What's the best way to rip CDs to a Mac?

[audiventory]

I generalized my knowledges about CD audio rippers and re-work the article "How to Choose the Best CD Ripping Software" (quality issues, safe/unsafe ripping, other)

[Timotbermu]

Hi, this thread is great.

[monteverdi]

I need a recommendation for an external optical drive specifically for ripping to use with my last years MacBook Pro (ideally with USB-C connectivity without adapter).

My searches found a lot of discontinued models and mostly reviews about blue-ray performance. Should as accurate as possible and fast reading speed at the same time because I find ripping boring!

[Speed Racer]

18 minutes ago, monteverdi said:

I need a recommendation for an external optical drive specifically for ripping to use with my last years MacBook Pro (ideally with USB-C connectivity without adapter).

My searches found a lot of discontinued models and mostly reviews about blue-ray performance. Should as accurate as possible and fast reading speed at the same time because I find ripping boring!

 

I have used this drive for quite  a while and it is excellent!

 

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MR3UBDRW16/

 

You would have to buy a USB 3.0 to USB C cable.

[Paul V K]

To reply to the OP, and to help give back a little to this forum. I'll say that I have used XLD for a number of years.  Then recently I finally got around to purchasing dBPoowerAmp and wished I did it a long time ago.

Love it's ability to insert ReplayGain tags, identify HDCD discs and create FLAC files with no compression (which apparently is different than compression level 0).

[sandyk]

On ‎30‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 5:40 AM, Paul V K said:

Love it's ability to insert ReplayGain tags, identify HDCD discs and create FLAC files with no compression (which apparently is different than compression level 0).

 

 Paul

Are you able to hear the differences between normal compressed .flac files, and .flac files with no compression when played "on  the fly", as distinct from those first converted back to their original format before playing them ? 

 

Regards

Alex

[Paul V K]

8 hours ago, sandyk said:

 

 Paul

Are you able to hear the differences between normal compressed .flac files, and .flac files with no compression when played "on  the fly", as distinct from those first converted back to their original format before playing them ? 

 

Sandy,

When I started playing music files a few years ago, I tested the whether I could hear the difference between the original WAV and a Flac encoded version.  At first, I absolutely could.

 

Then I had a friend come over to help, and had him select the music such that I no longer know whether he was playing the wav or flac.  At that point, a lot of the differences I had previously heard went bye-bye, and I could no longer reliably tell the difference.

 

I like the fact that dBpowerAmp can apply a FLAC container without applying any compression, primarily because storage is dirt cheep and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy     It's abilities to decode HDCD cd's, add ReplayGain tags, and metadata capabilities is what really makes that software shine for me.

 

[bobbmd]

having done this 3x best way is to have someone else do it or try one of those cd ripping companies if they still exist