EAC Read Error/Sync Error

[Mark Ward]

I've got a number of CDs that are very old, and some of these aren't in the best condition. When I try & Rip these to Flac using EAC I get "Read Error" then "Sync Error". EAC slows down & tries again, sometimes to "X 0.1"!

Eventually it'll get through to the end, but leave me with a log full full of information about errors that have occurred. Does this mean that the Flac files will in some way have inaccurate information? or is it just a note to tell me of problems that have been encountered on the way but have been error corrected?

Currently I have no easy method to check the quality of the Flac files as all sounds OK on the computer & I don't have a Squeezebox on my Main Hifi yet.

Also....If all is fine with the Flac files above then the question below isn't necessary for me....

It was the CD autochanger I had in a car about 10 years ago the scratched up these CDs & when I realised what was happening I backed up those important but damaged CDs onto CDR with Nero years ago.

The original CDs still play fine, but get errors in EAC. Because it tends to be my more played CDs that are suffering from errors due additional wear & tear I have a backup of a few of these CDs in my car on CDR which I burned a few years ago.

Would there be anything lost by Flac encoding from those? Is anything lost in the CDR convertion? Will I still get Track info from EAC?

Thanks,

Mark.

[clockworks]

I had a similar problem ripping a couple of my CDs using CDEx. Ripping on a different PC fixed it - no errors after a couple of retries.

If you made the CDR backups by copying as .cda, they should be perfect copies. If the discs were already damaged when you copied them, any errors would be faithfully copied as well.

[Mark Ward]

Originally Posted by clockworks

I had a similar problem ripping a couple of my CDs using CDEx. Ripping on a different PC fixed it - no errors after a couple of retries.

It had occurred to me to try another PC, I'll install EAC & Flac on the Kid's PC & Try that.

[quot]If you made the CDR backups by copying as .cda, they should be perfect copies. If the discs were already damaged when you copied them, any errors would be faithfully copied as well.[/quote]I have no idea if they are .cda, I simply duplicated them in Nero once I noticed the scratches appearing. They aren't in the best condition either as they were used as a disposable method of not having to replace the autochanger in my car with one with a more sympathetic caddy mechanism.

Would a Nero duplicate be .cda?

Thanks,

Mark.

[clockworks]

I've not used Nero, so I don't know how it works. If you did a straight copy, rather than ripping to HDD, then creating the CDR, I'd assume that it would be a faithful replica.

[Mark Ward]

Thanks for that! ALthough, I've got around the problem by importing the original CDs into WMA-Lossless in Media Player 10 on another PC and using DBPowerAmp to convert them to Flac.

They went in without incident. I've a feeling it may be time to replace the DVD drive in my current PC, the one I have seems particularly sensitive.

Thanks,

Mark.

[meansizzler]

Get an LG DVD Drive, so far the best ones to rip cd's.., just a simple LG DVD Rom will do, about £14

[Mark Ward]

Really need a DVD Writer too, but I'll certainly look at LG, are they easy to Firmware Region Free?

Thanks,

Mark

[Autopilot]

Originally Posted by Mark Ward

They went in without incident.

Don't be fooled by WMP's lack of error reporting. The files wont be anywhere near as good as the EAC produced ones. I would bet my last penny that they are full of errors and small gaps.

It's quite normal for EAC to rip very slowly with damaged CD's, thats part of the beauty of it - it's taking it's take and building as accurate files as possible. It's a good thing, take your time - once you have used EAC and FLAC you will never have to go through this process again.

Stick with EAC, there is nothing better and more accurate than it.

This will help - http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index....ory:EAC_Guides

[Mark Ward]

Originally Posted by dangerous_dom

Don't be fooled by WMP's lack of error reporting. The files wont be anywhere near as good as the EAC produced ones. I would bet my last penny that they are full of errors and small gaps.

Ok, so I'll try again in EAC using the CDR copies from the car, thanks. I have to say the I reck my drive is at fault because these discs aren't badly marked and the play just fine on my HiFi. Every CD I've bought since I realised where the damage was being done has gone though just fine, but my drive seems pretty unforgiving.

It's quite normal for EAC to rip very slowly with damaged CD's, thats part of the beauty of it - it's taking it's take and building as accurate files as possible. It's a good thing, take your time - once you have used EAC and FLAC you will never have to go through this process again.

But if you've had READ ERROR & SYNC ERROR is the resulting Flac file still OK?

On my "Abbey Road" EAC gave up, I was left with incomplete WAV files of some tracks that were only a minute or so long. I put just the missing tracks through WMP and the've come out OK. I didn't have a backup of that CD so no choice (other than re-buy which I'll probably do as I love the album).

Stick with EAC, there is nothing better and more accurate than it.

This will help - http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index....ory:EAC_Guides

I do agree that EAC is brilliant, that matched with "MP3Tag" for editing Tags & DBPowerAmp for mass convertion from within Windows Explorer seems just about perfect.

Only problem I still need to resolve is that iTunes seems to truncate the Track Titles when importing via "Add Folder" option. Pretty annoying as it means I have to check every Album I import.

I've REALLY enjoyed doing this as I've been listening to & rediscovering CDs I've not heard in years. I've not listened to so much much in ages.

Thanks,

Mark.

[Autopilot]

What errors and levels of error are you seeing?

Post the log.

And yes, it is fun. But that's what makes us geeks

EAC does need a bit of tweaking when it comes to seriously damaged CD's. And don't forget that if the damage is really bad, nothing will rip it

[Mark Ward]

Originally Posted by dangerous_dom

What errors and levels of error are you seeing?

Post the log.

And yes, it is fun. But that's what makes us geeks

EAC does need a bit of tweaking when it comes to seriously damaged CD's. And don't forget that if the damage is really bad, nothing will rip it

OK, I tried to Re-Rip Abbey Road and have posted the log Here. Tracks 14-17 remained as WAV and some are not the complete song.

Incidentally, this CD doesn't look badly scratched at all.

Do you think Tweaking some settings could help? I'm still thinking the Pioneer drive is a little unforgiving.

Thanks,

Mark.

[Autopilot]

Those results don't look that bad. I have ripped brand new CD's and got 98% on some tracks and they have sounded perfect to me. That said, i dont remember seeing "Missing samples",

What do you mean the stay as WAV? You mean the FLAC encoder is not kicking in? The FLAC encoder should kick in, even if the WAV's are very poor.

Something is up with the EAC/Drive setup by the looks. I would pop into the hydrogenaudio forums, they will be able to help you better.

[Mark Ward]

Originally Posted by dangerous_dom

Those results don't look that bad. I have ripped brand new CD's and got 98% on some tracks and they have sounded perfect to me. That said, i dont remember seeing "Missing samples",

What do you mean the stay as WAV? You mean the FLAC encoder is not kicking in?

Something is up with the EAC/Drive setup by the looks. I would pop into the hydrogenaudio forums, they will be able to help you better.

I mean that on the particularly bad tracks it just gives up on the WAV, it's sometimes only about 20 seconds of the song the goes onto the next track.

I'll check out those settings and take a look at the forums you mention, 95% of what I'm doing are going through EAC just fine

Thanks,

Mark.

[Autopilot]

Some very old CD's can appear fine visually, but it could be dye degradation. Maybe it got left in the suns UV rays for some time (i ruined a few CD's by leaving them in the back of my car window). But i am clutching at straws now, i think will achieve much better rips with at a bit of fiddling.

If you cat get the info on hydrogenaudio, you never will. Their forums are god like.

Good luck Mark.

[Mark Ward]

Originally Posted by meansizzler

Get an LG DVD Drive, so far the best ones to rip cd's.., just a simple LG DVD Rom will do, about £14

After 320CDs I've found that the vast majority of my pristine CDs work just fine, but anything other than that and it's off to another PC for a decent job.

So I need a new drive for this Shuttle.

LG's the best these days then? I need +/- RW DVD as well as CD ripping, though CDs will be a big part of what this PC does, I have around 800-1000 left to go.

I'd also like a drive that can be region free firmwared if possible. Anyone recommend a specific model?

Hopefully in Black or Silver,

Thanks,

Mark.

PS. The Company is paying as my drive has died and I do quite a lot of DVD company data backups (Daily)...so if there's a cool HD-DVD variant do let me know

EDIT:- Had to buy a drive quick, so went for a "LG GSA-H12NBAL 18X SuperMulti DL DVD±RW/RAM - Bare Black OEM" from eBuyer, didn't think I could swing a £300+ Blue ray variant.