Audio Format

I think I know what you mean Dave...the NAS would make thing seamless Mmm I will give it some thought What I like about the iPod Touch, is the n-Stream App, nice to know what your listening to and it gives you extra info too!

Likewise.  My flac's all get transcoded to WAV by the uServe.  Rips I do on the uServe are to WAV however.

When purchasing downloads to add to the uServe's Downloads folder, flac is way easier to deal with (to tag).

The best is AIFF transcoded to WAV.  Then you can use iTunes and use minimal computer resources to stream.

I store as FLAC and some WAV, but transcode to WAV for my Naim streaming. MP3 and iTunes AAC I leave as is, as these are sonically compromised formats there is no benefit in converting.

Simon

Why would someone choose to use .WAV or AIFF as a lossless format rather than FLAC or Apple Lossless (ALAC)?

Why ? To me it sounds better. There should be no difference but after storing a few favourite albums in ALAC I found myself preferring the AIFF versions so I've stuck with that. I'll give it another try sometime since moving from a Naim streamer as this may not make a difference anymore.

James

Uncompressed PCM format with no deleted padding. Minimal, primitive tagging so no complaints when it doesn't appear on my iSad 100% correct. Won't go out of fashion with the next Apple 'whatever'. No other format claims to actually be 'better sounding'.

AIFF here.

Additionally, there are some people who have come to streaming for the first time with no pc/Mac based audio library, like my good self. Although, my wife has a minimal iTunes Library and as I was investigating Naim Streaming, it seemed very convenient to go the Naim way with .WAV's. If you like, when it came to digital audio storage, I was a blank canvas with a little over 600 cd's to digitally store in an audio library system. Having decided to go for the U-Serve, the hassle that goes with experimenting with different audio formats was taken away.

My motivation for listening to music is the music, everything else is secondary, hence my reluctance to waste my time considering such matters as "which audio format". However, if I had an extensive ITunes based audio library, then I would have been forced to consider the alternatives very seriously.

So the question of "which audio format" is also determined by the persons current situation, actually, probably more so, as the general consensus on the Forum is that there is no difference in SQ between the lossless formats. Of course, there is a minority who say they can hear a difference.

Jason.

Music stored in FLAC and transcoded to WAV when played - best of both worlds

How do I change it from FLAC to WAV?

(I have 6000 CDs in FLAC!)

I am using - NDS / 555 / 282 / Supercap / 250.2 / B&W 802D

Thank you

Freightliner Mark

Hi Mark

if you play your FLAC files from a good player then you should be able to set the player to transcode your FLAC files to WAV automatically. One click and it's sorted forever - just look in settings or options. I use Asset which does this but I believe other players can do the same - couldn't be easier or more convenient. The difference is small but worthwhile IME.

Just to clarify - your stored files remain FLAC with the advantages of smaller files and easier tagging but the player converts the file on the fly as it sends it to your NDS.

Pev 

Hi Mark,

Google up "transcode flac to wav twonky."  I am not sure what it takes, as I don't use Twonky myself -- I have a UnitiServe which can be set to do this.  And I use that setting.

Some UPnP servers will do this transcoding -- others more familiar with Twonky will help you out I'm sure.

I am a QNAP / Twonky / WAV user. Twonky does not transcode FLAC to WAV unless you know how to re-programme it (I don't). Just use MediaMonkey to create a *.thm file for each album which contains metadata that Twonky can read perfectly. It only takes 5-10 seconds to create a *.thm file.