Developer: CDRoller Soft Co. Ltd.
OS: Win 95/98/ME
Installed Size: 2MB+
Function: Ripping, Encoding

Other products you may be interested in:

• MP3 to WAVE Converter Plus
• CDex
• Exact Audio Copy

CDRoller is a ripper, encoder, and utility built into one, with a variety of non-standard features that make it a bit more interesting than average.

For starters, CDRoller incorporates technology that gives direct access to your CD drive, bypassing the Windows file system for greater accuracy and speed. The company also claims very process digital audio extraction algorithms for virtually non-existant clicks and pops in your rips. For encoding, the program supports both Blade and LAME encoders, both high quality freeware programs that will make good MP3s.

The other features bundled with the program are unique. Included is a media analysis tool. This feature will scan any CD in your drive and give information on the kinds and number of tracks, the kinds of sessions burned on the disc, and image information. Another of the additional features is a data recovery tool. Simply insert a damaged CD into the drive and the company claims CDRoller has superior recovering ability over Windows tools.

I have not been able to personally review this tool since a release in Windows 2000 & XP versions is not due until sometime in the first half of 2002. Until then, if these features match your needs, it may be just the tool you are looking for.