How to rip a CD to FLAC or MP3 on Windows for free.

Before you start

You need a Windows computer, an audio CD and an internal or USB optical drive that can read CDs. Blackbox Ripper is free, requires no account or licence key and includes every available output format.

An internet connection is useful because Blackbox Ripper can look up album information through MusicBrainz and retrieve cover artwork through Cover Art Archive. You can still review and edit the information yourself before ripping.

CHOOSING A FORMAT

FLAC, MP3, AAC, WAV or AIFF?

The right format depends on how you plan to use the files. Blackbox Ripper supports five common choices:

FLAC

A lossless format that preserves the audio without creating files as large as uncompressed WAV. It is a strong choice for archiving a CD collection.

MP3

A widely supported compressed format. Choose it when smaller files and compatibility with older players are more important than lossless storage.

AAC

A compressed format commonly used across modern phones, media players and music libraries.

WAV

Uncompressed audio with broad compatibility in Windows and professional audio software. File sizes are larger.

AIFF

An uncompressed format commonly associated with Apple and professional audio workflows.

If you are unsure, choose FLAC for a lossless personal archive or MP3 for smaller files that will play almost anywhere.

STEP BY STEP

Rip an audio CD on Windows

1. Install and open Blackbox Ripper

   Download the Windows installer, complete the installation and open the application. Blackbox Ripper starts maximised so the track list and album information are easy to review.

2. Insert your audio CD

   Place the disc in an internal or USB optical drive. Select the correct drive if more than one is connected. The application reads the audio tracks and excludes data tracks from supported mixed-mode discs.

3. Retrieve the album information

   Allow Blackbox Ripper to search for the artist, album, track titles, release details and cover artwork. If more than one release matches the disc, choose the version that corresponds to your copy.

4. Check and edit the metadata

   Review the album title, artist, track names, year, genre and other available details. Correct anything that is missing or inaccurate before you create the audio files.

5. Choose FLAC, MP3 or another format

   Select FLAC, MP3, AAC, WAV or AIFF. Choose the destination folder and decide whether you want an M3U playlist and automatic disc ejection after a successful rip.

6. Select the tracks and start ripping

   Keep every track selected for the full album, or choose only the tracks you need. Start the rip and follow the overall and individual track progress until extraction is complete.

ORGANISED OUTPUT

What happens after the CD is ripped?

By default, Blackbox Ripper saves music inside a Blackbox Rips folder in Downloads. You can choose another destination before starting. The application creates a clean album folder and numbered track filenames, using a structure similar to:

Artist - Album Title (Year)\01 - Track Title.flac

The selected audio format determines the file extension. Supported metadata is embedded in the tracks, and available artwork can be embedded and saved as cover images. If you enabled the playlist option, an M3U playlist is created alongside the album.

When the rip finishes, the completion screen shows how many tracks were created and where they were saved. You can open the output folder directly and then import the files into your preferred music library or copy them to another device.

WHEN A DISC NEEDS MORE CARE

Ripping scratched or difficult CDs

The normal workflow is suitable for everyday ripping. For a disc that is scratched or difficult to read, enable secure retry mode before starting. This gives the extraction process additional opportunities to read troublesome areas.

Secure retry mode cannot repair physical damage or guarantee a perfect result from every disc. Clean the disc carefully, make sure the drive is stable and try another optical drive if repeated reading attempts fail.