# Rip .cda to .wav?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-cda-to-wav/665674>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 8, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-cda-to-wav/665674 "2013-08-08T02:59:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-cda-to-wav/665674/1 "2013-08-08T02:59:37Z")

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I tried searching the archives, but the search function insisted on leaving out “cda” as too short.

I have a CD of music I own outright. (not just the disk, the music itself.) It was burned in the wrong format, I need WAVs.

Is there a simple, non-toolbar-having (or toolbar opt-outable) free program for this?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-cda-to-wav/665674/2 "2013-08-08T03:54:43Z")

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.cda files are basically pointers to the wav data on the disc, it’s what you’ll see if you open an audio disc in Windows Explorer. If you want a disc of .wav files it needs to be ripped and burned as a data disc instead of an audio CD (but that disc won’t play in a CD player). A good ripper is [Exact Audio Copy](http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/).

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**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-cda-to-wav/665674/3 "2013-08-08T04:30:50Z")

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Windows Media player does it.

> **[Windows XP support has ended - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-xp-support-has-ended-47b944b8-f4d3-82f2-9acc-21c79ee6ef5e)**
>
> Get end of support information for Windows XP and find out what you need to know to upgrade to Windows 10 or find a new PC.

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**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-cda-to-wav/665674/4 "2013-08-08T07:28:06Z")

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Two good options. Also try [Audiograbber](http://www.audiograbber.org/).