HydrogenAudio

CD-R and Audio Hardware => CD Hardware/Software => Topic started by: Yuna on 2010-05-12 05:52:53

Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-12 05:52:53
Hi,

I looked on the home page of dBpoweramp (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/) and i saw that dBpoweramp cost $$$. Is this true ?

Now, i use EAC .99pb5 for ripping my CD in FLAC (with AccurateRip) but EAC seem to have no more support of his developer. The last EAC's update is 1 year ago (May 7, 2009).

When i rip my CD (most are japanese import CD) I need have the UTF-8 (japanese characters) support for tags and track titles. I hate do manually the tags for my ripped CD.

I want know if dBpoweramp is better that EAC ?

Also, EAC take only freedb but dBpoweramp take more (MG, GD3, SonataDB, MusicBrainz and freedb).

Do dBpoweramp take UTF-8 support ?


thank for your opinion.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: twostar on 2010-05-12 07:48:53
The dBpoweramp version that has secure ripping is not free.

Even if the latest EAC version is a year old, it still works as it should.

While both are secure rippers and have Accuraterip, dBpoweramp is faster. EAC can be faster if you use burst mode then switch to T&C and/or secure mode if Accuraterip does not verify your rip.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: damjang on 2010-05-12 08:56:16
I don't know if dBpowerAmp support utf-8, but for EAC is in development a new version that support utf-8, but I don't know when it will be available (look here: http://twitter.com/exactaudiocopy (http://twitter.com/exactaudiocopy) )
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Porcus on 2010-05-12 10:52:31
I have the paid version of dBpoweramp, and to me (with a few thousand CDs) the metadata alone is worth the cost.

But you might also want to try foobar2000, which now has AccurateRip integration. Look up the Discogs tagging plug-in -- you have to search manually, though. (UTF-8? I don't know. Never actually tried ripping with fb2k.)
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: spoon on 2010-05-12 14:31:22
Unicode is supported by dBpoweramp (UTF-8 from freedb, and unicode ID Tags). Freedb seemed to have a relatively poor selection of tracks in utf-8, at-least the last time I checked a number of discs (as opposed to just written as ANSI in whatever code page was used). Musicbrainz is native unicode, as also do AMG and GD3.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: dv1989 on 2010-05-12 18:03:10
And AFAIK foobar2000 uses UTF-8, except when in ID3v2.3 (compatibility) mode.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-13 02:29:14
The dBpoweramp version that has secure ripping is not free.

Even if the latest EAC version is a year old, it still works as it should.


Well, I see. I wanted to try dBpoweramp with secure ripping, but it is not possible with the trial version and more I noticed there was no log as with EAC. (Probably because it is the trial version.)

I have the paid version of dBpoweramp, and to me (with a few thousand CDs) the metadata alone is worth the cost.

But you might also want to try foobar2000, which now has AccurateRip integration. Look up the Discogs tagging plug-in -- you have to search manually, though. (UTF-8? I don't know. Never actually tried ripping with fb2k.)


For the trial version, only freedb is possible as metadata. I tried to rip with foobar2k but seems there is no log ( I need log ). And forgive me if i'm stupid but the "File Integrity Verifier (http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_verifier)" components is it for the AccurateRip ?

My problem with tagging is than most of my CD collection is japanese music (J-Pop, Animes & video games soundtrack) where the japanese characters are recurring in the track titles and tags.  I dunno if the Discogs plug-in can help me for tagging for japanese music CD. When EAC see special characters, it replace them with ?????????.flac or (whatever symbol).flac. As we know that Windows don't accept such symbol in file name, I'm obliged of rename the files in EAC before ripping. Rename files for 1 CD is ok but not 100.


Other question : When i tried dBpowerAMP, I could use FLAC compression. Is FLAC out-of-the-box in DMC or if its because i already installed the FLAC encoder ? The FLAC encoder in DMC is in his last version (1.2.1b) ?
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: twostar on 2010-05-13 06:06:11
From the dBpoweramp homepage: "Free no-obligation, fully functional trial for 21 days."

You do get secure ripping but only for 21 days. You can also configure it to generate a log.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: onkl on 2010-05-13 07:05:59
Maybe CUERipper/CUETools (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=66233) is doing what you want.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-13 19:47:39
From the dBpoweramp homepage: "Free no-obligation, fully functional trial for 21 days."

You do get secure ripping but only for 21 days. You can also configure it to generate a log.


No, I verified and in the trial version there no secure ripping only the burst mode.
Look:
(http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5025/ripsecure.th.png) (http://img404.imageshack.us/i/ripsecure.png/)

For log, I believe that we do have the full paid version of dBpoweramp for configure it. Its useless have a log in burst mode.


Maybe CUERipper/CUETools (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=66233) is doing what you want.


Thank, I will check this link.


Also I have some question about dBpowerAMP.
In the image below:
(http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5564/ripdbpoweramp.th.png) (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/ripdbpoweramp.png/)

Point 1 : What mean the number in parenthesis ? Is it the same with EAC and his "confidence (xx)" in log file ?
Point 2 : Some track have CRC in green, other in black and sometimes in red. What this mean ? It is Green = good (matching CRC), red = bad (mismatching CRC) ? Or if this don't mean anything ?

Again, I can buy dBpowerAMP since it is not very expensive.

thank for your help
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-05-13 19:53:07
Is it the same with EAC and his "confidence (xx)" in log file ?
Yes.

It is Green = good (matching CRC), red = bad (mismatching CRC) ?
Yes, green means the CRC matches the previous time the track was extracted (or simply read if you tell the program to perform a test conversion), red means it doesn't match.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: TechVsLife on 2010-05-13 20:05:06
The trial of the full (reference) version does have secure ripping, or it did when I tried it.  It is time limited.  You may want to post in the dbpoweramp forums if you can't get that working.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: spoon on 2010-05-13 20:05:41
The trial of dBpoweramp is a full trial (21 days, including all metadata), if you have installed it less than 21 days ago, reinstall (but install in to an account with Administration privileges, then after install set to limited user).
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-13 21:46:11
Quote
The trial of dBpoweramp is a full trial (21 days, including all metadata), if you have installed it less than 21 days ago, reinstall (but install in to an account with Administration privileges, then after install set to limited user).


  My mistake. I was in user mode and not admin mode. I run dBpowerAMP in admin mode and effectively i can do secure ripping and configure log.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: spile on 2010-05-14 16:03:20
I see no reason to change from EAC though I do have one tiny niggle...
When I insert a CD and select rip to FLAC, it is easy with my laptops touchpad to select a few files which means you don't end up ripping the whole of album.
Wonder how  others get around this or is it just my fat fingers?
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-05-14 18:54:34
Don't select any tracks and EAC will rip all of them.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Fandango on 2010-05-14 19:57:43
Maybe CUERipper/CUETools (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=66233) is doing what you want.


You will have to start the CUERipper.exe directly, or create a link on your desktop or wherever you like. What I did was to copy to the extracted directory to "program files", renamed it "CUE Tools" and created a link on my desktop for CUETools and for CUERipper.

CUERipper gets the metadata from MusicBrainz among others, and since it's a .NET application it should support UTF-8.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-14 20:16:13
I see no reason to change from EAC ...


It's mainly for testing DMC vs EAC. Also I found (my personal opinion) than the HA wiki on EAC's configuration is not complete. I used this EAC Setup Guide (http://blowfish.be/eac/Setup/setup1.html) that i found more complete.

A little question : The number in parenthesis (confidence xx) indicates the number of people who have the same AccurateRip report that me ? So the more people there is the better its ? (not sure if my english is ok about this latter sentence)

I will continue be with EAC by habit and because its free.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: pdq on 2010-05-14 20:19:02
A little question : The number in parenthesis (confidence xx) indicates the number of people who have the same AccurateRip report that me ? So the more people there is the better its ? (not sure if my english is ok about this latter sentence)

Generally speaking, only one match is really necessary. More than that simply tells you how popular that CD is.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-14 20:21:59
Maybe CUERipper/CUETools (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=66233) is doing what you want.


You will have to start the CUERipper.exe directly, or create a link on your desktop or wherever you like. What I did was to copy to the extracted directory to "program files", renamed it "CUE Tools" and created a link on my desktop for CUETools and for CUERipper.

CUERipper gets the metadata from MusicBrainz among others, and since it's a .NET application it should support UTF-8.


Do CUERipper/CUETools automatically create a CUESheet file embedded or not?
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Fandango on 2010-05-14 20:28:06
Do CUERipper/CUETools automatically create a CUESheet file embedded or not?

Yes, CUE Ripper always creates a cue sheet and a log. You can choose between a faked EAC log or CUE Ripper's native log which is very similar to the log created by CUE Tools. Of course, I would not recommend using the fake EAC log option, since it contains bogus information and lacks other information relevant to the mechanisms that are unique to CUE Ripper, CTDB info for example.

You can choose between image rip and track based rip. For the latter a non-compliant EAC-style cue sheet will be created.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-05-14 20:28:06
It's mainly for testing DMC vs EAC. Also I found (my personal opinion) than the HA wiki on EAC's configuration is not complete. I used this EAC Setup Guide (http://blowfish.be/eac/Setup/setup1.html) that i found more complete.

Unfortunately that guide contains misinformation.

If you have any specific questions about something not in our wiki, feel free to ask them.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-15 01:29:23
It's mainly for testing DMC vs EAC. Also I found (my personal opinion) than the HA wiki on EAC's configuration is not complete. I used this EAC Setup Guide (http://blowfish.be/eac/Setup/setup1.html) that i found more complete.

Unfortunately that guide contains misinformation.

If you have any specific questions about something not in our wiki, feel free to ask them.



What part of EAC Setup Guide (http://blowfish.be/eac/Setup/setup1.html) contains misinformation ? Because I'm interested to know where you pull out your comment.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-05-15 01:37:09
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....st&p=679226 (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=77717&view=findpost&p=679226)
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-15 01:49:49
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....st&p=679226 (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=77717&view=findpost&p=679226)


I configured EAC for rip in FLAC with AccurateRip and I don't use write option or gap feature. CUESheet is useless for me.

It's possible that some unnecessary options are different from EAC Setup Guide (http://blowfish.be/eac/Setup/setup1.html)  to the HA Wiki guide.

I compare the two for get me a idea.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-05-15 02:03:58
My specific criticism of that guide had nothing to do with the write option or gap feature.

Legitimate concerns about the guide began at post #16 by twostar in the discussion I linked.  It seems you've responded without reading them.

Now that we've ruled out updating our guide on CUE Sheets, gap feature and write option in order to provide you with better support, what information do you need that you cannot find in our wiki?  I'm hoping you'll answer so that we can help you and others who may have the same concerns in the future.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-15 02:42:49
When I sent my message I had not finished reading your entire link. But now that I read, I say:

It's not because there is an error in a screenshot (post#16)  that all the guide is not good.

We know that configure EAC depends on several factors :

- What format (MP3, FLAC, etc) will I use ?
- Do I want use CUESheet ?
- If i take FLAC I don't need for id3 tags.
- etc...

For EAC Options (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_Options), it's enough complete and can be use as standard configuration for any format. Of course, some options are to our choice (ex: Use alternate CD play routines =  not very important for ripping).

In EAC Compression (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_Compression_Options), the id3 tag part is useless for flac. But in the FLAC guide, there no warning that said of not checked id3 tag.

Also, EAC Drive (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_Drive_Options), there no information about 'Drive', 'Offset/speed', 'gap detection' and 'write' tabs. Why?

Finally, I withdraw what I said, I found that the 2 guide are similar.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-05-15 03:01:34
It's somewhat of a rhetorical question, but if you cannot trust the author to give accurate information how can you know what parts of the guide are good and which are not?

In EAC Compression (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_Compression_Options), the id3 tag part is useless for flac. But in the FLAC guide, there no warning that said of not checked id3 tag.
From http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?ti...C#Configuration (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_and_FLAC#Configuration) which is linked in that part of the guide:
Quote
Remove the ticks from Use CRC check and Add ID3 tag.

Also, EAC Drive (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_Drive_Options), there no information about 'Drive', 'Offset/speed', 'gap detection' and 'write' tabs. Why?
Probably because the information was never there and then the guide was restructured to show that it isn't.  Thankfully the information there regarding the secure mode options is correct unlike what is in the external guide you linked.

Drive tab: Press the "Autodetect read command now" button for the initial setup.  The other three options are self-explanatory.

Gap Detection tab: choose the method that works the fastest with the accuracy set to secure and gives results that make sense (doesn't give an error when the cue sheet is used for writing).  With some drives you may have to reduce the accuracy because EAC can hang with any of the three methods selected.  Based on what was said earlier, a lack of information here shouldn't matter to you (not to say it should be left as TBD).

The Offset/Speed tab is a bit more complicated, but the options are covered in this guide:
http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?ti...Lossless_Backup (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_Lossless_Backup)
It also has information about what is contained in the other tabs listed above.

I'll look into updating more of the wiki when I get some time.  Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-15 05:02:31
This link http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?ti...Lossless_Backup (http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?ti...Lossless_Backup) is exactly what i search and this more simple.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Porcus on 2010-05-17 12:37:17
I tried to rip with foobar2k but seems there is no log ( I need log ). And forgive me if i'm stupid but the "File Integrity Verifier (http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_verifier)" components is it for the AccurateRip ?


No, that is to see whether the file is corrupted (and it works for lossy formats too). Right-clicking and choosing "Utilities", you will find a menu item for verification with AccurateRip.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-19 03:10:53
Hi again,

I have another question about dBpowerAMP vs EAC :

When we configure EAC, we can use external encoder (libFLAC, Lame, neroAAC, etc) and we can also choice the # version of encoder.

DMC 13.4 comes with libFLAC 1.2.1, LAME 3.98.3 & WAV, others codecs come separate. But if I want use Lame 3.98.4 with DMC, how I do ?

Only replace the newest lame.exe file with the old file in C:\Program Files (x86)\Illustrate\dBpoweramp\encoder\mp3 (Lame) ? I tried but seems that DMC don't recognize the new version 3.98.4. Always written Lame 3.98.3 in DMC configuration windows.

With EAC or foobar2K, the external encoder are .exe files, but with DMC is it .dll files ?



Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: dv1989 on 2010-05-19 08:50:35
There may be another way to use a different LAME version, but you could also use the executable with the CLI Encoder (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-cli.htm).

Edit: Oops, I didn't realise it was as simple as in Spoon's post below! I thought that dBpA always used DLLs by default.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: spoon on 2010-05-19 09:18:37
You can replace lame.exe  in the dbpoweramp\encoder\lame  folder.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Yuna on 2010-05-20 00:57:18
@ DP3_001 : True, paid for DMC that do almost the same thing that EAC is useless. But I feel that the development of EAC is left behind and/or that his development is hard to follow. Where is his developer ? What are his intention about EAC in the future ? What if his developer don't want continue support EAC ? Maybe release the code of EAC open source for that our community can continue the development ? Many question without response. 
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-05-20 09:46:11
There's a big difference between doing something for profit and doing something for fun.  In case you don't follow the author of EAC or its development, I'll give you a couple of links:
http://twitter.com/exactaudiocopy (http://twitter.com/exactaudiocopy)
http://www.digital-inn.de/exact-audio-copy...html#post145789 (http://www.digital-inn.de/exact-audio-copy-english/39127-trojan-eac-0-99pb5-exe-3.html#post145789)

It's been a while since I've communicated with Andre but I know that he's been very busy with other aspects of his life (EAC is not his life).  Since I will probably never have a need for the upgrades that are to take place with the new version and because I am still hanging on to Windows XP until it will no longer serve my purposes, I don't believe I can help him out with his development, perhaps you can.  I'm sure he'd appreciate it.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Engelsstaub on 2010-07-24 02:38:24
There's a big difference between doing something for profit and doing something for fun.  In case you don't follow the author of EAC or its development, I'll give you a couple of links:
http://twitter.com/exactaudiocopy (http://twitter.com/exactaudiocopy)
http://www.digital-inn.de/exact-audio-copy...html#post145789 (http://www.digital-inn.de/exact-audio-copy-english/39127-trojan-eac-0-99pb5-exe-3.html#post145789)

It's been a while since I've communicated with Andre but I know that he's been very busy with other aspects of his life (EAC is not his life).  Since I will probably never have a need for the upgrades that are to take place with the new version and because I am still hanging on to Windows XP until it will no longer serve my purposes, I don't believe I can help him out with his development, perhaps you can.  I'm sure he'd appreciate it.



Forgive me for posting so late. I just came across this thread.

I'm not "hating" on Andre nor am I a dBpoweramp fanboy of sorts, but it seems he IS getting "paid" for his software by way of EBay icons/advertisements and whatnot. If he omitted such things from the typical installation, then I'd agree that he's walking some "higher path" of doing it for fun. He collects his money regardless of whether the user chooses to install the adware or not. We all have lives. I'm certain Spoon has a life outside of dBpoweramp development as well. While I am currently mostly using EAC, I far prefer Spoon's approach to this matter than that of someone who rarely (if ever) shows up to participate in the audio community here. I see Spoon constantly involved in this forum in a neutral manner. I don't see him just shamelessly plugging his own apps (not that Andre Wiethoff does either for any reason.)

In Spoon's defense, I guess it's easier to be a bit anonymous (ie; Spoon) then it is to be Andre Wiethoff. We can't and shouldn't really know what sort of "life" he has. On the other hand, I've noticed more than a few of Herr Wiethoff's comments (in other forums) and apologetics for how "busy a life he has." They are both getting paid, one way or another. I personally would rather pay Spoon's way and receive an ounce of courtesy than get "freeware" where the author games the system for profit and lends little to know support even in his off-time.

Just my personal opinion. I just wish dBpoweramp caught up with the cue sheets and stuff. It looks like it's in progress...
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-07-24 03:34:28
I find your idea that Andre games the system somewhat awkward for someone who isn't "hating on him."

Do you think Andre is getting anywhere near the amount of money (http://www.digital-inn.de/exact-audio-copy-english/39127-trojan-eac-0-99pb5-exe-3.html#post145789) for bundling his software with ads that Illustrate (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/about.html) charges for even their less expensive tier of dBpoweramp?  I really don't know, but I highly doubt it.

Regarding the agreeing with the idea that he's walking a "higher path," I don't quite know who you're quoting.  It certainly wasn't me.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Engelsstaub on 2010-07-24 23:07:10
I find your idea that Andre games the system somewhat awkward for someone who isn't "hating on him."

Do you think Andre is getting anywhere near the amount of money (http://www.digital-inn.de/exact-audio-copy-english/39127-trojan-eac-0-99pb5-exe-3.html#post145789) for bundling his software with ads that Illustrate (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/about.html) charges for even their less expensive tier of dBpoweramp?  I really don't know, but I highly doubt it.

Regarding the agreeing with the idea that he's walking a "higher path," I don't quite know who you're quoting.  It certainly wasn't me.


I don't know Andre personally. I've tried to communicate with him in German and English. Nothing. OK. I understand he probably gets quite a bit of email at his address that HE posts for contact. That's fine. He very rarely shows up in this or any other forum I'm aware of to support his product in any way. When he does we're all made to feel sorry for him as though we don't all have lives. Mine is the full-time care of an autistic child just to start. I'm not crying; it's life. If I wrote a software program (and no I can not) as popular in these circles as dBpoweramp or EAC, and it wasn't just for fun, I'd make some effort to be supportive of it. If I'm getting paid for the product one way or another I would personally want to safeguard my reputation.

Speculation about how much (a giant) corporation like eBay is paying him is just that; only he knows. I would like to speculate about how many people actually pay Spoon for dBpoweramp and don't just rip it off like nearly everyone else that posts and perpetuates threads about "How To Detect the Authenticity of FLAC Files?" (Answer: "Ummm...if you ripped those CDs, yours or borrowed, then why would you need to prove they are not transcodes???) ...but that's life in the internet-world too. EAC is extremely popular in these and other circles. I won't say which circles. It also seems to be "it" in this community as well.

Walking the higher path: "There's a big difference between doing something for profit and doing something for fun." ...maybe I assumed that's what the "higher path," in my words, supposedly was. Again: if he wasn't doing it for profit.

This isn't anything personal towards Andre. I'm just calling it the way I see it. I doubt he would feel I hate him personally even if he did get around to reading anything I or anyone else is writing. Remember how long it took him to respond to the issue of virus-positives to his software? He got there eventually. I would have been furiously refuting that ASAP, if I were a dev and my rep was at stake.  He's IMO a guy who created a great program, but can't even be bothered to put a few people like you and I (who apparently aren't as important and busy?) in his place to provide a drop of web-support.

I don't know him personally to hate him. I am just criticizing his "methods" or whatever. CUETools is being run by different devs now. That app is truly free and for fun. I'll bet you get more questions answered from them.

I suppose it's really about choices. I am (obviously) frustrated user of EAC. I paid for dBpoweramp because I thought the dev deserved the money and it was worth it...even though I was only using the music converter.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: greynol on 2010-07-25 19:36:13
In my book hating on someone is different than hating someone.  I see your frustration/disappointment and think that I do understand, however.

I paid for dBpoweramp because I thought the dev deserved the money and it was worth it...even though I was only using the music converter.

You will find no disagreement from me on this.  Hopefully you've gotten around to using it as a ripper as well.
Title: dBpoweramp vs EAC
Post by: Engelsstaub on 2010-07-26 01:32:26
In my book hating on someone is different than hating someone.  I see your frustration/disappointment and think that I do understand, however.

I paid for dBpoweramp because I thought the dev deserved the money and it was worth it...even though I was only using the music converter.

You will find no disagreement from me on this.  Hopefully you've gotten around to using it as a ripper as well.



Yeah, I've been working with it for the past few days, doing some tests, etc. I'm actually really liking it. I had to recently start re-ripping/archiving my CD collection due to my stupidly losing an encryption key for the drive in which it was stored. Happily for me my issues are being resolved early in that process (I've only ripped about 25 of them with EAC. I don't see the need to re-rip those again as I know EAC is/was more than capable of making as-perfect-as-possible files/cues that can be re-written to a disc if necessary. Now that it has the CUE/image option, I'm just going to do it that way.)

I guess I am a bit harsh on Andre (and possibly you) recently due to my own frustrations. I do appreciate Andre's contributions to secure-ripping. I suppose I should take this opportunity to acknowledge that in spite of everything I've already said. If it wasn't for people like him, most of us would probably all be ripping our CDs with iTunes, Zune, or WMP. (Somewhat OK, a bit worse, and horrible respectively IMO and experience.)

I just hope that people like you and I and others here don't escalate this into a Windows vs. Mac-type war! They both have their advantages and disadvantages. All we can (and hopefully will) do is talk of our own personal experiences. Those are, of course, unique and subjective.

It's been an uphill battle for me to convince ppl I really know and care about to stop ripping their stuff as MP3s. I can't imagine they'd want to hear a word about EAC vs. dBpoweramp. I try to pick my battles and not press my luck. I think If I had to evangelize people like that, I'd have to sell them on dBpoweramp though. If I turned them on to EAC I'd be constantly having to visit them to set it up every time they had a problem or reformatted ...something I obviously hardly look forward to doing on my own computers!