To start, I have an iPad Pro but could use my wife’s MacBook Air or my son’s window based PC if needed.

Any specific software, Apps and/or tricks that will make this easier to do?

For hardware, I have a portable Apple DVD/CD player but it is older and its permanently attached cable is Type A. My Apple devices now are Type C only so I’ll need an adapter - if there is one available.

I can buy a CD/DVD player for the Windows machine or a new Apple CD/DVD player with a Type C connector if that is what you all recommend.

Thoughts, suggestions, anything I should do or not do are all appreciated.

Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BB61,

You mean simply copying data files to an SD card?

Just either buy a USB a to c adapter or a whole new portable DVD(they are cheap) and copy paste.

If you are talking music then you probably want to use Apple products or ITUNES to rip to MP4s.

If you are talking DVD’s not CD’s that gets more complicated.

They sell many different kinds of usb a to usb c adapters. Like 10 bucks at walmart. The more important question is what type of files. Data files you just copy and paste from cd to sd. Audio files or DVD files will need a separate program to rip them from the cd/dvd to the computer, then these data files can be easily transferred to the SD card.

What are you trying to accomplish here?

Copy music CD's onto SD card? Or copy data CD's onto SD card?

I’m no expert, but I’ve used “Handbrake” to convert a DVD to mpeg 4 on a PC; uploaded the output files to iCloud on the PC, then they’re there to view on my iPad. I was also able to transfer the files to a thumb drive, and then I was able to view the files off the thumb drive I transferred them to.

USB A to USB C adapters are commonplace, There are also USB hubs that may better accommodate your requirements.

Similar with SD cards, but I haven't seen a direct USB C adapter, only USB A. If you need A for both the CD reader and the SD adapter, you might be better off with an externally-powered USB hub. A hub with its own power supply lessens the possibility of the USB bus losing power, a common failure with USB.

File system and file formats are another consideration. The SD card should be formatted in a file system the target device can understand. The files themselves on a CD are usually the same formats as those on other media, but...there are thousands of audio and video formats. Make sure the target device can read them, or be prepared to do a conversion. You will probably need "ripper" software to collect audio and/or video tracks from a CD. Fortunately, this software is readily available in both free and commercial distributions. I see several in the App Store with Paranoia2mp3 kind of jumping out of the pack.

Sorry MUSIC cds I own.

External CD drive, MacBook, and iTunes should do it. Rip the CDs to any standard music format and copy over to the SD card.

Get a USB-C hub that has all the connections you need to plug into.



Acer USB C Hub, 7 in 1 Multi-Port Adapter for Laptop, 4K, HDMI Splitter with 2 USB A 3.1 & Type-C to HDMI Data Port, PD 100W Charging, SD Card Reader for Computer, Desktop,

You asked a mechanical question. May I suggest that you search for the music on cds that you own within Apple Music?

There is no need to pull music from legacy media when Apple Music has it already.

If Apple Music has the music, simply enjoy it from that app.

I use Exact Audio Copy to rip my CD's from PC disc drive to external terabyte usb drive in FLAC format. I'm sure you could do it to any drive w/ a usb conncection.

https://www.exactaudiocopy.de/

I don’t know about Apple Music, but I was just talking to a buddy that says Dark Side of the Moon sounds flat coming from Amazon Music compared to his SACD copy. Last night I streamed a Jimmy Buffett album from Amazon Music and the track to track volume was ridiculously messed up. Half of the tracks were half the volume than the other half.

I’d rip my CDs to the best lossless format I could as storage is cheap. I’m glad I did that 12 years ago because all my 200+ CDs were stolen 10 years ago. I’m still pissed about the vinyl.

I use windows media player. Rip my CD's onto the laptop and transfer the entire file to my SD card. This way I have a back up and I can play the SD card in my car.

OK, two separate questions.

First, from CD to SD card - that's a hardware questions. You just need the right gadgets for that. The answers above have you covered.

Second, the from music cd to what is unanswered. Are you going to use the SD card in an iDevice? Your car? Computer? Music player? You need to figure out what format the files need to be in for your intended device. MP3 is probably the most versatile, and if your ears are like mine, MP3 quality is more than good enough, particularly if you're going to be using it where there is background noise. Software will dictate your choice here. I use EAC, as dsiets mentions.

Thanks all. My first non Apple adapter wouldn’t work but the second Apple one did. I’m copying CDs right now. I’ll look at the suggested format for the SD card. The Bluetooth player that we are using it has a SD card slot so I’ve got to see what the manual says.

I may be back but part one is going smoothly except it isn’t fast.

CD > Digital
'Rip' CD/DVD is the term you will see used. You'll need a way to connect a CD drive to a computer. Many, many ways to do that.
File types commonly used:
FLAC (lossless / high quality)
MP3 (compressed, can be low or high-ish quality)
I rip to MP3 on the highest quality settings:
320kbps- 320 kilobits per second. Above 192kbps I can't tell the difference between FLAC or MP3. 128kbps I can hear a loss in quality.
There is also Variable Bit Rate which can get high-quality with a slightly smaller file size. It's not worth the hassle to me to figure out the sweet spot for size/quality & compatibility.

For MP3 320kbps, you're looking at about 90-100MB for a Rock/Country/Metal CD - 4-5MB per song, unless it's a long one.
FLAC will be somewhere about 5x that size.

I've used:
MediaMonkey (paid version)
EAC, as suggested above for FLAC (free, easy & classic)
EAC > Foobar2000 for FLAC>mp3
Auto-Rip from Amazon (not common anymore, but awesome when you are buying on CD release day)
Torrents. DARK gray area, downloading songs you own on CD is technically legal, but sharing isn't,
Most audio programs will rip a CD to MP3, at least they used to - I've only used mediamonkey for the last 5+ years.

That info + some google will get you where you want to go.

Let the Mac handle the rip and let it convert to AAC. If you're playing through bluetooth you wouldnt hear the difference between lossless and AAC.


trapper189, I think Apple Music streams are generally better than Amazon but neither is Hi Rez and will pale in comparison to SACD or a high bitrate rip. Playback equipment and intended listening scenario have to be considered as well.

I understand. I’m saying rip it lossless as a back up. Amazon Music Ultra HD is supposed to be 24 bit with sample rates between 44.1kHz and 192kHz. The regular HD tracks are CD quality, 16 bit, 44.-kHz sample rate. Inhear the difference between a Bluetooth and a wired connection using the Amazon Music app on my iPhone 15 into the radio in my wife’s Explorer and my son’S GLI. The GLI has an after market stereo. My buddy’s home system is Klipschorns driven by McIntosh amps and preamp so I’m not shocked he hears a difference.

The track to track volume thing using Amazon Music I mentioned is streaming direct from the internet to the DAC built into a brand new Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805. No Bluetooth, no conversions and reconversions. I mean how can a streaming service screw up the track to track volume on a single album? I own the CD and half the tracks are certainly not half the volume of the other tracks. It wasn’t every other track or first half/second half. It was all mixed up.

My point being streaming is great, until it’s not and ripping your currently owned physical media may produce better results than streaming.

I didn’t know Amazon had high rez. Still being streamed though so I’m not at all surprised you can hear it, especially on a good system. I ripped all my cd’s years ago into flax with EAC but admit that music is mostly background noise for me these days and Apple Music is easy. I’d love to get back into vinyl but only if I can convince myself that I’ll sit still and listen for a while.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

Dark Side of the Moon sounds flat coming from Amazon Music compared to his SACD copy.

The only music streaming service that actually sounds good to me is the pay version of Spotify with high quality sound settings on. I've tried both the free and pay versions of Apple and Amazon music and they just sound tinny and flat to me.