CORPSECORPS  All those individual windows turn me off.

Unify.  
(Version 0.9.1)

BUSHBABYWAS  Great app, but a few changes might make it better.

1) Add an option to ignore errors (e.g. iTunes file permission errors) and continue encoding.

2) Display encoding progress in the main window rather than a separate log

3) Have a way to automatically search for the album/cd artwork using the default browser and for example, discogs.

Even without these features, Max together with XLD are the perfect set of music encoding tools.  
(Version 0.9.1)

SYDNEYMACGIRL  This is a great application! It's very easy to use, and I particularly like how it can create a named playlist in iTunes for you.   
(Version 0.9.1)

WHIZBANG  RUBAIYAT,

If you have you iTunes library music in say AAC but in this case want to have Apple lossless files for an archive or maybe a friend then you are faced with changing iTunes preferences, ripping the file(s). Determining which are which in your iTunes library ,both AAC and Apple lossless files are .m4a, and don't forget to change iTunes preferences back. Similar multi step clunky wastes of time processes are necessary for all other file types. Apple intended iTunes for adding music to the iTunes library and was very successful in making it unattractive to use it for utility ripping. A good solid stand alone ripper is necessary for anyone who serious about music as an avocation. I personally use XLD.  
(Version 0.9.1)

GARRETT D  Probably off topic a bit but

I've gotten some folders with the music in .flac files for each song and a .cue file which seems to have to do with drawing some tracks closely together but maintaining a 'normal' track to track time for others.

I've scoured the web looking for how to utilize the .cue file in burning audio CDs with their timing intact. Surely there is some Mac way of doing this or am I to face the wrath of my Windows friends for having to get them to do it for me?  
(Version 0.9.1)

RUBAIYAT  If all you are doing is ripping CDs why not just use iTunes?

iTunes does an excellent job and has all the other tools for tagging files etc built in.  
(Version 0.9.1)

JORGEHP  When I activate the iTunes' Sound Check feature it says that Max's encoded songs have a lower volume (negligible I admit) than those encoded with iTunes, why is that?  
(Version 0.9.1)

MITCH_DE  Fast, solid - i only use that tool !

Tried other free+ shareware but none had allinone functions of Max.

Thanks for updating Max !  
(Version 0.9.1)

OSSIE  You people don't know about XLD?   
(Version 0.9)

NYMPHE  I couldn't set any format at the preferences window. It doesn't show up anything at all. Is it a Snow Leopard issue?  
(Version 0.9)

MRGANDO  This app made my day :) ( and has been doing it for a while now )

Thanks for keeping it free.  
(Version 0.8.1)

SUBFACE  Works GREAT! I was bummed that AudioHub was discontinued but am very happy with this app as a replacement and can't believe it's free.

The only thing I wish it did differently was ask which output format you want when you hit 'convert' instead of having it be set in the preferences, so if you want to convert 2 files and with different output formats you wouldn't have to go into the preferences in between.

But considering it's free I'm totally fine doing that :)  
(Version 0.8.1)

DOM21  This was recommended for converting a .wma audio file to a mp3.

Forget it, don't even bother. It won't even do step 1, recognize a wma file.  
(Version 0.8.1)

SMTIPS  Tried to convert to aac from flac, the files won't open in iTunes. Generic icon, they want to open in QT. iTunes won't even see them when I drag them to the window. Using 10.5.6...this used to work under 10.5.5, don't know what the difference is.  
(Version 0.8.1)

TENKDAY  Awesome program to add to my arsenal. Very fast. Free. Shares a name with my cat. Thanks!  
(Version 0.8.1)

SHOCK J  I really like the app and it would be my main encoder except for the one major problem... album/song tagging. The MusicBrainz DB is total garbage. It finds less than half of the CDs I want to rip. This app should either switch to Gracenote or AT LEAST check the iTunes DB to see if the album info is there. Since iTunes does use Gracenote, it almost always finds the correct album info. Max could simply use that. This has got to be an easy fix.  
(Version 0.8.1)

CORPSECORPS  I grabbed this to use LAME to re-encode some FLAC files. It's very slick and easy to use.

However, it would be nice if the documentation was up to date and more complete. Also, i was a little disappointed it didn't allow more extensive fine control over the LAME encoder settings for those wishing to use them. GUI software always seems to limit access to specific parameters, or require them to be entered command-line style which requires looking them up in arcane reference.

It would be nice if an extended GUI was provided to get to ALL the LAME parameters. It's also unfortunate that MusicBrainz can't be accessed to re-tag or complete the tags of files being converted.  
(Version 0.8.1)

JRISKIN  Had some .FLAC files, wanted .MP3/.M4A (aac)...

Worked quickly and easily. Lots of options.  
(Version 0.8.1)

JAMUS  For some reason I cannot get it to rip anything past the first track. I have all tracks checked but when it completes the first track it bombs off with an error. This has happened several times in a row.

I will try it again and try to get a screenshot to post to give a better idea of what my be happening.

I like the idea of a free LAME ripper, but so far I will have to give it a 2 overall.  
(Version 0.8.1)

MACLOVIN  Amazing app. Lets me rip to whatever format I've ever needed, never crashed, and it's free. It finds album art, checks MusicBrainz, etc. It's no EAC, but it's by far the best option on a Mac.  
(Version 0.8.1)

ANOMIA  XLD will still be my favourite; it does rips with no intermediary conversion.

Simply the best for mac.

Max has it's place however, so keep up the good work!  
(Version 0.8)

MSWFUJOWDFFYC  Thanks for this update. I've been waiting for this one for a LONG time! :-)  
(Version 0.8)

MEEGO  Yay! Leopard compatibility! I was disappointed when i switched to Leopard that Max would not work. I'm glad it's back!

Best sound conversion/extracion tool available. XLD are xACT are good complements.  
(Version 0.8)

JAZZJOHANNES  I love it, simple and fast. It converted all my windows lossless .ape files into .mp3s, I am so happy.  
(Version 0.7.1)

NITEWING98  Works great on Tiger 10.4.11. Very nice, simple conversions, the sound quality is very good as well.

I looked everywhere for a "Mac-like" audio converter. This application was so easy to use I had converted Ogg Vorbis files to AAC within mere moments of downloading Max.

Thanks for developing this program!  
(Version 0.7.1)

UNCOY  Max is great - so many codecs - doesn't crash my computer. But the tagging is a mess in comparison to iTunes.

A really pity as the author seems to be a very good coder and is extremely generous creating three high quality freeware audio applications (Play and Tags). I'd rather he charged something and finished up tagging with an option to pull in the iTunes tagging.

After hunting around, I recommend anyone looking for properly tagged Lame encoded MP3's use iTunes-Lame Encoder (now on Google code and open source after Alcor also lost interest).

I have also used/tested Audion (PPC only, also dead) and XLD-GUI (absolutely toxic).  
(Version 0.7.1)

MRGUY  This is a great little app, the conversion can be beautifull. But I agree with Shock J, in that I sometimes have to type up the track info as MusicBrainz often does not have the info whereas iTunes can find it. Esp. on very recent or more obscure CDs.  
(Version 0.7.1)

ABALEM ^_^  As nothing has come yet to solve the Leopard issue, try this one : http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23430/x-lossless-decoder

It works very well and allow you to use all kinds of formats ! :-)  
(Version 0.7.1)

ABALEM ^_^  Please !! I'm using this everyday, make it Leopard ready !! Onegaishimasu !

(Same problem as stated below...)  
(Version 0.7.1)

VOL  yeah ,cant open Setup output formats in Preferences  
(Version 0.7.1)

MORPE  leopard issue, consolle output on clik to the botton "setup output format" on window file conversion.

01/11/07 04:33:29 Max[1758] *** Assertion failure in getCoreAudioFileDataFormats(), /tmp/Max-0.7.1/Utilities/CoreAudioUtilities.m:206

01/11/07 04:33:29 Max[1758] The call to AudioConverterSetProperty failed (!dat).   
(Version 0.7.1)

VERYCARLA  Max sure doesn't like dealing with a lot of files being added at once, does it? I've had it crash on my twice when I've added more than 1,000 files (Apple Lossless & FLAC, and no, not all at once) to be converted to MP3. Not only that, but it seems to struggle when I try to add more than one album at a time, spinning up the fans and dragging the whole system down into the mud.

There are some performance issues here which while atypical are nevertheless serious.

The obvious workaround is to simply convert files in smaller batches, and that's what I'm doing, but I hope this issue receives some attention in future releases. Max is an amazingly useful tool and is something I've come to rely on. I want it to be the best, most useful tool it can be, and I expect that I'm not alone in that sentiment. Fixing this will elevate Max.

As I typed this, Max gagged and crashed when I tried to go beyond 1,277 tracks. Because of its extreme slowness, I have to add one album at a time, and it takes a LOOOOONG time to reach that count. *sigh*  
(Version 0.7.1)

VERYCARLA  I agree with the last comment - Max should check the local iTunes database first, then go online for information. In almost every case, iTunes

I think the only other changes I would make would be a better tag editor (it rarely passes tags I've changed to iTunes - it's possible I'm doing something wrong, but the tag editor is kinda clunky and could stand to be replaced anyway) and the ability to specify a LAME encoder string instead of fiddling with popups and sliders.  
(Version 0.7.1)

SHOCK J  I like Max but it's got one quirk. First, to FREEBSD who said, "Track lookup database that has been better than that employed by iTunes." Is that a joke? MusicBrainz sucks. 70% of the time it pulls the wrong CD information and I have to re-enter it manually. What it SHOULD do is check your iTunes db FIRST to see if the track info already exists locally, THEN do an internet search if it doesn't. Every CD I rip has already been looked up in iTunes (which almost always pulls the correct info from Gracenote). Max is flawed in this one area.  
(Version 0.7.1)

CHRISB1  Just great!

Christian (macparc.ch)  
(Version 0.7.1)

FREEBSD  THE Lossless audio CD transferring solution for Mac. Best features include:

-Track lookup database that has been better than that employed by iTunes

-Multiple tasks takes advantage of multiple processor systems pretty efficiently

-Incredibly easy to use

FLAC support is great. Combine with VLC to create a great audio solution.   
(Version 0.7.1)

DANIEL_D  Regarding my earlier review about Max not encoding in VBR -- I had the settings wrong.

Mea culpa. Max is cool. I'm leaving now.  
(Version 0.7.1)

DANIEL_D  Easy to use, comprehensive list of encoding options. However, I found that VBR encoding for MP3 and Ogg Vorbis did not work. Different tracks brought back identical bit rates.  
(Version 0.7.1)

JCRAIG  Indispensable when you need to rip in other formats, or just don't feel like awakening the beast that is iTunes. Fast, accurate, well organized program that's simple to use, yet extremely powerful.  
(Version 0.7.1)

MATHIAS  The.best.audio.converter.for.the.Mac.out.there.

Long live LAME & FLAC  
(Version 0.7.1)

AIKOUSHA  Sorry, Wavpack unpacking does not work. This is a repeatable bug. No matter the .wv input, no matter what output file type or settings. Result is always the same -- horribly buzzy and hashed sound. The output is barely recognizable.

Waveform output shows the main reason -- at very rapid frequency, the waveform zeros out, then returns.

Hope this gets ironed out soon... It's a nice little app.  
(Version 0.6.1)

SW_TESTER  great program. only one problem with v0.6.1

if you create AAC or ALAC files, they will not run on certain ipods and you can NOT share through iTunes over the network.

they play fine in iTunes, just no sharing.

it it not the fault of the developer, just the way iTunes handles the files. hopefully a fix will come soon.  
(Version 0.6.1)

AIKOUSHA  Can this program open Wavpack files and allow them to be saved as AIFF, AAC, MP3, or preferably ALAC or FLAC?  
(Version 0.6.1)

GERBER  Great programming for ripping audio and converting between formats. A must-have for anyone who's exploring new music and running into open source formats like FLAC and Ogg. Makes it easy to convert large numbers of audio files from one format to another, and it preserves tags during file conversions as well (provided metadata can be embedded in both the source and destination formats).

Interface needs a bit of work, but the author is working on it. Current version has problems converting 24 bit FLAC files and, again, the author's working on it.  
(Version 0.6.1)

SUPERTHEMAN  Why this program is EXCELLENT!

1) It uses the best codec’s for encoding/converting: LAME, Flac, Libsndfile, etc..

2) The interface is not *perfect*, but the Preferences pane is VERY easy to understand and VERY full-featured. All that is lacking is a common conversion pane that has tabs for converting or encoding, and so on. It just needs a bit of consolidating.

3) Very efficient usage of computer resources (I checked it all throughout various encoding/converting activities).

4) Superb progress indicators (percentage-based) which are constantly updated.

5) Nice little iTunes integration (adds tunes when done)

6) GREAT meta-tagging and album artwork lookup via the Internet (which even accommodates proxy connections).

7) 36 Output options! Thirty-six!

8) Great balance between "dummy" operation (for those who just want to tick one box and let it choose all the settings) and options for power-users who want to tweak many settings.

8) IT IS NEEDED - there aren't a bunch of programs just like this, it is unique and BLISSFULLY Mac-like and easy-to-use. No one but Unix geeks want to use the Terminal to convert MP3 files!

9) IT IS FREE!!! Developers are you PAYING ATTENTION?!?!

In a veritable SEA of mediocre or useless shareware, which is often chock full of well-functioning "nag" features, but poorly realized REAL features, this program WORKS and works WELL and is FREE! I'm sure we all understand that not everyone can offer the fruits of their labor free, but MANY shareware developers should take a very close and lengthy look at this to see what a program worth a shareware fee looks like. Try this in the future… get it running correctly as freeware, THEN convert to shareware at the next major update. People will be hooked by a *working* program and willing to pay the fee. STOP demanding payment for wares that DON'T WORK or are so buggy as to be unusable.

I cannot say enough good things about this product and it's creator. This is what Mac Freeware SHOULD be about, and is a shining example of how well a program should be running BEFORE asking for any money. Thanks so much for this great little program, which: does what it supposed to, does it well, does what others don't and doesn't charge an arm and a leg to do it. When/if you ever do upgrade this to shareware, I will be the first to write a check. Kudos to you sir, well done!  
(Version 0.6.1)

AQUAX  Works wonderfully on my MBP 1.83GHz. Set presets for audiobooks and music easily. Interface is a bit kludgy, but certainly usable. More than enough options and settings for any purist. Only real complaint is that it's a bit daunting for a first-time user, but certainly not impossible. Can't beat the fact that it's free.  
(Version 0.6.1)

THEBRIX2008  Excellent - in many ways, superior to iTunes for ripping. The keyboard navigation is perfect - when dealing with Baroque music, which tends to have a lot of tracks with very similar names, it is easy to fill in dozens of tracks without effort using only the arrow keys and cut+paste. Bravo!  
(Version 0.5.6)

KUBLAKHAN  I had a hard time finding this app but am really happy I did. This gives almost the exact same functionality as EAC. It seem that the only thing left for this program is drive reading optimizations like the ones found in EAC. I also hope that there will be better Album Art searches (so far only Amazon.com)  
(Version 0.5.6)

MICKY1  @ the developer

"Encoder" in german is exactly the same: "encoder" and not "enkoder" :)

apart from that => it's an amazing app. cheers  
(Version 0.5.6)

J.W.  Very nice. I really would recommend changing the name though, since there's already an audio program called Max, which has been around forever.  
(Version 0.5.6)

AKA  One has to wonder if the developer ever sleeps! Max just continues to get better and better. With Max (for all your encoding needs) and xAct (for fingerprinting and verification) the Mac encoding world is moving closer to the exhaulted pc-only EAC - albeit with a much slicker interface. What a surprise to see the tagger integrated so quickly! 3 cheers Mr. Booth! - please keep up the wonderful work.  
(Version 0.5.6)

GREGR  Is there a way to auto-add RIPped tracks to iTunes?  
(Version 0.5.5)

MORPE  convert a file on drag & drop on Max icon...  
(Version 0.5.4)

ENGPJP  The interface is close to perfect - and the improved quality of ripped AIFF files, as compared to that delivered by iTunes, is easy to hear. Even on a lower mid-level hifi system...

Please, PLEASE! include the function of converting files from one format into another (I'm thinking from FLAC/APE to AIFF, or preferably to ALAC). I'd pay for it in a New York second!!!

Please...

Peter J. Pedersen  
(Version 0.5.4)

F1L  Extremely high paced development. This has grown from a non-functional design study to one of the best dedicated cd rippers on any platform in less than three months (it's user interface is greatly designed, compare that with Exact Audio Copy on windows!). If you want the best possible quality in cd extraction on the mac you should look no further. I've been looking for years for such a tool. iTunes IS faster in that task, but it also has no good (if compared to other rippers) failure correction and detection and it's mp3 encoder is (intendidly?) worse than any other 'professional' solution out there. The second drawback can be 'fixed' by using the iTunes-LAME plugin, but it's user interface is very unmacish (after all it's only a script) and the underlying Lame engine is quite outdated (see http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=28125 ). But what am i preaching to the converted, if you were so happy with iTunes why would you browse this at all? Also, if you run over a bug, be sure to report it. I rather wouldn't rate the value of the program because even though it's free as in beer in open source a program's value is all about the community that creates it, so it's all up to you. (P.S. I admit that this was more some kind of a worshipping text than a critical in-depth review but i am truly that much amazed.)  
(Version 0.5.1)

WFM  at last, an easy way to rip CDs to high quality MP3s.  
(Version 0.4.1)

ANAME  For some reason, I can't open any wav or aiff file... I want to convert them to mp3, but the files are dimmed out when I select Open. Also there is no drag-and-drop function to move sounds from the desktop to the encoder window. I'd like to request that.

Otherwise, it sure looks promising. But I'd appreciate if someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong :)  
(Version 0.4.1)

GLUFS1  add the aac format and this app would replace the itunes encoder  
(Version 0.3.1)

SBB  Wow this application keeps getting better... 2 days I discovered it, 2 days it's already indispensable...

Hope we gonna be able to see the cdparanoia output informations... and I guess the dev will make output selection clearer...

Maybe he could add the Mad lib to convert files to aif as well... then this app will be a dream come true!!!

Good job!!! Can't wait to see next versions!!!  
(Version 0.3.1)

MARKOH  iTunes-LAME 2.0.8 (LAME v3.96.1):

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/8837

and for those with a fast enough Mac:

-v -V 0 -b 192 -h  
(Version 0.3)

ANONYMOUS  Between 3D Studio Max and Cycling '74's Max (which is around 15 years old and also an audio-related app), the developer would be well-served to cook up a different name for this. I haven't tried this out, though. Sorry.  
(Version 0.2)

ANONYMOUS  Seems to work reasonably well, although it wouldn't encode to the default directory.

The encoded file sounds darned good, just as one might expect from a VBR LAME file.

I might suggest offering the ability to choose from the various alt.preset options (alt.present r3mix, alt.preset standard, etc) in a future version. It would also be nice to be able to directly enter LAME options which could then be passed to the LAME executable.

Despite the low version number the application performed admirably, encoding directly from the CD quickly and with a minimum of fuss. Everything appears to be very straightforward. Nothing seemed out of place or superfluous.

So it's not iTunes. So what? Sometimes you just want a tool which will rip CDs. LAME beats the pants off Apple's encoder any day of the week anyway. Keep up the good work!  
(Version 0.1.3)

TOMIS  iTunes does this already. Just dig through the prefs and set it to mp3 encoding instead of the default AAC.

For anyone who doesn't know.  
(Version 0.1.2)

ANONYMOUS  xcode may need a little more help. From the console: dyld: Library not loaded: /Users/me/Development/libcddb-install/lib/libcddb.2.dylib

Referenced from: /Applications/Max.app/Contents/MacOS/Max  
(Version 0.1.2)

ANONYMOUS  Does not work for me, It will look like it is launching but thats as far as it gets  
(Version 0.1.2)