Support for single file FLAC + CUE

[arigit]

Please add support for ripping entire CDs to single-file FLAC files + Cuesheet
(like EAC does). This format is popular in digital classical music collections.

[JoeLametta]

IIRC we discussed briefly about it saying this kind of ripping mode didn't really seem to be a worthwhile addition, even more so if you consider that a rip done with separate tracks + cue can be later converted to an "image" one (the reverse is also possible)^.

^ For example using CUETools (requires Mono)

Everybody: please comment on this issue.

[IvanDSM]

Since the ripper's main idea was for use on what.cd, and now Apollo/PTH, and all those sites (as well as the entire audiophile community) forbid single FLAC + CUE rips, I think we should not implement it. Although I do have rips in this format, I don't understand how it can be more useful than the normal FLAC per track mode.

Besides the issue of the forementioned sites discouraging this kind of rip, most hardware (and even many software) players also do not support single FLAC + CUE, which can be a hassle.

[arigit]

Well the ripper main idea in my case is to get reliable digital images of the CDs I bought since I don't have a CD player in my hifi audio gear any more - to add to my own personal collection, for my own use.
I would argue that with audiophiles - particularly those focused on Classical and live Jazz recordings - the single file flac format is very popular, I know I'm not the only one. It has excellent support in Kodi and many other linux-based players and library managers. It has some advantages: it's easier to achieve consistent metadata tagging - it has disadvantages too but at the end of the day it's about options and people can choose.
@joe: yes that's exactly what I do - I use a few of python scripts I wrote that use ffmpeg, to do the 'join' and build the cuefile. Having this in whipper would be a convenience. Since whipper seems geared towards audiophiles I thought it would apply.

[ArchangeGabriel]

While I don’t and won’t use this mode, I think we should support it but as optional, keeping the default as multiple tracks. They are valid use cases, and this is nowhere close to bloating whipper. ;)

[sirblew]

I'd love to see this added too. It would also be good to be able to embed the cue sheet into the flac.

[codyjochs]

Another vote for onetrack mode. I started my collection this way years ago. For me it is a matter of efficiency - less nested directories, less duplication of data, easier script writing/debugging.

[srussel]

Another vote from me. I like to store the master copy of my rips in single files + cue for playing on my HiFi (where I tend to listen to entire albums) and then use scripts to generate separate mp3 tracks for other devices as required.

[kmhofmann]

Another vote from me - lack of support for single-file FLAC & CUE is a deal breaker for me, since my whole collection is and will be stored this way.
Since this issue has been open for a while, without much activity recently, is there any pointer on what might be necessary to support this feature?

[MerlijnWajer]

I believe the cue file generation might need some more love, but otherwise - you can contribute some ffmpeg script to join the flacs into a single large flac, and modify the cue file for that file.

[brainchild0]

For those who value archival of a published album, single file ripping is a superior choice. As others note, a whole-disc audio file may be reconstructed from the cue sheet and the ripped tracks, but equally, the tracks may be split from the single file. The more caustic attacks against whole-disc audio files are not warranted. Whole disc rips leave open the option for splitting or extracting tracks for specific playback requirements.

It is certainly true that whole-disc rips have not been appealing for many, but a principle reason is limited support in software. Invoking this lack of popularity to argue against adding support in software is essentially circular.

My feedback on this point is personal. Support for whole-disc rips is an essential feature for any software I myself would use.

[bovinemagnet]

Any movement on this ?