CDex and FLAC
This guide acts as a quick and painless way to make a lossless-backup with CDex and FLAC. It does not go into detail about configuring cdparanoia.
Software needed
Note: CDex has native FLAC support; no need to download anything else
Installation
Just run the installer. If additional Windows redistributable components are needed, they will be downloaded during install.
Configuration
Basic
- Open CDex and insert a CD into the drive
- Click the Options menu then click Settings and select Encoder tab
- Change Encoder drop down menu to FLAC Encoder DLL
- Confirm that On the fly Encoding is checked off
- Change the appropriate compression setting level (default: -compression-level 5 |
- best: --compression-level 8 )
- Click OK
- On toolbar at right, click button second from the top (Extract CD track(s) to Compressed Audio File(s))
- CDex will begin extracting tracks from your default CD-ROM drive to the Folder and Filename as set below
Suggested Additional Settings
- Click the Options menu then click Settings
General > Directories & files
- Set Filename Format the way you want it; e.g. %1\%2\%7 - %4 gives ARTIST\ALBUM\01 - TRACK
- Set the two directories for output files where you want them
Ripping > CD Drive settings
- Check box for "Eject CD when ripping has been completed"
Encoding > Tags
- Un-check all ID3 Tag Versions
CD Database > Remote freedb
- Enter something in "Your E-mail address"; can be user@domain.com
- Check box for "Auto connect to remote freedb"
Advanced command-line (not necessary if CDex configured as above)
- To use FLAC as external command-line encoder change Encoder to External Encoder and specify flac.exe or your path to appropriate executable. Parameter string:
"-5 -V -o %2 -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%b" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%tn/%tt" -T "genre=%g" -"
- Note: the number in green can be substituted for appopriate compression level. The default is -5 the best is -8.
Screenshot
CDex and CUE Sheets
- CDex has limited support for creating CUE sheets in current beta release