Automated Ripping with CD Jukeboxes? 274
apago asks: "I am ripping my large collection of CDs to MP3 one at a time. This takes forever. I would like to know if there is a way I can use my Sony 200 disc jukebox to help automated the ripping process. I can already drive the jukebox thru Sony's S-Link interface using a Nirvis Slink-e device. The juke has SPDIF output. Can I get a sound card with SPDIF input and start ripping thru the digital optical connection? Will this be the same quality as the CDDA data streams?" Now if something like this is possible, it would finally sell me on those multi-CD devices. I too am in the process of sending my CD tracks to MP3 format. It's a fun process, but a little bit of automation couldn't hurt.
Track info (Score:3, Insightful)
CDDB etc. use the track lengths etc. to work out which album it is but this information won't come along with the audio, so you'll need to post-process the ripping operation to look up the album and rename the files or you going to have 1.mp3 through 3000.mp3 which would be a PITA!
External Jukeboxes can at best RIP at 1X (Score:5, Insightful)
1. Top ripping speed is 1x... slow
2. No disc info, so no CDDA type track ID info, are you going to type in all the track info?
3. No standard interface for controlling the external jukebox.
So although it would be GREAT to rip 50, 100 or more CDs at a time, there is no inexpensive way to do it.
A few years ago there were SCSI jukeboxes commonly available. I have a couple 7 disc ones sitting on my shelf, one 2x, the other 4x. Sadly both are so old they do not support audio ripping.
Unfortunately that market seems to have all but disappeared to be replaced with SCSI jukebox towers. You can build one yourself using cheap SCSI CD-ROM drives, and a big SCSI tower case. ComputerGeeks sells 24x SCSI CD-ROM drives for $15 each:
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=240
You don't even REALLY need a case, you could just stack them up, tape them together, and use an old AT power supply to give them juice. Heat is not an issue since you are only using one at a time.
some problems... (Score:2, Insightful)
2) You won't be able to automate the naming of files and id3 tags. You'll have to name every track manually.
Is there really a market? (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course it would be cool to throw all your CDs in a 50 CD changer and have it auto rip.. but would you buy one? The real question is, would you use it a second time?
Once you rip your collection, you only need to rip your new CDs (likely purchased one at a time) as you buy them. This you can do with a conventional CD drive.
I think at the cost that mp3 home audio is going for now, it isn't worth it to market or purchase something that is designed for this type of single use convienence.
Because the RIAA makes bad assumptions... (Score:2, Insightful)
However, I feel I should play Devil's Advocate here. The RIAA sees every MP3 created as a CD not purchased. If you went to MP3.Com, for example, and downloaded all of the 2000 (200 CD's x 10 songs per CD avg?) songs so that you don't have to swap CD's all the time, then they'd say 2000 more pirated songs were downloaded.
Is their logic correct? Heck no! But they use this flimsy logic to get the courts to pass silly laws like the DMCA. They don't see it them as backup copies, but rather copies intended to distribute to other people so people don't buy the CD's.
In a sense, I can see the RIAA being worried about this. The thing is, though, I think more and more people want to listen to individual songs and not CD's full of filler. This is scary for the RIAA because if people get their way, then they would only buy a song for $2 a pop instead of buying the album for $20. On top of that, they'd need media for each individual song. At that point, the individual artists don't even need the record industry anymore, they could sell that service by themselves! That business model suddenly doesn't sound so interesting, does it?
Getting back to your question, personally I'd recommend using Morpheus or whatever Napster clone is available to just build up your collection of songs, then only rip the ones you can't find. That way, instead of ripping 2000 or so songs, you may only end up ripping like 50.
Be careful, though. If the RIAA comes knocking at your door because of this article, be sure to have each and every one of your CD's ready to present to them.
Hardware hack (Score:2, Insightful)
My guess is that the disk changer has a lame latch to hold the cd in place.. that works fine for 1 or 2x.. but not for real fast... you might be able to get by that by installing a bigger spring or something.
-AP
CD-Rom Changers Devide the problem (Score:1, Insightful)
Audio Grabber devides the problem by 2, using 2 CD-Rom drives.
IDE and SCSI CD-Rom Changers devide the problem by 4 of 5. Loose no fuctionality. Swap them all and go to bed.
Tech won't help much here (Score:2, Insightful)
With a good drive and a decent CPU (750mhz+), it shouldn't take more than 4-5 minutes per disc, which means 12-15 discs per hour. There also nothing preventing you from using multiple PC's (or just two drives in one box if the encoding is fast enough).
Of course if you have lots of money to burn on a gadget, you could buy a robotic disc changer (or build your own from legos). But the jukebox thing is doomed from the start.
Hard drive space. (Score:2, Insightful)