Hi there,

I want to find information on how to rip and encode large numbers of
CDs into MP3 (or WMA, Ogg etc.) format easily and quickly. By large
numbers I am talking of potentially 100's per day. I want to stress
that this would be for legal copying only - it is a business idea I am
exploring that would rip people CDs for them, so they don't have to
sit in front of their PC for hours doing it themselves.

Requirements for the solution would be some kind of automatic CD
loader that can be set with a pile of CDs to work through, and
preferably software that can rip and encode from multiple sources
simultaneously. My ideal solution would be 1 PC with several CD
autoloaders attached, all working at the same time. The software also
has to be capable of pulling CD track, artist etc. info from e.g.
CDDB.com when it encodes the files. If the software could add some
form of DRM to the encoded files that would be a bonus (e.g. to
restrict the number of copies it is possible to make etc.)

I want to know alternative options for achieving this, suppliers and
costs. Although the business would be based in the UK, I would be
happy to purchase from US companies (Although UK companies would be
preferable).

Finally, I want to know if anyone else (In the US or UK) is offering
this kind of service, and what price they are charging.

I realise this is quite a large question, but for the $100 I'm
expecting a good review of the market, and detailed supplier
information - hope you can help!

Thanks

Dave

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Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 26 Nov 2003 16:23 PST

Hello dave76 -

There do seem to be bulk-ripping products out there, but ones that
interface with a CDDB-type service as well having a
set-it-and-forget-it arrangement for burning 100's a day may not be
available off-the-shelf.  I talked with a VP of Napster who said that
he knows a record label that went about processing their entire music
library by hiring temporary employees.  Another label employed a
custom solution.

In the event that an off-the-shelf product that does exactly what
you're looking for isn't available, are you interested in having a
custom solution developed?  I have located one company that will do it
for around $5000.

jbf777
researcher

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Clarification of Question by dave76-ga on 27 Nov 2003 03:49 PST

Yeah - I guess I'm not that surprised that there isn't an off the
shelf type set up available, I was expecting to have to assemble
something from various suppliers. Having said that, $5000 is probably
a reasonable amount if it includes the full cost of all the hardware
and software. Bear in mind that I don't want / need to *burn* 100's of
CD's a day, just rip them. The MP3's will then be burnt onto CDRs or
DVD-Rs from the serve that they are ripped and encoded to.

So - upshot is that while an existing solution would be great, I'm
prepared to spend the money for a custom set up - would be great to
see what you have found!

Thanks

Dave

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Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 27 Nov 2003 09:26 PST

Yes, sorry, I meant "reading 100's of CD's per day."

I will get more specific with the company as to what the $5000 would
include --  I'll see if I can negotiate a "turn-key" hardware/software
set-up for the price.  But even if it's just software, there may be
something like this that you can interface to, which would only be a
marginal cost increase:

300 CD carousel
http://store.yahoo.com/downtownaudio/sonycdpcx355.html

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Clarification of Question by dave76-ga on 01 Dec 2003 05:34 PST

Hi jbf777,

Can you let me know what you've got at the moment? I need some info for Tuesday.

Thanks

Dave

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Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 01 Dec 2003 08:48 PST

Dave -

Sure, I'll have something for you in a few hours.

jbf

Hello Dave -

I haven't been able to get a call-back from the company yet today, but
will post more information as I get it.

Appian Analytics is the company:

http://www.appiananalytics.com/about_us/index.htm#contact

I talked to Anthony (877.757.7646).  You'll have to leave a message
and he will get back to you.  There's also: sales@appiananalytics.com

The initial talk yielded a very rough ballpark of around $5000
(haven't been able to confirm if this will include everything, but it
looks as though it could be negotiable).  Further details of exactly
what you want to achieve will harden the number.  If they can't suit
your needs, please let me know and I will find an alternative source. 
Anthony said they would also do bulk processing of CD's to MP3 for
about $1 per CD (high volume).

Loudeye also does this service, although I haven't been able to get a
callback yet from Leslie at the company for any detail:

Loudeye
http://www.loudeye.com/common/aboutus/contactus.asp

Any information I receive I will post here.  I don't consider this
answer complete until you're completely satisfied with it.  If you
choose to rate this answer, please ask for any necessary clarification
or information beforehand.  Thanks for your understanding.


Search strategy:
 batch CD mp3
 bulk CD mp3
 CD mp3

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 02 Dec 2003 09:20 PST

Here are three services in the US that do what you're looking to do,
along with their respective pricing:

Tri-Angel
http://www.triangel.tv/contact.html
For personal CD's - 15-20 @ $25
For quantities over 100 - $25 + $.50 per CD

Get-Digital
http://www.get-digital.net/index.html
From 50-200 CDs, the price is $1.99/CD, from 201-400, the price is
$1.49/CD, and then any CD over 400, the price is $0.99/CD.

LoudEye
http://www.loudeye.com
Batch encoding by Loud Eye at 500 CD's minimum ($8+ per CD).  Mostly a
business-2-business company that handles big music labels.

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 02 Dec 2003 09:21 PST

Sorry, that should read:

Tri-Angel
http://www.triangel.tv/contact.html
Quantities of 15-20: $25
 Quantities of 100+: $25 (setup) + $.50 per CD

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 02 Dec 2003 09:33 PST

I talked to Anthony at Appian today.  His direct number is
925-866-4164.   He said the $5000 didn't include the hardware when he
quoted it (but that $5000 isn't a hard number, only a ballpark).  And
you could probably pick up a jukebox/carousel for $600-$1000 (or
possibly less second-hand),

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Request for Answer Clarification by dave76-ga on 03 Dec 2003 04:11 PST

Thanks for the info JBF - i will get in contact with Antony to
understand exactly what they can do, pricing etc. Do you have an email
address for him? It will be easier for me to contact him via email
over the next couple of weeks as I am travelling around Sri Lanka, and
the time difference will be very tricky.

Thanks - I will rate the answer when I've got more info from Antony

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 03 Dec 2003 08:28 PST

Dave -

Sure... Anthony's address is amilano@appiananalytics.com.

Actually, if things don't work out with this company, please let me
know before rating this answer, and I will see if I can find you an
alternative resource.

Thanks,

jbf

For the hardware, you should look at the autoloading cd duplicators -
maybe with custom software and the right connection between the
duplicator and the computer you could use one of these.

Here's one list of autoloading cd duplicators:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=autoloading

<a href="http://www.musicrip.com">MusicRip</a> is another service that
does CD conversions. Pricing is extremely competitive.

Hi 
Did you every get anywhere with this? I am interested in the answer/ solution

Thanks

Liam

It's possible to assemble very affordable bulk CD ripping stations
using Nakamichi changer drives and Riptastic! software.  Try the
following links:

http://www.riptastic.com/

http://www.riptastic.com/nakamichi.htm

You may want to consider multiple inexpensive ripping stations instead
of one large, expensive "super" station.  It could be more
cost-effective for you in the end.

Chuck

In fact, there are many cd to mp3 rippers, such as 'Easy cd ripper'
(http://www.topvideopro.com/cd-ripper/cd-to-mp3.htm), 'imtoo cd
ripper' (http://www.topvideopro.com/cd-ripper/cd-to-wav.htm).