OK, so when I try to rip tracks from a CD onto my computer (in any format, mp3, WAV, etc.), all I get is a 3+mb file with no audio. This has happened to me in the past with other computers/drives, and either a line has been disconnected inside or my optical drive is screwed and I'm getting no audio data. Well, in this case, I can listen to CDs no problem from this drive..., but I still get large *audioless* mp3 files. I've always assumed that when I ripped tracks, I needed a data input and an audio input (that's what the two wires are that go from my optical drive are for, right?). Basically, what it looks like I'm getting is all the data and no audio. However, I'm able to listen to the CD from the drive, so my audio line must be working, right? I'm not very knowledgeable about this stuff, so can anyone tell me what I'm up against here? Greatly appreciate your insight!! ~Nicholo
As you don't tell what software you use for ripping/playback I suggest to try EAC for ripping and encode to mpc or mp3. Some guides: EAC + mpc: http://www.angelfire.com/magic/rex/tutorial.htm EAC + mp3 (lame): http://www.cd-rw.org/articles/archive/mydeneaclame.cfm
OK, sorry.., I've tried ripping with cdex, some programs called MP3 Home Studio Deluxe and Fast CD ripper, and for playback, I nothing works, including WinAmp and Windows MP. Does it make sense that I can listen to a CD but not be able to get any audio when I rip a track? (Note, the file sizes of the ripped mp3s are full size...) Thanks..., and thanks for the links. I'll give that program a shot...
Can you play back mp3s or other audio files that you've not ripped yourself? -> No: Check your Windows audio (volume) settings: Double-click on the speaker symbol in system tray and set wave and cd-player to a similar level. -> Yes: decode some of the mp3s to .wav e.g. using lame.exe (get it at afterdawn software section): "e:\test\lame.exe --decode e:\test\bla.mp3 and have a look at the .wav file with some wave editor like EAC's or Nero wave editor (most wave editors can open mp3s directly without decoding before). Is there something else than a flat line (=silence)? -->Yes: It's a playback issue -->No (just silence): As you've tried different software it's a hardware problem (e.g. drive) ... So what drive do you use? Can you try another one? Have you allready successfully copied (1:1) audio CDs? What aspi-drivers do you have installed? ...
Sorry for the multiple posts here... When I configure EAC initially, it keeps telling me that it can't find a valid read mode for my drive. I assume this is my problem, but I still can't figure out why the drive can read audio from the CD to actually play the CD... It can't find a matching read command, and the autodetect doesn't seem to find one either. The thing is, I've been able to rip with this drive in the past, but something just seems broken now. I want to troubleshoot, and all I can figure out is that I should NOT be able to hear audio from the CD but at the same time be unable to rip audio. Can I provide additional info...?
Whoops..., posted that last one before I read your reply... So, first off, I can play mp3s and audio files I didn't create. No problem. I decoded an mp3 (that I didn't create) into a wave file with winamp and that plays fine in winamp. I get audio and winamp shows me the visual wave representation (i.e., no flatline). Also, when I play my created mp3s in winamp, I get the flatline and silence. Re the drive: OK, here's where I look really stupid. I don't know the manufacturer for my drive (it's a cheapie), but I recall trying to update my drivers (when I knew the manufacturer) and their site saying that there were no drivers needed for XP. I can write data CDs no problem, but have not created an audio CD in a while..., since I switched to Win XP actually. So I don't know if I screwed something up (hardware-wise) when I put this old drive into the new computer I made. I probably just need to buy a new drive, but I wanted to see if anyone had some insight on something I didn't think of... Is it possible that this is a mobo issue, given that I used to write audio fine and I can still write data? (And I don't know how to find info on aspi-drivers...) I really appreciate your help, and at the very least, you've given me a nice resource for my future ripping (i.e., EAC).
Another thread about WinXP and ripping problems: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/37358 Sollution: Copy WNASPI32.DLL form Nero to EAC directory and change EAC -> EAC Options -> Interface settings to "external ASPI" (Reading "Note: ..." on the same tab might help to get a working aspi dll if you don't have Nero.)
