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[Joe Paris]

Hello,

I just purchased the software.  Trying to rip a cd, should be easy, but I don't have the rip cd option in the action window.  What to do?

Also, I have an Astell&kern player, and the software is not detecting it.  Any idea why?

Thanks

Joe

[JimH]

Did you install it?

[Joe Paris]

I first had the trial version and clicked purchase in help, nothing else.  Should I do anything else to install the final version?

Thanks
 

[6233638]

MC19 for OSX does not support CD ripping. Make sure you are running version 20.
 
http://files.jriver.com/mediacenter/channels/v20/latest/MediaCenter200014.dmg

[Joe Paris]

Ok, that worked thanks.

But the software still cannot find my handheld for some reason...

[6233638]

Sorry, I'm not at all familiar with MC's handheld device sync. (if it's even a feature of the Mac version yet)
Hopefully someone else will be able to help.

[Joe Paris]

Ok, all worked fine after all.  Thanks of your help.

Another quick question though.

I am ripping in Lossless encoding, but playback is "only" 16bit, 44khz.  Am i missing something?

Thanks

[6233638]

I am ripping in Lossless encoding, but playback is "only" 16bit, 44khz.  Am i missing something?

Audio CDs can only store 16-bit, 44.1kHz audio.
This means that the bit-depth is 16-bit, and the sample rate is 44,100Hz.
 
This is not to be confused with the bit-rate of lossy compression formats where files may be stored as "128kbps" or "128k" MP3, AAC etc.
 
The audio on CDs is 1411kbps uncompressed, and lossless compression will reduce this - typically to something in the 500-1000kbps range depending on the complexity of the music.
This is converted back to a 1411kbps file on playback with lossless formats though.
 
A number of discs advertise things like "24-bit sound" but they are referring to the mastering process, not what is on the disc itself.

[Joe Paris]

Thanks, so 24 bit files are only downloadable from internet, and cannot be had through ripping cd's.  Maybe SAcd only?

[6233638]

Thanks, so 24 bit files are only downloadable from internet, and cannot be had through ripping cd's.  Maybe SAcd only?

Yes, you will generally get 24-bit files from internet downloads.
 
HDCD discs will rip as a normal CD, but you can then run those files through a HDCD decoder which will give you a 24/44 file containing the 20-bit HDCD audio.
 
DVD-A and Blu-ray Audio discs should also have 24-bit audio if you rip them.
Note: Media Center does not rip these discs itself, and they're a bit trickier to rip than CD.
 
SACD is a 1-bit format with sample rates 64x that of CD, and they are very difficult to rip - computers can't read the discs, so it is only possible with a modified PlayStation 3 console.
You should be able to rip the CD layer from a hybrid SACD, but that's just 16/44 again.

[Joe Paris]

Great info, think I am learning encoding 101!  Thanks.

So DSD or flac? Which is "better"?

[6233638]

Great info, think I am learning encoding 101!  Thanks.
So DSD or flac? Which is "better"?

FLAC when you are ripping CDs.

[Joe Paris]

I think DSD files sound better through Astell & Kern media player...maybe it is my ears, but initial feeling is more in favor of DSD.  I also have an esoteric CD player that will allow DSD playback now, but haven't tried that yet from a MAC v/s FLAC...thoughts?