How to create HQ VBR CD Rips

For this, two files are required to be downloaded.

CDEX – A FREE CD ripping utility based on LAME MP3 codec.
LAME MP3 dll file.

Download the CDEX program from here… CDEX Download

After downloading, install the program.

Now, download the LAME MP3 codec (again FREE) from here


Download page - Click -=HERE=-

After downloading the ZIP file, extract the zip into a temp folder (Ex. C:\TEMP\Lame_Codec\) and find the Lame_enc.dll file from the extracted folder (C:\TEMP\Lame_Codec\). Copy that DLL file to CDEX installation folder (just overwrite the existing one in that folder). (Normally it should be C:\Program Files\CDex_150 with default installation)

Now installation part is complete.

Next step is to configure the parameters to get the best VBR quality.

Now, run the CDEX program and select Options-> Settings from the main menu.

Change the encoder parameters to look like the following picture and click on OK button.
(Please note that the Encoder parameter should look like exactly same as shown in the picture. If it is showing differently, then either you selected a wrong option from the list or your DLL file is not the version I described earlier).

That’s it. Now it’s configured for the HQ VBR and you can RIP the CDs or convert the
.wav files (already copied from the CDs in the uncompressed format) to HQ – VBR.

You can configure the other tabs Generic, Filenames etc to suit your requirements.


If any one has a better way of ripping, please do post here.


Happy ripping !!!