AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Audio & Video > CD Players, Digital Music & Servers

CD Players, Digital Music & Servers Aurender, dCs, Esoteric, Lumin.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-19-2009, 09:58 PM
deafbykhorns deafbykhorns is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 240
Default My first Flac file

I just heard my first flac file tonight (Diana Krall) and now I'm about to trash my entire MS media server. The difference was stunning compared to the mp3 files I've been playing. The media server is used mostly for background music and movies but this is really going to eat at me until I get a MS750.
Or could I load some codecs to work with MS media center and keep a separate folder for flac files.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-19-2009, 10:09 PM
jdandy's Avatar
jdandy jdandy is offline
Merry Christmas to all



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 53,224
Default

John.......MP3 is junk. FLAC is 96% of CD bit for bit quality. It sounds very good, even at higher volume and critical listening conditions. You are headed in the right direction now.
__________________
Dan



STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-20-2009, 12:54 AM
-E-'s Avatar
-E- -E- is offline
Media Server Aficionado



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: East Bay SF, CA
Posts: 7,055
Default

MP3 truly is junk. The only thing that can help are some of the finer recordings of MP3's, typically done on a "covert" + "professional" level. Even then, typically those files are the types you can only get in that format as you'd never find them in the US (hard to find European or Arab/Middle Eastern tracks).

But anything that you have on redbook or that you can download via .FLAC or .WAV, there is NO reason to go to an MP3 to save space. 2tb drives are cheap - go get some.
__________________
Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server
Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-20-2009, 08:31 AM
deafbykhorns deafbykhorns is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 240
Default

Vesuvius I see you have a Media Server, can you give me the details in regards to software used to playback and rip? I found a codec for MS media player so it may work with the MS media center software
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-20-2009, 08:43 AM
Still-One Still-One is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Milford, MI
Posts: 32,466
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdandy View Post
John.......MP3 is junk. FLAC is 96% of CD bit for bit quality. It sounds very good, even at higher volume and critical listening conditions. You are headed in the right direction now.
+1
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-20-2009, 11:58 AM
-E-'s Avatar
-E- -E- is offline
Media Server Aficionado



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: East Bay SF, CA
Posts: 7,055
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by deafbykhorns View Post
Vesuvius I see you have a Media Server, can you give me the details in regards to software used to playback and rip? I found a codec for MS media player so it may work with the MS media center software

EAC is the ripping software for all audio. Playback is done typically through WinAmp, but iTunes and WMP/WMC and XBMC are also installed. Just depends; if I am directly at the monitor and file system I use WinAmp. Also streaming from Shoutcast utilizes WinAmp.

For FLAC, the best way to configure WMP is:
WMPTagSupportExtender plugin + madFLAC

Instructions Here

I should add these are the instructions for WMP, not WMC.

However, WMC relies on all WMP properties, so you WILL find everything in WMC once you properly setup WMP.
__________________
Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server
Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-20-2009, 09:28 PM
deafbykhorns deafbykhorns is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 240
Default

Thanks! That worked perfect with WMC and plays the flac files. Much better quality than the MP3 files. I found madflac the other day but Trend says that file has a virus, but then again Trend showed a virus the other day on a HP Firmware update for a switch.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-20-2009, 09:36 PM
-E-'s Avatar
-E- -E- is offline
Media Server Aficionado



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: East Bay SF, CA
Posts: 7,055
Default

If it sees anything that is "out of the ordinary" or that may be perceived as "pirated" all the scanners out there thing it is a virus...
__________________
Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server
Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-21-2009, 11:06 PM
deafbykhorns deafbykhorns is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 240
Default

This one works better for version 11 WMP, plays all the flacs.
Madflac didnt work for me on 11
http://www.codecguide.com/windows_media_codecs.htm
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-22-2009, 01:01 AM
-E-'s Avatar
-E- -E- is offline
Media Server Aficionado



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: East Bay SF, CA
Posts: 7,055
Default

Just follow the instructions - it requres TWO plugins, one codec to play and one to actually recognize the ID tags within the file.

Madflac + WMPTagSupporter probably use the least amount of system resources.
__________________
Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server
Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:56 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video