NDX forgets to play FLAC's ?

FWIW, yesterday I was listening to an album and after the first song the playback stopped; basically the second track (and all the rest of the album - the first track included) started to give the format error.

Today I converted the album to Flac Uncompressed but it did not play, giving the above error.

Only when I converted to Wav did it play.

I have had this happen on several occasions now, using the Qute. In fact is started soon after receiving it. I have re-ripped to replace the files, but I can’t remember being able to play any of the files again once they stop playing; not even the re-ripped ones.

A worrying trend if now the NDX is displaying similar problems.

Peter

Hi Peter,

regarding your statement that Asset was able to play the files I'd like you to test if it is really sending FLAC stream or LPCM as it was in my case. I've tested this as well and I was very surprised to find out that Asset is actually sending LPCM stream of my FLAC files. I've asked on Asset's forum why they are doing this even if I disabled any transcoding on the server and the answer was that this is actually a feature instead of bug - the transcoding takes place only if the renderer (Qute) sends back that it doesn't support the particular format.

In general I'm happy now that even more people are having this problem and hope this to be sorted out very soon for both NDX and Qute.

Hello Okli

I will have a look at this as soon as I can. I was expecting the builders in on Tuesday, never happened, but have stripped the system out and stored it out of harms way. Whilst waiting for the work to be started I decided to install several extra RJ45 sockets so even the NAS is not available to me at this time.

Will try and get it up enough to run the Qute in the next couple of days and will answer your question here as soon as possible.

Peter

Hello Okli

Ok, so I temporarily connected the Qute and you are absolutely right, the files stored as flac on the NAS and unable to be played from there are being sent via Asset as WAV files. The Qute is still reporting these files as ‘Can’t Play Unsupported File Format’. This is getting beyond a joke now.

A week or so ago I bought a box set of 17 Cd’s and spent 6 – 7 Hrs ripping them as the tags needed attention to keep them all together. These played fine for a day or two and then the Qute began to play-up and they no longer played.

As regards to more people reporting this I agree with you, Steakfrit on the post above is a new member who has encountered the same issues, and we know there have been others. Time some help was forthcoming now IMO.

Peter

Hello Tog…..That’s an old fashion idea you have if you don’t mind me saying.

The point is we have been banging on about this really from soon after the Qute became available. I was and am, suspicious of the server on my ReadyNAS, but over the months there have been many people complaining of this problem.

We now know that there is an acknowledged problem with the NDX that will be sorted, there’s no doubt about that. I am not sure that the same acknowledgement of the Uniti range products problem has ever been made. Very frustrating.

Regards

Peter

Hello Peter,

I hope you are online again and the work is done.

I'm glad that you can confirm my observations - meaning this is a general issue. Hope to get this fixed soon.

regards,

Ilko

Hi,

Do any of you see this issue on FLAC files without large artwork embedded? The original issue was down to embedding huge artwork inside the FLAC's - which is fixed in beta.

BTW the code base for Qute/Uniti/NDX are based on a similar core, so bug fixes will be ported to all products (although their releases may be staggered)

Av

Hello Av

Well that’s very enlightening, I for one had not realised that there was a size limit on art and usually go for a size of 500x500 (pixels I presume) if possible, not noticing the file size.

Unfortunately my system is packed away at the moment (builders are in) but looking at some of the files I know I have issues with in windows explorer, I find a large difference in file size of artwork. For example 148kb, 251kb, 5.5Mb and 9.5Mb; whilst a random look at those I know are playing have sizes around 30 – 50kb, there are many more that I have not looked at of course.

I only have a tag editor on my desktop computer (buried at the moment) but will try and get to it in the morning and remove the artwork from some of these files and see if they can then be played, by hooking the Qute up temporarily.

Is there a known size of artwork that should not be exceeded?

It is reassuring to learn that all the network devices share a basic core code, which should ensure issues could be addressed more quickly.

Many thanks for your help; it would be great if the solution to this irritating problem can be resolved so simply. Will let you know my findings.

Peter

Hello Av

I have now called up one album with artwork 5.2Mb and removed all artwork from the flac files, and find you are absolutely right (of course), the album is now playing away quite happily; the first time for many months. I checked before removing artwork to confirm it was unable to be played.

I feel confident that for me this should sort out all my files that will not play, so once again thank you.

If you were able to offer a guide to the ideal size of the art file it would be further appreciated.

Regards

Peter