Ripping MP3's

If you have audio CD's (which you do have) and an internet-connected PC (um - you definitely have one of these), then it is time to start 'ripping' your CD collection to your hard drive.  Yes, I'm talking to you avó! (grandma!)

No longer a pass-time limited to teens, 'ripping' is the process of taking the huge, inefficient digital files off of music CD's and making a small (compressed to about 1/6th the size) copy of the file playable on your computer.  "Windows Media Player" will load hundreds or thousands of songs and play them in sequence or randomly.  The Apple iPod, and dozens of devices like it are MP3 players.  You can have thousands of songs with your in a rechargeable device which at the moment is 1/4 the size of a CD player.  You can put over 100 songs on one CD which you can play on MP3 CD players which are becoming more common these days.

If you're still not convinced, here are a few reasons why you want to start ripping music:

1.  Your PC is probably the most convenient audio playback device.  You probably listen to music mostly while at the computer.

2.  Someday you will own an iPod-like device or a CD player (in a boom-box or car stereo) capable of playing over 100 mp3's off of a single CD-R. If you get in the habit of ripping CD's then they'll be ready to go.

3.  It is now easy to do.

Here are a few simple tips. 

1.  Don't use the tools included with Windows.  These associate 'digital rights management' mechanisms with your music which makes the process of moving them around from computer to computer or device to device very difficult.  I don't believe in stealing music, but I won't put up with DRM either.

2.  Use the free CDex tool (download it here).  There are probably thousands of ripping programs.  Many of which install 'spyware' or 'adware'.  CDex doesn't.  It automatically names the files off of your CD (It does this by taking the exact file size of each track - 34,342,222 bytes for example, and uses that as a 'signature' for that particular CD to compare to an on-line database with the information - neat, huh?), and uses a nice-sounding compression algorithm.

3.  Rip to the MP3 file format.  Other formats may be marginally better, but you'll never hear the difference or miss the 1k of disk space you save.

4.  You're given a number of compression in CDex and other programs.  Rip to 192 / 44.1.  It's the best sound for your buck.  I have a degree in sound engineering.  Trust me on this one.

5.  Just do it!  Once you get in the habit of ripping your CD's as you get them, you'll listen to them more, and actually 'discover' music you otherwise would not get around to.

6.  Share responsibly.  Want to e-mail your friend in San Antonio a neat track you just discovered?  Do it!  Odds are that at some point they will buy a CD (for themselves or for someone else) that they wouldn't otherwise buy.  However, don't build your music collection from Kazaa or WinMX.  It's not worth it.  The quality of the downloaded tracks is spotty, and the programs may not be healthy for your PC.  Buy the music you want and listen to the music you own.  Share amongst your friends. 

I use WinMX on occasion to download music I can't get anywhere else.  If you're willing to put the effort in, this may be the way to get that remix of Rush's Tom Sawyer from 1983 you're looking for.

There are now legitimate sources from downloading music.  I use them on occasion, but the tunes you download are not in MP3 format and come with digital rights management (see my previous comments).

If you start now, you'll thank me later, so get ripping!