EAC help with drive read command

[pw455]

I'm just trying EAC for the first time. I followed the steps in www.bestmp3guide.com, but am using the Lame 3.97b2. I did update the command line to -V2 --vbr-new as shown at the bottom of the guide.

I have tried my Pioneer DVR-106D and Sony CDU5211 with the same error. EAC does see my CD OK showing all the tracks, but gives me ...couldn't detect a matching read command for this drive... error when I try to create MP3's. Any suggestions?

I have tried copying the wnaspi32.dll file from Nero to the EAC directory with no help. I've also tried changing EAC options to Native Win32 interface... with no help. I have tried every read command in the list with no luck.

Thanks,
Pete

[SprySpectre]

try doing exactly this: http://www.ubernet.org/?p=UberGuide
If it still won't work...I'm out of ideas.

[pw455]

I basically did that except for using later version of Lame (3.97b2) and EAC (EACv0.9pb4). If you take a look at www.bestmp3guide.com, you'll see it is basically the same instructions as on Ubernet, but with more notes.

I'm guessing this is maybe related to my AMD system and via chipset. For some reason, the Via Bus Master driver lists my drives as SCSI even thought they're IDE. It's strange because EAC seems to see the drive with no problems until I try to create an MP3.

Thanks,
Pete

[pw455]

In case anybody else has the same problem, the via drivers were the cause. I uninstalled the via bus mastering drivers and now it works. I found a few other posts on different forums suggesting the same thing.

I can't tell if there's any sound quality difference between EAC and CDex, but I'm also using onboard sound and pretty low end speakers.

[SprySpectre]

In case anybody else has the same problem, the via drivers were the cause. I uninstalled the via bus mastering drivers and now it works. I found a few other posts on different forums suggesting the same thing.

I can't tell if there's any sound quality difference between EAC and CDex, but I'm also using onboard sound and pretty low end speakers.
hehe, then looks like you'll want an upgrade ;)

Have you considered the option of archiving your music via flac, wav, or another lossless format? I'd highly recommend it, and doing so on an external HD so you have a backup of all that work.

And to be honest, I really didn't think the powering on/off between rips made a difference, as well as opening the program before starting the disc, but it did. The floor noise I hear on my Floyd recordings (done with a power done) is almost transparent, and on my other rips (w/o the power down) I can hear that buzz in the background. I'm gonna be re-recording everything soon.

[pw455]

Thanks for the information SprySpectre. I assumed the program open / disk insertion sequence was more to prevent lockups or something like that. I'll make sure to follow the sequence. I'll start building my new system in the next month or so when the prices are expected to drop on cpu's. This time with an audigy2 sound card, nothing fancy.

I don't know anything about the lossless formats. How large do the files end up being?

Pete

[SprySpectre]

iirc, flac and apple lossless are something like 1/2 to 2/3 the size of a completely uncompressed .wav. And I believe on an average cd it generally takes up about half a gig or so (edit: in .wav format), obviously maxing out at 700mb (cd's can't hold that much data).

[MrBrett]

Unless you really NEED to use lossless formats, for example, classical music or if you transcode to different formats for portable devices often, then they really aren't nessecary. LAME encoded MP3s are transparent from the source at over 200 kbps, and Vorbis files are transparent over 160ish kbps and take up FAR less space than lossless. A FLAC encoded CD usually takes up around 250-400 mb, wheras the same CD in -q 6 vorbis might be 60 mb.

There is no way anyone on these boards can tell a difference between a --alt-preset extreme mp3 or -q 6 vorbis song from the source CD, if you think you have magic ears and CAN tell a difference - load up a copy of foobar2000 and use the ABX compartor plugin. The results will surprize you.

If he's just using onboard sound and some low end speakers, there is no point to using lossless. He could probibly transcode songs all day and not be able to tell a difference from the CD.

[SprySpectre]

I merely suggested the idea for backup purposes (notice my suggestion of an external HD, which should be kept unplugged except when copying new stuff onto it). And why not have bit-perfect backups of original CD's? They will allow him to not only convert them to other formats whenever he wants (eg: he gets a digital music player that doesn't support flac, needs to re-rip to m4a/mp3), but to keep a safe, organized, and easily accessible copy in case of unfortunate disaster (theft, scratching cd's, virus, etc...).

I agree that you won't be able to tell the differences with that setup, or nearly any setup for that matter, but if you're gonna archive, might as well do it right!

[pw455]

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad to read the information on lossless formats, but agree that it isn't something I need for my purposes.

Pete