new to this and need advice!

[leighprice23]

hi all
ive bought a logitech sqeezebox of these very forums and wondered if you wise lot could answer a few questions?
i have a imac and the missus uses itunes for her ipod touch etc
i want to get the best copy from my cds so would ripping to flac be my best bet
and as its mac os what do i use to achieve this ?
and can i just rip to a folder and the sueezebox can view this?
if not whats the best way to rip with itunes?
and lastly
can i connect the sueezebox through my imac (its airport)
or do i need a wireless router ?

many thanks
any help appreciated
leigh

[hutchingsp]

Your best bet is to use iTunes and rip to Apple Lossless or WAV.

WAV will be more compatible if you want to use the files with other platforms, but at the expense of using more disk space.

There is no difference in quality between the two formats.

At the moment you can't play FLAC files with iTunes.

[Autopilot]

Your best bet is to use iTunes and rip to Apple Lossless or WAV.

WAV will be more compatible if you want to use the files with other platforms, but at the expense of using more disk space.

There is no difference in quality between the two formats.

At the moment you can't play FLAC files with iTunes.

Dont use WAV. All they do is take up more HDD space and almost double network load. But most importantly they cant be tagged.

If using a Squeezebox, FLAC is much better as the SB3 plays FLAC natively. But yes, you can use FLAC with an iPod.

Personally though i dont think ALAC (apples losses format) is worth using on an iPod unless you are a real audiophile and use top spec headphones - even then the headphone amp in the iPod will let you down before then. ALAC files are much larger than lossy MP3/AAC - even if you can fit them all on the iPod they will significantly reduce its battery life (which i will explain why if you really want).

Finally iTunes is not a good ripper or music management tool IMO. Use a better ripper; my advice is rip your CD's to FLAC with a good ripper for use with the SB3 and make a copy of each as good bitrate VBR LAME MP3 or AAC for the iPod.

I know this has raised more questions than it's answered, but thats just the can of worms you have opened sorry. A bit more help and reading up and it will all become clear :thumbsup:

This is the wrong forum BTW, i will try and get it moved. Lots of info it the other forum :)

[leighprice23]

cheers all
not too worried about ipod as i can leave that to itunes
ill go the flac way ,but whats the best way to to this
what program?
and shall i just name a folder "music" and rip it all to there ?
shouldnt be too complicated then:grin:

cheers

[leighprice23]

wasnt i in the right forum as this is for media streamers:confused:
and the one i posted in was for music

[Autopilot]

http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=333 Is for dedicated music streamers.

[leighprice23]

:suicide:could you please move to the relevent forum
must learn to take my time and look where i post threads:devil:

cheers