Windows 7: Flac to cd?

Good evening everybody. I'm looking for the best and highest quality way to rip flac music files to a cd. Which programs either free or not work the best.
Also what's a good program to make a cover design for my cd cases. Nothing special just an easy
way to list songs and concert venues .

Thanks in advance
Joe

The last I checked, EAC was still very highly regarded and can cope with scratched discs well.

CDex is also well thought of, but I'm not sure if will rip to FLAC. Probably does.

Both are free.

CDex probably easier to use.

Edit:

You say rip to CD.

Do you mean rip from?

Or do you mean burn to?

If you mean burn, try Imgburn.

If the OP is ripping, then your thoughts on EAC and CDex are on point. With a pristine CD, they both will do a quality rip, but scratched CD's are handled better by EAC, as you mentioned. And you're right about ease of use too....EAC can be rather intimidating to the uninitiated.

I'm sorry being a novice sometimes my terminology isn't correct.
What I'm trying to do is that I purchase downloads from livedownloads in
flac format and then I just want to leave them stored on my computer and then
"burn" them to a music cd that I can play on my home stereo.
I was just looking for a program that will allow me to burn my cd's .
On my old XP computer I went through the extra steps of converting the flac files
to wave using cd wave editor and then burning them.

Thanks
Joe

I think Windows 7 has built in burning capabilities. I have no idea if it can burn FLAC or if it is a good program.

If you want another program, Imgburn is highly regarded and free. I assume it can handle FLAC files, but I never use FLAC personally.

You better check out whether or not your playback device (car, home stereo, etc) can play FLAC files on a disc. Maybe they can't--in which case you would still have to convert FLAC to WAV.

Another idea:

Don't use CDs at all.

Connect the sound card on your computer to your home stereo and play back directly from your hard drive using a program on your PC. You have much more control and capacity than you would from a CD.

I do this with a wired connection, but there are wireless methods as well. The only disadvantage is that a PC must be running.

I burn CDs too, but I only use them in a car.

in which case you would still have to convert FLAC to WAV.


Good point I didn't even think about that. I guess I'll just go back to my old ways but since my new computer is so fast it will be done in a flash.
Here's the program I used in the past . It costs $15 on the honor system but it does a great job.


MiLo Software

Hi all
VERY VERY EASY

1) Download and install FREE NERO mega plugin from here

Download Nero Mega Plugin Pack 1.0 - A package that will give you more features than Enterprise Edition - Softpedia

2) Now use NERO (V6 and above) to Compile your Audio CD from your FLAC file

just use Create Audio CD, drag 'n drop your Flac files to the left hand pane -- note for an Audio CD don't exceed 74 - 80 mins.

3) Burn to an image (.nrg) -- I do this first as I can then mount the "CD" with ALCOHOL 52% (also FREE) to check the CD is OK -- only takes a few seconds extra and save wasting CD's.

4) Now Burn the .NRG to a Real CD -- use "Burn Image" in Nero.

Normally NERO is bloatware these days but if you can find V6 or V7 works fine in Windows 7 (even X-64) and its great for this purpose.

I have nearly 1500 CD's all burned to FLAC and often make my own CD or MiniDisc (yes I still use those as well) compilations for playing in a Car etc.

I don't like MP3's since I knew eventually I'll have to re-rip when playing music on decent quality stuff -- now done in FLAC.

BTW some places are now offering STUDIO QUALITY downloads 24 bit @ 192 KHZ - remember a CD is "only" 16 bit @44.1 khz. Still good of course.

Here's a note from LINN RECORDS about decent recording formats- great place for EXTREMELY high qualitry music downloads - puts "ICHUNES" to absolute shame.

Recording Formats

As for Music streaming in FLAC -- the Logitech squeezebox system does it --great system - also works on Linux and Macs and is FAR FAR cheaper than anything else --especially the hugely expensive sonos system.

Info about "Squeezebox System " --plays FLAC directly.

http://www.logitechsqueezebox.com/

Cheers
jimbo