RipDigital Packing Up CDs and Receiving Ripped Files
The next step was to wait. It seemed only a couple days later that we received our box in the mail with a prepaid return label to RipDigital and a couple of spindles for packing up our CDs. There was plenty of packing material provided and we felt very secure putting all of our CDs into the system they provided. Honestly, there's not a lot to say - it just worked.
The Final Stage
Everything came back safe and sound. Instead of receiving back my two CD spindles, RipDigital had simply shrink-wrapped all of my discs into a single bundle. It worked and they were in the same order as when I submitted them, so getting them back into my storage case was not a major hassle at all. I also liked how the shrink-wrap was doubled up and there was a protective clear CD at the top and bottom of the pile - ensuring that I wasn't going to damage my discs, even if I opened the wrap with my pocket knife... In most instances you'll end up either re-jewel-casing CDs or, as we recommend, simply converting your client into something a bit more efficient (like zippered, page-filled CD cases).
The DVDs we received were simply laid out in the standard MP3 file structure:
- Artist > Albums > Songs
Each song was named with track number followed by a hyphen, then the song title and extension. Here are some examples:
01-Mercy Me (Love Is My Responsibility).mp3
02-Step By Step.mp3
03-Into My Heart.mp3
04-You Don't Leave Me Lonely.mp3
...
Each album folder also included a "folder.jpg" image file that was of the album cover and suitable for use in any media server system that required a separate image apart from the stored meta data.
As I'm known to do, I threw in a "ringer" – a lesser known CD by Christine Dente, a favorite Christian artist of mine (her husband and fellow musician, Scott, actually reviews speakers for us from time to time for fun). The Voyage Journey of Prayer album art was all correct and each track was correctly named - a pleasant surprise.
Conclusion
$188.45. For that you can have a no-hassle experience of converting 100 CDs into MP3 files with full meta information and album art. Now we're not going to say that everything is absolutely perfect - there are bound to be some obscure albums in the mix - and the album art ranged in size from thumbnail to 400x400 photos. But you can't afford NOT to use this service if you're a professional custom installer and you want to make money and simplify your life at the same time. RipDigital is a service that is going to be very enticing for some - and for others it will make you feel good about all that money you saved ripping your own discs.
RipDigital
2719-B Dorr Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: 888-599-9883
www.ripdigital.com
About RipDigital
GQ calls RipDigital "the best thing since having someone do your laundry" and Parade Magazine calls it a "godsend." RipDigital pioneered the CD-to-MP3 conversion service category in 2002 with its direct to consumer offering. Since then, thousands of people around the country have turned to RipDigital to simplify the jump to digital music. RipDigital uses its patented conversion technology, best-of-breed data sources and dedicated ripping facility to deliver fast, accurate and reliable results. RipDigital is available online at www.ripdigital.com.
The Score Card
The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:
Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating
Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.
Audioholics Rating Scale
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| Metric | Rating |
|---|---|
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| Ease of Setup/Programming/Integration | |
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So long as you rip to lossless, such as FLAC, you've protected your investment anyway, because you can always re-organise (by tagging) your collection later. It's only if you ripped to MP3 or some other lossy codec that you might have to send the CDs back and get it done all over...
I have 2600 CDs - all classical
All to be ripped to FLAC
I want the live concerts and opera ripped to a single track with Cue information. On multi disc opera sets thats 2 or three discs to be joined and cue sheets re-numbered.
I want the string quartets to be ripped such that a disc with three quartets is ripped to three single tracks with three cue sheets.
Song recitals and symphonies to be ripped to individual tracks.
I don't want to sort them out - not being a geek that's for them to do.
Can they do it?
How much?
kevon27;800559
And I thought ripping disc was illegal?
So how are they getting around percussion from the RIAA or what every organisation that sues people to illegal music.
You are confusing DVD/BR with CD's for starters.
1. It's not illegal to transcode content
2. It's illegal in the US to either create or distribute tools that break encryption schemes on DVD or BR so you CAN transcode content.
The jury is still out on whether using those tools is illegal since a person in the privacy of their own home doing this to their DVD collection that they own has never seen the inside of a court room.
If Sony put out a BR title with ZERO encryption you would be in zero trouble for copying it for your own personal use. It's the breaking of the encryption that is still a grey area for the consumer.
Remember that Fair Use isn't a right. It is simply an affirmative defense in court when the charge of copyright infringement is leveled against you.
kevon27;800559
And I thought ripping disc was illegal?
So how are they getting around percussion from the RIAA or what every organisation that sues people to illegal music.
lolwut
People are allowed to rip and make copies for their own use. Sharing said rips or copies would be considered copyright infringement if the labels/artists weren't pro-sharing (unfortunately, most aren't).