# Ripping CDs to MP3 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697 "2004-02-05T18:28:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/1 "2004-02-05T18:28:20Z")
I’m sure this has been asked before, but with the search engine’s limitation of 4 or more letters I can’t seem to find it. I’m also sure this is a legal operation I’m asking about, but if not just leave it alone until a mod can quietly lock it down. So here’s the question. I’m trying to copy my CDs (my **own** CDs, bought and paid for by me) to MP3 format. So far the software that I have found to do this is significantly limited in some way or another. For example, Windows Media Player won’t make the conversion to MP3 at anything over 56 kbs, and even I can detect a loss of quality at that rate. Another shareware product that I evaluated would let you control the bit rate but was too dumb to give the new file a meaningful name, so you ended up with Track 1, Track 2, etc. There has got to be an easy, flexible and cheap (free) way of doing this. ---
**Author:** ![RenoGQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/47e85d/32.png) [@RenoGQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RenoGQ)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/2 "2004-02-05T18:33:14Z")
Look no further than [CDex](http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/)… ---
**Author:** ![hybrid\_dogfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@hybrid\_dogfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hybrid_dogfish)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/3 "2004-02-05T18:39:23Z")
Well, I use [dB PowerAmp Music Convertor](http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm) and have had no problems, I find it fast, and error-free, and it sorts out your ID3 tags. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/4 "2004-02-05T20:06:27Z")
Another enthusiastic vote for db PowerAmp. Very easy to use, very good codecs that make MP3s that play even on crappy equipment (like my car cd-mp3 player). ---
**Author:** ![Shepherdless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Shepherdless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shepherdless)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/5 "2004-02-05T21:19:50Z")
CDex user here. Hands down best free ripper (I also tried CD 'n Go and Exact Audio Copy). db PowerAmp is a nifty tool since you can also use it to resample MP3s with high bitrate. I have both on my system and each serves its purpose nicely. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/6 "2004-02-05T21:55:13Z")
**Shepherdless** , how is CDex better than db PowerAmp for ripping? Why not just use db PowerAmp for ripping, since you already have it installed for resampling? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/7 "2004-02-05T22:09:47Z")
BTW, you can also resmaple from Cdex. What I like about CDex: - Can ripp to .ogg as well as other formats, not just mp3. - Supports variable bitrate for both mp3 and ogg. Does everythign I need it to do. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/8 "2004-02-05T22:42:19Z")
OK. So now I’ve installed both CDex and db PowerAmp and have tried each one out. Although I’m not impressed with either one’s interface, they both seem to do the job I need them for. Right now I prefer CDex if only for the usability factor. db PowerAmp has two separate executables plus a popup, and two separate configuration windows neither of which I understand. I still can’t figure out how to get the Audio Input thing to read from my E drive. Jeez, what a mess. As I’m typing this I’m going back and forth between all the crap that goes with db PowerAmp, and I’m liking it less and less. ---
**Author:** ![dw817](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@dw817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dw817)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/9 "2004-02-05T22:55:04Z")
Hi Mr. Norton: > [@bnorton](#): > > OK. So now I’ve installed both CDex and db PowerAmp and have tried each one out. Although I’m not impressed with either one’s interface, they both seem to do the job I need them for. > > Right now I prefer CDex if only for the usability factor. db PowerAmp has two separate executables plus a popup, and two separate configuration windows neither of which I understand. I still can’t figure out how to get the Audio Input thing to read from my E drive. Jeez, what a mess. As I’m typing this I’m going back and forth between all the crap that goes with db PowerAmp, and I’m liking it less and less. - I do ALL my CD-ripping and audio/editing/splicing/cleaning/enhancing fadein/fadedout on corners and converting mono to true stereo with: Sound Forge 5 Let me know if you need help installing it. 🙂 David ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/10 "2004-02-06T00:25:32Z")
Converting mono to stereo!? How does that work? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/11 "2004-02-06T00:32:37Z")
You mix the channels. I do the same but with Gold Wave. ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/12 "2004-02-06T01:04:34Z")
The simplest and by far the best I’ve ever used is iTunes. You can rip your CD’s to mp3 by pressing one button, and you can burn your mp3’s to a CD the same way (literally the same button). And, it’ll organize your music, play it, etc. Basically, it’ll do pretty much everything you need with an intuitive interface. The download is free on the apple site. (Note that it’ll default to ripping to AAC. If you want mp3 instead, change that in the options section). ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/13 "2004-02-06T03:34:36Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > You mix the channels (to convert mono to stereo). OK, but what does that mean? If it’s mono the two channels will be essentially identical. WHat do you move to one channel and not the other? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/14 "2004-02-06T03:41:34Z")
In gold wave I pick the average signal from the one channel and place it on the other. Sounds good, but it definately is not the same quality as an original stereo recording. Really I only use it when I have a speech file I’m putting on a video and I don’t want one speaker to be completely muted. All other sources I use are already stereo. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/15 "2004-02-06T04:06:16Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > In gold wave I pick the average signal from the one channel and place it on the other. Hmmm… you pick the _average signal_ from one channel. OK. fine. But what does _that_ mean? I assume you are starting off with all of the signal in one channel and nothing in the other. And then you…uhm…average…uhm… Well, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Shepherdless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Shepherdless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shepherdless)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/16 "2004-02-06T20:47:52Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > **Shepherdless** , how is CDex better than db PowerAmp for ripping? Why not just use db PowerAmp for ripping, since you already have it installed for resampling? Sorry for the late reply. I just never used db Poweramp for ripping since I am already so used to CDex, which has all the options I need. As for resampling, CDex does it better than db Poweramp, which has a tendancy to misread timing for some reason (e.g. a 3:45 mp3 will end up being read by winamp as 20:56 or something). But db Poweramp is nicely integrated to the shell and is a single right-click away from resampling, which is very handy. I only resort to CDex when necessary. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/17 "2004-02-06T23:51:00Z")
I’ve used dBPowerAmp since I found it and really love it. If you check the configuration, you can integrate a “Convert” option into the Windows Explorer right-click menu, which I love. The “Audio CD Input” program is nice, too, IMO. Right click the “Rip” button and the ripping options become available. It only does .wav and .mp3 by default, you have to download the other codecs, but I’ve never had a problem with it. Last time I tried the Power Pack it’s exceptionally fast “rip to RAM” picked up too many chirps (my CDs aren’t very well-kept). The people at their forums are pretty darned helpful, too. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/18 "2004-02-06T23:56:24Z")
Another vote for iTunes on Windows. It’ll do Apple’s AAC format by default, and choosing MP3 at varying quality levels is easy. It also can be set for hands-off ripping. Pop a CD in the drive, and it’ll have a sniff, go to GraceNote for the track info and rip the disc. When it’s done, it spits out the CD and waits for another. When I ripped my ~400 CD collection recently, this made the job very easy. Of course, the main reason I went with iTunes is that I intend to buy an iPod. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/19 "2004-02-07T13:54:42Z")
CDex is superb and free. It uses the LAME encoding engine and produces the best soundig MP3s of any ripper I have used, and I have tried out plenty, from freebies to payies. CDex can also convert to Monkeys Audio which is a lossless compression format(you don’t get as good compression ratios as MP3 but then you lose aboslutely nothing) It can also be configured to use other formats by using plug-ins and it also can handle a wide variety of tag formats. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697/20 "2004-02-07T15:39:33Z")
> [@Shepherdless](#): > > As for resampling, CDex does it better than db Poweramp, which has a tendancy to misread timing for some reason (e.g. a 3:45 mp3 will end up being read by winamp as 20:56 or something). You mean the resampled file plays OK, but the when you play it in WinAmp the display is wrong? Or does it also play incorrectly? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ripping-cds-to-mp3/227697.md?page=2)