Help Max error when converting FLAC to AIFF

[Dan Turner]

Hi,

I hope someone can help - I've just downloaded the remaster of Jack johnson's Brushfire Fairytales (16/48 FLAC) and the 24bit FLAC version of Radiohead's King of Limbs. I've just tried to convert both to AIFF using Max on my Mac (so that I can import into iTunes), which I've done before without any issues and I get an error message which says it can't convert the files because there is 'no embedded cue sheet'.

Does anyone have any idea what this error means or how to get around it?

Thanks!

Dan.

 

[manicm]

I would download the free MacFLAC tool to unpack the WAV files from your FLACs, and then try to convert to AIFF from the WAVs. Just note I don't think AIFF is 24-bit compatible so your Radiohead files may be down-converted.

 

[6th.replicant]

... I don't think AIFF is 24-bit compatible ...

Pretty sure AIFF is 24-bit compatible, because when I try to load AIFFs converted from 24-bit FLACs my iPod 'says no' and I have to convert the AIFFs to 16-bit.

Didn't know that The King Of Limbs was available as 24-bit DL, though. Is it 96kHz, 88 or 44.1?

 

[manicm]

That's good to know, what software did you use to convert 24-bit FLACs to 24-bit AIFF?

 

[6th.replicant]

That's good to know, what software did you use to convert 24-bit FLACs to 24-bit AIFF?

Umm, I use Max, which is probably not what the OP wanted to hear...

 

[Dan Turner]

Hey - thanks for replies. I've got it working - I was being an idiot and using the wrong option to select the tracks I wanted to convert. Both albums now converted to AIFF and sounding fabulous. I can confirm as above that AIFF is defo compatible with 24bit.

The KOL download is from 7 digital and it's 24bit 44.1khz.

 

[6th.replicant]

...The KOL download is from 7 digital ...

Odd that Radiohead don't offer a 24-bit DL option at thekingoflimbs.com - I assume 7 Digital is kosher?

... and it's 24bit 44.1khz.

Is there much difference in SQ 'tween 24-bit/44.1s and 16-bit/44.1s? (I can hear the difference 'tween 24/88 and 16/44.1, so curious if 24/44.1's step-up is similar

)

 

[Dan Turner]

7 Digital is perfectly kosher - check em out.

There is a difference between the 16bit and 24 bit versions, both at 44.1khz - I'd previously bought the 16 bit version directly from TKOL website. I succumbed to curiosity and bought the 24bit version even though i felt like a mug!

The 24bit version is better resolved, there's fine detail and stuff going on in the background that is only hinted at on the 16bit version which just snaps into focus in the 24 bit version, so it all just makes a little more sense.

 

[6th.replicant]

Ooo, OK - 7 Digital, here I come...

Ta

 

[6th.replicant]

DL'd the 24/44.1 version of TKOL - and I can't hear any improvement compared to the 16/44.1 version

Which is odd considering the difference in kbps. For example, the 16-bit (ALAC) Bloom is 848kbps, whereas the 24-bit (ALAC) is 1,554kbps

Yet, when I hear a 24/88 downsampled to 16/44.1 (via AE) the difference is marked. Eh??

BTW, seems there's a fault with the version of TKOL from Radiohead's website compared to 7digital's 24-bit: the former has a brief pause/'dropout' 11secs into Feral, the latter does not.