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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
bondmanp
1,789 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
377 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
hharless99
6 posts
 
Bob,

I purchased a Mac Mini in the fall of 2015 with the intention of building a dedicated music server.  In the process of researching my options, I found there were a few folks out there that will modify the Mini with an external power supply.  I read some good things about Ben Zwickel and Mo-Jo Audio, so after numerous email and phone conversations I sent my Mini to Ben for the upgrade.  It took only about a week and I couldn't be happier with it.  I have begun the arduous task of re-ripping my CD collection to AIFF, so I feel you pain.  I use dbpoweramp to rip with and have been very pleased with it. I also purchased Mo-Jo's asynchronous DAC, Mystique 2.0 and have been very pleased with that, as well.  Lastly, I store the files on a Synology NAS and use JRiver Media Center as the front end for the whole thing and it all sounds terrific.

Good luck and enjoy the music.

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