Ripping in iTunes for Serato SL3
Ripping in iTunes for Serato SL3 Posted on: 29.12.2011 by Ladonna Schlender A fairly long post but I would really appreciate your help with this I'm such a slow, considered purchaser, I've only just got round to getting Serato SL3, 2 Dicers and finally a 17" MacBook Pro! To be fair, the MacBook was a Christmas present from the wife and the rest I bought with Christmas money - I've had a very good year this year I'll be using a DJM800 and 2 CDJ400's with this gear. I'm 50 years old now so I want to do this right, once and never again! At present I'm unlikely to be playing out much so this is for my own gratification at home and the odd gig here or there. Firstly, iTunes. Everything will be ripped from CD's and, eventually, vinyl. I haven't started ripping anything yet and want to know if the settings I have chosen are the best to use. I've set the rip rate at 320kbps and AAC. Do I need to set it for MP3? Can I use any other setting with my gear ? Will it make any difference? Next, I've set the sample rate at 44.100KHz. Is this correct or should I set it to auto? The channels I've set to auto. Would the stereo setting make any difference? I've ticked the VBR encoding box. Is this best? I haven't ticked either the High Efficiency Encoding or Optimize for voice boxes. In truth, I don't know what these would do anyway. Should I use them? Should I use Error Correction when ripping? In terms of "tagging"' I am at a loss. All I'm really interested in is Artist, Song title, BPM'S, Year, Genre and Comments (to put in highest chart position). Will iTunes do all this automatically? All these fields are now showing on the page, but will they automatically show up in Serato and on my CDJ's or do I have to do something else? Does iTunes find the BPM'S? On an old version of it, it appeared to do so on many tracks or was this because it was embedded on the CD I was ripping? A long post I know, but at my time of life I want to get this right first time. Thanks in advance for reading this and pointing me in the right direction Capitan. | |
| Lindy Jonker 02.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by Capitan
In addition, WAV and AIFF don't support tags (very well: there are some applicaions that will let you do it, but you'll break the container). ALAC has tag support equivalnt to MP3/AAC - including cover art.
Originally Posted by Capitan
This is a moot point if you can't use it anywhere. NOW. You end up ripping your entire collection in MP3 for compatibility, but then perceive the audio quality isn't as good as it could be, but then you've got to rip your entire collection again, or piecemeal as you want to play another bunch of tracks. Uncool. So what you could do is...
And if it ever happens that some other new fandangled coded comes out, or you buy a new device with no support for either MP or AAC (for arguement's sake), you can automate the process of transcoding from your lossless archive, than ripping from CD again.
Originally Posted by Capitan
Hearing is a very subjective beast. What sounds good you may sound crap to me. Hell, you might get so trashed before playing on said system that you start playing metal-polka-hardstep and clear the dancefloor, so it wouldn't matter anyway. I figure if your lowest level of quality is well above the existing benchmark, you've not a worry in the world.
Originally Posted by Capitan
I can say from experience that using a lossless archive will save you a lot of heartache in the long-run. Also, don't forget your naming scheme. Again, this isn't a prescriber way of doing, just an example o how I do it: Where ALL tracks are <artist> - <release> - <##> - <title>.<codec>, my directory scheme is: Music - Albums\<A-0>\<artist>\<release>\[volume]\[disc] - Compilations\<release>\[volume]\[disc] - Downloads\<Compilations | Singles>\[release | title]\[volume] - Live\<artist>\<release>\[volume]\[disc] - Soundtracks\<release>\[volume]\[disc] |
| Tesha Freudenstein 30.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Capitan
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| Sharri Kenimer 15.01.2012 | I've spent about 2,5 years ripping some 20.000 cd's. Ripped everything to Apple Lossless (ALAC), these are stored on an external Drobo S disk array. http://www.drobo.com/products/professionals/drobo-s/ Then for my my SSL library I convert everything to 320k mp3 files, CBR (constant bitrate) using XLD (Lame Codec) http://tmkk.pv.land.to/xld/index_e.html Main reason for downconverting is room for more music on my internal drive (for gigs) and because ALAC don't support the key tag (I use mixed in key) I have not had the chance to play on a Funktion One system, but play quite a few larger high quality systems. In AB tests I could not differ the lossless from 320k mp3. IMO Apple Lossless is a far better choice than WAV/AIFF. I play on either the SL4 or Sixty Eight, depending on the venue. Also stay away from VBR in SSL if you can, as it puts more strain on your cpu. |
| Hollis Liberio 11.01.2012 | I'd hate to get through a stack of CD's only to have to start again. |
| Lindy Jonker 02.01.2012 | Happy to have been of some help. So long as you're aware my way isn't the be-all and end-all. I'm sure there are others out there with their own systems that you can take something away from. |
| Ladonna Schlender 02.01.2012 | Brilliantly explained Johbremat, makes perfect sense to me now Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks! Thanks for your time and effort over this (and everyone else who has contributed). I believe this information would be really useful to total beginners to DJing as well as people like myself who have been around the block with analogue and CD, but not digital. |
| Lindy Jonker 02.01.2012 |
Originally Posted by Capitan
In addition, WAV and AIFF don't support tags (very well: there are some applicaions that will let you do it, but you'll break the container). ALAC has tag support equivalnt to MP3/AAC - including cover art.
Originally Posted by Capitan
This is a moot point if you can't use it anywhere. NOW. You end up ripping your entire collection in MP3 for compatibility, but then perceive the audio quality isn't as good as it could be, but then you've got to rip your entire collection again, or piecemeal as you want to play another bunch of tracks. Uncool. So what you could do is...
And if it ever happens that some other new fandangled coded comes out, or you buy a new device with no support for either MP or AAC (for arguement's sake), you can automate the process of transcoding from your lossless archive, than ripping from CD again.
Originally Posted by Capitan
Hearing is a very subjective beast. What sounds good you may sound crap to me. Hell, you might get so trashed before playing on said system that you start playing metal-polka-hardstep and clear the dancefloor, so it wouldn't matter anyway. I figure if your lowest level of quality is well above the existing benchmark, you've not a worry in the world.
Originally Posted by Capitan
I can say from experience that using a lossless archive will save you a lot of heartache in the long-run. Also, don't forget your naming scheme. Again, this isn't a prescriber way of doing, just an example o how I do it: Where ALL tracks are <artist> - <release> - <##> - <title>.<codec>, my directory scheme is: Music - Albums\<A-0>\<artist>\<release>\[volume]\[disc] - Compilations\<release>\[volume]\[disc] - Downloads\<Compilations | Singles>\[release | title]\[volume] - Live\<artist>\<release>\[volume]\[disc] - Soundtracks\<release>\[volume]\[disc] |
| Ladonna Schlender 02.01.2012 | Thanks for the detailed response Johbremat, I appreciate the time it must have taken . I am however getting more and more confused! I asked this same question on the Pioneer community at the same time... http://community s.pioneerdj.com/entries/...-up-serato-sl3 Between all the replies I'm now baffled as to which way to go. If I choose lossless I've been advised: WAV AIFF ALAC What's the difference? Which is the best and why? If I choose lossy I've been advised: MP3 (320kbps) AAC (256 or 512kbps) Some say record in auto, some say joint stereo and some say stereo. Some say turn the frequency filter on, some say off. Some say smart encoding on, some say off. I can afford to buy an external hard drive, the reason I wanted to go lossy is so I can get all my tracks on the laptop hard drive. If I ripped in lossless and then converted them to MP3 I'm assuming it would take up extra hard drive space. I've heard that AAC is better than MP3 but if I want to burn CDs the CDJ400 won't play them. Is AAC REALLY that much better than MP3? On a mobile system (not a club system) would I REALLY notice that much difference between MP3 (320kbps) and lossless? I'm trying to learn but I don't want to start ripping until I'm sure I am using the best option (whether that be the best lossless or the best lossy). I only ever want to do this once - at my age I'll never have time left to do it again! Thanks everyone, any thoughts on the above? |
| Lindy Jonker 02.01.2012 | Hopefully not too late to chime in... I believe you want to consider two choices. ALAC (lossless compression) and AAC (lossy compression):
Is there any hope you have a Windows box lying around, or installed Windows on your 17" MBP under Boot Camp?
Ripping your wax to digital is going to prove a pain (or at least it does for me). Your mileage is going to vary:
I use SSL primarily as a digital crate, so don't fool around with a lot of the extras. I'm using a BTO 15"MBP (hi-res; 8GB RAM; 7200RPM HDD) and SL3 with the three-deck plugin...occasionally using Live and The Bridge. All at home. I'm using 2.3.3 and not having a problem at all (a couple of the boys and I will do 8-hour long sessions and not a drop or crash or nuttin'). In fact, never had an issue. I truly don't know what these guys are doing that they ever encounter a bug in SSL. Regarding your CDJs, you'll probably need to update their firmware. Probably wrong, but believe HID support was only introduced after the stopped making the 400s and released the 350s. If you've never updated them, you may not hav the capability. "So. That was a bucket load of crap you just spewed at me. What am I supposed to take away from this?"
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| Ladonna Schlender 01.01.2012 | Thanks sol*los. Yes, I'll be using them native DVS is all new to me and firstly I have the long arduous task of burning all my CDs and vinyl to digital. That's why I only want to do it once and do it right. Then I have to work out how to set all my stuff up to work with Serato, any tips or walk throughs? I'm using: 17" MacBook Pro - brand new DJM 800 2 CDJ 400's - do I need to look for any firmware? 2 Novation Dicers Thanks all |
| Wynell Vastbinder 31.12.2011 | I use 2.3 with my Dicers. 2.3 works very fine to me. I use to use 1.9 till I got the Dicer's and was sort of forced to update. Also you haven't mentioned this but how are you going to hook up your CDJ400s? I have a cdj400 and use them in Native mode. The 400 will control SSL by USB, no control cd needed. |
| Ladonna Schlender 30.12.2011 | Mmm, we have a difference of opinion. Era 7 reckons "filter frequencies below 10Hz" should be on. J5k reckons "filter frequencies below 10Hz" should be off. Would I actually notice any audible difference? Also, I notice the dicers only work properly with Serato version 2.1 onwards. I haven't loaded Serato to my MacBook yet, which is the most up to date, but bug free, version? If the latest version has some bugs in it, I'd rather go back to one that hasn't got any issues. |
| Leah Shawkey 29.12.2011 | Filter frequencies below 10Hz off. I chose to turn vbr off because some hardware/software has had trouble with these. Basically I'm looking for the least amount of modification from the original, which is why a lot of people go as far as using straight wav. I choose mp3 not only because of storage constraints but also because it has better meta data support. Iow, your tags stay with the file instead of being in a reference file somewhere that can get lost, damaged or simply not used by your other software. |
| Tesha Freudenstein 30.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Capitan
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| Ladonna Schlender 30.12.2011 | I get what you are saying about WAV and the CDJ400 support now Era 7 - our posts crossed last time. Thanks for all the info in your last post too. If I could rep you on here I would |
| Tesha Freudenstein 30.12.2011 | mine is set to: sample rate: auto (but the vast majority of tracks are 44.1 anyway. might as well set it to that) channels: auto stereo mode: joint stereo smart encoding: on filter frequencies below 10hz: on works well for me that way. |
| Ladonna Schlender 30.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by R2D2
Added to which, the CDJ 400's only appear to support MP3. Now I've changed that setting from AAC to MP3, more options have come up : The option to go as high as 48.000 kHz sample rate: yes or no? Stereo mode: joint stereo or normal? Smart encoding adjustment: yes or no? Filter frequencies below 10hz: yes or no? Sorry to be a pain, but do it right, do it once |
| Rolande Posso 30.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Era 7
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| Tesha Freudenstein 29.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Capitan
Originally Posted by R2D2
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| Rolande Posso 29.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Capitan
On a big club system I can tell basically its lack of depth in the mp3 go lossless wav / aiff hds are cheap these days esp if your doing your vinyl there are a number of programs you can clean up all the pops / clicks ect but to use them effectivly its best to start with an uncompressed file rule of thumb with compression you can go down but never go up a 128k file will still sound shit even after converting it to a wav |
| Ladonna Schlender 29.12.2011 | Thanks Era 7. I believe my decision has been made by the fact that, upon futher investigation, CDJ 400's don't support WAV. |
| Tesha Freudenstein 29.12.2011 |
Originally Posted by Capitan
when ripping to MP3 you generally want to put it in 320kbps with VBR turned off. this ensures the highest sound quality (for an MP3). as for putting it on stereo rather than auto: i believe stereo was the default setting when changing it to wav encoding i for my part completely switched from MP3s to lossless files such as wav and aiff. with the ever growing harddrive space storing these files is no problem. |
| Ladonna Schlender 29.12.2011 | Thanks for the replies so far guys (I'm itching to get started as I have tens of thousands of tunes collected over the last 34 years or so). Both of you suggest WAV as an ideal but everything I've read suggests most people can't tell the difference between lossless and 320kbps. Is this true? I'm asking as I want to learn. J5k, you say you have VBR off rather than on. What difference does it make? Era 7, you say you have the channel set to stereo rather than auto. Again, what difference does it make? Thanks guys, I really do appreciate your time and help. I'd hate to get through a stack of CD's only to have to start again. Anyone else got any input on the BPM question? |
| Tesha Freudenstein 29.12.2011 | i personally rip CDs into a lossless format: wav, 44.1khz, 16bit, stereo, error correction on |
| Leah Shawkey 29.12.2011 | I'll take a stab at a few of them... Ideally, you should rip to wav/aiff since there's no compression involved. But if you do that you'll need to consider how much music you want to store and if you have the hard drive capacity. I rip with these settings in iTunes: Mp3, 320, vbr OFF, 44.1khz, error correction on, Auto channels. I don't know what the high efficiency or voice box settings do either so I leave them off. As for tagging, iTunes is pretty good about gathering tags but there are other solutions (that I haven't used) around to find tags when iTunes fails. iTunes will not detect bpm's for you, but I believe serato will. |
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