I like the metadata tagging in iTunes, but I’d rather have flac files. soundconverter installs via apt on Ubuntu, and swiftly converts m4a (aka ALAC and Apple Lossless from iTunes) into flac, preserving the metadata. Can be run on command-line. So I can rip a CD to ALAC on my Mac Pro using the really fast CD drive there (an external LG motorized drive) and iTunes, and then convert them on Linux.
Seems to good to be true. Any counter-indications anyone is aware of?
Sounds like a bit of a hassle, but qualitywise the FLACs will be identical to the ALACs once decoded to PCM.
Not sure if iTunes offers the best way to rip a CD (it’s been a while since I ripped a CD), but no doubt others will chime in on that.
It’s the metadata I liked. I’ve ripped some CDs 12-14 years ago with iTunes, and Roon seems to have no problem with those. More recently I’ve been using abcde on Linux, and whatever metadata repo that uses doesn’t seem to agree with Roon – it split my Smithsonian collection, “Classic Jazz” into 60 separate albums! So to get the metadata I’m using iTunes again (been years!) and to get the flac (which iTunes won’t produce), I use soundconverter, which preserves the metadata. Not sure what metadata sources are being used.
Anyway, I tried it yesterday on some new albums. Seems to work fine, though Roon apparently couldn’t identify the Infamous Stringdusters album “Silver Sky”, presumably because I accidentally ordered the “deluxe” edition, which has an extra track on it. I was a little surprised by that.