CDex and FLAC

From Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase

This guide acts as a quick and painless way to make a lossless-backup with CDex and FLAC. It does not go into detail about configuring cdparanoia.

Software needed

Note: CDex has native FLAC support; no need to download anything else

Installation

Just run the installer. If additional Windows redistributable components are needed, they will be downloaded during install.

Configuration

Basic

  • Open CDex and insert a CD into the drive
  • Click the Options menu then click Settings and select Encoder tab
  • Change Encoder drop down menu to FLAC Encoder DLL
  • Confirm that On the fly Encoding is checked off
  • Change the appropriate compression setting level (default: -compression-level 5 |
best: --compression-level 8 )
  • Click OK
  • On toolbar at right, click button second from the top (Extract CD track(s) to Compressed Audio File(s))
  • CDex will begin extracting tracks from your default CD-ROM drive to the Folder and Filename as set below

Suggested Additional Settings

  • Click the Options menu then click Settings

General > Directories & files

  • Set Filename Format the way you want it; e.g. %1\%2\%7 - %4 gives ARTIST\ALBUM\01 - TRACK
  • Set the two directories for output files where you want them

Ripping > CD Drive settings

  • Check box for "Eject CD when ripping has been completed"

Encoding > Tags

  • Un-check all ID3 Tag Versions

CD Database > Remote freedb

  • Enter something in "Your E-mail address"; can be user@domain.com
  • Check box for "Auto connect to remote freedb"

Advanced command-line

  • To use FLAC as external command-line encoder change Encoder to External Encoder and specify flac.exe or your path to appropriate executable. Parameter string:
"-5 -V -o %2 -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%b" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%tn/%tt" -T "genre=%g" -"
Note: the number in green can be substituted for appopriate compression level. The default is -5 the best is -8.

Screenshot

FLAC configured with CDex on the fly
FLAC configured with CDex on the fly

CDex and CUE Sheets

  • CDex has limited support for creating CUE sheets in current beta release

See also

External links