Dropout when ripping CDs to wav or applelossless

Use a computer to rip, a minimac is the last thing I would use.

Either it's a few bad CDs or the Mac Mini is defective. Perhaps the optical drive is bad? If you have a local Apple Store and the problem is repeatable with a brand new CD, take it in and show them.

Slikric3000, can you elaborate on why a Mac Mini would be the last thing you would use?

The Mac Mini is a great little machine that a lot of people use as a media server. I'm curious to know your rationale on why you wouldn't recommend it.

Michael

It probably is a great little media server and it does not take much power to serve up the tunes, but you said you are having problems with ripping. The smaller the pc the more performance suffers. You may be getting drop out because this little thing is not up to the task. Have you set the max rip speed a little lower. I bet that cd rom doesn't even do 52x, if so I would be suprised. Something that small would be 24x like a laptop rom is. Have you tried ripping a few in a good, not prehistoric, computer ??

Thank you all for the advice.

The rip speed with error correction is usually only 5 or 6X, although the drive is capable of more speed. I could try a new external drive.

Brand new CDs are having problems, but not always, and I am pretty sure the problem is in the error correction for flaws on the CD, since the transfer of other non-audio materials via CD seems flawless.

I will try MAX, perhaps it is better than XLD and iTunes.

I have considered adding a linear power supply to reduce noise and other power related issues that may be related to a switching power supply.

Once the music is on the hard drive properly, playback is flawless. Because the problem always occur on the same tracks, I do not think it is an output problem through the 2.0.

I have two more iMACs and a MacPower book. I will test the same CD on each of them with itunes and XLD and see what gives.

If I continue to have problems, I will take it to the Apple store and have them compare the CD ripping on two machines as suggested. I can see there is hope, but I may be re-ripping many CDs.