Provided by: jack_3.1.1+cvs20050801-29.1_amd64 
NAME
Jack - rip and encode CDs with one command
SYNOPSIS
jack [options]
DESCRIPTION
Jack transforms your audio-CDs to FLAC, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis files. It uses several helper programs in order
to achieve functions such as ripping, encoding and, tagging files with meta information. Ripping is
either done via cdparanoia (in which case the ripping status is displayed by Jack as well) or cdda2wav.
Jack works with several encoders, namely oggenc, flac, lame, gogo, bladeenc, l3enc, mp3enc and xing. Any
time during operation (and even when everything is finished and the original CD lost) you can let Jack
look up the track names at freedb.org and rename the tracks accordingly. Tagging of audio files with meta
information about artist, track title, etc. is performed as well.
If no freedb-lookup has been performed, Jack drops all files in a directory ~/jack/jack-xxxxxxxx, with
xxxxxxxx representing the CD's CDDB/FreeDB disc ID. This directory is renamed by Jack when the
appropriate information is known.
Most options like ripper, encoder, preferred FreeDB-Server, directory and sound file format, etc. can be
user defined by changing the defaults in /etc/jackrc or by saving them to ~/.jack3rc. Additional
rippers, encoders and FreeDB servers can be defined by users through the help of a plug-in directory (as
defined by the plugin_path option which defaults to ~/.jack_plugins).
While Jack is running, these keyboard commands are available:
q or Q quit
p or P disable ripping (for example, if you need the CD drive)
p or P (again) or c or C
resume ripping
e or E pause/continue all encoders
r or R pause/continue all rippers.
? toggle the copyright/help box
OPTIONS
Different options need different data-types as arguments:
bool can be "yes" or "no", like in --vbr=yes
string can be anything, like in --rename-fmt "%n.%t"
int an integer number, like in --bitrate 192 (or --bitrate=192 )
list multiple strings, delimited by the final ";". Example: --guess-toc file1.mp3 file2.mp3 ...
fileN.mp3 \;
Jack understands the following options:
--append-year string
append this string to the directory name (useful with %y to add the year an album was released)
-b, --bitrate int
target bitrate (in kbit/s, default is 160).
--char-filter string
convert file names using a python method
--charset string
charset of filenames (defaults to your locale).
-c, --check-toc
compare toc-file and cd-toc, then exit. Jack caches the TOC of a CD in a file ("jack.toc"). If you
want to know if the inserted CD matches the toc-file in the current directory, use this option.
-C, --claim-dir
rename directories even if they were was not created by Jack.
--cont-failed-query
continue without FreeDB data if query fails.
-D, --create-dirs
tells Jack to create sub-directories in which Jack puts all the files for the current CD. If no
FreeDB data is available, i.e. when not using -Q , these directories will be named "jack-
xxxxxxxx" where "xxxxxxxx" stands for the CD's FreeDB ID. Otherwise dir_template (see above) will
be used. This option is turned on by default.
--device string
The device-name of your cdrom-drive. The default is /dev/cdrom
--dir-template string
if directories are renamed, this is the format used (default "%a/%l")
-d, --dont-work
don't do DAE, encoding, tagging or renaming. This may be useful if you only want to do a FreeDB
query, e.g. while another jack is running.
--edit-freedb
open an editor to change the CDDB information which has been obtained previously (only useful with
-Q).
--encoder-name, -E string
use which encoder (default "oggenc")
-e, --encoders int
encode how many files in parallel. If you have a SMP machine or simply want to stress your system,
you can have Jack encode several files at once (default 1).
-x, --exec
run predefined command when finished.
--extt-is-artist
the artist is contained in the EXTT fields. The EXTT fields are lines in the FreeDB file which
contain additional data for each track. As it's the submitting user's choice what to use them for,
Jack can't determine by itself what they were intended for. You have to provide this information.
--extt-is-title
the track title is contained in the EXTT fields.
--extt-is-comment
a track comment is contained in the EXTT fields.
--force
do not ask. Like when deleting incomplete files.
-f, --from-tocfile string
rip from a cdrdao created CD image on hd. The specified toc-file contains the name of the image
file. Use -F if jack can't find the image file.
-F, --from-image string
read audio data from image file. Like --from-tocfile, but the image itself is specified instead of
the tocfile. If you do not have a toc-file (or don't specify a toc-file), the TOC is read from the
CD itself.
-g, --guess-toc list
make up a TOC from the list of sound file given. The format is track_01.ogg ... track_nn.ogg ;
Note that the trailing " ; " is only necessary if you want to append more options to your command
line. You can use it to do a FreeDB query based on your sound files alone - no need for the CD.
Very useful if you have no idea which CD the songs are from. The songs must be given in the same
order as they were on their CD. The generated TOC file is similar, but not identical to the TOC of
the CD - do not submit these!
-G, --id3-genre string
set ID3 genre. Use 'help' to get a list of all known genres. (You can also specify the ID3v1 genre
as an int)
-Y, --id3-year int
set the year of the album (the term ID3 comes from MP3 but this option also works with other audio
formats, such as OGG Vorbis and FLAC)
-h, --help
Show summary of options.
-k, --keep-wavs
do not delete WAVs after encoding them.
-m, --mail-submit
submit FreeDB entry via e-mail. HTTP submission is preferred. You will have to enter the category
of the CD.
-l, --max-load float
only start new encoders if your system's load is below the specified value. /proc/loadavg must be
readable by you for this to work.
--multi-mode
try to query FreeDB for all dirs in searchdirs which have no FreeDB data.
--my-mail string
your e-mail address, needed for FreeDB submissions.
-n, --nice int
nice-level with which the encoders are started. Default is 12 which shouldn't hurt your system
much.
-o, --overwrite
overwrite existing files, i.e. do not check if already ripped WAVs or an already encoded file seem
to be OK. Use this if you know something went wrong last time. This is off by default.
-O, --only-dae
only produce WAVs, implies --keep-wavs. This is off by default.
--otf=bool
On-the-fly operation. Only on some encoders/rippers. Do not create WAVs, pipe ripper output
through the encoder. Default is no as it's a torture for the CDROM drive.
--quality int
vbr encoding quality. -1 is lowest, 10 highest (default 6). You can also specify a float.
-q, --query
do FreeDB query when all is done. This is useful if Jack was previously run without a FreeDB
query. If all tracks are done you don't even have to have a CD inserted as the TOC is cached by
Jack. After having finished ripping and encoding, Jack will rename the files and tag them.
--query-if-needed=bool
like --query-now, but only if FreeDB data hasn't been successfully queried before.
-Q, --query-now
do FreeDB query when starting. Use this if you are connected to the Internet when starting Jack.
Know that the query may need user-interaction. After having finished ripping and encoding, Jack
will rename the files and tag them.
-a, --read-ahead int
read how many WAVs in advance. At most read_ahead + num_encoders WAVs are ripped before a track
has completely been encoded. Default is 99 which will read the whole CD, provided there is enough
disk space.
--remove-files
have Jack remove its temp jack*-files. Be careful - don't delete them too early!
-R, --rename
rename and tag files according to FreeDB file. On startup, Jack creates a blank FreeDB entry file
(except if --query-now is used, then the file is queried from your FreeDB server). If you have
changed its contents (e.g. because the CD was unknown to FreeDB) and want to rename and tag your
audio files accordingly, use this option. Give all other needed options too, like -t , -E , ...
--rename-dir=bool
rename directory as well (default).
--rename-fmt string
format of normal files (default "%n - %t")
--rename-fmt-va string
format of Various Artists files (default "%n - %a - %t")
--rename-num string
format of the track number (%n, printf() style) used to rename the files (default "%02d")
-r, --reorder=bool
optimize track-order for disk space. This can save you some peak disk space during the encoding
process; this may make it possible to do a CD which would otherwise fail to be encoded.
--replacement-chars list
unusable chars are replaced by the corresponding list item (default "%").
--ripper string
which program to use for extracting the audio data (default "cdparanoia").
--save save options to ~/.jack3rc file and exit.
--scan-dirs int
Scan this many levels from the current working directory for a matching toc-file (0 to disable,
default 2).
--search list
add these directories to the list of directories searched when looking for the workdir (default
".").
--server string
which FreeDB server to use. Don't forget to set your HTTP proxy. Currently either "freedb"
(default) or "freedb-de".
--silent-mode=bool
be quiet (no screen output).
-s, --space int
forcibly set usable disk space, in bytes. This option lets you limit the disk space Jack uses,
maybe you need it for something else? Be careful: if set too high or too low, ripping and encoding
will probably fail. The default is to look how much is free and to use this value.
--submit
submit FreeDB entry via HTTP. You will have to enter the category of the CD.
-S, --swab=bool
swap byte order from image file. As cdrdao momentarily only outputs "raw" .cdr files, you quite
likely want to swap the byte order. Try this option if your WAVs and encoded files contain only
noise. This is on by default as cdrdao currently generates .cdr files that are "wrong".
--todo print what would be done and exit.
-t, --tracks string
limit ripping and encoding to the specified tracks, use comma to separate tracks. Ranges are also
possible; 5-9 is equivalent to 5,6,7,8,9; 12- is like specifying track 12,...,last_track. The
default is to process the whole CD.
-u, --undo-rename
undo file renaming and exit. If you don't like how Jack renamed your files, use this option to
restore the previous state. Several levels of undo are possible. Note that meta information tags
are not restored.
--unusable-chars list
characters which can't be used in filenames (default "/").
--upd-progress
have Jack re-create its temp files. Use this if you deleted them too early.
--update-freedb, -U
update the FreeDB info and exit.
--usage-win=bool
show the help screen while running.
-v, --vbr=bool
Generate variable bitrate files, only on encoders which support this. Default is yes.
--various=bool
when parsing FreeDB data, Jack assumes that if the disc´s artist is set to "Various" the track
titles have the format "[artist] - [title]". If the disc title is set to something else and you
still want the above behaviour, use --various.
--various-swap
exchange artist and title, many FreeDB entries have them wrong.
--wait=bool
wait for key press before quitting.
-w, --workdir string
where to create directories and put the files.
--write-id3v1=bool
write a smart id3v1 tag to the encoded file.
--write-id3v2=bool
write an id3v2 tag to the encoded file.
--write-m3u
create a playlist in .m3u format. This has bugs, don't rely on it.
CONFIG FILE OPTIONS
In addition the the command line options, there are some options that can only be set directly in the
config file.
freedb_dir
all FreeDB queries will be done in this (local) directory; failed local queries will be done via
the network. Example: /var/spool/freedb
EXAMPLES
Insert a CD, fire up jack:
jack
Now watch it work. It's fun for a while. After having finished, you have the following files on your HD:
track_01.mp3, track_02.mp3, ..., track_nn.mp3 plus jack.toc, jack.freedb, jack.progress. The last three
are used to store the state jack is in so it can resume work when interrupted.
Jack will create a directory called jack-xxxxxxxx for you, there it stores all the file for the CD whose
id is xxxxxxxx. After a FreeDB query this directory is renamed to something human readable, like "Artist
- Title".
When jack is interrupted, call it again using the same command line as before to resume work, in this
case
jack
Now let's try a FreeDB query:
jack -q
If the query is successful the files will be renamed to something more readable and will be tagged
accordingly using ID3 or Vorbis tags. The file jack.freedb will contain the queried FreeDB entry, and
the original file will be backed up as jack.freedb.bak.
You can use the --rename-fmt option in order to specify the format of the name which will be given to
your audio tracks. A list of valid options can be found below. You may also want to specify a set of
characters which are not usable and should be replaced. For example, on Unix systems the slash (/)
should most certainly be replaced with something else. The VFAT filesystem also does not support double
quotes ("). In order to replace such characters, you can specify the options unusable_chars together
with replacement_chars. For example,
jack -Q --rename-fmt "%n-%t" --unusable-chars A I ; --replacement-chars a i ;
will query the FreeDB server, rip and encode all tracks of the CD and save the files in a format which
will contain the track number and the title. All occurances of the letters A and I will be replaced with
their lower-case versions. These options can also be put in one's configuration file using the following
format:
unusable_chars:[' ', '/']
replacement_chars:['_', '_']
This will replace whitespace and slashes with underscores. If you want to convert all characters to
lower-case, you don't have to manually specify all of them but can use the following option instead:
char_filter:.lower()
All in one: query, rip, encode, cleanup:
jack -Q --remove-files
Editing / normalizing / stripping the WAV files before encoding:
jack -O -D --remove-files ; gnoise *wav ; jack -g *wav ; jack
Just replace gnoise by the operation you'd like to perform.
PLUG-INS
Additional rippers, encoders and FreeDB servers currently not known by jack can be defined using jack's
plug-in mechanism. Plug-ins have to be put in the ~/.jack_plugins directory (or the path defined by the
plugin_path option). The plug-ins are simple Python scripts which define a hash with the values for your
ripper, encoder or FreeDB server. For rippers and encoders, the hash plugin_helpers has to be defined
while additional FreeDB servers are specified in plugin_freedb_servers. Both expect another hash whose
names corresponds to the entry you want to add (prefixed by plugin_) and have to define certain values.
Two examples are provided, jack_plugin_cddb.py (to define a new FreeDB server) and jack_plugin_lame.py
(to show how rippers and encoders can be defined). After defining plug-ins, you have to manually select
them by specifying the ripper, encoder, or CDDB server. An example would be:
jack --encoder-name plugin_lame --ripper plugin_foo --server plugin_cddb
Plug-ins can also be used to define your own rippers and encoders which uses different options than those
used by default by jack.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
There are several environment variables which can be used in jack's exec hooks:
JACK_BASE_DIR
lists jack's base directory in which files are stored.
JACK_CUR_DIR
lists the current directory of jack in which files of the current album are put.
JACK_JUST_ENCODED
lists all track names which have just been encoded.
JACK_JUST_RIPPED
lists all track names which have just been ripped.
FORMAT STRINGS
%n Track number
%a Artist
%t Track title
%l Album title
%y Album release year
%g Album genre
FILES
/etc/jackrc
Site-wide configuration file.
~/.jack3rc
User-specific configuration file. Use the --save option to save your configuration to this file.
AUTHOR
Arne Zellentin <zarne@users.sf.net> is the author of Jack.
SEE ALSO
cdparanoia(1), cdda2wav(1), flac(1), oggenc(1) and lame(1) November 22, 2004 JACK(1)