Uniti won't see Flac files

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Myles:
As I'm starting to get into hi-res I downloaded a free sample FLAC file album.
Put files into a separate desktop folder and tried to play. Uniti sees the folder but then says it is empty. (It's not, obviously!)
Am I doing something wrong?
Files are all tagged Flac.
Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks.

I have downloaded FLAC files from the Linn catalogue a few times and they turned out to be unplayable.

The only thing required to make them playable though was to convert them to WAV and convert them back to FLAC again.

All went OK without loss of data or SQ, but it couldn't be played straight from download.

Weird, but it happened to me a few times, but only from Linn and not on all downloads.

So maybe worth try to reconvert it to FLAC?

-
aleg

Thanks,
Without wanting to appear thick (well, perhaps) how exactly do I do that?

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Myles:
Thanks,
Without wanting to appear thick (well, perhaps) how exactly do I do that?

Jon

Jon

If you are using a PC download the free version of dBPoweramp. It will allow you to convert between different encodings.

If you are using a Mac, then XLD will allow you to do the same. XLD in GUI version is easiest and is also free.

It is just a matter of selecting the Flac files; say Convert; choose the code you want e.g. WAV and Go. For the reverse do the same but select the WAV files and select the codec FLAC instead.

Shouldn't be a problem really if you've seen the program.

-
aleg

FLAC file playback via Uniti is limited at the present time to 96/24 or less

Aleg,

Many thanks. Downloaded XLD and works like a dream. The Uniti can now see the WAV files.
Unfortunately on converting back it doesn't see the FLAC files again.
Still, it's a start. Now just have to see if they play - but unfortunately my other half is getting her weekly fix of Strictly Come Dancing!
I'll let you know - but thanks for the help.
I'm presuming there's not too big a difference between WAV and Flac.

What software are you using to make the FLAC files available to the Uniti, and are you sure that it can handle FLAC files?

You could make sure than the Uniti can play the files by putting a sample on a memory stick.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Chare:
What software are you using to make the FLAC files available to the Uniti, and are you sure that it can handle FLAC files?

You could make sure than the Uniti can play the files by putting a sample on a memory stick.

Thanks for that! Transferred to memory stick and Uniti recognised them!
Also downloaded free trial of Playback and again Flac files showed on Uniti.
Doh!
Seems that problem must be Eyeconnect.
Considering buying Playback now as it's only £10 and seems fairly straightforward.

Thanks for everyone's help. Much appreciated.

Jon

Hi Jon.

You are correct - EyeConnect does not stream FLACs for some reason, however Playback works well with these, including up to 24/96 hires.

John

An update:
Well, I thought it was working. But each track times out after four to seven seconds. Stops, then starts again after a while.
I'm presuming the tracks are too big to stream effectively.
They're going wirelessly from a MacBook Pro to a Netgear N300 and then to the Uniti.
As there's no spare USB socket on the Netgear I can't even try to plug the Mac into that.
Could I be overloading the network?
Would seem to be the only solution.
Guess a new router/modem would be the solution.

BTW: The memory stick also cuts out after four seconds. It's getting maddening.
Mind you iTunes streams perfectly!

Park files on NAS device, then retry. The MacBook Pro may be hogging all of the available bandwidth, after which the Uniti has but a paltry portion left to be controlled and streamed to.

Hi David,

Thanks. You could be right. Buffer level on Uniti starts full and then drops to zero and music stops playing. Then slowly rises, another few seconds of music before falling again.
iTunes works fine but I guess these are smaller files.
Unfortunately, I don't have a NAS drive. I was trying all this to decide whether to shell out on one.
Now I'm in limbo!

Jon

Jon what you are asking of your wireless network is too much mate and I think this is an area lots of people are fouling up on.


The uniti is AFAIK not wireless N, this means your entire wireless network will have been throttled back to G. And you are firing files in two directions via wireless. Basically the uniti needs to be wired. This pretty much goes for anyone having a buffer issue, its not the uniti.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Myles:
Hi David,

Thanks. You could be right. Buffer level on Uniti starts full and then drops to zero and music stops playing. Then slowly rises, another few seconds of music before falling again.
iTunes works fine but I guess these are smaller files.
Jon

If the Uniti has been on for some days, I would switch it off and on. Mine certainly needs this treatment. My Uniti is wired, but I do have a mixed N and G Wifi network with out any obvious problems.

If you have the latest Airport Extremes you can use the dual band facility - then the rest of your wireless network is unaffected - but really the Uniti will work better wired.

Tog

I have posted about this recently.

The Uniti/Qute are 802.11g only and really really should be 802.11n. Why on earth Naim chose not to spend a few extra cents per chipset to include this, I have no idea.

Anyway, to resolve your problem, buy an 802.11n Airport Express (£81 new, £60 on eBay) and then use this as a wireless client on your 802.11n network (on 5GHz if possible), bridged to your Uniti over a Cat5/6 cable. This provides plenty of bandwidth and is sufficient to stream 24/96 hires FLACs without the buffering problems you have experienced.

John

quote:

Originally posted by John Bleasdale:
I have posted about this recently.

The Uniti/Qute are 802.11g only and really really should be 802.11n. Why on earth Naim chose not to spend a few extra cents per chipset to include this, I have no idea.

Anyway, to resolve your problem, buy an 802.11n Airport Express (£81 new, £60 on eBay) and then use this as a wireless client on your 802.11n network (on 5GHz if possible), bridged to your Uniti over a Cat5/6 cable. This provides plenty of bandwidth and is sufficient to stream 24/96 hires FLACs without the buffering problems you have experienced.

John

Ah, right. Thanks John.
That makes perfect sense to me now. I'll give that a go as I can't wire the Uniti directly due to its location.
Thanks

Jon