WAV Files

You simply need a tag editor, this will enable you to complete missing data and add artwork that can be obtained from the web. Google: Album: Artist – Album name.

I use dbPoweramp on PC, but MediaMonkey has a very able tag editor built in and is available free. I do not know the Mac to offer advice on suitable programs for that system.

You do not have to convert your WAV files to FLAC, saving space is the only reason that you might want to do this. Some people myself included prefer to send WAV to the renderer, listen and see if you have a preference.

Regards

Peter

Try XLD

James

David

You only need to save a image of the album art in the same folder as the wav files and call it folder.jpg.  Once your UnitiServe has rescanned the NAS the artwork will show on the screen you are using to control your UnitiServe.  What other metadata do you think you are missing?

+1 - I prefer FLAC to WAV because of its support for tags and embedded artwork; I can't hear any difference between files with bit for bit identical music in them like FLAC, AIFF, ALAC and WAV. If you use AIFF then this will keep all the tags/artwork and is uncompressed like WAV. You need to check the US can handle it. On my MAC AIFF uses slightly less CPU do decode than WAV - 0.1% according to processor monitor, ALAC/FLAC use about 0.7% more - you need fantastic kit and ears to hear the difference. 

Try Swinsian

Steve means the photo ( jpg file).

Guido

The original files from Topspin are downloaded in 24 bit WAV. Are you suggesting to convert them to AIFF?

Cheers

David

Cheers Roger

Thanks to all that helped me on this one...

I now have the artwork, the artist, the track listings, and album name!!

Cheers all

David

Get flac next time, and dont get hung up on its file size

Only if you have problems with the WAV file. The four formats carry the same data. FLAC/ALAC use compression (like zip on a PC or sit on a Mac), but don't change a single bit. WAV and AIFF (Amiga/Audio Interchange File Format developed by Electronic Arts for the Commodore Amiga and subsequently adopted by Apple) are uncompressed. AIFF has the advantage over WAV when it comes to storing art and tags as it keeps them all neatly in the file. It sounds identical to WAV. 

If you have solved the problem then that's great - just enjoy the album, I have lots of Macca albums including a 24 bit version of Band on the Run, which is almost as good as the vinyl and that is quite an achievement in my book. 

Guido

Yea, Band On The Run is brilliant, got that too, in 24 bit WAV. The type of music that I download is mainly Pop/Rock. It appears that the only company that offers this type of music in FLAC, is 'HD Tracks'. And we all know how difficult it can be to access their music, if you don't live in the States. Every time that I want to purchase a new download from them, I have to give a new email address and tell a few porkie pies! I did have an IP address blocker, but they appear to have sussed that one out! When I purchased 'RAM' and 'Band On The Run' downloads, from McCartney's own site, it directs you to 'Topspin'. As far as I am aware, their downloads are only in WAV format. However, last night I did manage to wangle a download from HD Tracks,  'McCartney' (His first solo) and that is in FLAC with all the Metadata! 

Cheers

David

Garyi

Yea FLAC is good. I've got loads of space on the NAS, so file sizes are not a problem. However, not  all Hi-res downloads are available in FLAC....I think.

Re. Paying or music from hdtracks. I use PayPal and never had a problem either here in the  uk or brasil where most of my downloads are made

Hi yes FLAC can be excellent, , but some of us don't quite like how it sounds on Naim gear... There is lots in the archives on this.

If you use FLAC you might want to try transcoding to WAV for playout to Naim,

Also WAV supports native tags without album art, or on *some* software id3 tags which can support custom tags and album art.

Software like dBpoweramp has the advantage with WAV over FLAC as it supports custom tags. FLAC is limited like AIF and mp3. (but is fine for many) However not all software can read custom WAV tags. I use Asset and Mediamonkey and they can work well for me with both types of WAV tags.

Simon

Jeff

When I have manages to download from HD Tracks, I too use PayPal. However, quite often it does not let you get that far, as it susses out that you don't live in US, either by address or your IP address.

HD Tracks must be doing very well, if they don't need the money us Brits are trying to throw at them!

David

Hi Simon

Are you indicating that FLAC is not very well suited to Naim gear? I have a UnitiServe SSD and a Supernait, together with Spendor A5s. I haven't attempted to compare FLAC and WAV. I guess it's all down to the personal preference.

I am a Mac user, so some the software you have suggested won't work. 

David

David,

Never had that issue, but could be that cos I work in brasil and took a uniti out with me, I download most stuff from there but with my uk registered PayPal account. It was actually suggested to me by hdtracks after the firsttime I used it and put about 20 albums into my 'cart' only to be told was only available in US. I sent them a snotty email for wasting my time and got a surprisingly nice one back saying try PayPal. 

I find  I have to select PayPal on the very first payment page, as does seem to let enter PayPal from other pages.

Must admit some of their stuff is good especially the 192 stuff although I have to down sample to use on my uniti, and bring the original back here for my HDX.

If you keep having problems sure we could work something out if anything you want.

Jeff

David, as you say it's about personal preference. Naim gear seems to be happy with FLAC, although occasionally i used to find some FLAC files didn't decode properly and stop part way through. This was in my expierience fixed by re encoding the file with a lower compression setting.however I don't know whether  this is stil an issue as I use WAV now.

But to me it's the sonic signature of FLAC on naim equipment  which is wwhy i prefer wav to flac with naim. Some can't hear this/ or thier equipment doesn't exhibit this, but others notice.... So I can only assume its a personal thing.

For me the trivial task of transcoding FLAC to WAV in my streamer server resolves this issue and I get the sound I prefer. So my recommendation unless you can hear no difference between the two ensure you have the right tools to allow transcoding, otherwise you will have nagging doubts.

Simon

I agree Simon. Funny thing is, I was listening to a McCartney album on Friday night. Can't remember if it was 'McCartney' which is FLAC, or  'RAM'' which is in WAV. The track suddenly stopped for a bout  two seconds, then carried on. So not quite sure what was going on there. Anyway, can you recommend a decent decoder software? Bearing in mind that I am a Mac user

Cheers

David

David, I don't do audio stuff on my Mac, I do all that on my PC.. To me the PC does audio tasks better.. 

Now I use dBpoweramp as my encoder. Some have had success running this in a windows virtual machine on thier macs I believe.

Simon

Hello David 

XLD will change the format of FLAC files to ALAC, AIFF or WAV,

Decibel will play FLAC on MAC beautifully through a Mac Mini/Naim DAC

iTunes will play ALAC, AIFF and WAV beautifully through a Mac Mini/Naim DAC - I use the BitPerfect app to match the sample rate automatically. 

The UQ seems very happy with FLAC from my Vortexbox - I've never had the stutter. I don't use WAV at all because VB likes FLAC and my Mac likes AIFF/ALAC - nothing wrong with WAV except for the way it stores metadata/artwork not working well for me in my set-up. Though as I associate WAV with Windows, I haven't persevered. 

However, if tracks on album stalled with my preferred format then I'd convert it to WAV if that worked better - I'd just choose whatever worked best. 

That said, I expect the NDS to format agnostic, as I primarily want to play music in what ever format it comes in. I'd like it to just work.

The other thing I need to be assured of with a Naim streamer is I never need to use a Windows PC with it, as for me this would be show-stopper. I must admit one option for me is to trade in my Naim sources for Linn KDS or another streaming solution if use of the NDS is reliant on the use of Windows. I don't see why it should be, but I need conformation it is not; the Sonos updates without a glitch so surely a considerably more expensive unit from Naim can.  

All the best, Guy