Thursday, October 28, 2010

How to Convert or Rip Audio CD into AAC format

This is a simple process if you know how and have got the right tools.

Objective: To convert CD Audio into the AAC format.

Requirements:
These are needed for extracting and converting into AAC audio format.

1. Audio CD extracting software

2. AAC encoding codec

Why AAC?
The real practical reason for my case in choosing AAC was simply because my Nokia phone accepts AAC format. I understand AAC is also used by iPhone and other Apple products. In addition, although MP3 is widely used, there is always a cloud of uncertainty over the licence of MP3 encoding algorithms. This is one reason it is difficult to get free MP3 encoders. Also AAC is newer and is supposed to be a bit better in quality than MP3 formats. Like MP3, AAC is also a lossy format.

Specific Tools Download:
The above requirement are satisfied with the tools listed here. (Please note that this guide shows you the quick and simple way to save your Audio CD into AAC format. They are not the best tool, they are not the only tool, they are simply the tools I found and they work)

1. CD Ex
http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/?q=download
This is a simple yet powerful CD extracting software. It can support extraction into various format such as MP3, OGG, VQF, AAC and others. A few of the format such as AAC require you to obtain the codecs by yourself - see next step.

2. PsyTEL MPEG-4 AAC Encoder
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_video/convert_audio/psytel_aac_enc.cfm
Alternative site:
http://cid-3157d7aac580c23e.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/aacenc%5E_v215.zip

There is only a few AAC encoders available and this (PsyTEL) seems to work OK. The other AAC encoder is from Nero.
Note that this encoder allow the audio extracting software such as CDEx to encode the audio into the AAC format. If you want to play it back, then your software player (eg WinAMP) may need to add a plugin AAC decoder (Not covered in this article)


Usage:
1. Install the CDEx.
2. Unzip the AAC encoder and put somewhere in your local drive.
3. Run the CDEx program.
4. Go to Options -> Settings.
5. Go to the Encoder tab.
6. Select the "Psytel AAC Encoder" from the dropdown list called Encoder.
7. In the same dialog box, in the Encoder Path text field, choose the correct path where the AAC encoder was unpacked to in Step 2. Click OK.
8. Wait for the audio files to appear on CDEx.
9. Go to the Convert menu.
10. Select "Extract CD track(s) to a Compressed Audio File"

Friday, October 15, 2010

How to Cook ROMs

Currently this page is a collection of links on how to cook ROMs.

What is cooking ROMs about? It is for people wanting to replace their Operating Systems (OS) on portable devices (mobile phones, PDA, tablets, iPads) with their own customized version with their own choice of built in applications.

Why is this page just links? Because I am in the process of learning and researching on how to actually cook some ROMs. So here is a record of links which I think provide good information. When I have successfully cook some ROMs and have something to add, I may write my own guide.

Mobile Phone / PDAs
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=313920
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=691789
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=628948
http://www.1800pocketpc.com/2010/09/06/rom-cooking-tutorial-for-windows-mobile-from-techparaiso-tutorial.html
http://www.1800pocketpc.com/2010/06/02/want-to-know-how-to-cook-a-rom-like-the-pros-new-step-by-step-guide-in-the-making.html


Tablets
http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/gome-flytouch/1655-how-install-rom-your-tablet.html
http://androidforums.com/tablets-mids/90106-warning-anyone-interested-eken-apad-100-tablets.html