# How do I create mp3 files from my CDs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879 "2003-11-29T07:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satisfying_Andy_Licious)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/1 "2003-11-29T07:16:14Z")
I have a new computer that came with a program called RecordNow! Apparently, it’s a lite version, and they want to sell you the full program ($50 usd) that will convert CDs to mp3 files to burn onto a CD. Should I spring for the full program, or are there other ways of converting? What do you people use to convert them? ---
**Author:** ![sezyou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@sezyou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sezyou)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/2 "2003-11-29T07:28:40Z")
[http://download.com.com/3000-2140-10125657.html?tag=lst-0-2](http://download.com.com/3000-2140-10125657.html?tag=lst-0-2) I found this free program that seems to do the job quite nicely. Lets me rip mp3 from CDs or change formats. Great free program! ---
**Author:** ![Kobaltblu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/77aa72/32.png) [@Kobaltblu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobaltblu)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/3 "2003-11-29T07:47:10Z")
Long ago, I got a copy of a program called AudioCatalyst (Macintosh), which was really cheap, but had an easy interface and a variety of formats and options. I still use it, actually. At work, I got a new computer with a new operating system, OS 9.2.1, that had iTunes pre-installed. This one also works well. I understand there are quite a number of free/shareware conversion tools for Mac mp3 conversion. [Download.com](http://Download.com), mentioned above, should assist you with this if you have a Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Crook\_d\_Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Crook\_d\_Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crook_d_Dope)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/4 "2003-11-29T07:48:31Z")
At work I used the windows media player, but it pales in comparison to iTunes (now on Windows) which I would recommend for everything. > **[iTunes](https://www.apple.com/itunes/)** > > macOS Catalina offers the world’s best way to play — and add to — your collection of music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks, and more. ---
**Author:** ![ata66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@ata66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ata66)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/5 "2003-11-29T08:21:52Z")
you can use winamp3 and download their mp3 ripper off the website. installation after download is very quick. you can select individual songs or the entire cd to be ripped into an existing folder or a folder that you create before burning. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/6 "2003-11-29T12:15:54Z")
rip with **cdparanoia** , encode in VBR with **lame**. The only audio equipment I have that can play MP3 CDs is a DVD player though, so I don’t really burn discs. I’d probably use whatever came with my CD burner there. Ripping and encoding are pretty common activities - I wouldn’t spring for that type of software unless it did something else too. ie - [Roxio](http://www.roxio.co.uk/). ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/7 "2003-11-29T12:21:40Z")
Your best bet is the [CDex](http://cdexos.sf.net) ripping software. It uses the CD Paranoia library that **Nanoda** mentioned to insure the best possible accuracy, as well as the LAME MP3 encoder for the best MP3 quality. Nothing else will offer comparable audio quality. It’s 100% free, too. ---
**Author:** ![YourOldBuddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bc79bd/32.png) [@YourOldBuddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourOldBuddy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/8 "2003-11-29T12:35:55Z")
Most of the knowledgeable ppl I have talked to use EAC (Excact AudioCopy) and Lame. [http://mitiok.cjb.net/](http://mitiok.cjb.net/) [http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/](http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/) Many other rippers such as Nero and WinAmp (maybie just older vers.) just rip at a constant 128kbps rate but EAC rips a variable rates so that some parts of the songs you play may be ripped at around 250kbps and other at 64kbps (silent parts of a song f.ex). Most ppl can hear a marked difference between a 128kbps song ripped by EAC and Nero using pretty standard audio equipment. I strongly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![YourOldBuddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bc79bd/32.png) [@YourOldBuddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourOldBuddy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/9 "2003-11-29T12:38:34Z")
Oh I have heard good things about CDex too. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/10 "2003-11-29T12:43:22Z")
EAC does error-corrected ripping like CDex, but IMHO it’s not quite as good. As for the encoding, it will encode with whatever bitrate and VBR/CBR mode you tell it to, just like most everything else. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/11 "2003-11-30T01:43:53Z")
Get iTunes for free. 1. Open iTunes. 2. Insert CD. 3. Wait for it to download CD/track names. 4. Click “Import” Don’t get much easier than that. ---
**Author:** ![Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satisfying_Andy_Licious)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/12 "2003-11-30T17:20:55Z")
Thanks everyone for your replies. I’ll be looking at these programs shortly. I recently bought a new computer and it came LOADED with ads and lite versions of software that they want you to upgrade. Obviously, they’re hoping people won’t look around for better deals. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-create-mp3-files-from-my-cds/215879/13 "2003-11-30T18:46:34Z")
My vote goes to dbpoweramp music converter. Very simple, intuitive interface, excellent results. It also allows one to convert files from explorer via the right-click menu. [http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm](http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm)