Quality Guide for EAC and Foobar2000

8thnerve · « **on:** 3 Oct 2004, 08:10 pm »

Does anyone know of a guide designed to help you get the best quality from the best software applications like EAC and Foobar2000? There seems to be a lot of information out there and very little of it is focused on sound quality, especially when using raw WAV formats. Does such a guide exist?

If not, perhaps we should start to assemble one?

cjr888 · « **Reply #1 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 08:45 pm »

Quote from: 8thnerve

Does anyone know of a guide designed to help you get the best quality from the best software applications like EAC and Foobar2000? There seems to be a lot of information out there and very little of it is focused on sound quality, especially when using raw WAV formats. Does such a guide exist?

If not, perhaps we should start to assemble one?

I think there are a few out there for EAC, and I'm sure someone else will chime in.. Regarding Foobar, drivers, and sound card configuration in general, I find the 'Computer-as-Source' forums over at Head-Fi.org to be filled with useful postings. http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=59

Search through the archives for the past year or so and you'll find plenty of information regarding Foobar, ASIO, and many cards, whether it be the MAudio's, RME's, EMU's, Lynx, modified cards, etc.

Also HydrogenAudio site, http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=idx, and specifically the Foobar2000 section http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showforum=28

GearSlutz is more aimed towards the recording professional rather than playback, but you'll find a lot of different opinions on cards, DACs, and what's best.. http://www.gearslutz.com/board/index.php3

Hopefully others will chime in with more specific sites, articles, etc.

8thnerve · « **Reply #2 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 10:42 pm »

Great links CJR, thanks! Do you know if any of them have compiled a guide with the optimal settings for EAC and Foobar2000? ASIO vs. WaveDirect, etc.

ted_b · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Oct 2004, 02:13 am »

Nathan,
Here's a great tutorial for setting up EAC for the best possible rips.

http://www.rivarilu.demon.nl/eac/total.htm#cd2mp3-en.htm

The Foobar forum in HydrogenAudio.org is the best place for foobar settings. Also, as cjr888 stated, the Headfi "computer-as-source" forum (especially Mr Radars set up guide for foobar and the chaintech av710) has all you'll need to get foobar going. I have it tweaked wonderfully, with a great gui, and it works flawlessly with kernel streaming.

ted_b

edit:sorry, fogot the link. Here it is.

geofstro · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Oct 2004, 07:19 am »

In addition to those other great sources you may want to read this guide at 6moons on EAC

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/eac/eac.html

Of course, ignore the, non-applicable, "for dummies" in the title.

I found it to be quite a good article.

geoff

8thnerve · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Oct 2004, 02:57 pm »

Thanks guys, great links! One question I have that I have not seen covered anywhere, is in the Compression Options Menu, under the Waveform Tab. It is my understanding that this is the Codec used to rip the CD into WAV format, a critical part of the process it would seem. I have been using both Windows PCM Converter, and Windows Media Audio, at 16bit 44KHz and 160KBps 44KHz respectively. At any rate, I would like to hear something explaining the best option for this field. It certainly does matter, as if the wrong one is chosen, the resultant file is not valid. This is all for WAV files here by the way, no MP3s for me.

Anyone have any idea?

ted_b · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Oct 2004, 04:57 pm »

I'm confused by your question. If you rip uncompressed, the settings in compression options aren't used at all. Don't worry about the compression settings at all if you're not wanting to compress your rips. If you use the "Copy Image & Create CUE Sheet -> Uncompressed" feature, your rip won't be compressed at all.

Edit: the waveform compression option issue in Coaster Factory is outdated. Currently, in prebetas, all you need to do is select uncompressed.

I'd go to the EAC forum and likely Andre (founder/creator) will reply.

http://www.digital-inn.de/forumdisplay.php?forumid=14

BTW, I use flac into foobar, not wav. Wav files are too big, especially given that flac will save 40% HD space and be completely lossless.

ted_b

ted_b · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Oct 2004, 05:10 pm »

Here'a an exact response:

http://www.digital-inn.de/showthread.php?t=27435&highlight=wav+codec

8thnerve · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Oct 2004, 10:33 pm »

Quote from: ted_b

I'm confused by your question. If you rip uncompressed, the settings in compression options aren't used at all. Don't worry about the compression settings at all if you're not wanting to compress your rips. If you use the "Copy Image & Create CUE Sheet -> Uncompressed" feature, your rip won't be compressed at all.
...

Thanks Ted, I was clicking on the happy WAV icon on the left, which apparently does use compression, since if I select the wrong Codec, when the files are played I hear nothing. Or maybe I did something else wrong. I will try what you suggested above.

Thanks again, this has been most helpful.