UberStandard.org :: Über Music Extraction Guide

This guide will walk you through configuring Exact Audio Copy to make perfect CD rips using the ÜberStandard.

FIRST:
Download and unzip the ÜberStandard Extraction Package. (1.94 MB)

Package Includes:
Exact Audio Copy version 0.99pb5 (EAC.exe)
Exact Audio Copy Language Pack (\Languages)
LAME MP3 Encoder version 3.98 (lame.exe)

Note: There are newer versions available, but newer doesn't mean better. Stay with these until we say otherwise.

SETUP INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Open the "EAC.exe" file.
Step 2: Cancel the setup wizard.
Step 3: Select which disc drive you want to extract audio from, and put an audio CD in that drive.
Step 4: Open the "EAC Options" window.
Step 5: Make it look like this.
Step 6: Make it look like this.
Step 7: Make it look like this.
Step 8: Make it look like this.
Step 9: Make it look like this. Album naming scheme: %D - %Y - %C\%N - %T Various artists album naming scheme: %C - %Y\%N - %A - %T
Step 10: Make it look like this.
Step 11:
Step 12: Make it look like this.
Step 13: Make it look like this, then click "OK".
Step 14: Open the "Drive Options" window.
Step 15: Make it look like this, then click "OK".
Step 16: Make it look like this, ensure that an audio CD is in your drive, then click "Detect Read Features".
Step 17: Don't multitask while the test is running. Click "OK" and check boxes according to your test results. "Drive is capable of retrieving C2 error information" should always be left un-checked. Note: It's a good idea to repeat this test and verify that you get consistent results. If it ever says "Caching: Yes" then you must check the "Drive caches audio data" box.
Step 18: Make it look like this, then click "Autodetect read command now". As long as you have an audio CD in the drive, the correct drive read command will be automatically chosen for you.
Step 19: Make it look like this. Some drives are better and faster at secure digital audio extraction than others. See also: our list of recommended drives.
Step 20: Ignore this tab.
Step 21: Make it look like this, then click "OK".
Step 22: Open the "Compression Options" window.
Step 23 Ignore this tab.
Step 24: Make it look like this. -V2 %s %d This is not the highest quality option allowed by the LAME encoder, it is however the BEST option. A meta-analysis of listening tests concluded that the overwhelming majority of human ears coupled with high-end equipment cannot distinguish between even lower quality options and the original CD. For a margin of safety and for the benefit of individuals with "golden ears", -V2 was chosen as the ÜberStandard and anything else is considered a waste of storage space, or dangerously close to being lower than perceptually transparent in audio quality. The "%s %d" switch must be included in the command line to tell the encoder the locations of the source and destination files. See also: FLAC, MP3, Vorbis and the Future of Encoding.
Step 25: Make it look like this. UberStandard.org :: Über Music
Step 26: Make it look like this, then click "OK". %T - %A
Step 27: Open the "freedb / Database Options" window.
Step 28: Make it look like this. anything@anything.com
Step 29:
Step 30: Make it look like this.
Step 31: Make it look like this, then click "OK". %A;%N;%T;%L

USAGE INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 32: Note: freedb server information is filled with errors and you must correct them. Crosscheck track titles, album names, and artist names with information from allmusic.com or from the album case if you have it. (See also: freedb Typos.)
Step 33: Click "Yes" if you see this.
Step 34: This window will open while accessing freedb.org.
Step 35:
Step 36:
Step 37: This window will show the extraction progress.
Step 38: The Lame MP3 encoder will open, compress, and then close for each track in the album.
Step 39:
Step 40:
Step 41:
Step 42: Check your log file against this one to insure that you did everything right. (See also: Log File.)

Congradulations, you extracted audio using the ÜberStandard!