EAC and AAC (qaac): Difference between revisions

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* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac CLI QuickTime AAC/ALAC encoder]
* [https://github.com/nu774/qaac CLI QuickTime AAC/ALAC encoder]


'''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===
===refalac's command line usage===
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'''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.
* 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://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.
* Follow [https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/Installation Installation Guide].


===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.
* Remove the ticks from '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.
* Remove the ticks from '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.
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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.
* Remove the ticks from '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.
* Remove the ticks from '''Use CRC check''' and '''Add ID3 tag'''.

Revision as of 14:42, 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.