Only lossless codecs allow you to store the original quality and to go back to the original WAV.
That's almost true.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
If you want a bit-for-bit encoding, conventional methods of restoring a compressed file, even a lossless file, back to the original WAV format are not exactly accurate. For example: When compressing to FLAC format, FLAC will discard the none-audio bits from the file by default. It's possible to preserve this information, though (insert into the commandline:
--keep-foreign-metadata), but really it's not important information pertaining to the audio data.
Second, you won't be able to archive true 'bit-accurateness' with most CD ripping programs (ex: iTunes, Nero, Window Media Player) as they don't accommodate for a drive's read offset, among other things. Anyway, you all know where CloudStalker is heading with this one: Exact Audio Copy. This might be one of the few programs that can give you a bit-identical copy of the original audio data from the CD, with a bit of tweaking (*cough* see
here for tweaking *cough*).
Wha, CloudStalker had something in his throat.
Anywho, that's enough of CloudStalker's technobabble! or is it?
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
naw, it is.
![Cool :cool:](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Now if only CloudStalker can do something about this terrible...*cough*. Oops. You guys do NOT want to see what CloudStalker just coughed up!
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)