A Perfectionist's Guide to Audio CD Extraction and Lossless Compression
Overview
This document is a short guide to Audio CD extraction and lossless compression
using Exact Audio Copy (EAC)[EA01],
AccurateRip[AR01]
and Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)[FL01].
It contains an installation instruction for all required software components and gives a comprehensive
overview of all options that need to be set for the perfect audio CD rip. Furthermore it describes the
actual extraction process and finally provides some information on problems and errors.
There are many other other audio CD extraction/backup guides, such as [HA01] or [HA02], that describe
the extraction process and all necessary software settings. This documents is mostly based on
these guides but adds some personal preferences and suggestions.
If you have any comments or suggestions don't hesitate to contact me via
.
Mandatory for drives that cannot overread into lead-in and/or lead-out. It's safe to let this option enabled even if your drive can overread into lead-In/lead-out.
No use of null samples for CRC calculations
OFF
This option doesn't have any influence on the actual audio data. Usually this setting can be safely disabled so all of the track including trailing and leading silence is used for CRC calculation and not just a part of it.
Synchronize between tracks
ON
Some drives have problems with discs that have no gap between tracks. This settings causes EAC to synchronize a track with its preceeding track to avoid jitter arefacts.
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks
OFF
This option changes the actual audio data and therefore needs to be disabled.
Skip track extraction on read or sync errors
ON|OFF
Usually read and sync errors result in a bad rip. Therefore you can enable this setting to skip any erroneous tracks.
Skip track extraction after duration longer than <x> times realtime
ON|OFF
After each <x> mins of extraction, cool down drive for <y> mins
ON|OFF
Can be enabled if necessary.
Lock drive tray during extraction
ON
Extraction and compression priority
Normal
Error recovery quality
High
The Extraction Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
General Tab
None of these settings affect the extraction process or the resulting data.
The General Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Tools Tab
Option
Value
Description
Retrieve UPC / ISRC codes in CUE sheet generation
ON
Use CD-Text information in CUE sheet generation
ON
Create '.m3u' playlist on extraction
OFF
Automatically write status report after extraction
ON
This option causes the status report to be written to a log file after extraction.
On extraction, start external compressors queued in the background. Use <x> simultaneous external compressor thread(s)
ON, 1
Do not open external compressor window
ON
The opening of compressor windows can be annoying.
Submit drive features after detection (but ask for permission)
ON
Active beginner mode, disable all advanced features
OFF
The Tools Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Normalize Tab
Option
Value
Description
Normalize
OFF
This option must be disabled.
The Normalize Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Filename Tab
Option
Value
Description
Naming scheme
%Y %C\%A_-_%C_-_%N_-_%T
Can be set to any naming scheme you like.
Use various artists naming scheme
ON, %C (%Y)\%C_-_%N_-_%A_-_%T
Can be set to any naming scheme you like.
The Filename Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Catalog Tab
None of these settings affect the extraction process or the resulting data.
The Catalog Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Directories Tab
None of these settings affect the extraction process or the resulting data.
The Directories Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Write Tab
None of these settings affect the extraction process or the resulting data.
The Write Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Interface Tab
None of these settings affect the extraction process or the resulting data.
The Interface Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
Drive Options
Extraction Method Tab
Option
Value
Description
Secure mode with following drive features (recommended)
SELECTED
Secure mode is the prefered way of audio extraction.
Drive has 'Accurate Stream' feature
ON|OFF
This option should be checked if your drive supports the 'Accurate Stream' feature. This causes EAC not to perform additional synchronization.
Drive caches audio data
ON|OFF
Enable this option if your drive caches audio data. This option clears the drive cache after each read operation during audio extraction.
Drive is capable of retrieving C2 error information
ON|OFF
Disable this option whether your drive supports C2 error information or not. Let EAC handle error detection as some drives cannot detect errors securely.
The Extraction Method Tab of the Drive Options Screen [enlarge].
Drive Tab
Option
Value
Description
Drive read command
Autodetect read command
Autodetect read command is the correct setting here.
"Big Endian" byte order (Motorola)
OFF
Enable if extracted tracks consist of noise. In this case your drive uses the big endian byte order.
Swap channels
OFF
Enable this option only if your drive has reversed stereo channels.
Spin up drive before extraction
OFF
This needs to be checked if your drive has difficulties to extract audio data on spin-up.
The Drive Tab of the Drive Options Screen [enlarge].
Offset / Speed Tab
Option
Value
Description
Use read sample offset correction
LOCKED
If your drive is supported by AccurateRip this option is locked and inaccessible. In this case, the read offset correction value should be set to the value as given in the AccurateRip Drive Offsets Database[AR02].
Use combined read/write sample offset correction
LOCKED
If your drive is supported by AccurateRip this option is locked and inaccessible.
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out
ON|OFF
This setting should be enabled. Unfortunately, not all drives support overreading into lead-in and lead-out. Therefore, the best approach is to test this with a new and clean disc. Enable this and rip a complete audio CD. If you receive a sync error on the first or on the last track your drive can't overread. In this case disable this option.
An alternative is to search for your drive in the DAE Drive Features Database[DA01] to find out whether it supports overreading.
Speed selection
Actual
Allow speed reduction during extraction
ON
CD-Text Read capable drive
ON
Enable if CD-Text is supported by your drive.
Use AccurateRip with this drive
ON
Enables the AccurateRip plug-in and automatically sets the correct offset correction value for your drive.
The Offset / Speed Tab of the Drive Options Screen [enlarge].
Gap Detection Tab
Option
Value
Description
Gap/Index retrieval method
A|B|C
This setting does not influence extracted audio data. Depending on your drive a method A, B or C might work best. Try which one is the fastest with your drive.
Detection accuracy
Secure
Gap Detection of the Drive Options Screen [enlarge].
Writer Tab
None of these settings affect the extraction process or the resulting data.
The Writer Tab of the Drive Options Screen [enlarge].
Compression Options
WaveForm Tab
Only important for wave file extraction.
The WaveForm Tab of the Compression Options Screen [enlarge].
The External Compression Tab of the Compression Options Screen [enlarge].
Offset Tab
Option
Value
Description
Use Offset Correction for encoding and decoding
OFF
This setting adds gaps and shoud be therefore unchecked.
Check for external programs return code
ON
Construction of the ID3 tag comment field on extraction
Any SELECTED
Not relevant for FLAC compression.
The Offset Tab of the Compression Options Screen [enlarge].
ID3 Tag Tab
None of these settings affect the extraction process or the resulting data.
The ID3 Tag Tab of the Compression Options Screen [enlarge].
Ripping Audio CDs
Make sure you are connected to the internet for both automatic freedb CD retrieval and for using AccurateRip.
Insert the audio CD into your drive.
EAC now accesses freedb to retrieve title and track information for the inserted CD.
AccurateRip will check whether the disc has been submitted yet. If it has, a CD symbol will appear in the lower right-hand corner of EAC.
Select "Action" -> "Test & Copy Selected Tracks" -> "Compressed..." or alternatively use hotkey <SHIFT> + <F6> to start the extraction process.
On completion of the audio extraction process, click "OK" to see the result screen and to automatically create the LOG File (stored in the album folder). You can now see whether errors occured and whether all tracks were ripped accurately using AccurateRip.
Select "Action" -> "Create CUE Sheet" -> "Multiple WAV Files With Gaps... (Noncompliant)" to create a CUE Sheet. Other CUE Sheet options are available, but should NOT be selected. (A detailed discussion about the different CUE sheet types is available here [HA03].) EAC stores CUE-Sheets in the main extraction path, i.e. NOT in the album folder.
Note: LOG Files and CUE-Sheets must be kept in the ALBUM folder and must NOT be deleted. This is proof of your perfect audio extraction!
Not all discs are easy to rip - some might show "Sync Errors" or "Read Errors" during extraction. This is usually reflected by a "click" in the extracted audio file.
Reasons for these errors might be:
Wrong EAC Setup
Badly scratched disc
Dirty disc
Copy-protected disc
Insufficient error correction of your drive
The following steps usually result in a good success rate when handling problematic audio CDs in EAC:
Make sure you have precisely followed the setup instructions for EAC. Especially Offset / Speed Tab should be checked:
Did you enable Overread when your drive really is not capable? (Sync errors at the end of a track/album)
Did you allow speed reduction during extraction? (Important with problematic discs)
In the Extraction Tab of the EAC Options screen, did you select High for Error recovery quality?
If you had to correct some settings, re-rip the disc now. Were the problems resolved?
IF NOT...
Clean your disc thoroughly.
CDs are not damaged by a good cleaning if it is done correctly. You may use a wet paper towel and wipe perpendicularly from the inside to the outside. Then use a dry paper towel and clean up.
Check the disc under a bright light to assess dirt or residues and remove them if possible.
Re-rip the disc - were the problems resolved?
IF NOT...
Some discs are copy-protected using proprietary mechanisms that can sometimes interfere with digital audio extraction.
Try holding <SHIFT> when inserting the disc in order to disable autoplay of the protecting software. Alternatively, disable autorun of inserted CDs completely in Windows.
Software tools such as AnyDVD might help remove copy protection on inserted discs.
If all these steps failed, or if you are too lazy to test all these options, try to use a different drive for the rip.
Some laptop drives (e.g. drives in newer Thinkpads) are known to have good reading capabilities and are a good option if a rip was impossible on a different computer.
Of course, a complete setup of EAC following the instructions above is a MUST for this drive as well.
If the CD in question is present in the AccurateRip database you could switch to Burst mode in the Extraction Method tab and try ripping the discs again. Be careful with this approach: If the disc is not stored in the AccurateRip database you risk to produce a bad rip because of the missing possibility of validation. Don't forget to switch back to Secure mode after trying this method!
The Extraction Tab of the EAC Options Screen [enlarge].
