Using Exact Audio Copy (EAC) to Rip CDs to FLAC

This article is not an attempt to provide a complete guide or even a tutorial. It is, however, the procedure I personally use. There are so many guides/tutorials available that have slightly different recommendations, I simply needed a central place to record and remember a consistent procedure for myself. I welcome any constructive criticism to the chosen settings. Note: EAC Version 1.5 was used to create the screen captures.

During installation, do not install GD3 Metadata Plugin.

1. EAC > EAC Options > Directories
   I’ve mapped “M:\Music” to my Synology DiskStation’s shared drive named, “Music.”
2. EAC > EAC Options > Extraction
   
3. EAC > EAC Options > General
   
4. EAC > EAC Options > Tools
   
5. EAC > EAC Options > Normalize
   Make sure Normalize is NOT enabled
6. EAC > EAC Options > Filename
   
7. EAC > Drive Options > Extraction Method
   Note: These options are specific to my Archgon MD-8107-U2 detected as a MATSHITADVD-RAM UJ8G2 external drive.
   
8. EAC > Drive Options > Drive
   
9. EAC > Drive Options > Offset / Speed
   
10. EAC > Drive Options > Gap Detection
    
11. EAC > Compression Options > External Compression
    
    Value set for “Additional command-line options”
    -6 -V -T “ARTIST=%artist%” -T “TITLE=%title%” -T “ALBUM=%albumtitle%” -T “DATE=%year%” -T “TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%” -T “GENRE=%genre%” -T “COMMENT=%comment%” -T “BAND=%albuminterpret%” -T “COMPOSER=%composer%” %haslyrics%–tag-from-file=LYRICS=”%lyricsfile%”%haslyrics% -T “DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%” -T “TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%” -T “TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%” %hascover%–picture=”%coverfile%”%hascover% %source% -o %dest%
12. EAC > Compression Options > ID3 Tag
    
13. EAC > Metadata Options
    

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Insert the CD that you want to RIP and choose the following:

1. Respond to possible prompt regarding Tagging
2. Normalize Artist column, if necessary
3. If one does not already exist, manually create a folder for the “CD Artist” in the Music directory on the Synology. Double check the EAC > EAC Options > Directories mapping in Step 1 of the previous procedure. Remember that we earlier specified that a CD with the “Various Artists” CD Artist use the “CD artist” in lieu of the “Track artist”.
4. Notice that “Gap” column is currently “Unknown” for each track
5. Action > Detect Gaps (or press F4)
6. Notice that “Gap” column now has time values for each track
7. Ensure that Action > Append Gaps To Previous Track (default) is selected
8. Action > Create CUE Sheet > Multiple WAV Files With Gaps… (Noncompliant)
9. Action > Test & Copy Selected Tracks > Compressed