DiscForge archive guide
How to verify a CD rip with checksums
A checksum proves that the same bytes produce the same digest. In a CD workflow it is useful at two separate points: comparing repeated source reads and identifying every finished output file.
Read the source repeatedly
Hash the mounted track at least twice. If the values disagree, stop and investigate the disc, drive or connection instead of accepting one result.
Separate source and output hashes
A source AIFF track and an encoded FLAC file will not have identical file hashes. Record the stable source hash and a separate checksum for each created output.
Keep a machine-readable manifest
Store one SHA-256 line per output path so a future integrity check can identify a changed or missing file without opening the audio.
Be precise about verification
Local repeated-read verification is not the same as matching a third-party AccurateRip database. Describe exactly which evidence your archive contains.