What CD-ripping / MP3 encoding / MP3 decoding software should I use?
You can ask around in absm.d or visit http://www.mp3-converter.com/decoders/, the Utilities section of this site, http://www.dbpoweramp.com/, or www.mp3.com for information on software. But keep in mind that there is no 100% “right answer”. When looking for an encoder, opinions of what’s “best” vary person to person. When looking for a ripper you might have problems with a piece of software that somebody else loves, all depending on your particular hardware setup. It would be easy to recommend CDEX. It’s free, and it works well. Having said that, there is probably someone who hates it. Try a lot of things, and see what works best for you.