The Web Page of Kristopher Linquist

Step 1: Get The Software (it's all freeware!)
Download EAC & LAME.

EAC (Exact Audio Copy) is the audio ripper - the program that pulls the audio tracks off of the CD. LAME is the encoder, the software that turns those audio tracks (in .wav format) into an MP3. LAME produces what is known to be the best sounding mp3s.

Step 2: Unzip LAME
Unzip LAME into C:\Program Files\LAME (you can actually extract it anywhere, but this makes it easy)

Step 3: Install EAC
Install EAC. If the current version you downloaded does not contain an installer, just unzip it into C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy (then execute EAC.EXE). The first time it is run, you will be brought into the setup wizard. Press the following (the non-default options are in bold):
Next > Next > (default - I prefer accurate results) Next > (Insert a clean audio cd as instructed) Next > Next > Next > (default - install & configure LAME.EXE) Next > (Once it finds lame, choose "Use LAME standard settings" *not* r3mix) Next > (enter your email address) Next > Next > (expert) Finish.

Step 4: Set Bitrate
To set EAC to encode at 192k: EAC Menu > Compression options > External compression tab > set "Bit Rate" to 192k.

Step 5: Change Filename Scheme
Set EAC to use better filenames: EAC Menu > EAC Options > Filename tab > set filename to:
%N %A - %T

Your mp3s will be named "Track Artist - Title" i.e. "01 Beatles - Yellow Submarine.mp3" (I OWN THIS CD, I PROMISE)

Step 6: Set background encoding:
To set EAC to rip and encode at the same time: EAC Menu > EAC Options > Tools Tab > Turn on "On extraction, set exernal compressors queued in the background" (keeping the default of 1 threads is fine)

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EAC is now setup. To rip/encode a cd, do the following:

Step 1
Make sure you are connected to the internet. Then insert a cd and press the freedb button:

It should contact the freedb server and fill-in all of the correct track names.

Step 2
Press CTRL-A to select all of the audio tracks.

Step 3
Press the MP3 button:

choose a directory, and hit Save.

You're done. EAC will encode the tracks one at a time, sending each WAV file to LAME for encoding when it's done.

Troubleshooting:

If this method is producing BLANK mp3s, go to the EAC menu > Drive options > Drive tab. Change 'drive read command' from Auto Detect to Read Command MMC. That should fix it.

If no cd is found in the drive, download from Nero the WNASPI32.DLL ( ftp://ftp6.nero.com/wnaspi32.dll and put it into the directory where EAC is installed. In EAC options / Interface select "ASPI" and restart EAC.

Have fun.