So. Now I did my own testing (normal or burstmode, no secure-ripping) :-)
CD used: Boney M - Gold (20 Super Hits) - Tracks 1 to 4
Ripping & Encoding with external MP3 (lame 3.93):
MC: Start: 08:36:30, Stop: 08:40:48, Duration: 00:04:18
EAC: Start: 08:51:20, Stop: 08:55:08, Duration: 00:03:48
Ripping only:
EAC: Start: 08:51:20, Stop: 08:52:09, Duration: 00:00:49
Ripping & Encoding APE (MC):
MC: Start: 08:41:50, Stop: 08:43:10, Duration: 00:01:20
--> WOW!
Converting APE to MP3 (MC):
MC: Start: 08:44:20, Stop: 08:49:19, Duration: 00:04:59
Analysis:
EAC is a little bit faster when using external compressors (30secs).
MC is a little bit faster when using internal compression (13secs in comparison to EAC-external).
EAC has a queue over many CDs, MC only has one for one - so the user may rip many CDs in a row and let the PC compress over night using EAC and has to wait until encoding finishes with MC.
The way to rip to APE and then batchconvert seems very practical, as the APE-compression is nearly as fast as only ripping - the converting process takes quite some time, but that doesn't matter in an overnight-run, does it?
I decided to rip (& encode) using MC when I have only one CD to rip (reasons: automatically get cover art, automatic audio analysis). Whenever I have more than one I will stick at EAC until MC gets queue-support (this is not meant offending guys, really).
During the analysis I discovered, that MC uses lame 3.93 for internal compression - the files are _exactly_ the same using internal or external compression. This was interesting for me, maybe not for kiwi.
Mirko