Using Easy Audio Copy questions

[jfcman]

Hi all - I tried to use Exact Audio Copy but I found I don't have a very good grasp of software building.  I can eventually use a program, but building one is just not in my capabilities range.  Anyway, I decided to buy the Easy Audio Copy software and have been using it for about two months now.  Problems have been few, but they are strange.  For one, every now and then, the program closes out after I copy each CD - doesn't happen all the time, and sometimes I can copy five or six CDs in a row before it starts happenning (?).  I've found a way around it last Friday, and so far, it's been consistent: Instead of clicking the "OK" button after a CD is finished copying/compressing/filing to the right folder, I extract the copied CD, insert a new one, and then I clicki the "OK" button.  Tha's been working great since Friday and I hope it continues.  Couple of questions: What is the Sample Rate/Bit Depth of the FLAC files EAC produces, and what is the Bit Depth for the MP3 files produced? 

[korth]

On your first problem, the developer will probably want to know more about your system.
CDDA is 44.1 kHz/16 bit so FLAC and MP3 are the same.

[jfcman]

Hi Korth, thank you for your answer - A few questions: 44.1kHz/16 I undertand for the FLAC files, but for MP3, I thought the only factor was Bit Depth? It's my understanding a 320 Bit Depth is best for MP3, so I'm thinking 16 bits would be very low quality? I'm new to digital music (I have a 50+ year collection of LPs, Cassettes, and Reel/Reel music I'm now trying to convert to CDs)and was going to augment that music collection by adding the few commercial CDs I have accumulated over the past 10 years - Yes, that's how long I refused to admit that digital music CDs could actually compete with analog sound, but I'm almost 65 now, and my hearing had started going south about that time (ha, ha, ha).

[korth]

OK you're asking about Bit Rate.
The Bit Rate of the WAV file extracted from the CD is 1411.2 kbps (44.1 kHz x 16 bit x 2 channels)

The default FLAC setting in Easy Audio Copy is -6. The available settings are -0 to -8 (see info about changing settings using the Advanced Options Tool below).
FLAC is encoded using lossless compression and is decoded (decompressed) during playback so it is bit-per-bit the same as the original WAV file. The encode settings just exchange encoding speed for the amount of compression so the lowest number setting encodes faster with less compression (larger file) and the highest number setting encodes slower with more compression (smaller file). All settings are lossless and decode at about the same speed so there is no change in playback.


MP3 uses lossy compression and designed to save space. The default setting in Easy Audio Copy is -V2. This is a very high quality Variable Bit Rate (VBR) that averages around 190 kbps and should be transparent but you can change it to a setting that uses a higher average Bit Rate such as -V0 (~245 kbps) or -V1 (~225 kbps) on the Compression tab of the Advanced Options Tool. You can also change the setting to -b 320 if you want a Constant Bit Rate (CBR) of 320 kbps but this will also create a larger file than the VBR settings above.

[preachercruz]

I asked this in another post too but was hoping to get clarification...

"I am wondering if there has been any testing done to show that EZAC sounds better than say WMP files of similar size? Also, I downloaded the Advanced Configuration tool but how do we know that the settings stick? Plus is there a way to do like 320KBPS VBR? Thanks!"

[korth]

I am wondering if there has been any testing done to show that EZAC sounds better than say WMP files of similar size?

Easy Audio Copy (EZAC) can save to WAV, FLAC (lossless), or MP3 (lossy)
Windows Media Player (WMP) can save to WAV, WMA Lossless (lossless), WMA (lossy), or MP3 (lossy)
I assume you mean WMA (lossy) vs. MP3 (lossy)? It would be better to do your own blind ABX test to see what sounds better to you.

Also, I downloaded the Advanced Configuration tool but how do we know that the settings stick?

The tool reads the current settings from and writes any changes to the Windows registry. Closing and restarting the tool will load the current settings. Easy Audio Copy will use the new settings next time it is started.

Plus is there a way to do like 320KBPS VBR

-V0 is the highest VBR setting. --abr 320 will give you an average bitrate of around 320 kbps but it is not true VBR.

[preachercruz]

I meant to compare WMP mp3 files to EZAC Mp3 files. I am reasonably convinced that on my ZTE Zmax phone with Gemini HSR-1000 (Rebadged Takstar Pro 80) I shouldn't be able to hear much if any difference between a good mp3 file and flac.

So, I put in -VO for the 256 VBR and --abr for 320? Will most people be able to notice a difference (in your opinion) on the 320?

Thanks!

[korth]

Windows Media Player (WMP) uses Constant Bit Rate (CBR) 128, 192, 256, or 320 which is equivalent to using -b 128, -b 192, -b 256, or -b 320 in Easy Audio Copy (EzAC).

For Constant Bit Rate (CBR) you use -b n where n is the bitrate (8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, or 320)
For Variable Bit Rate (VBR) you use -V n where n is the quality setting (0=highest quality, 9.999=lowest)
For Average Bit Rate (ABR aka Safe VBR) you use --abr n where n is the targeted average bitrate (8, 16, 24, ..., 320)
(the encoder should work the same with or without the space before n)

For more info

You shouldn't notice any difference between -V0 and -b 320 and most people wouldn't notice a difference from FLAC.
See also Transparency.

[preachercruz]

Awesome. Thanks. USing 256VBR.

I have another, rather odd question.... Some CD's I wish to rip I no longer have a store bought version of. Can a WMP (I think WMA Lossless) cd be used (well I know it can as I have done it) but I am wondering, if the cd reads and rips properly is it for all intents and purposes bit perfect and/or will I likely hear any difference?

[korth]

If you still have the lossless file(s), you could just convert them to another format (using other software) but if you burned lossless file(s) to a CD-R and the CD-R is still in good condition, you should be able to get a good rip that is equal to the burned CD-R.

Note: The burned CD-R will likely have some differences (from the original CD) that will prevent Easy Audio Copy from getting good AccurateRip results. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll hear a difference.