Multitrack files vs CUE
Posted by: AMA on 16 March 2011
Not sure everyone is aware of these options.
The problem is that one can hold the music as
1. *.wav (or .wv) + *.cue
2. A single multitrack *.flac
3. All tracks in separate *.flac files
Are those options equivalent?
I mean do we lose information when converting one form into another for some reasons?
What I found is:
1. Keeping *.wav+*.cue is equivalent to multitrack *.flac.
This means that conversion between *.wav + *.cue is absolutely reversible. Namely -- if you convert *.wav+*.cue into *.flac and then convert *.flac back to *.wav+*.cue you get absolutely the same *.wav and *.cue. Conversely, if you convert *.flac into *.wav+*cue and then back again you get absolutely the same *.flac.
Very good news.
2.
Converting *.wav + *.cue to multiple files and back is NOT precise.
When you get back to *.wav it matches the original *.wav but the *.cue is slightly different.
The only difference is the INDEX 00 (if any) is missed during conversion to multiple files. Namely: if original *.cue contained a track with INDEX00 then afetr conversion to a single *.flac track and the conversion all tracks back into a single *.wav + *.cue the new *.cue is missing INDEX 00.
The rest information including the INDEX 01 is the same.
Can anyone suggest if the loss of INDEX00 is important?
The problem is that one can hold the music as
1. *.wav (or .wv) + *.cue
2. A single multitrack *.flac
3. All tracks in separate *.flac files
Are those options equivalent?
I mean do we lose information when converting one form into another for some reasons?
What I found is:
1. Keeping *.wav+*.cue is equivalent to multitrack *.flac.
This means that conversion between *.wav + *.cue is absolutely reversible. Namely -- if you convert *.wav+*.cue into *.flac and then convert *.flac back to *.wav+*.cue you get absolutely the same *.wav and *.cue. Conversely, if you convert *.flac into *.wav+*cue and then back again you get absolutely the same *.flac.
Very good news.
2.
Converting *.wav + *.cue to multiple files and back is NOT precise.
When you get back to *.wav it matches the original *.wav but the *.cue is slightly different.
The only difference is the INDEX 00 (if any) is missed during conversion to multiple files. Namely: if original *.cue contained a track with INDEX00 then afetr conversion to a single *.flac track and the conversion all tracks back into a single *.wav + *.cue the new *.cue is missing INDEX 00.
The rest information including the INDEX 01 is the same.
Can anyone suggest if the loss of INDEX00 is important?
Hook,
You are absolutely right. There is absolutely no need in burning the CD back again.
Why doing this if I already have them all collecting the dust in the bookcase ?
The ability of getting a bit-perfect copy of original CD is a figure of speech which means that you are holding the data which is equivalent to the true and authentic copy of original CD. That's it.
If you look back at the begging of my thread you will see that I'm putting the very same question. I'm currently keeping my tracks in separate *.flac files and also I'm keeping an archive copy of *.cue.
My experiments show that the separate *.flac files generate almost the same *.cue.
I was suspecting that the loss of INDEX00 is not important in musical terms. And Aleg confirms this. This means we can delete *.cue from our folders (though I'm not going to do it for the sheer superstitious reasons -- similar to those which keep us from ditching the old cassette decks or old vinyls or a beloved pillow).
When deleting the *.cue one has to understand that he will not get a bit-perfect copy of original CD in case he wants to. But the discrepancy with original CD does not translate into musical information.
Neither it affects a gapless playback.
You are absolutely right. There is absolutely no need in burning the CD back again.
Why doing this if I already have them all collecting the dust in the bookcase ?
The ability of getting a bit-perfect copy of original CD is a figure of speech which means that you are holding the data which is equivalent to the true and authentic copy of original CD. That's it.
If you look back at the begging of my thread you will see that I'm putting the very same question. I'm currently keeping my tracks in separate *.flac files and also I'm keeping an archive copy of *.cue.
My experiments show that the separate *.flac files generate almost the same *.cue.
I was suspecting that the loss of INDEX00 is not important in musical terms. And Aleg confirms this. This means we can delete *.cue from our folders (though I'm not going to do it for the sheer superstitious reasons -- similar to those which keep us from ditching the old cassette decks or old vinyls or a beloved pillow).
When deleting the *.cue one has to understand that he will not get a bit-perfect copy of original CD in case he wants to. But the discrepancy with original CD does not translate into musical information.
Neither it affects a gapless playback.
Originally Posted by Hook:
would be nice to find a soft sleeve that can also hold the booklet and back tray card as well.
These work pretty well. I have 4 of the huge ones. Case Logic.
Looks like a CD cemetery .... 