How Best to Rip Redbook CD - XLD

I rip all my redbook CD's by using X Lossless Decoder (XLD) for Mac OSX.

X Lossless Decoder:
Lossless audio decoder for Mac OSX







This is a walkthrough for setting XLD to maximise performance.

XLD is a freeware lossless audio decoder for Mac OSX.

Please note it must only be used to rip music in your ownership for your own personal listening pleasure,

XLD can be downloaded from http://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html

Once downloaded the settings are important to maximise ease of use:

Go to Preferences on the XLD Tab

General Tab

My preference for file output is AIFF but there are many options for output.

My output directory is my Drobo NAS where the music is stored.

I add to ITunes as that is my library which is utilised by my Pure Music player software.

File Naming Tab

I keep the default here for format of filename

Batch Tab

Unaltered

CDDB Tab

Metadata Tab

I use ITunes to find cover art or embed manually in the info tab of ITunes.

CD Rip Tag

These are the important settings:

XLD Secure Ripper is better than the other modes.

The offset correction value is related to your MacBook Pro - set automatically but check the database http://www.accuraterip.com/driveoffsets.htm

I test before copy to double check for problems.

CD Burn Tab

As default

Now you are all set to rip redbook cd's with XLD.

Put a cd into the drive and let ITunes get the metadata and identify the cd - then when asked if you would like to import the cd into your ITunes library click No, close ITunes and open XLD.

Go to File - Open Audio CD - CD Name and click.

A box will pop up Detecting Pregap.

Then the title box will appear say No to the ITunes request to import the cd into your ITunes library and close all ITunes windows - click Extract.

The ripping process begins.

Congratulations you have completed your first rip using XLD.

I then check and manually add any outstanding metadata using the ITunes info tab including album art if not automatically available.

This blog is a two-way affair - if you have a better / different strategy for ripping in XLD - let me know!