The Best Way to Rip Scratched CDs in iTunes
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If not already in the General section in preferences, switch to this by selecting the menu tab.
Select Import Settings.
Check the box next to Use Error Correction When Reading Audio CDs.
Select OK > OK.
The Best Way to Rip Scratched CDs in iTunes
iTunes can help you salvage those old CDs
By Mark Harris Mark Harris Writer University of Wolverhampton Mark Harris is a former writer for Lifewire who wrote about the digital music scene and streaming music services in an easy to understand, no-nonsense manner. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 1, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Music, Podcasts, & Audio CDs, MP3s, & Other Media Music For Your Life Audio Streaming Podcasts RadioWhat to Know
For best results, enable error correction in Preferences.To enable in Windows, go to Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings > Use Error Correction When Reading Audio CDs.For macOS, go to iTunes > Preferences > General > Import Settings > Use Error Correction When Reading Audio CDs. This article explains how to enable error correction in iTunes. Instructions apply to Windows 10, Windows 8, and macOS.Is There a Remedy for Scratched CDs
As the aging compact disc has declined in popularity (due to the uptake in digital music), you may want to archive your collection of audio CDs. However, transferring songs from scratched CDs doesn't always go as planned. Depending on the severity of the scratches, you may be able to use the default rip settings in iTunes to import tracks successfully. However, even if the iTunes software rips the tracks without complaining, there could still be problems. When you play the digital music files, you might find they aren't perfect. You may hear audio errors such as pops, clicks, breaks in the songs, or other strange noise glitches. These sound imperfections are because the laser in the CD/DVD drive can't read the data correctly. So, on the surface, all can seem fine when using the default settings in iTunes to rip scratched CDs. However, there's always a chance that the encoding process won't be perfect. Short of using another third-party CD ripping tool, is there anything else that you can do in iTunes to get a better rip?Using Error Correction Mode in iTunes
Normally when you rip a CD without error correction enabled, iTunes ignores the ECC codes encoded on the disc. Enabling this feature uses these codes in combination with the read data to correct any errors. Processing this extra data takes longer, but your rip will be more accurate. By default, iTunes disables error correction in the rip settings. This is because it can take longer to copy a CD. However, when dealing with scratched CDs, this feature can mean the difference between success and failure. To enable this feature, follow the steps below.Opening the Preferences Screen
To enable error correction, you'll need to open the iTunes Preferences. Below is how you access Preferences for Windows and macOS.For Microsoft Windows
On the iTunes main menu screen, select the Edit menu tab at the top of the screen and choose Preferences.For Mac
Select the iTunes menu tab at the top of the screen and choose the Preferences option from the drop-down menu.Enabling Error Correction
The key to a successful CD rip is to enable error correction in iTunes.If not already in the General section in preferences, switch to this by selecting the menu tab.
Select Import Settings.
Check the box next to Use Error Correction When Reading Audio CDs.
Select OK > OK.