New user .... basic question re formats

[hiace_drifter]

Hi all,

I've just purchased dbpoweramp so I can start (properly!) ripping my CDs. At the moment the files will go onto my Mac and be listened to through iTunes (or Audirvana if I get it). At some point I expect them to be moved onto a NAS and also accessed via windows laptop and a streamer (either an Oppo player or a Naim, or both).

Can someone advise the best format to use that will not cause problems down the line? Storage space is not a problem .... I will by a bigger hardrive if needed.

Thanks

Hiace_Drifter

[Dat Ei]

Re: New user .... basic question re formats

Hey Hiace_Drifter,

always rip to a lossless format first. Those files are like your negatives in photography. You can convert those files into nealry any other format afterwards (lossy formats like mp3 etc. pp.), if you need to, but there is no way from a lossy file to a lossless file.

There are some small differences between lossless formats regarding the capability to store metadata. So I prefer FLAC over Wave in my case (Windows guy). In the Apple world ALAC is AFAIK another good way to go.


Dat Ei

[hiace_drifter]

Re: New user .... basic question re formats

Hey Hiace_Drifter,

always rip to a lossless format first. Those files are like your negatives in photography. You can convert those files into nealry any other format afterwards (lossy formats like mp3 etc. pp.), if you need to, but there is no way from a lossy file to a lossless file.

There are some small differences between lossless formats regarding the capability to store metadata. So I prefer FLAC over Wave in my case (Windows guy). In the Apple world ALAC is AFAIK another good way to go.


Dat Ei

Cheers, I was googling around and found this article. Apart from recommending dBpoweramp (which is what lead me to your site), he also recommends AIFF files which is good enough for me!

http://the-ear.net/how-to/build-computer-audio-transport