Image credit: Illustrate (opens in new tab) 2. If you have the time to invest, you couldn't wish for more in a CD ripper. No CD or DVD drive is perfect, and many will insert periods of silence into audio tracks where errors occur, so this verification is essential for making 1:1 copies of your discs.ĮAC can also find metadata for your music from four different sources (complete with album art), rename files automatically, and normalize audio as it's processed. It takes a while to set up, so we've put together a full guide to get you started.ĮAC employs a technology called AccurateRip, which uses data from users around the world to detect whether your rips are totally free from errors. When it comes to CD rippers, however, there are only two programs we recommend – one free, and one premium (but still reasonably priced).Įxact Audio Copy (opens in new tab) is the free option, and it's so good, many audiophiles prefer it to paid-for CD rippers. Usually we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to software, with dozens of programs approaching the same task from different angles. The best free CD ripper for Windows if you have time to invest in the setup Image credit: Andre WiethoffAndre Wiethoff (opens in new tab) 1.

In some countries there are no issues with creating copies of discs you own, while in others this is not permitted. You can also choose from a variety of file formats, from the ever-popular MP3 to the lossless FLAC.Ī word of caution: the legality of CD rippers varies around the world. You have a great deal of control over the ripping process, no matter which tool you opt for, with options including automatically grabbing track data from the internet to save you having to manually name files. In this roundup, we take a look at the best CD rippers you can use to extract tracks from your physical collection and create a digital library. Alternatively, you could rip the contents of your physical CDs into digital files that can be stored on your hard drive - or in the cloud - so everything you love is accessible form your computer without the need for physical media. What can you do in these circumstances? You could resign yourself to enjoying to the vast majority of your music online, but crack open the CD collection whenever you want to listen to something that's not available on your chosen service.

Best cd to mp3