best mp3 ripping software

[schmintan]

on windows i use CDex and DAC to rip mp3s from cds. i dont wana use itunes as the latest version doesnt allow use of the LAME encoder. can anyone recommend a good ripper, that also will get the album/tracknames automatically from an online database?

 

[PYR0M310N]

Why do you need to use LAME encoder? iTunes is very quick at ripping, and i see no reason why you wouldn't want to use it

 

[schmintan]

LAME encoder provides better quality mp3's( this is debatable and im not getting into it now, but its my choice). I dont like using Itunes as it has nasty little habbits about where it stores the files and stuff. i know all this can be overcome, but its so much easier and flexible with a 3rd party converter like CDEx. Those are the two reasons i dont want to use iTunes.

 

[ortuno2k]

So why not continue to use CDex?

 

[schmintan]

couldnt find it for MacOS. is it availiable for mac?

 

[epochblue]

I don't know if this still works, but is this what you're looking for?

 

[schmintan]

i found this a few weeks back but its a very old version of itunes.

 

[epochblue]

Okay. Have you check MacUpdate at all? A quick search turned up this, and this.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Panic's Audio (http://www.panic.com/audion/) is free now and offers Lame encoding as well as a lot of other features. I believe it was the main music software app for the Mac before Apple introduced iTunes.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

What I would do in your situation is use iTunes to make WAV files from the CD, then use LAME to turn the WAV files into MP3s. I do something similar to this when I make MP3s, since I prefer LAME over iTunes's MP3 encoder.

 

[spencecb]

Why would anyone want to use a codec called LAME...I think the name is self-explanitory.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[mchank]

Use Max:

http://sbooth.org/Max/

Its a fully featured audio ripper, similar to CDex, and it can rip to various audio formats, including the newest version of LAME.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

If you're looking for something robust there is always Audacity w/LAME plug-in.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/beta_mac

Its a pretty good program. And Free.

 

[epochblue]

If you're looking for something robust there is always Audacity w/LAME plug-in.

Interesting. I had no idea Audacity could rip as well. That's good to know - thanks!

 

[killmoms]

When I'm concerned with audio quality and need MP3s, I rip using xACT's cdparanoia mode (it provides a useful log output), and encode with the LAME encoder in V0 mode in X Lossless Decoder (XLD). However, for my day to day needs, I prefer ripping and encoding to 192 VBR AAC in iTunes.

 

[trombone dixie]

i recently starting using XLD (X Lossless Decoder) for both my ripping and encoding. so far i've been really pleased with the results of both.