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Topic: Using Plextools to create a lossless backup (Read 4923 times) previous topic - next topic
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Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Hi,

I'm looking for a way to rip an audio CD to a single FLAC (or APE) file + a CUE sheet using Plextools, since I've recently bought a PX716 thanks to the advice I collected here.

It seems impossible to obtain a CUE sheet with Plextools

This topic shows a way to create a CUE sheet from the Plextools log file, but I don't know how to run the Python script that does it. Any other way of doing it, or anyone know how to run Python scripts ?

Thanks in advance.

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #1 –
If you get the new version of PlexTools Professional XL, it does support cuesheets, but it doesn't name them all nicely like EAC does.  Just make sure that you set the preferences to record the gap between tracks and such.

http://www.plextools.com/index.asp

PlexTools Pro XL is cool software, but Plextor charges some serious coin for it, imho.  I think it's too expensive.  I'd be willing to drop $30 or maybe even $40 USD for it, but today they're asking $53.08 USD.

Maybe if several of us go together, we could get multiple license pricing.

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #2 –
Quote
This topic shows a way to create a CUE sheet from the Plextools log file, but I don't know how to run the Python script that does it. Any other way of doing it, or anyone know how to run Python scripts ?
It doesn't appear to be a stand-alone Python app, so you'd need Python installed on your PC to run the script.
http://www.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Download

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #3 –
Supacon : Sounds like a good idea if 23 others are interested. Anyone ?

Cosmo : I was afraid you'd say that. Tell me, if I install Python on my computer, will I have the possibility of compiling this script into a Windows executable that I could run on another computer ?

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #4 –
Quote
Tell me, if I install Python on my computer, will I have the possibility of compiling this script into a Windows executable that I could run on another computer ?
Py scripts can't actually be compiled, per-se, but there are definitely ways of making standalone Py apps. (for example, the ABC bittorrent client was made with Python.)  My experience with Python (and with programming in general...) is very limited, so I'm afraid I can't recommend the best way to go... sorry. But if you know a bit about programming, you might be able to figure it out fairly easily. If not, maybe someone with more experience will offer some help.

One option I know of - http://starship.python.net/crew/theller/py2exe/

Good luck!

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #5 –
Quote
Supacon : Sounds like a good idea if 23 others are interested. Anyone ?


Yes, indeed.  I wonder who'd be interested in handling the logistics of this site?

I might be willing to purchase 25 licenses, and sell them off to other members of HA.org at my cost, plus, maybe some token fee like $1 per license.  That would be $35 USD per, times 25 - $875.  Maybe I should set up an e-commerce site and do this...

I wonder if Plextor would approve.

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #6 –
Why are you considering paying for Plextools XL? Just because it's able to create cue sheets or recover the best bytes?

The tagging mechanism is still crap and still no commandline encoder can be used. Besides, Plextools Pro has some bugs but the XL version introduces new ones.

I won't pay for the XL version, at least for todays version.

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #7 –
I do agree with you Alexxander.  It's got nothing on EAC.  Plextools does have some nice ripping capabilities though, in terms of how it can handle errors.  I will use if to rip the occasional problem disc, because it can be faster than EAC, and potentially more accurate.

They do charge too much though.  Regular Plextools is more fairly priced at about $16 USD or so.

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #8 –
Plextools Pro (non XL) was bundled with my PX716. I ripped a few CDs and thought it was incredibly fast, even with maximum paranoia settings...

But it seems you guys still recommend using EAC over Plextools with a Plextor drive doesn't it ?

Thanks for your input.

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #9 –
Plextools is very fast.  It also seems to handle errors very well.  But man, the interface is lousy.  Someone over at Plextor needs to take a look at EAC!  EAC has an excellent user interface, and is very thoughtfully designed.

If you don't mind fiddling with you data, you can perhaps extract to cue and singlefile with plextools, then rename the files appropriately, and then use the foobar masstagger with FreeDB or something.  But after all the time that that takes, I'd sooner have just ripped it with EAC and walked away.

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #10 –
Quote
you can perhaps extract to cue and singlefile with plextools

You mean Plextools XL right ?

Here's a thought, which is probably going to come off pretty stupid : why not rip to ISO format using Plextools, for a fast and error-free rip, then mount the ISO image in a virtual CD drive (using Alcohol for example), and rip this image with EAC for single file rip with CUE sheet and good tagging ? Does EAC support that kind of "virtual ripping" ?

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #11 –
Why would you bother going through all this trouble?  Wouldn't it be easier just to rip it with Plextools and then be done?  You could use FB2K or something like MP3BookHelper to do the tags, if that's the problem.
 

Using Plextools to create a lossless backup

Reply #12 –
Well the problem is Plextools does not support CUE sheets, and I'm looking for a way of creating a backup image of my discs (single lossless audio file + Cue sheet).