1. Why do I need to use rippers if I can record directly from CD-ROM drive's output to the line input of my sound card? In this case I do not need to control sound file's quality - it will be exactly the same as the source.

No, it won't. When you record from CD-ROM drive's output to the input of your sound card, you have signal twice passed through converters: first, digital data is converted into analog on the output of the drive, then the reverse conversion on the input of the sound card. Each conversion inevitably leads to the loss of quality (furthermore absolutely all CD-ROM drives got just terrible D/A converters). If you use rippers, then you apply no D/A-A/D conversions at all, and the sound file will be practically of the same quality as its source on CD.


2. What do you think of alternative compression standards like VQF, AAC, AC-3 or WMA?

Most of them allows to obtain sound of rather good (VQF) or better (AAC) quality plus higher compression factor (14:1 at VQF against 11:1 at MP3). But they all have complicated encoding procedure which demands a lot of time (except for WMA by Microsoft which is incredibly fast). Besides, some of those standards (VQF by Yamaha and AAC/AC-3 by Dolby Laboratories) would hardly become world wide accepted due to company's policy concerning copyright.


3. Is it true that qualitative ripping can be done only with SCSI drives?

No, it isn't. This myth was caused by the fact that some years ago SCSI drives were quite expensive, they had on that moment the most cutting edge technologies for improving reading of low quality or defective CDs and thereafter their optics and mechanics were designed more carefully than cheap IDE drives like Mitsumi. Moreover SCSI drives load CPU much less, so more power goes to the ripper (that's why nearly all rippers are basically oriented on SCSI). But when it comes to real life IDE drives give practically the same quality of ripping, and for a couple of years already they have been enjoyed different speed adapting methods for successful reading of CD's defective sectors.


4. You say that there is no sense in using 20 and 24 bit recording. Why such sound cards are manufactured, then?

This is a matter of professional recording for subsequent repeated editing and archiving. For these purposes nowadays is used standard offered by Pioneer: 24 bit resolution at 96 kHz sampling rate. Such approach allows to dramatically reduce loss of quality during repeated mixing, processing, applying of effects, etc. In our case, i.e. in absence of live sound source and such global tasks, this matter is not topical (furthermore the newest versions of editing programs have 24 bit inside resolution for reasons of distortion reduction during editing).


5. Is there any software for decoding MP3 into WAV? I would like to make my own Audio CD from .mp3 files.

You can do it if you have programs like Easy CD-DA Extractor 3.5 or Sound Limit 2.5 installed. They have built-in MP3 -> WAV decoders. You can also use Audioactive MP3 to WAV Decoder v1.1.2 or the program which can make Audio CDs directly from .mp3 files like PTS.AudioCD Mp3-Studio v1.5e. However you should keep in mind that sound quality at such decoding will not be restored up to the level of original. This feature of MP3 technology is similar (as the concept of encoding itself) to Sony's MiniDisk. Your Audio CD will deeply suffer from lack of musical details and sound clarity (though it will still sound much better than your reel or cassette deck).


6. Which sound card and CD-ROM drive are the best choice for high quality home PC sound?

At the present moment minimum requirements (comparable with expensive Hi-Fi system) can be satisfied by Turtle Beach Tropez Plus sound card. Maximum (comparable with professional equipment) - by Turtle Beach Pinnacle. As for sound cards like Sound Blaster and its clones, don't even think about them. As a CD-ROM drive can generally serve any SCSI-2 or SCSI-3 brand name. I recommend using Plextor, Pioneer or Toshiba, provided you made sure that the chosen model supports speed adapting to CD's surface quality, that guarantees error free reading. For comfortable operation you'd better choose a model with tray CD loading, because caddy models are quite uneasy in work with many CDs. Availability of standard RCA jacks for audio output is not essential, because connection to sound card will allow you to get disparate better results due to more qualitative DA converter. Availability of digital SPDIF jacks is not essential as well, because it is easier to obtain sound from Audio CD in digital form with the help of ripping software.


7. I'm new in MP3. What software would you recommend me to start with?

I recommend you the following to start and to end with:

- if you're a Hi-Fi fan, then get SoloH mpeg Encoder v0.07a. It's the best quality ISO based encoder nowadays. You should use it in true stereo mode at 256 kbps. Another choice is Audiograbber v1.60.03 combined with external Fraunhofer-Radium MP3 Codec v1.263 (if you plan to encode at 128 kbps) or Lame DLL (if you plan to encode at 256 kbps);
- if you're just a music lover, then get AudioCatalyst v2.1 (a combination of Audiograbber and Xing mp3 encoder) and use it at 128 kbps with VBR enabled.


8. Which encoder should I use with Diamond Rio player at 64 kbps or 96 kbps? Is Xing OK?

Try not to use Xing based encoders at all. They have complete frequency range falloff after 16 kHz (though latest versions can keep linear frequency response up to 20 kHz due to VBR encoding engine). The best choice for low bitrates are Fraunhofer based encoders, in particular, Audioactive Production Studio v1.5.5 Professional or Fraunhofer .mp3 Producer Professional v2.1 (the same quality, but less easy in operation). They both have Preview option, so you can evaluate sound quality at different bitrates.


9. I have a question about CD Rippers. I used Audiograbber and WinDAC with a new x48 CD-Rom unit. The maximum speed I get is 0.33! That's extremely low! Is that the way it's supposed to do? Very slow like this?

- Check in ripper's Menu/Preferences if your drive is supported at all. If yes, then just chose the desired ripping speed manually (like x1, x4, x8, etc.).
- Check what ripping mode is set. If it's 'Sector Synchronization' or similar, then you'll probably get speed below x1.0 especially on bad quality (damaged or unbalanced) CDs.
- Check up the CD you use for ripping. If it's scratched, dusted, finger printed, attached hand made label or in any other sort tampered, then you can have problems while reading it.
- Your CD-Rom drive just can't focus in a proper way at high speeds. Try to use 'Jitter Correction' mode.