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Ripping 700 CD's to HD using FLAC-How much space?

Hello all,

Currently, I am in the process of transferring my cd's to an external hard drive using FLAC lossless, EAC for transfer and WinAmp for a media player. I would like a HD with enough space for future downloads but am unsure as to what size to purchase? Memory seems reasonably priced these days and 1TB external HD's are plentiful. Also, I may let go of cd's that I no longer listen to after I have them on the HD which leaves me with another dilemma - how many HD's would suffice for backups? Everyone's advice is appreciated. Thanks, Chris

Currently using:
Windows XP Home
Dell XPS 400
Room for 2 internal HD's (using only (1) currently)
chris74
chris74 OP
99 posts
 
Evgeny, Thanks for the insight in regards to the amount of space you have used on your FLAC DVD-RW storage disks, that really helps shed some light on ways to store the media using a "hard back up" method other than keeping the original disks. Speaking for myself, storing (roughly) 75 DVD-RW disks would take up far less space than 700 disks with covers, no doubt about it!
shazam
205 posts
 
FLAC compression is like a "zip" file on a computer - it is a lossless way of storing data with mathematical formulas instead of the raw data of the wave form. This is different from .mp3 compression that actually eliminates data points and relies on an algorithm to draw a new wave form. In FLAC compression, the higher the compression, the more time the processor will take to "unzip" the file.

However, once "unzipped" the raw data is the same as the original wave form, regardless of the compression level.
classicjazz
153 posts
 
I'd also point out using Firewire or eSata as an interface if you have it. Moving data around is a pain once you have it ripped. Many drives have quad interfaces now (USB2, FW400, FW800, eSata). I'd also use 1TB drives and fill them at most 2/3. Data access speed drops dramatically as the drive gets filled. I have a 1TB drive that is full that crawls even on eSATA. Faster throughput helps for backup, copying etc. And as other have mentioned, drives will fail - so being able copy quickly prior to that event is worthwhile.
brianherlihy
7 posts
 
Is there a way to convert AIFF to FLAC easily?
acurus
141 posts
 
many programs will read FLAC so you dont have to convert it. If you need to convert, check out dbpoweramp.....it is an incredible program. You may have to re-load artwork, but all tags should remain.
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