Rip and encode audio CDs from the file manager

KDE users

One very easy way to rip a CD is direct from the file manager.

Insert the CD, Open a konqueror window and goto audiocd:/ open either the mp3 or ogg folder and copy the files as usual.

This is particuarly useful for copying tracks to a portable player. Open the audio CD and player in separate windows and just drag the files across. Make sure a windows user is nearby and watch their jaw drop.

Codec, bitrate, quality and stereo settings can be found in the Control Center. One disadvantage is that you can not directly specify the encoder (other than mp3/ogg) or the command line arguments.

This neat trick is done using kioslaves.

Applications

Many other applications are available for the purpose. SoundKonvertor for example, is a frontend to various audio converters. The basic way of using it is similar to the procedure outlined above. However it can be:

• Controlled with greater ease

• Extended with plugins and backends like lame, ffmpeg, oggenc, flac, musepack, mplayer, shorten, oggdec, flake, ape, ttaenc, bonk, faad, aften, OptimFROG, lac, LPAC, wavpack, speex, timidity, vorbisgain, cdda2wav and others

It is possible to convert between formats like ogg, mp3, m4a, mp2, wma, rm, aiff, avi, flac, flv and others. AudioKonverter supports tags (read and write), Replay Gain, CD ripping and Calculation as well.

An understanding of the differences between lossless and lossy formats, open and patent-encumbered formats and tags will be most helpful for getting the most out of this application