[Martin Stockwell]

Hello,
New BDP-1 owner.  Use a MacBook Pro and am ripping CD's using XLD.  Decided, since storage not an issue, to store music as .WAV files.  Did a trial of four Jazz CD's.  When I tried to play these back on a USB thumb drive through the BDP the file structure seemed to be based only on tracks with no recognition of albums. Ie: the system did not recognize albums, only tracks, playing the first track off each album followed by the second track from each album followed by the third etc.  The album cover art MPaD attached to each track, which it did rarely, was more likely associated with composer rather than the album or artist.
Frustrated and unable to find any on line help with this problem, I decided to rip as AIFF.  Now XLD keeps recording the same CD infinitely (well I assume so after 3 copies and it was still running......).  I'm now ready to throw my computer through a wall!!!!  What am I doing wrong.  I really just want to have my music recognized as discreet albums and play as such.  Is this really so difficult to do?!?!
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

[speltz]

wav files aren't very good for tagging -- that's one reason why most people prefer FLAC instead. FLAC also has the advantage of being ~30% compressed, but it's a lossless codec -- playback is just as good as wav files.

I'm a PC user, so I don't know whether my suggestions would be relevant to a Mac user. But FWIW, I use dBpoweramp (it's a free download, and audiophiles like it) to convert wav files to FLAC. Then I open the FLAC files in Foobar (another free download that audiophiles like) and use that program to tag the FLAC files.

If you go to one of the other BDP-1 forums, I know that people have identified which programs they use for a Mac computer. You can search within each forum.

I think it should be possible to rip a CD directly to FLAC, but I haven't figured out a way to do it yet.

Unfortunately, it's a big job to rip and tag an entire CD library, when each disc involves multiple steps! That's one reason to back up your files when you're done -- save them in more than one place -- so you won't be stuck going through the process twice!

Lots of people have trouble getting the album art to show in the BDP-1's various user interfaces. I use Foobar to identify cover art (tagging - attach pictures - front cover) and it seems to work OK for me.

[James Tanner]

Hi

I use dbpoweramp and JRiver with Flac but I sort by Artist and it seems to work very well.

James

[srb]

I think it should be possible to rip a CD directly to FLAC, but I haven't figured out a way to do it yet.

dBpoweramp CD Ripper can rip CDs directly to FLAC.  In the lower left hand rip section just set the "Rip to" dropdown to FLAC and with the Encoder tab selected choose the FLAC encoding level to the right of it.
 
Steve

[avta]

Hello Martin. When using XLD I find it best to create a new folder for the ripped files in the location I want them stored. You would then select that folder in the Output section of the Preferences under the General portion. I would agree that WAV is not a practical format as noted. I prefer AIFF as it will allow for tagging and is lossless. As far as the repeating goes it may be that the cd is dirty and/or damaged. Try cleaning it with mild soap and water then dry with a soft cloth. Do both in a circular direction. You might also try another cd to see if that clarifies the problem.

[srb]

Try cleaning it with mild soap and water then dry with a soft cloth. Do both in a circular direction.

Wiping in a circular direction is a holdover from cleaning LPs.  All CD manufacturers as well as CD consortiums say to wipe in a straight line outward from the center.
 
In theory, if you do happen to wipe contaminants or have a slightly abrasive cloth, any minute scratch you may cause that could make a pit more difficult to read will be easier dealt with by error correction than a continuous scratch made in a circular motion.
 
In practice, if you are gentle with a soft cotton cloth or a synthetic microfiber cloth, it likely won't make any difference.
 
Steve

[Martin Stockwell]

Thanks to all for feedback.  Please, not trying to start the data is data debate, but I have tried both FLAC and ALAC and there is a clear decrement in sound quality in my system and to my ear when compared to WAV and AIFF.  Have spent the afternoon comparing WAV and AIFF and, while the difference is small, I do have a slight preference for the sound of WAV files on my system.  I cannot get the BDP-1 to recognize albums as files though.  It insists the thumbdrive is the album and all the songs from all the albums on the thumbdrive are tracks to one great big album.  The actual albums are not recognized.
I could live with the patchy or absent album art with WAV files but it's nearly impossible to manage the music on the BDP without it recognizing the actual albums.  Unless someone has a practicable solution to this problem, I will go with AIFF which, from a file management perspective, works quite well. Does the solution perhaps lie in using the "format of filename" option and choosing "custom" in the general settings menu of XLD?  The setting in that box currently is %A/%n-%t.  I have no idea what this means!  Or, do I have to create a file for each album and rip the cd to the file?

[Marius]

The setting in that box currently is %A/%n-%t.  I have no idea what this means! 

hover your mouse over the format field and you'll see this:



o, and it means XLD rips the cd into a folder named with the options you specify in that box.

Cheers,
Marius

[skunark]

Thanks to all for feedback.  Please, not trying to start the data is data debate, but I have tried both FLAC and ALAC and there is a clear decrement in sound quality in my system and to my ear when compared to WAV and AIFF.  Have spent the afternoon comparing WAV and AIFF and, while the difference is small, I do have a slight preference for the sound of WAV files on my system.  I cannot get the BDP-1 to recognize albums as files though.  It insists the thumbdrive is the album and all the songs from all the albums on the thumbdrive are tracks to one great big album.  The actual albums are not recognized.
I could live with the patchy or absent album art with WAV files but it's nearly impossible to manage the music on the BDP without it recognizing the actual albums.  Unless someone has a practicable solution to this problem, I will go with AIFF which, from a file management perspective, works quite well. Does the solution perhaps lie in using the "format of filename" option and choosing "custom" in the general settings menu of XLD?  The setting in that box currently is %A/%n-%t.  I have no idea what this means!  Or, do I have to create a file for each album and rip the cd to the file?

I've had issues with ALAC files on the BDP where it could either crash the MPD daemon (appears like a hang to the user) or the files has a harsh sound at the end of the song.  So mid-2011, i migrated to AIFF for cd lossless and FLAC for hi-rez and would steer any of my Mac friends in that direction.   

With the lack of tagging WAV can be a nightmare if you change devices/systems and will just lead to more loss of hair.      You might also try the FLAC with the compression turned off so see if that helps. 

[groovybassist]

I use dbPoweramp to rip CDs as WAV files to my NAS, then copy that to a USB drive for playback.  dbPoweramp creates a folder for each artist, and if I have multiple albums from the same artist, an individual folder is created within the artist, which contains the songs on the album and cover art.  If I get a BDP-1, will the BDP treat this USB drive as one giant folder, or will it recognize the folder structure as dbPoweramp has laid it out?  I've been noodling a BDP as a replacement for my aging iMac and Audirvana Plus, which has no problem resolving this structure - the answer to this question may influence my noodling. 

As an FYI, I don't do any tagging, which is part of the reason I rip to WAV.  I find I'm more interested in hearing a particular artist than genre, and generally don't create playlists, so tagging just hasn't caught my interest.  Any insights?  Thanks!

-Mike

[skunark]

As an FYI, I don't do any tagging, which is part of the reason I rip to WAV.  I find I'm more interested in hearing a particular artist than genre, and generally don't create playlists, so tagging just hasn't caught my interest.  Any insights?  Thanks!

-Mike

I will admit that the solutions like Apple Genius playlists I enjoy in the car or casual listening, but I normally just pick an album and play it in order or queue up songs I just want to hear when I'm a little more focused.     Not all players though will pick up on the directory structure, so if you need share the files with other devices, it's not that great.

[groovybassist]

I don't need to share this drive with other players - it's just for me in the main rig.  So will the BDP-1/2 be happy with this structure?  Any definitive answers?  Thanks.

-Mike

[skunark]

I don't need to share this drive with other players - it's just for me in the main rig.  So will the BDP-1/2 be happy with this structure?  Any definitive answers?  Thanks.

-Mike

It will work fine with either mPod or mPad clients.  I use the directory structure to single out high-resolution albums to play.

Jim

[groovybassist]

Cool - thanks Jim.

-Mike

[JfTM]

I used dbPoweramp and record wav on a PC.

I get as much tagging as I need (artist, track, etc) automatically from dbPoweramp.

[speltz]

dBpoweramp CD Ripper can rip CDs directly to FLAC.  In the lower left hand rip section just set the "Rip to" dropdown to FLAC and with the Encoder tab selected choose the FLAC encoding level to the right of it.
 
Steve

Thanks, Steve, I'll give it a try.

[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

.. the system did not recognize albums, only tracks, playing the first track off each album followed by the second track from each album followed by the third etc. 

  Is this really so difficult to do?!?!
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

I'll take it easy.

I don't & will never, own any BDP1/2 or the like player. I don't worry about ripping CD in the order of album titles. Yet I rip CD like a piece of cake - so fast & so easy withOUT using any costly complicated Hi-teck gear.

How? Go to Walmart to pick up a Philips DVP-3680 up-converting DVD player with USB front jack I/P.
I paid only 36 bucks for it on sale.

This Little David gets a MP3 CD ripping function into any USD thumb drives. It rips CD-audio/CD+/-R fast. Set 3xtime ripping speed & higest bit-rate (3 to choose), you can rip some or all the soundtracks of yr CD-A & CD+/-R very fast & the sound quality is closest to its original CDs.

One thing is: it go by the CD's original soundtrack order unless you pause it to change its ripping order. This will recreate more files.

With a 8G USD stick, you can rip tons of songs. Fast & excellent sound quality.

I am ripping all my favourite soundtracks into USD sticks. Cheapie, very fast & excellent quality., For 36 bucks, can't complain.

c-J

[srb]

You have made an erroneous assumption that the majority of listeners either have systems or ears (or both) that cannot discern the difference between a 320kbps MP3 file and an uncompressed one for the majority of recordings.
 
That combination of listener, system and recording certainly exist, but they generally don't seek out audio forums pursuing optimum sound.  I may have trouble telling the difference in my car, but at home, with perhaps the exception of some very non-busy low-energy sparse acoustic recordings, it's apparent.
 
Steve

[cheap-Jack]

(1) You have made an erroneous assumption that the majority of listeners either have systems or ears (or both) that cannot discern the difference between a 320kbps MP3 file and an uncompressed one for the majority of recordings.

(2) That combination of listener, system and recording certainly exist, but they generally don't seek out audio forums pursuing optimum sound.  I may have trouble telling the difference in my car, but at home, with perhaps the exception of some very non-busy low-energy sparse acoustic recordings, it's apparent.

(1) First off, why should we go thru the hazzle of ripping CDs??

For the best sound, ALWAYS play the CDs via yr home gear. Any ripping on USB sticks is always a compromise of sound quality. The purpose of ripping CDs onto USB sticks is for its mobility & convenience, compromising the sound, correct?

So don't put the cart before the horse. One may spend a fortune hoping for the best which won't happen.

(2) I am a sound-qualtiy discerning nut - I love vinyl via my all tube gear. No digital sound, including Blu-ray
     soundtracks ever please me as much as vinyl - total analogue medium.

But for casual listening on the move, MP3 via USB is the way to go. I want my beloved music go with me when I am travelling.
 
Don't you???


c-J