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Topic: XLD and iTunes (Read 7992 times) previous topic - next topic
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XLD and iTunes

Hi,
I'm ripping my cd collection and I've encountered one slight problem.  I'm loving the information in the Cue Sheet of XLD but when I load a title into iTunes all the metadata is in the "Name" section.  I hope I don't have to go into each song and edit it individually so I can only hope I'm doing something wrong.

I don't seem to be able to find a way to load an example of this from my computer so I hope I've explained myself clearly!

XLD and iTunes

Reply #1 –
iTunes doesn't support CUE sheets.

If importing into iTunes is your primary usage of XLD (as it is mine), you'll need to have XLD rip to individual tracks, which it can then automatically tag and import into iTunes.

I'm not in front of my Mac right now, but I think(?) XLD also has the ability to generate multiple files from a CUE+image, in which case it would be a 2-step process:  rip to CUE+image, then drop the CUE sheet on XLD and let it encode, tag, and import the individual files into iTunes.

This only makes sense if you have an actual use for the CUE+image, i.e. archival.  If you just want to listen to the tracks in iTunes, then you gain nothing from having the CUE+image sitting around and can greatly simplify things by just ripping to individual tracks.
"Not sure what the question is, but the answer is probably no."

XLD and iTunes

Reply #2 –
Quote from: mixminus1 on
iTunes doesn't support CUE sheets.

If importing into iTunes is your primary usage of XLD (as it is mine), you'll need to have XLD rip to individual tracks, which it can then automatically tag and import into iTunes.

I'm not in front of my Mac right now, but I think(?) XLD also has the ability to generate multiple files from a CUE+image, in which case it would be a 2-step process:  rip to CUE+image, then drop the CUE sheet on XLD and let it encode, tag, and import the individual files into iTunes.

This only makes sense if you have an actual use for the CUE+image, i.e. archival.  If you just want to listen to the tracks in iTunes, then you gain nothing from having the CUE+image sitting around and can greatly simplify things by just ripping to individual tracks.



Thanks a million for the quick reply Mixminus1.  I am actually ripping to individual tracks.  If fact, I'm ripping .wav and Apple Lossless on the same pass of the cd.  I've just noticed that when both are imported into itunes, the Apple Lossless has all the tag info in the correct column but the .wav has it all under the name column.

This is being done for both archival and to be able to listen in itunes.

XLD and iTunes

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Beech on
Thanks a million for the quick reply Mixminus1.  I am actually ripping to individual tracks.  If fact, I'm ripping .wav and Apple Lossless on the same pass of the cd.  I've just noticed that when both are imported into itunes, the Apple Lossless has all the tag info in the correct column but the .wav has it all under the name column.

This is being done for both archival and to be able to listen in itunes.


If you really need uncompressed files to use with iTunes, use AIFF instead of WAV and all the tags will be fine.
cheers

XLD and iTunes

Reply #4 –
Why are you ripping to both ALAC (Apple lossless) and PCM WAV?  The ALAC files are lossless which means they retain all of the information from the source CD.  The ALAC files will have the exact same quality as the PCM WAV files.  No need to keep two editions of the same song.  Now, your WAV files are showing up without tags because that is the nature of using PCM WAV files.  The format can house tags but they have limited compatibility.  You have the option of ripping to both AIFF and ALAC or just go with the logical decision and pick one format (likely the one that natively houses tags while taking up less space than uncompressed audio).

XLD and iTunes

Reply #5 –
Quote from: kornchild2002 on
Why are you ripping to both ALAC (Apple lossless) and PCM WAV?  The ALAC files are lossless which means they retain all of the information from the source CD.  The ALAC files will have the exact same quality as the PCM WAV files.  No need to keep two editions of the same song.  Now, your WAV files are showing up without tags because that is the nature of using PCM WAV files.  The format can house tags but they have limited compatibility.  You have the option of ripping to both AIFF and ALAC or just go with the logical decision and pick one format (likely the one that natively houses tags while taking up less space than uncompressed audio).


Well, my thinking behind ripping in both ALAC and wav is for future proofing really.  I'm a recording engineer for 29 years and I've seen formats come and go so at least if I have a direct copy of the cd I can convert it to whatever comes along in the future, that's the thinking anyway.  The reason I went for wav is because it will probably outlast AIFF. 

Anyway, I take your point.  Import the ALAC to itunes and all will be well.

Cheers!

XLD and iTunes

Reply #6 –
I seriously doubt that, however many years down the line, you will find it impossible to obtain an ALAC decoder. And there's no need to worry about AIFF.
 

XLD and iTunes

Reply #7 –
I agree with above i can't see ALAC going anywhere in our life times.

ALAC can be converted to Aiff if need be with no quality lost.

XLD and iTunes

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Beech on
Well, my thinking behind ripping in both ALAC and wav is for future proofing really.


It doesn't really matter.  One of the great things about lossless formats is you can always convert them to something different in the future.  I can take an ALAC file and convert it to AIFF, FLAC, WavPack lossless, WMA Lossless, PCM WAV, and then back to ALAC without issues.  The nice thing about lossless is you can always convert the files to the "next great format" in the future regardless of what it is (lossy or lossless) as the quality of the source CD is preserved.  So there really is no need to rip to both formats as you can always convert the ALAC files in the future (which is something you would do with the un-tagged PCM WAV files anyway).

XLD and iTunes

Reply #9 –
Could someone clear this up for me.  I've started importing my cd library and twice already I've changed my way of working.  I am taking on board all the above comments but I am stubborn and I'm going to persist with .wav.  I've also decided to go AAC with my second format which can be for our portable audio devices. 

However, I've got one question re .wav versus aiff.  My question is - which format is closest to the original audio on the disc?  And I mean really the closest, with no conversion whatsoever.

Thanks.

XLD and iTunes

Reply #10 –
lossless is lossless.  The great thing about using a lossless codec is that you can tag it to save data (title, artist, lyrics, album art, etc.) for future conversions or burning needs.

FYI... lossless means it can be converted back to the original wav pcm file with bit for bit accuracy.  If it doesn't do that then it is not lossless.
JXL

XLD and iTunes

Reply #12 –
Quote from: greynol on
.wav and .aiff are equally far away from how PCM data is encoded on an audio CD.



Got you and thanks.  Since the .aiff loads nicely into iTunes it looks like the most simple and effective way to do my job.  I'll have to backtrack and redo some discs mind you!
Whow, I've just noticed that you have the option for XLD to put the files into a playlist called Encoded by XLD.  Then all I have to do is "make playlist from selection" and voila, there's a properly labeled playlist with the songs in the correct order.  This is coming together nicely thanks to the help from the good folk on this forum.

One other thing.  Since I have a two or even three different versions of the same cd sometimes, I have been putting the catalog number within the folder name of the audio files.  The directory path looks something like: Music/Bad Co./Anthology 7559-62391-2.  Since XLD is hardly ever picking up the MCN it looks like I have to note the catalog number manually, which is a bit of a pain!  I don't suppose there'd be any solution to this?