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iPod Ripping SACDs as lossless?
- Thread starter netdog
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You can do what I do when I can't get dual-layer SACD discs. I jack my dCS stack's analog outoput into one of my Firefaces and record at max resolution (192/24).
I suppose if you have the right equipment you could rip a SACD like you would a vinyl (in real time unfortunately)
I'd love to find a way to convert DVD-Audio discs to Apple Lossless as well. Haven't had too much luck with it though.
This is actually possible (as long as Apple Lossless supports 24/96 and 24/192.)
There are some Windows tools that will let you rip DVD-A discs. Unfortunately, since this is getting past DRM, it's actually illegal in the USA under the DMCA. I encourage everyone to do it though, as you've bought the content (and paid quite a high price when it comes to DVD-A). It should be yours to do with what you wish.
Also SA-CD uses 1-bit DSD which is totally deferent than LPCM. If you could capture the DSD stream it would have to be converted to LPCM before it could be imported into iTunes. I believe that iTunes only accepts up to 16-bit LPCM. So even if you could rip and convert the DSD layer the quality would not be any better (actually could be (theoretically) worse because of conversion) than just ripping of the Redbook layer.
I recently discovered DVDA-Explorer (and this thread), I would have preferred to rip in 24-bit 96 or 192kHz (as the DVD Audio source dictated) in ALAC format, especially since my main music collection (CD based) is ALAC. However, despite claims that ALAC can support multichannel (> 2) audio, I was unable to find any way to produce one. Further, I could only create ALAC files with a max 16-bit sample size and 48kHz sampling rate. This caused me to go to FLAC for my high res & multichannel audio.
Can ALAC go beyond 16/48? And further, can it support > 2 channels? When I googled it I think Apple's spec says so but I don't see any evidence of it being reality.
Can ALAC go beyond 16/48? And further, can it support > 2 channels? When I googled it I think Apple's spec says so but I don't see any evidence of it being reality.
It gets even worse than that (and makes ripping even more important).
The only way to play a DVD-A disc on a PC is with a DVD player that supports it (such as PowerDVD).
They all downsample the audio to 16/48. The best I can wring out of it is 24/48 with AnyDVD HD. Equally frustrating that all the players do this with Blu-Ray audio too.
They claim this is because they need a protected audio path (to prevent audio capture programs from getting at high res PCM in system buffers) and there is no architecture in place to support it.
So bottom line, to actually HEAR DVD Audio in anything better than 16/48 on a PC you have to rip.
This issue is actually driving me quite insane right now, and proof that draconian "copy protection" ruins the product for people who bought it and drives them towards the shady underground hacking tools and piracy. Dolts!