Convert CDA files to MP3 or WAV?

[Hilcat]

OK, I know I'm a newbie, and Acoustica may be overkill, but all I want to do is convert CDA files to so I can listen to the music via my Android smartphone. I tried downloading different programs, but kept getting malware. The one I tried before Acoustica (CDA MP3 Converter by Zisun) didn't have access to FreeDB or CDDB. Then I had the opportunity to buy Acoustica Standard version inexpensively, and I thought I read it could convert, but I can't figure out how.

I was able to open the CD files in Acoustica, and the Help files says that to change the settings, do a File-> Save As, but when I click that, nothing happens.

Can I use Acoustic for this, and if so, how?

Thanks!
Hilcat

[BertKoor]

Just checking, you mean this type of CDA files?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.cda_file
Or to put it plain, you're ripping compact disks?

What I've always used for this with great success (and for free) is CDex
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDex http://cdex.mu/
After installation it also needs you to install lame_enc.dll for mp3 conversion because the LAME license doesn't allow redistribution. At least, that used to be the situation. According to the latest FAQ that's not nescessary anymore.

[whyterabbyt]

What I've always used for this with great success (and for free) is CDex.

Whut he said.

[cron]

I used to use CDex many years back too, but is the stuff about adware being bundled with it these days really true? Immediately on the shitlist for me if so.

Original poster - if you're a total newb at this stuff, you might be best served just using whatever tools come with the OS. If you're on Windows, Foobar can read and convert most formats and is fairly simple to use.

[GaryG]

Just to expand: a CDA file doesn't contain any audio data, it's just a file containing pointers to where on the CD the data is actually stored. So, not possible to convert a CDA to MP3 etc. You'll need to rip the data as the boys above said. I've found Windows Media Player rips fine nowadays if you don't want to download anything else.

[Hilcat]

Yes, I'm converting standard audio CDs so I can listen to music on my daily commute without carrying another device (CD Player, Ishuffle, etc.) I own plenty of CDs I already like, but my Android phone doesn't read CDA files.

If Acoustica won't do it, the CDex sounds like a good alternative - if there's no adware.

I had looked at Foobar, but downloading components and encoders etc. seemed like more of a pain. Not so bad in reality?

[cron]

Foobar is pretty straightforward IMO. I did need one of the additional components to play a really esoteric format once, and it turns out adding components is as simple as downloading the file and putting it into the 'components' folder. Automatically detected from there. IIRC you shouldn't need any components, but have a poke through the components page in case any look useful.

Adding LAME MP3 encoder is easy. Download Lame.exe and keep it anywhere on your drive. You don't need to run it, and running it will likely appear to do nothing anyway. The first time you go to convert to MP3, Foobar will just ask where lame.exe is.

Sorry if I'm a bit off the mark accuracy wise here, but on holiday so away from my computer at the moment. It's certainly not as difficult as it seems anyway

[xenofungus]

Install cygwin and mplayer then you can do something like this:
mplayer -ao pcm:file=<file-name.wav> cdda://<track-number>

mplayer has built-in EAC engine. all the mentioned s/w are free.

[annode]

Yeah, Windows Media Player for ripping to mp3 is my choice as well...although I haven`t seen WMP since ver.10.0 so Microsoft has had plenty of time to screw it all up by now.
The actual files on cd are wave files.

[BertKoor]

The actual files on cd are wave files.

Sort of... both are PCM, yeah. Audio compact disks don't actually hold files. Just raw data.