[Marius]

Just found xACT, x Audio Compression Toolkit, which seems to be able to convert the way you mention. With checksum too.
Marius

XLD, MAX, RIP and iTunes use the same library to encode the file.  XLD and RIP provides a checksum of the audio portion and compares it to an online database.   It only provides the additional insurance of a good copy.   I'm sure within a few years, there will be programs to check already ripped files against a database to ensure you still have a valid copy.    In the last two months i've had two files on my HDD corrupt so i'm more than eager for someone to provide this check.   The only leg up I can give to FLAC is that his is built into the SW library, but sadly not may folks take advantage of it.

Your question about Flav Vs Flac, Wav vs Wav and Aiff vs Aiff is almost a trick question.  It's only as good as the program ripping, but as stated, all use the core audio to convert to AIFF, WAV or ALAC and all use a version of cdparanioa to rip.  Even the good Microsoft rippers will use cdparanioa to rip.    And as for the USB cable on a HDD serving up data, it's the cable failed, your computer would be crashing right now ...

[Marius]

Yep just read about that on http://lifehacker.com/software/itunes/geek-to-live--itunes-power-tips-219765.php which has some more tips .

Would I have to convert the ALAC files to AIFF/WAV first and than save Artwork into the files, or the other way around, ie first embed artwork and then convert to AIFF/WAV

If you want to use iTunes to rip files, it only takes a few seconds to embed the album artwork into the files (AIFF, ALAC, AAC or MP3 files - WAV files cannot save artwork or metadata within the file).
 
After ripping an album, simply select that album's files:
 

 
Then in the artwork window, Copy and Paste the image:
 

 
The artwork will now be saved in the song files instead of the iTunes database.  Pretty quick and simple.
 
Steve

[Marius]

BTW, that's the Man from another Place?! Or not? Amazing similarity with Michael J Anderson. Great artists.

Boy, first Cd I'm going to rip now is TwinPeaks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Twin_Peaks. Those Canadian Pine tree's coming into my room again. Best series Ever....

Sorry for this off-topic post, just got carried away.

[/quote]

[srb]

Would I have to convert the ALAC files to AIFF/WAV first and than save Artwork into the files, or the other way around, ie first embed artwork and then convert to AIFF/WAV

It doesn't matter, either way will work.  But remember WAV files do not support metadata, so tags or artwork for WAV files are always stored in the iTunes database and will not be seen outside of iTunes.  For that reason, WAV is not a good format to choose for your library.
 
Steve

[Marius]

ok thanks, I will

meanwhile I discovered you can do that also by selecting the entire album (as opposed to selecting the songs independently) and click show info. It ask whether you want to edit for multiple files, click yes, and past the albumart. can be anything really. Since it s so easy to find the right albumart on the internet, it's rather remarkable Itunes often does not find the right pic to go with the albums.

Had different problems with that on XLD, Max, so apparently no universal method found yet.

It doesn't matter, either way will work.  But remember WAV files do not support metadata, so tags or artwork for WAV files are always stored in the iTunes database and will not be seen outside of iTunes.  For that reason, WAV is not a good format to choose for your library.
 
Steve

[skunark]

ok thanks, I will

meanwhile I discovered you can do that also by selecting the entire album (as opposed to selecting the songs independently) and click show info. It ask whether you want to edit for multiple files, click yes, and past the albumart. can be anything really. Since it s so easy to find the right albumart on the internet, it's rather remarkable Itunes often does not find the right pic to go with the albums.

Had different problems with that on XLD, Max, so apparently no universal method found yet.

Every program I've used has had issues being even 80% accurate with the spelling, track names and album art.    Just takes some patience on the initial rip to ensure everything is good.    When I switched to lossless files several years ago the process of re-ripping every CD shed some light on how inaccurate it really was.   MusicMatch, gRip, cdex, iTunes, etc all had their problems, but I don't remember the name offhand but there is at least one PC ripper that gives you several options on the artwork during the import.