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Ripping Your Old Discs Gets You Lossless Music That No Subscription Can Take Away
BGR • • technology
Key Points:
- Streaming lossless music services can suddenly lose access to certain tracks due to licensing deals, whereas ripping CDs allows you to create a personal, permanent archive of lossless-quality audio.
- Ripping music from CDs involves copying audio files to your device without damaging the disc, and in the U.S., it is generally considered fair use for personal use, though legality varies by country.
- To rip CDs in 2026, you need a disc drive (external drives are affordable and widely available) and ripping software, with options ranging from built-in apps like Windows Media Player or Apple Music to advanced tools like Exact Audio Copy for higher-quality rips.
- The preferred lossless audio formats for ripping are FLAC and ALAC, with ALAC being ideal for users in the Apple ecosystem; the ripping process typically takes only a few minutes per disc.
- After ripping, adding metadata and artwork using tools like MusicBrainz Picard enhances organization and enjoyment, and you can use various local music apps for playback instead of relying on streaming services.
