2. digital
  3. 1277144942

First toe dip into the digital stream

The kids gave me an iPod Touch on Father's Day and I have a 5 year old Mac G5 with a new hard drive waiting to be turned on.
I have been putting off the moment of my first CD rip because I do NOT want to do it twice and I know it will be a serious time suck.
I am also a Mac virgin.

I have a $500 budget and want to make sure that I have high quality rips that last a lifetime.

For my $500 I would like to be able to rip at high quality, wirelessly stream to my Linn AV5103 DAC and a Yamaha receiver (for 2 other less important listening areas) and control music selection with the iPod Touch.

Possible for a low tech like me?
Recommendations and directions to good threads would be great. Simple is truly better!
clarets2
hellofidelity
77 posts
 
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/features/airtunes.html

Here is Apple's AirTunes and Remote app page. The AirPort Express is $99 each, and the Remote app is free. The AirPort Express can be wireless or wired. Wireless is much easier and sounds great. It works better (and sounds better) if you have a 802.11n router.
reubent
3,587 posts
 
I agree with Hellofidelity. Keep it simple with iTunes. In addition to choosing a lossless codec (I prefer AIFF), also be sure to turn on error correction in the "import settings" of iTunes. The codec setting and error correction can be found by opening iTunes, click on iTunes on the top banner (next to the apple), click on preferences from the drop down menu, look on the general tab and where you see "When I insert a CD", choose what you want the MAC to do (I select "ask to import CD"), then finally click on "import settings". On the import settings tab, select your codec (apple lossless or AIFF), then click on the box to turn on error correction.

That's it! Now whenever you insert a CD, iTunes will launch and ask if you want to import the CD. It will use your chosen codec and use error correction.

Simple as pie! Now you'll need to decide how you want to manage a library of all of your CDs! Some folks just rip everything to the music folder, which is fine. Some folks create a new playlist for every CD. Your choice, but you can always create new playlist from your previously ripped CDs in the music folder at a future time.

Enjoy,

TIC
hellofidelity
77 posts
 
Oops! I forgot to mention "Error Correction". Thank you Reubent for the correction.
tgrisham
1,179 posts
 
Please also check out the primers on "Computer Audiophile" website for lots of information from beginners to advanced. I also went for the simplest start up system, using an older Apple G4 that I inherited from my sons, added 2 USB hard drives at $100 each, an iPod touch used for $150 as a controller for Remote and VNC. Be sure to configure the USB drives to back each other up or periodically back up one to another. They will fail! For a total of $350 invested, it is money well spent. I added a M2Tech hiface for a USB>spdif converter for another $150. That's a total of $500. Be sure to have fun! I am using iTunes with Apple Lossless files. Budget about 6-7 CDs per hour to rip.
Post removed 
More to discover