EAC and AAC (qaac): Difference between revisions

From Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase
(Add instructions for the software installation steps.)
Tag: Reverted
m (Not needed with refalac. Please discuss intent in https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/board,36.0.html)
Tag: Undo
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===Software Needed===
===Software Needed===
* [http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/index.php/resources/download/ Exact Audio Copy]
* [http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/index.php/resources/download/ Exact Audio Copy]
* iTunes
* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac CLI QuickTime AAC/ALAC encoder]
* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac QAAC]


'''Note:''' This guide has now been amended to reflect changes made to QAAC as of 2.82.
'''Note:''' This guide has now been amended to reflect changes made to QAAC as of 2.76.
 
===refalac's command line usage===
* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/refalac-usage refalac usage]


===qaac's command line usage===
===qaac's command line usage===
* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/Command-Line-Options Command Line Options]
* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/Command-Line-Options Command Line Options]
===refalac's command line usage===
* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/refalac-usage refalac usage]


===Installation===
===Installation===
'''Note:''' This guide assumes that EAC has been configured for secure ripping, if not please follow [[EAC_Drive_Configuration | this]] guide.
'''Note:''' This guide assumes that EAC has been configured for secure ripping, if not please follow [[EAC_Drive_Configuration | this]] guide.
# Install [https://www.7-zip.org/download.html 7-zip].
* Download [https://github.com/nu774/qaac/releases the latest version of CLI QuickTime AAC/ALAC encoder], Then unzip the chosen QAAC version (include '''qaac.exe''' and '''refalac.exe''' for 32-bit, include '''qaac64.exe''' and '''refalac64.exe''' for 64-bit) into the same directory as EAC.
# Download [https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/win64 iTunes64Setup.exe] (64-bit) or [https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/win32 iTunesSetup.exe] (32-bit) into a directory.
# Download [https://github.com/nu774/qaac/releases the latest version of QAAC], Then unzip the chosen QAAC version (include '''qaac.exe''' and '''refalac.exe''' for 32-bit, include '''qaac64.exe''' and '''refalac64.exe''' for 64-bit) into same directory.
# Download [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nu774/makeportable/master/makeportable2.cmd makeportable2.cmd] into same directory.
# Double-click on the file makeportable.cmd.
# After that there are one folder created. QTfiles64 or QTfiles.
# Open a command prompt window. Change to that directory (cd command). Enter `qaac64.exe --check` (64-bit) or `qaac.exe --check` (32-bit) to see if the version number is displayed.


===General Configuration for Encode Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) ===
===General Configuration for Encode Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) ===
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* Click the '''External Compression''' Tab, and put a tick in the box for '''use external program for compression'''.
* Click the '''External Compression''' Tab, and put a tick in the box for '''use external program for compression'''.
* Change '''Parameter Passing Scheme''' to '''User Defined Encoder'''.
* Change '''Parameter Passing Scheme''' to '''User Defined Encoder'''.
* Change '''Use file extension''' to '''.mp4''' if not already that.
* Change '''Use file extension''' to '''.m4a''' if not already that.
* Click the '''Browse''' button and locate the '''refalac.exe''' or '''refalac64.exe''' that you unzipped earlier.
* Click the '''Browse''' button and locate the '''refalac.exe''' or '''refalac64.exe''' that you unzipped earlier.
* Uncheck '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.
* Remove the ticks from '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.
* Check '''Check for external programs return code'''.
* Tick '''Check for external programs return code'''.
* If you are using EAC 1.0b2 or newer, then in the '''Additional command line options''' box, copy and paste the following string:
* If you are using EAC 1.0b2 or newer, then in the '''Additional command line options''' box, copy and paste the following string:


  <font style="color:#A2AAAD">'''-A'''</font> --title "%title%" --artist "%artist%" --band "%albumartist%" --album "%albumtitle%" --genre "%genre%" --date "%year%" --track "%tracknr%/%numtracks%" %source% -o %dest%  
--title "%title%" --artist "%artist%" --band "%albumartist%" --album "%albumtitle%" --genre "%genre%" --date "%year%" --track "%tracknr%/%numtracks%" %source% -o %dest%  
 
[[Image:EACandQAAC1.png|frame|center|QAAC configured with ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec), in an newer version of EAC]]


* <font style="color:red">'''Note''': Remember that you cannot change the compression level.</font>
* <font style="color:red">'''Note''': Remember that you cannot change the compression level.</font>
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* Click the '''External Compression''' Tab, and put a tick in the box for '''use external program for compression'''.
* Click the '''External Compression''' Tab, and put a tick in the box for '''use external program for compression'''.
* Change '''Parameter Passing Scheme''' to '''User Defined Encoder'''.
* Change '''Parameter Passing Scheme''' to '''User Defined Encoder'''.
* Change '''Use file extension''' to '''.mp4''' if not already that.
* Change '''Use file extension''' to '''.m4a''' if not already that.
* Click the '''Browse''' button and locate the '''qaac.exe''' or '''qaac64.exe''' that you unzipped earlier.
* Click the '''Browse''' button and locate the '''qaac.exe''' or '''qaac64.exe''' that you unzipped earlier.
* Uncheck '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.
* Remove the ticks from '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.
* Check '''Check for external programs return code'''.
* Tick '''Check for external programs return code'''.
* If you are using EAC 1.0b2 or newer, then in the '''Additional command line options''' box, copy and paste the following string:
* If you are using EAC 1.0b2 or newer, then in the '''Additional command line options''' box, copy and paste the following string:



Revision as of 14:09, 10 June 2024

Important note

This guide is in need of an update, because in EAC 1.0 beta 2, the replacement strings changed. For example:

  • "%s" is now "%source%"
  • "%d" is now "%dest%"
  • "%a" is now "%artist%"

See the full list in the EAC FAQ or in the EAC Compression Options guide.

Software Needed

Note: This guide has now been amended to reflect changes made to QAAC as of 2.76.

refalac's command line usage

qaac's command line usage

Installation

Note: This guide assumes that EAC has been configured for secure ripping, if not please follow this guide.

General Configuration for Encode Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

  • Open EAC and insert a CD into the drive.
  • Click the EAC menu and select Compression Options.
  • Click the External Compression Tab, and put a tick in the box for use external program for compression.
  • Change Parameter Passing Scheme to User Defined Encoder.
  • Change Use file extension to .m4a if not already that.
  • Click the Browse button and locate the refalac.exe or refalac64.exe that you unzipped earlier.
  • Remove the ticks from Use CRC check and Add ID3 tag.
  • Tick Check for external programs return code.
  • If you are using EAC 1.0b2 or newer, then in the Additional command line options box, copy and paste the following string:
--title "%title%" --artist "%artist%" --band "%albumartist%" --album "%albumtitle%" --genre "%genre%" --date "%year%" --track "%tracknr%/%numtracks%" %source% -o %dest% 
  • Note: Remember that you cannot change the compression level.

General Configuration for Encode Apple AAC

  • Open EAC and insert a CD into the drive.
  • Click the EAC menu and select Compression Options.
  • Click the External Compression Tab, and put a tick in the box for use external program for compression.
  • Change Parameter Passing Scheme to User Defined Encoder.
  • Change Use file extension to .m4a if not already that.
  • Click the Browse button and locate the qaac.exe or qaac64.exe that you unzipped earlier.
  • Remove the ticks from Use CRC check and Add ID3 tag.
  • Tick Check for external programs return code.
  • If you are using EAC 1.0b2 or newer, then in the Additional command line options box, copy and paste the following string:
--title "%title%" --artist "%artist%" --band "%albumartist%" --album "%albumtitle%" --genre "%genre%" --date "%year%" --track "%tracknr%/%numtracks%" %islow%-a %bitrate%%islow% %ishigh%-v %bitrate%%ishigh% %source% -o %dest% 
  • High quality in EAC = Constrained VBR mode = VBR on in iTunes.
  • Low quality in EAC = ABR mode = VBR off in iTunes.
  • Note: for other encoding modes (such as CBR, True VBR, HE-AAC, etc.), edit the parameters between the %islow% and/or %ishigh% tags. See Command Line Options.