Can't rip CDs reliably in iTunes 10.5

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dave2010uk Author

Level 1

8 points

Can't rip CDs reliably in iTunes 10.5

I have been experiencing problems ripping CDs on my iMac. Many CDs appear OK, but some have just absolutely dreadful distortion. I have tried using different Macs, and even switching to Windows. Once I've identified a CD which won't rip, the terrible ripping performance is consistent across machines and operating systems. The one constant factor is iTunes 10.5.

I have successfully ripped one problem CD (Isserlis - see below) in earlier versions of iTunes, on both Mac OS X and Windows XP.

It makes no difference what output format is chosen - AAC, ALAC, AIFF etc. The effect is very different from CDs which have scratches, which may have some tracks which are difficult. This problem afflicts all the tracks on each affected CD

Also iTunes appears to rip the CDs correctly, identifiying the tracks etc. from the Gracenote database, and giving the correct track lengths. There is no way to tell whether a CD is likely to have this problem or not in advance, though mostly CDs from EMI, Universal (Decca, Philips) are UK, but I've had some problems with CDs which originate from BIS (e.g the Brilliant recordings of Martinu symphonies - 2 out of the 3 CDs have problems), and also with some of the CDs from the BBC Music Magazine. My test CD is the latest BBC MM disc, with Steven Isserlis playing cello pieces with Stephen Hough, Joshua Bell and the Bournemouth SO. BBC MM Vol 20 No 2.

This is a problem which should be fixed ASAP. To date I have seen maybe 10 CDs which have this problem, and of course, I can't be sure that all the ones which don't have the very obvious distortion, are OK. I know one problem CD - from the CFM (Classical FM Magazine) last month of Mahler 2 conducted by Horenstein has pre-emphasis, which should be decoded properly with a decent ripper, but whether that is a factor or not I do not know.

I'm not sure whether I need to cross post this on the iTunes Windows site - as the issues are there too.

Posted on Nov 7, 2011 8:38 AM

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Answer 1

dredzo

Level 1

4 points

Nov 10, 2011 7:55 PM in response to dave2010uk

I have exactly the same problem. Most CDs are perfectly fine, but a few are horribly distorted and unlistenable. I have tried solutions from earlier versions of iTunes to no avail. I hope someone figures this one out. The bad CDs play perfectly fine on my iTunes on my Windows 7 laptops but not my main Mac where all the music is stored, and they play perfectly fine through Quicktime. Currently I'm trying to import the files into iTunes via Quicktime, which does work.

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

411,187 points

Nov 10, 2011 8:04 PM in response to dredzo

I've seen a few posts like this recently, but no indication of what is going on. Maybe the next release will bring something different. In the meantime try ripping with XLD or Max.

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Answer 3

dredzo

Level 1

4 points

Nov 10, 2011 8:41 PM in response to Limnos

I downloaded XLD, and that worked. Thanks!

It's only a few CDs, but it is quite annoying. And I've noticed through the years I'll get a song here or there that will pop and crack like an old LP, or even better, slow down in tempo and change keys! I thought that digital music was created to prevent these nuisances!

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Answer 4

dave2010uk Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 11, 2011 2:45 AM in response to dredzo

For playing VLC, Songbird, Cog, and even Apple's own Quicktime work.

For ripping Songbird is quite good if you can cope with Ogg or Flac. Personally i find it easier thsn Max or XLD.

I stil l don't know what makes some CDs incompatible. It's not just recent ones which are affected - I have one dated 1991 from Vox, though not sure when pressed. Might have been a reissue, though still possibly before 2000.

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Answer 5

KevDion

Level 1

0 points

Nov 18, 2011 10:07 AM in response to dave2010uk

Same for me, only it's just the last song. Imports fine with older versions of iTunes, but not 10.5/10.5.1; please fix soon

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Answer 6

Limnos

Level 10

411,187 points

Nov 18, 2011 11:47 AM in response to KevDion

KevDion, send feedback to Apple through the contact link at the bottom of the page. They won't read your request here, we're just other Mac users like you.

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Answer 7

btennant

Level 1

0 points

Nov 20, 2011 3:42 PM in response to dave2010uk

dave2010uk wrote:

I know one problem CD - from the CFM (Classical FM Magazine) last month of Mahler 2 conducted by Horenstein has pre-emphasis, which should be decoded properly with a decent ripper, but whether that is a factor or not I do not know.

I think iTunes is mishandling CDs with pre-emphasis. I tried to listen to several Hyperion CDs using the current version of iTunes (10.5.1.42). Those with pre-emphasis were distorted while those without were fine. iTunes seems to be amplifying pre-emphasis CDs instead of attenuating them.

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Answer 8

Levelu

Level 1

0 points

Aug 25, 2014 9:54 AM in response to dave2010uk

I have the same problem with a few of the numerous CDs that I have ripped in AIFF format. I have noticed that this happens when their is a dataless (i.e. "shining") outer ring on the engraved side of the CD. Any idea why ? I have not been able to find a solution to this problem although I tried to rip my CD with and without the error checking system.

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