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Going to rip 2000 cds. Which software?

At 63 years old I've decided it's finally time to make the move to a digital library.  I've spent hours and hours on this forum reading about servers, streamers, music servers, nas systems and modded Mac Minis.  I'm more than confused.  I'm pretty much ready to just buy a new transport and be done with it. 

But.... I play "cuts."  I hardly ever play an entire record or cd and would like the ability to choose what's playing from the couch.

I know that the first step is ripping cds.  I have a couple of questions;

1.  Which software should I use?  I am concerned about speed and indexing.  I'm a jazzhead and have quite a few recordings by the same artists that have recorded multiple versions of the same tune.  I want to make sure they are indexed properly.  I would also like a program that doesn't take all day to make a copy.

2.  I can use either Mac or PC.  I would prefer Mac but would use a PC if it is more future proof.  I have a Macbook Air and a PC laptop and both have dual 2 terrabyte external drives.

3. I would also consider a Music Server with a nas rig.

If I do a music server with nas I'd like to keep the price around $2000.

Thanks to all of you.

--Bob


jzzmusician
stevea1298's avatar
stevea1298
18 posts
 
As someone just getting into digital, I recently ripped my cd collection (ok...I did it twice...) and working with a little background from reading posts I ended up using db as their trial period I was able to do everything I had on hand. As the gig's started to pile up, I found a bunch of 1TB drives that were pulls from computers long since retired. Bought a external 4 bay drive holder and used a single drive for each genre. By the time I got to the end of the ripping (and finding myself buying a couple each week since) I elected to move everything onto my Synology NAS that has 2-2TB drives set up as a raid, so no more worries about having to rip a third time.

It worked well with the 1TB external and the total cost (again, I had the drives already) was 150.00. NAS was already on the system so going from one to the other was $0 and the externals will be for data/photo and misc that did reside on the NAS.

JRiver works well as I have it on my desktop/laptop/tablet and can control  fram any and all. Still working out everything as far as the software end, but running over a wired network was the best for me, wince I already had a CAT6 going to my Magnum Dynalab MD807 and the tv mounted behind and above the stereo rack, a 49.00 gig switch and a couple of CAT6 jumpers and everything is on the network. With the snow this weekend I hope to have plenty of time to now enjoy the music, much of which I have listened to in years and maybe even get a chance to build playlists.... 
bondmanp
1,465 posts
 

Another vote for dBPoweramp.  I rip on a laptop which is networked to my router.  The rip is sent to my Vortexbox Appliance, a Linux dedicated server connected by ethernet to the router.  Yes, the Vortexbox Appliance has an internal optical drive and ripper, but it is a basic program and dBPoweramp is much more flexible.  I use the free program MP3Tag to edit tags.  I rip to FLAC, but dBPoweramp is flexible, with many codecs to choose from (including several levels of FLAC compression) and also has a format converter.  At $38, dBPoweramp is a bargain, IMO.

But, for Heaven's sake, please BACK UP your rips.  I have two back up drives, one I keep at home and one I keep at the office (in case of fire or theft).  I have already restored my files from back up after a hard drive crash.  And since it took me three years to rip my CD collection, you can imagine how relieved I was not to have to start all over again!

bmdduck
99 posts
 
I recommend checking out computeraudiophile.com, a very useful site with great information. The site has a really good tutorial on ripping CDs and managing your library, well worth the time to read.  The tutorial also describes how to set up and use dbpoweramp, IIRC.  Good luck.
reynolds853
367 posts
 
I use XLD on my Macbook Pro.  The music files sound better than iTunes and I agree with the earlier post suggesting that you stop using iTunes for ripping your library.  Also, my process is to rip the cd's to an external hard drive connected to my Macbook Pro and then push them out to my NAS drive.

Before ripping my collection I ripped WAV and AIFF versions of some of my demo CD's and listened to them on my system.  On my system the AIFF format was clearly better.  I discuss the experience on my system page if you are interested.

Again, I'd start over and use XLD.

Cheers,

John
computeraudiophile
18 posts
 
You may want to consider this article about ripping.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/309-computer-audiophile-cd-ripping-strategy-and-methodolog...

Chris Connaker

Founder
Computer Audiophile
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