Downloading Flac etc

[Mike_Schmidt]

So after reading the big message I tried to download one of Linn's free 24 downloads on to my imac. I downloaded MAX what a head ache and I still have nothing to listen to. If this is the future I hope something easier comes out and will send to itunes or your personnel music library. I will only admit over paper not vocally but do agree that someday downloads will take place of our CD player Vinyl will remain but digital downloads will be it.

Anyone know how to download one of those test songs so I can hear the difference

 

[The_Lhc]

What are you saying, you couldn't download the file or you have nothing on your mac to play it with?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mike

As luck would have it we published a guide to 24-bit FLAC in our blogs only yesterday, you can read it here.

There's a guide to downloading and listening to 24-bit in there.

We should have a PDF version to download next week.

Hope this helps, although obviously it isn't specifically about the track you have downloaded.

Thanks

Shaun

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

Wow thanks for the helpi just downloaded MacFlac and Iam in the process of turing my Metallica concert I went to (buying the flac version) in a playable MP3 on my Mac.

Now it did go into some detail on burning onto disc but in the same breath saying most will down grade to 16 bit which is what we dont want. What would you recommend for a Mac user (not the most talented when it comes to this stuff) use for a burning program to real 24 bit music that I can play on my Cyrus 8SE. Streaming isnt a option Im to far away and do not have a lap top.

One more question as I type it is converting the flac files into a playable one when I highlight on more info it says now "AIFF File" 68.2 MB (that is one song) does this sound like what it is supposed to do. Now I can import to itunes I think under a folder and burn, when I have a program.

Thanks for help Shaun and I look forward to your reply.

 

[The_Lhc]

Mike, why are you converting the FLAC files, why not just get something that plays them direct?

Try http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html under "Players and plugins" there's several for OSX, it would save you converting to mp3 (which would seem to defeat the object of getting a lossless format in the first place) or converting 24bit tracks down to 16bit.

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

So when I convert FLAC to AIFF files am I losing information? From what i thought it apples lossless and is the chosen one for MAC's. What I want is to download flac and other HD downloads and then burn them to CD

So all and all is a flac file burned to a cd (on the info file one song is about 68mb and 1124 KB which seems large for sample and of course 44.10000) better than CD you would be at a store or not. I found a site called HD downloads which has flac and 24 bit downloads etc are those better than CD even after being burned?

As you can see Iam quite intrested in HD downloads and burning so maybe some help with a burning programm to. Sorry to ask for so much

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Mike_Schmidt:So when I convert FLAC to AIFF files am I losing information? From what i thought it apples lossless and is the chosen one for MAC's. What I want is to download flac and other HD downloads and then burn them to CD

So all and all is a flac file burned to a cd (on the info file one song is about 68mb and 1124 KB which seems large for sample and of course 44.10000) better than CD you would be at a store or not. I found a site called HD downloads which has flac and 24 bit downloads etc are those better than CD even after being burned?

As you can see Iam quite intrested in HD downloads and burning so maybe some help with a burning programm to. Sorry to ask for so much

Yes, the 24 bit files burnt to cd will sound better than 16 bit cd from a store.

 

[The_Lhc]

But why do you want to burn them to CD at all? If you mean audio CD then yes burning a 24-bit flac file (or any other 24-bit audio file) to audio CD will result in a loss of quality, it has to. Whether it'll be better than the equivalent shop bought CD I really couldn't say.

You could look at ALAC, which is another Apple Lossless format, presuming that supports 24-bit audio (I don't know I'm not a MAC user), I can't answer the question about AIFF, John Duncan should be able to.

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

how do I get my downloaded tunes on my imac downstairs to my stereo in another room. I do have a itouch and looking at a wadia dock but then I need a DAC and also looking the cambridge. That is why I was looking to CD, way cheaper. After all these years and still cant burn or buy 24 bit cd's. Shame really and the industry wonders why!

 

[PJPro]

This is where JD points you towards AirPort Express....

 

[John Duncan]

Not today.

Even if you can get 24 bit FLACs to play in iTunes, an AE (or an Apple TV) will downsample it to 16/44. If high-res music is going to be a big thing for you, you'd be better off with a Squeezebox, which can handle 24-bit i think...

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

JD your saying after all this time there really is no HI-FI way of getting better than CD quality to your pre amp with no weak links, sounds like (and I dont know) the squeezebox would be a weak link and from there I need a DAC. You know what I have now how do you think a DAC Magic and Wadia transport would do against my 8SE and PSX.

Thanks in advance

 

[John Duncan]

I think they'd be fantastic, certainyl for 16/44. You may be able to get 24 bit AIFFs on an iPod, but I've never tried (though I'm about to

). All I'm saying is that AE & ATV have a 16/44 limitation, so don't use those if you want 24 bit. If the iPod/wadia won't work, look at a Squeezebox plugged into the DACMagic.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Mike_Schmidt:JD your saying after all this time there really is no HI-FI way of getting better than CD quality to your pre amp with no weak links, sounds like (and I dont know) the squeezebox would be a weak link and from there I need a DAC. You know what I have now how do you think a DAC Magic and Wadia transport would do against my 8SE and PSX.

Thanks in advance

I'm 99% sure that you can store your 24 bit flac files to an external drive, plug it into a Western Digital 1080p media player, optical to DacMagic and away you go! You would need to connect the Media player to a screen, ideally with hdmi (composite gives an awful picture) to see the library. The media player costs about £70 and is tiny and 1TB drives cost about the same. The beauty as well is that you can take the little box on holiday, to a mates, to the demo room....

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

I tried adding the AIFF files to my itouch under playlist it did not show up on my itouch but did find the songs under recently added? Now weather they were converted on the way in who knows but there there and do play.

My imagination plays out the first company to come out with software that is MAC PC compatible with DOCk/DAC will do well. ipod to dock, coax to DAC, then rca to your amp. Hmmmm is it that simple

 

[The_Lhc]

Mike_Schmidt:JD your saying after all this time there really is no HI-FI way of getting better than CD quality to your pre amp with no weak links, sounds like (and I dont know) the squeezebox would be a weak link

In what way? If you're going to use an external DAC then the squeezebox really shouldn't have much effect on the sound, the files aren't leaving the digital domain.

However you could always go for the Transporter, which is specifically aimed at the audiophile market if you're that worried...

 

[Alec]

Does anyone know if the Transporter can display info through a TV, or if you could use the Duet remote with it?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

I use dBpoweramp sometimes. If I got hold of a 24bit flac and wanted to convert it to WMA file, would it be better to use WM 10 Professional or 9.2 Lossless? I've been using the latter and I think that I've been making a mistake. Also if I set it to 24 bit and the file was only a 16 bit, would it matter?

Cheers if anyone can answer these.

 

[John Duncan]

al7478:Does anyone know if the Transporter can display info through a TV, or if you could use the Duet remote with it?

There's no video output, but you can use the Duet controller yes.

 

[manicm]

On the other hand, if you're hell bent on spending a wad of cash on something as costly as the Transporter you'd be crazy not to seriously consider a Linn Sneaky DS as well.

And it will handle up to 24/192 files as well.

 

[John Duncan]

Indeed, though it's nice to at least have a display on it...

 

[Alec]

Thanks chaps.

EDIT - Nah, the Sneaky doesnt have a video connection either. Cheers tho.

 

[John Duncan]

There's always apple TV, though it's limited to 16/44 whilst streaming (I'm not sure I've tried it if it's on the hard disk...)

 

[PJPro]

How about the PS3? Foobar UPnP Media server can stream 24/192 flac files via DLNA and convert to LPCM on the fly. PS3 can output 24/192 via optical (I believe) into your DAC (assuming it can handle it!)....and Bob's your uncle.

 

[PJPro]

Just need to sort out the damn fan!