CDex
CDex is a free, open source CD ripper that extracts audio tracks from music CDs and saves them as MP3, FLAC, WAV, OGG, or AAC files. It automatically identifies albums by querying the CDDB/freedb database, so track names, artist, and album info are filled in without manual typing. The LAME MP3 and FLAC encoders are built in. Windows only.
What it does
Insert an audio CD, and CDex reads the track list. Hit the CDDB button, and the program fetches album metadata from the internet - track titles, artist name, album name, year. Select the tracks you want, press F9, and they rip to your chosen format. You can set MP3 bitrate (128 to 320 kbps or VBR) in the encoder settings.
FLAC output preserves the original CD quality in a lossless compressed format. CDex also converts between audio formats without needing a CD - open an existing audio file and re-encode it to a different format.
Volume normalization evens out loudness across tracks so you do not have to adjust volume between songs from different albums.
Advantages
- Free and open source
- Automatic album recognition via CDDB/freedb
- LAME MP3 and FLAC encoders built in
- Format conversion without a CD
Drawbacks
- CD ripping is a niche use case now that streaming dominates
- Interface has not changed much in years
- Exact Audio Copy (EAC) is more accurate for archival ripping
- No support for copy-protected CDs
Who it is for
CDex is a quick, no-fuss CD ripper for people who still have music CD collections. It gets the job done for casual ripping to MP3 or FLAC. For audiophile-grade archival with error correction, Exact Audio Copy (EAC) is more thorough but harder to set up. CDex is the faster option when perfect accuracy is not the priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CDex free?
What formats can CDex rip to?
Is CDex or Exact Audio Copy better?
Features & How-To Guide
| # | Feature | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Music ripping from CD to MP3 | Insert CD disc › CDex reads tracks › Check tracks › F9 (Extract) › Select LAME MP3 encoder › Ripping. |
| 2 | Automatic album and track recognition | Insert disc › CDDB › Read Remote › Program downloads track names/artist/album from online database › No need to type manually. |
| 3 | Rip music to lossless FLAC | Insert disc › Options › Settings › Encoder › Select FLAC › F9 › Lossless quality ripping. |
| 4 | MP3 quality and bitrate settings | Options › Settings › Encoder › LAME MP3 › Set bitrate (128/192/256/320 kbps) or VBR mode. |
| 5 | Downloaded file ID3 tag editing | After ripping › Right-click file › Edit ID3 Tag › Edit title/artist/album/year/genre › Save. |
| 6 | Audio format conversion 4 | File › Convert › Select audio files › Target format (MP3/FLAC/WAV/OGG) › Convert › Converts without need for CD. |
| 7 | Volume normalization during ripping | Options › Settings › Encoder › Normalize › Equalizes volume of all tracks to same level. |
| 8 | Recording audio from audio input | Record › Select source (microphone/line-in) › Record directly to MP3 or WAV. |
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