Download and "ripping" questions with a Mac.


Hi all, I am all new to this and i need some help.

How do you rip CD's into Itunes in either WAV or Apple Lossless?
I have rip one CD and looking at the file data it shows 128kbps which is highly compressed. I may have done something wrong or missed something in the process.

Also, Itunes and Itunes+ have highly compressed music files 128kbps and 256kpbs respectively. Is there a way to convert those files into Apple Lossless or WAV. Or are you limited to HDtracks and Music Giants for high resolution music files. Do i need a special software to do all this like dbpoweramp music converter?
I want to play those "digits" on my home hifi with the highest sound quality possible using an Ipod 160GB + Wadia dock + Audio Research DAC 7.

If the answers i am seeking are buried in the archives can you direct me to them.
Thank You.

smoffatt
Sammie, I have heard this before and I use the itunes ripper, how do you setup and use MAX, can I still use the itune interface to play my music?, thanks for any help.

Greg
Hi all, is there a sonic difference between hi rez file formats. AIFF vs Apple Lossless vs WAV.
Thanks
Max is easy to use, but the user interface is not as clean as Itunes. #1. Download Max from sbooth.org and install. #2 Run Max and go to preferences. #3 Select Applelosseless or AIFF, which is Apple's version of WAV. Also, make sure error correction stuff is set properly...it is pretty straightforward. Also, there is an Itunes tab...check those settings. #4 Place CD in slot, Max will recognize it and open an encode window. Itunes will recognize it too. Just minimize Itunes. #5 Make sure all tracks are "check marked" and hit encode.

Good luck.
Sammie, I tried the Max, it does seem to sound better, but I can`t get it to install track names or artist and no album art, I use the AIFF , in itunes I can get track names and album art, but I can with Max?

Greg
I did a fair amount of testing between Max and iTunes before I started ripping my collection. Could not hear a difference -- do you guys really think there is one? Why?