HDCD manual setup

Set up CW-HDCD 1.0.1.0 in Exact Audio Copy.

Manual HDCD processing setup with preflight detection and EAC return-code checking.

Download & install Use the automatic installer

Download

Get CW-HDCD 1.0.1.0

CW-HDCD FLAC output requires the supplied matching libFLAC.dll. Keep it beside the executable.

64-bit Windows

x64 build

Recommended for normal modern Windows installations.

Download x64 ZIP

32-bit Windows

x86 build

Use this only when you need the 32-bit Windows build.

Download x86 ZIP

Step by step

Manual installation

The example uses EAC's conventional Encoders directory. Use your actual installation path if it differs.

Extract the download

Open the downloaded archive and locate the files for CW-HDCD.

Place the encoder in EAC's Encoders folder

Extract cw-hdcd.exe and libFLAC.dll into EAC's Encoders folder.

Example executable pathC:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Encoders\cw-hdcd.exe

Open EAC's external compression settings

Open EAC → Compression Options → External Compression. Enable the external program, select User Defined Encoder, set the extension to .flac, and browse to cw-hdcd.exe.

Example configuration

What the CW-HDCD settings look like in EAC

This is a static example using the usual EAC installation path.

Compression options

Use external program for compression

Parameter passing scheme : Use file extension : Program, including path, used for compression

Additional command-line options : Bit rate :

Delete WAV after compression Use CRC check Add ID3 tag Check for external programs return code

High quality Low quality

Example path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Exact Audio Copy\Encoders\cw-hdcd.exe.

Enter the verified command line

--eac --title "%title%" --artist "%artist%" --album "%albumtitle%" --album-artist "%albumartist%" --date "%year%" --track "%tracknr%" --tracktotal "%numtracks%" --genre "%genre%" "%source%" "%dest%"

CW-HDCD checks for valid HDCD signalling before creating output. The tested profile outputs 24-bit FLAC and enables external-program return-code checking.

Open the compact EAC reference →

Test one track

Use a known HDCD disc first. A successful conversion should create 24-bit FLAC; non-HDCD input should fail cleanly without creating a bogus output file.

Troubleshooting

Common CW-HDCD setup issues

No output file is created

That can be correct: CW-HDCD returns failure when it does not detect valid HDCD signalling.

FLAC output fails

Make sure the matching libFLAC.dll remains beside cw-hdcd.exe.

Encoder path is rejected

Browse to the executable again from EAC instead of typing an assumed path. The example path may differ from your installation.

Prefer automatic installation?

The EAC Codecs installer places the selected components in the detected EAC encoder directory automatically.

Download EAC Codecs →

Continue through the manual library.

Set up another codec or return to the compact settings reference.

Browse manual codecs Open EAC guides