The first version of Exact Audio Copy appeared in 1998, but developer Andre Wiethoff keeps the program up to date. If you want to rip CDs to your hard drive in high quality, this free program is very suitable.
Exact Audio Copy
PriceFor free
Language
English German
OS
Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10
Website
www.exactaudiocopy.de 8 Score 80
- Pros
- Handy wizard
- Error-free CD rips
- Useful built-in functions
- Negatives
- Website has a lot of adware
- Test result is not explained
During the installation you can install a number of optional components. It is recommended to check all options, with the possible exception of the GD3 Metadata Plugin. This option can no longer be used for free after trying it ten times and then asks for activation. As soon as you start the program, Exact Audio Copy will configure the program. It asks whether you prefer to be able to import a CD as quickly as possible or whether it should be done as accurately as possible. The program then tests whether it can rip a CD without errors and displays the result after the test. Unfortunately, it is not stated what these values mean. Also read: 11 tips to listen to your music in top quality anytime, anywhere.
Quality
For the best quality, choose the uncompressed wav format. However, this takes up the most storage space. A better option is flac, a lossless format that takes up less space on your hard drive without sacrificing quality. If you are short on space, choose mp3. You can specify exactly how you want your file names to look in the program. Before importing a CD, it is useful to look up album information via the built-in CTDB Metadata Lookup function. Immediately select the album cover and your CD will be imported with the correct information. On the left, select the format in which you want to rip the album.
Adware
Is there a disadvantage to be discovered? Yes, but this mainly has to do with the way the program is offered. The website has adware on the download page which makes it easy to download the wrong program. First click on Download in the left bar and choose the correct language variant (German or English) on that page at the flags. The link leads to the Netzwelt website. Scroll down a bit here and click on the download button next to the version number (1.1 at the time of writing) at the yellow area. Afraid of choosing the wrong file? Download the file directly here.
Conclusion
There are countless CD rippers, but Exact Audio Copy is one of the best. In addition to technical functions to copy a CD to your hard disk as well as possible, the program has smart tools on board. Exact Audio Copy also gives you a lot of freedom in terms of audio quality; almost all common formats are supported.
