How to rip CDs to FLAC

Tools

• Mac: XLD (free). Secure ripping, AccurateRip verification, FLAC, tags and cover art.
• Windows: Exact Audio Copy (free) or dBpoweramp (paid, easier). Both verify against AccurateRip.
• A USB optical drive if your computer has none. Cheap drives rip fine in secure mode, just slower.

Settings that matter

1. Secure mode with AccurateRip. The ripper reads each sector until it is sure, then compares a checksum with other people’s rips of the same disc.
2. Output: FLAC, level 5 to 8. Higher levels only make files slightly smaller; quality is identical.
3. Tags from a database (MusicBrainz, Discogs, freedb). Check the album artist, disc number and year.
4. Embed cover art at 600–1000 px. Players show it without a separate file.
5. ReplayGain. Let the ripper, or foobar2000 later, write track and album gain tags.
6. File naming: Artist/Album (Year)/01 Title.flac keeps folders tidy.

Onto the phone

On iPhone, put the album folders in iCloud Drive or copy them over a cable, then add the folder in MP95. On Android, copy them to the Music folder over USB. On a Mac, point MP95 at the folder. The FLACs play bit-perfect with their tags, covers and ReplayGain.