Slow Rip or Import of CDs

Question

Level 1

5 points

Slow Rip or Import of CDs

Hello

I have been using Itunes for a long time. I need to rip a lot of CDs, but when I do it now -- it takes so LONG! Maybe 15 minutes per CD. It just doesn't seem like that can be possible, otherwise how would people create such large libraries. I have it on the general ripping settings -- nothing too fancy. I remember it taking just a few minutes before to rip CDs.

Also, I have trouble playing a CD while it rips. It just also gets really slow, and almost jarbled up. I don't even bother listening to it when I put it in because its so screwy sounding. That doesn't seem right either.

The rest of my computer slows WAY down as well. Does anyone have any advice? My computer is a DELL Dimension B110 and is just two years old.

Thanks

Message was edited by: rinkadink1

Dell Dimension B110, Windows XP

Posted on Sep 14, 2007 10:39 PM

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Answer 1

jsunem

Level 2

417 points

Sep 15, 2007 7:49 AM in response to rinkadink1

So you're playing the cd while you're ripping it? Or are you playing the songs that have already imported?

If you're playing the CD while it rips, you're essentially giving the CD drive double duty asking it to read two things at once and causing the laser to bounce between both positions until the import task is complete. I'd wait for the import to complete before playing, assuming this is what you're doing.

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Answer 2

jsunem

Level 2

417 points

Sep 14, 2007 10:45 PM in response to rinkadink1

These questions may be old hat but I thought I'd first ask if you'd quit everything else running at the same time? Are widgets running, possibly taking up CPU? How does it perform after a restart? Is disk space a problem?

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Answer 3

rinkadink1 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 14, 2007 11:35 PM in response to jsunem

How much free space is recommended while importing new CDs? Also, I mentioned about the playback. it's just extremely distored when playing back when it tries to rip. The only feature that is good for is to trigger my memory about the song.

Yes, I've quit most everything but who knows. maybe there is a bunch of stuff running in the background. I'm not too sure how to find that out. Also, I am not sure what widgets are? After a restart -- it's the same. Not much difference..

Thanks for listening.

D

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Answer 4

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Sep 15, 2007 2:24 AM in response to rinkadink1

If you are getting poor playback performance on CDs, it would be a good idea to go to the Dell support Website and check that you are upto date with all your drivers and firmware for you model of PC, particularly audio drivers and optical drive firmware.

Something that can slow down importing is if you have "Use error correction when reading audio CDs" checked in Edit>>Preferences>>Advanced>>Importing. It might be worth experimenting with that.

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Answer 5

rinkadink1 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 15, 2007 11:22 PM in response to polydorus

Okay, I'll check DELL and see what they have to offer at their site. It really is a pain that it is so slow and gives poor playback. I only playback to get a quick sample of the song if I need to. Otherwise I don't playback at all. No, I do not have the "error correction" box ticked. I pretty much have a typical set up.

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Answer 6

rinkadink1 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 15, 2007 11:25 PM in response to jsunem

Hi --

One of my questions is that it does sound miserable when it plays back while I'm ripping. No, I really try not to listen while ripping at all because I figured just like you said - my computer would be doing double duty, and there really isn't any need. Ocassionally I do like to do a quick sample, but majority of the time, I stop it from playing.

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Answer 7

jsunem

Level 2

417 points

Sep 17, 2007 11:51 AM in response to rinkadink1

I think error correction is worth the slowdown if there is one. Usually corrects any garbage from scratches, etc.

Since you report poor playback when just listening to the CD it could very well be drive related

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Answer 8

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Sep 17, 2007 2:04 PM in response to rinkadink1

Don't play from the CD while RIPping.
The drive head will be jumping back and forth like crazy as it reads from two differnt areas of the disc.

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