[Slowhand] Trading standards...

[Bill Gadzia]

Hey Everybody!

There has been a lot of discussion about setting up trading standards 
for CDRs here on SD (forgive me if I missed much, I'm a newbie here, I 
just joined within the last week or so).  Much discussion has been 
given to using EAC to rip disks, including this from Leo:

> ... I know it is technical, but it is as simple as it can be : use EAC 
> or Feurio (with correct settings) and
> don't use anything else to rip discs to spread within the 
> trading-community...

I'd like to suggest that one of the problems comes from sending music 
disks which have to be re-ripped.  How about if only ONE person rips 
the disk, tests the files to make sure everything worked out okay 
(maybe even have a sub group act as "listeners" to make double sure 
there's no "glitches introduced" in the ripping process), makes 
losslessly compressed files (shn, flac and ape file formats are 
commonly used elsewhere) and distributes these to people who have CDR 
burners.  Those people can then copy the compressed files to their HD, 
unpack them, burn a copy as a music CDR (always using DAO to avoid 
introducing gaps between tracks) for their own use (as well as copies 
for any people they're helping who do not have a CDR burner), and then 
file copy the original losslessly compressed files to a data CDR to 
pass along to other traders with CDR burners.

The advantage of trading already ripped and tested losslessly 
compressed files  is that there is no "generational" problems 
introduced with ripping every step of the way.  Many problems with CDRs 
tend to come with the ripping process.  I've read that ripping is 95% 
accurate, but this means that 1 in 20 CDRs you rip and burn with have 
errors.  Even with EAC, errors will occasionally occur (which is why 
the person who does the original ripping has to carefully do a 
listening test the resulting copy).

It also means that a person who gets the 20th copy of the losslessly 
compressed files can make EXACTLY the same music CDR as the person who 
started the process.  When you copy the  losslessly compressed files to 
a data CDR, they are computer files and your computer can do error 
checking in the copy process.  It doesn't mean errors won't occur, but 
it does mean that when it happens, your computer will try to error 
correct and if it can't, it will tell you there is a problem.

This process will add a degree of quality control that will never exist 
when trades are done by re-ripping music disks you received in trade.  
It also means that guys with Macs (there are a few of us out here) can 
burn a disk that is just as guaranteed to be good as a one done on a 
PC.  It also means you don't have to bust your brains learning how to 
use EAC unless you want to start a tree.  If all you have time to do is 
burn disks for others and want to do it with the least hassle, this 
method makes that possible.  Of course, you should still test any disk 
before you send it out, at least the transition from one track to the 
next.