Perhaps you have an extensive CD collection that you want to digitize without loss of quality or you want to save storage space by streaming music in high quality to your computer and other equipment. We list the possibilities to enjoy music - in top quality.
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Tip 01: Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player is an easy-to-use program to manage and play music files. Have you ever downloaded music through download networks or through an official sales channel? With Windows Media Player you can easily map all the music on your PC. It is handy that the program is already present in most Windows versions by default, so you often no longer have to download it.
Start the program from the start menu and then click Organize / Manage Libraries / Music. Through Add select the storage location of your music files. Confirm with Record folder. When the music is spread out, add multiple folders. Double click on the left Music and use the rubrics Artist, Album and Genre to sort the files.
Tip 01 Windows Media Player helps you organize music files.
Tip 02: Ripping
If you have good CDs lying around, it is smart to keep a copy of them on your computer. In the unlikely event that the CD gets damaged, you can at least still listen to the music. Moreover, with a digital version you have many more playback options. For ripping music files you again use Windows Media Player. It makes sense to go through the rip settings carefully, because that's how you determine the audio quality of the music files. Go to Organize / Options and open the tab rip music. If you want to play the music files on many different devices, MP3 obvious of course. Be aware that due to the relatively high compression, a lot of data is lost.
This results in poor sound quality, even when you slide the slider below Audio quality maximum. The loss of quality is particularly audible on good hi-fi systems. It is better to make an exact copy of the CD. For that reason, preferably choose WAV (without loss of quality). Save the settings with OK. Place the disc in the CD/DVD tray and check all songs. Finally, click at the top rip CD.
Tip 02 With Windows Media Player it is best to rip CDs to wav.
Tip 03: Exact Audio Copy
A disadvantage of wav files is that they take up a lot of space on the hard disk, about 600 MB per music album, because they are stored uncompressed. A very popular format to store music files is flac. Although this file type makes the original music data about forty percent smaller via compression, there is no loss of quality. With Windows Media Player it is not possible to rip CDs to flac. You use the free Exact Audio Copy software package for this job. Go to www.exactaudiocopy.de and click on the left side Download. Save the exe file by clicking a download link. Double click on the exe file and take via Next through all the steps of the wizard. You do not need to change any settings. Finally confirm with Install / Finish.
Tip 03 Exact Audio Copy installs various components on your PC.
Tip 04: Rip Settings
As soon as you start Exact Audio Copy for the first time, choose the desired settings in a configuration wizard. Choose Next one and select your PC's CD/DVD drive. If you only have one, the correct station is already checked. In the next screen you can choose to rip CDs quickly or accurately. With the latter option, there is less chance of errors. In that case, select I prefer to have accurate results. The software will then prompt you to insert an audio CD. Through various tests, the program assesses the CD/DVD drive's reading options. In the pop-up window, choose Configure. click on Next one and wait for Exact Audio Copy to complete the test. The result appears on the screen, after which you click three times on Next one. Select as music format FLAC (around 6MB/minute). Then choose twice Next one.
Tip 04 The software estimates the reading options on the basis of an audio CD.
