encoder options.

  • Use external program for compression : Enable
  • Parameter passing scheme : User Defined Encoder
  • Bit rate : N/A. This gets ignored when using a user defined encoder and following the additional command line options specified below.
  • Delete WAV after compression : Enable
  • Use CRC check : Disable
  • Add ID3 tag : Disable (encoder does it automatically).
  • Check for external programs return code : Your decision.

Encoding Options

The codec you choose is completely up to you; Use the lossless comparison article to help you decide. Once you have made up your mind, install the following codec using the following links:

Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)

  • Use file extension : .flac
  • Program, including path, used for compression : Browse and locate 'flac.exe'.
  • Additional command line options :
-8 -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%g" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "genre=%m" %s

Note: The green portion is where you would change the compression level or add settings for the FLAC encoder. You may want to add -V in order to verify that there were no encoding errors.

Apple Lossless using iTunes CLI Encoder (iTunes required)

Note: If you have On extraction, start external compressors queued in the background checked in EAC Options, make sure you have it set to use only one compressor thread.
  • Use file extension : .m4a
  • Program, including path, used for compression : Browse and locate 'iTunesEncode.exe'.
  • Additional command line options :
-e "Lossless Encoder" -a "%a" -l "%g" -t "%t" -g "%m" -y %y -n %n -i %s -o %d -d

Monkey's Audio w/ Wapet for tagging

Note: Monkey's Audio doesn't support tagging command lines so Wapet must be used in conjunction.
  • Use file extension : .ape
  • Program, including path, used for compression : Browse and locate 'wapet.exe'.
  • Additional command line options :
%d -t "Artist=%a" -t "Title=%t" -t "Album=%g" -t "Year=%y" -t "Track=%n" -t "Genre=%m"
"C:\Program Files\Monkey's Audio\MAC.exe" %s %d -c2000
Note 1: This needs to point to where the MAC.exe is located and please ensure that " " is around the full location.
Note 2: The green portion is where you would change the compression level.
Fast = -c1000 ; Normal = -c2000 ; High = -c3000 ; Extra High = -c4000 ; Insane = -c5000

WavPack (see also: EAC and WavPack)

  • Use file extension : .wv
  • Program, including path, used for compression : Browse and locate 'wavpack.exe'.
  • Additional command line options :
-h -w "Artist=%a" -w "Title=%t" -w "Album=%g" -w "Year=%y" -w "Track=%n" -w "Genre=%m" %s %d

Ripping a CD

  • Insert a CD you would like to rip.
  • freedb should automatically get the CD information, if it doesn't go back to the EAC Options>General and enable "On unknown CDs" and select "automatically access online freedb database". Make sure you put an email address in the freedb / Database options or else you cannot get access.
  • Select Action>Copy Selected Tracks>Compress... (shortcut key combination: Shift+F5, or press the MP3 button on the left side of the GUI).
  • Review AccurateRip results.
    • If using Burst mode or Secure mode with C2 error information, highlight any tracks that cannot be verified as accurate by AccurateRip (hold ctrl key to highlight multiple tracks) and then select Action>Test Selected Tracks (shortcut key: F8).
  • Select Action>Create CUE Sheet>Multiple WAV Files With Gaps... (Noncompliant).
  • If you want the cue sheet to reference the newly created compressed files instead of wave files open it with a text editor. Perform a find/replace operation to replace .wav and WAVE with the extension and appropriate type you used for compression (e.g. for FLAC replace it with ".flac" and "FLAC" or for Apple Lossless replace it with ".m4a" and "Apple Lossless"). Also delete all the directory folders using the find/replace feature by leaving the replace field empty (for the recommended file naming scheme, delete ARTIST\(YEAR) ALBUM\). Save the cue sheet and move it into the folder where the music is located (ie ARTIST\(YEAR) ALBUM\). The cue can now be used to write a CD using a program that is compatible with EAC's noncompliant cue sheets such as burrrn. (Nero will not work because it is not compatible with noncompliant sheets).
  • Enjoy your music.

See also