Converting FLAC to WAV Settings

Posted by: The Meerkat on 10 February 2015

I will be taking my ND5 XS to a friends house shortly, just to see what it sounds like on his Naim system. I'm not going to drag my NAS over there, so will use a USB drive to do the demo. All my music is stored in FLAC, but I would like to demo FLAC and WAV on his kit. I use XLD for conversions as I am a Mac user.

 

Please could someone assist...What are the optimum WAV settings in XLD. In options, there is the Sample rate, Bit depth, and Algorithm. I think the Sample rate and Bit depth are quite obvious, but not sure about the Algorithm?

 

Thanks guys

 

Posted on: 11 February 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Originally Posted by nbpf:
....I should have a scan with some hand written notes by A. Turing somewhere, documenting the computation of acoustic memory lines based on tubes filled with mercury. In the beginning ... was the sound. Best, nbpf 

 nbpf - if you have anyway of sharing on line it would be fasicnating to see those notes.

Posted on: 11 February 2015 by Mike-B
riginally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Hello Mike...That dbpoweramp beta version for Mac, has been around for yonks, if I'm right? Why are they dragging their heels with the proper version?

 Its been around for a while as a beta,  but not for my understanding of the pre-rod/pole/perch measurement of yonks.  

I would guess like all the Illustrate products (Asset & dBpoweramp etc) they do tend to get it right & also keep in mind they might be facing licencing issues with Micro Soft formats on Apple/Mac.

Still doesn't answer why you haven't tried it 

Posted on: 11 February 2015 by nbpf
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:
Originally Posted by nbpf:
....I should have a scan with some hand written notes by A. Turing somewhere, documenting the computation of acoustic memory lines based on tubes filled with mercury. In the beginning ... was the sound. Best, nbpf 

 nbpf - if you have anyway of sharing on line it would be fasicnating to see those notes.

Not really but I have found the scans and if you drop me a mail (see my profile:biography) I'll send you the files. Best, nbpf

Posted on: 11 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

 

Still doesn't answer why you haven't tried it 

Can I phone a friend?

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by nbpf
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:
Originally Posted by nbpf:
....I should have a scan with some hand written notes by A. Turing somewhere, documenting the computation of acoustic memory lines based on tubes filled with mercury. In the beginning ... was the sound. Best, nbpf 

 nbpf - if you have anyway of sharing on line it would be fasicnating to see those notes.

The notes are available from http://www.turingarchive.org/browse.php/C/32. The section on the design of delay lines starts at page 32. Best, nbpf

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Great - thanks

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

 

Still doesn't answer why you haven't tried it 

Can I phone a friend?

Mike...I have now downloaded the Version 1.0 Beta 12.

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by james n

Full version should be out in May. As a long term XLD user (no complaints here - works great and simple to use) what advantage does dbp offer ?

 

James

 

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by Huge
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

 

Still doesn't answer why you haven't tried it 

Can I phone a friend?

If you've got one...

 

 

 

Sorry, couldn't resist. 

To be clear:     This is absolutely intended as humour, no insult is meant.

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Huge:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

 

Still doesn't answer why you haven't tried it 

Can I phone a friend?

If you've got one...

 

 

 

Sorry, couldn't resist. 

To be clear:     This is absolutely intended as humour, no insult is meant.

From you Huge, I take it as intended! I love a bit of banter, which is sometmes lacking on the forum.

 

Funny you should mention that though, I was in the pub last night, and I asked someone for 20p to phone one of my mates. He said, "Here's 40p, phone both of them"!

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Mike...I have now downloaded the Version 1.0 Beta 12.

 ...........   let's know how you get on & = +/- vs XDL 

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Funny you should mention that though, I was in the pub last night, and I asked someone for 20p to phone one of my mates. He said, "Here's 40p, phone both of them"!

 Meerkats have loadza mates 

 

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by Huge
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Funny you should mention that though, I was in the pub last night, and I asked someone for 20p to phone one of my mates. He said, "Here's 40p, phone both of them"!

 Meerkats have loadza mates 

 

Superb!

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Huge:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Funny you should mention that though, I was in the pub last night, and I asked someone for 20p to phone one of my mates. He said, "Here's 40p, phone both of them"!

 Meerkats have loadza mates 

 

Superb!

Mates?? How the hell did you get hold of photos of my wife and kids?!! 

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Mike...I have now downloaded the Version 1.0 Beta 12.

 ...........   let's know how you get on & = +/- vs XDL 

Yea, it's good Mike. Possibly faster than XLD actually. I have set up a folder on my desktop, to send the transcoded files to, rather than, dump them in the original album folder.. but like XLD, it shows the tracks individually, and not an album folder. I then have to create a folder and give it the name of the album, then drag the tracks to that folder. Am I doing it correctly?

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
............   Am I doing it correctly?

 

Hi Suricate,  first I'm PC, not Mac, so we might need to do it different anyhow.

I do not use desktop, I use Windows Explorer to do all this, might be the same thing,  but I doubt it.

Second I don't have any .flac,  I'm 100% .wav

When a download is only available in .flac,  then I convert to .wav in dBpoweramp with the "replace original" set,  so it converts the .flac tracks to .wav in the original folder.

 

However I did go thru some testing .flac (compressed to what dBpoweramp sees as [default] 5)  vs uncompressed .flac (0)  vs .wav. 

I start with a .flac (5) master

Made new folders, one for uncompressed .flac (0) & another for .wav

Copied the compressed .flac (5) master into both.

Converted .flac (5) into .flac (0) in that folder & .flac (5) into .wav in that folder. 

 

That whole process took >10% of the time it has just taken me to write it.  

 

And BTW - I am confirmed 100% .wav,   whilst recognising the tagging pro's of .flac, but having found ways to make .wav work for me - with Synology Media Server & dBpoweramp

Posted on: 12 February 2015 by The Meerkat

Thanks Mike...I will try that.

 

What were your thoughts on the tests that you did? Could you hear the difference?

Posted on: 13 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:

Thanks Mike...I will try that.

 

What were your thoughts on the tests that you did? Could you hear the difference?

Mike...I forgot to mention. Ticking the 'Original folder', does send the converted files to the album folder, but it will still the leave the sourse file. So you have a copy in .flac (The sourse) and .Wav the converted file. Unless...in 'DSP Effects/Actions', 'Delete Sourse File' is ticked. Correct?

 

Out of interest...When you do download a 24/96 .flac file, do you still convert to .Wav 'As sourse'?

 

Yes I like it, more flexible than XLD.

Posted on: 13 February 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:

What were your thoughts on the tests that you did? Could you hear the difference?

Yes - but I (we) found the difference to be marginal & in a lot of material we could not detect any difference, but when anyone did have a preference then it was always for .wav.

 

The test USB had .flac & .wav of the same track(s) taken from CD rips & 24 bit downloads.

The differences tended to be in the low level detail, ambience & stereo space especially at the HF end.  With .wav  when it did have a difference, it had a touch more detail, smoothness, warmth & was generally easier to listen to.  It was more apparent with quieter & atmospheric recordings; we did not detect much if any difference with any of loud/heavy material. But whatever, the margin of difference is close & I wouldn't get hung up on it ..... but I'm all in for anything that makes for a better SQ, especially if its free, so its .wav for me & I'm not so fussed about metadata just as long as I get the album front cover art & the Rovi stuff.

Posted on: 13 February 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:

Unless...in 'DSP Effects/Actions', 'Delete Sourse File' is ticked. Correct?

Out of interest...When you do download a 24/96 .flac file, do you still convert to .Wav 'As sourse'?

Yes - 'DSP Effects/Actions', 'Delete Source File'

Yes - convert to .wav 'As Source' .   The .flac might arrive as compressed or not compressed,  but it goes to uncompressed in .wav whatever 

Posted on: 13 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:

Unless...in 'DSP Effects/Actions', 'Delete Sourse File' is ticked. Correct?

Out of interest...When you do download a 24/96 .flac file, do you still convert to .Wav 'As sourse'?

Yes - 'DSP Effects/Actions', 'Delete Source File'

Yes - convert to .wav 'As Source' .   The .flac might arrive as compressed or not compressed,  but it goes to uncompressed in .wav whatever 

Thanks Mike...You have been incredibly helpful.

Posted on: 13 February 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Thanks Mike...You have been incredibly helpful.

 

Its a pleasure Mr Suricate,  however I must own up to being grateful for something to do.  I'm bored to distraction with a damaged ankle & am confined to sitting & resting the damn thing interspersed with trips to the thunder-box with a walking (hopping) frame.  

Posted on: 13 February 2015 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Thanks Mike...You have been incredibly helpful.

 

Its a pleasure Mr Suricate,  however I must own up to being grateful for something to do.  I'm bored to distraction with a damaged ankle & am confined to sitting & resting the damn thing interspersed with trips to the thunder-box with a walking (hopping) frame.  

Hope you recover soon! Things could be worse though...imagine not being able to hold a glass of vino!

Posted on: 13 February 2015 by Huge
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Originally Posted by Huge:
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by The Meerkat:
Funny you should mention that though, I was in the pub last night, and I asked someone for 20p to phone one of my mates. He said, "Here's 40p, phone both of them"!

 Meerkats have loadza mates 

 

Superb!

Mates?? How the hell did you get hold of photos of my wife and kids?!! 

Remember that green mongoose, Mike paid him; he wasn't just hunting for rogue SNAICs.