Flac files

ghandi wrote:

Nobody in this world can make a difference between a 30 MB FLAC file and a 7 MB ogg encoding, especially if the original is recorded by a guy with a mic in his hat 20 years ago.
So, forget FLAC files!!!
Long live mp3 and ogg!!

Not true. If your ears aren't that great, you're bound to think that. People who really care, i.e the folks that post in FLAC format, do care about what they hear. No need to belittle their perceptions of quality audio.
You don't like it and you found a way to make your own files - fair enough. Their idea about posting FLAC is that it's a high standard that gives people, like yourself, the choice to keep whatever quality files they want, whether it's high or low. But if you shared you're ogg/mp3 files, you're immediately handing them the lesser quality set. There's no choice there and that's why people on this board and the hub strive to make sure they don't spread MP3 anymore.

I understand it and so should you. Because if there's a choice for downloaders/sharers, that means it's better for ALL. Not just one group of individuals that want a specific compression. Flac allows the high standard that's close to a 1:1 copy. Please remember this as it's important.

Peace,
Adam.

"If your ears aren't that great, you're bound to think that. People who really care, i.e the folks that post in FLAC format, do care about what they hear. No need to belittle their perceptions of quality audio.
I understand it and so should you."

Why should I be forced to trade Flac if I am a hearing impaired second class citizen? Fortunately I have plenty of company in the hub that trade mp3. Flac takes up too much hard drive space, and then it needs to converted to a more usable format. Last time I looked there was no sign of an impending ban on trading mp3's in the hub ... and rightly so!

oops

You've missed the point RVW. Read again.

What point? That you look down on mp3 traders because you fancy yourself as some sort of god-like sound engineer that knows better than anyone else?

Flac has better quality, mp3 is easier to use and smaller - yor choice.

To convert flac to mp3, I use Winamp with flac-plugin and diskwriter. Then CDex to convert wav to mp3. Not easy but fast.

Adam Baboolal wrote:

ghandi wrote:

Nobody in this world can make a difference between a 30 MB FLAC file and a 7 MB ogg encoding, especially if the original is recorded by a guy with a mic in his hat 20 years ago.
So, forget FLAC files!!!
Long live mp3 and ogg!!

Not true. If your ears aren't that great, you're bound to think that. People who really care, i.e the folks that post in FLAC format, do care about what they hear. No need to belittle their perceptions of quality audio.
You don't like it and you found a way to make your own files - fair enough. Their idea about posting FLAC is that it's a high standard that gives people, like yourself, the choice to keep whatever quality files they want, whether it's high or low. But if you shared you're ogg/mp3 files, you're immediately handing them the lesser quality set. There's no choice there and that's why people on this board and the hub strive to make sure they don't spread MP3 anymore.

I understand it and so should you. Because if there's a choice for downloaders/sharers, that means it's better for ALL. Not just one group of individuals that want a specific compression. Flac allows the high standard that's close to a 1:1 copy. Please remember this as it's important.

Peace,
Adam.

Your point of view would be valid only if the audio converted to FLAC would have such a quality in itself that would justify such an encoding. These Queen bootlegs are anything but high quality.

I really don't think there exists a person in this world to think that, for example the Knebworth show, sounds better in FLAC than in, say, 320KB/s mp3. And if this file is four times larger than it makes a big difference.

So use FLAC just when it is useful. That is, studio-like recordings or at least professional recorded concerts.

@gahndi 100% ack, that's exactly my point. FLAC is totally useless when dealing with low quality bootlegs.

My post above was about converting FLAC to mp3. Not complicated, but some pieces of software needed. As I already had Winamp and CDex installed, the easiest way was to go for a Winamp plugin.

Rip Van Winkle wrote:

What point? That you look down on mp3 traders because you fancy yourself as some sort of god-like sound engineer that knows better than anyone else?

That's right, insult me instead of trying to understand my post. How clever...

My main post reminds us of choice. It's not about treating either Flac or Mp3 lovers with disrespect. It's about giving either side a choice of quality downloads.

You know, I do use and like Mp3. I also like Flac. So don't think that I'm taking sides. But at least I can appreciate what traders are doing with Flac downloads. Thank god I'm no elitist about the subject. Notice how I uploaded Mp3 files from the UK Hall Of Fame a while back.

Peace,
Adam.

Maybe this will help?

http://wiki.etree.org/index.php?page=FlacFrontend

Nero won't read the Flac files.. i've downloaded Winamp... I dont really like it, but can you burn cds from it?? so I can have these files on CD? i dont really know much about it and the site is basically giving me no help.
thnx

"But if you shared you're ogg/mp3 files, you're immediately handing them the lesser quality set. There's no choice there and that's why people on this board and the hub strive to make sure they don't spread MP3 anymore."

Adam, it is your holier than thou attitude that seeks to discontinue or discourage mp3 sharing that is the problem. Both types of sharing can coexist harmoniously, but you insist on implying that mp3 traders are selfish, ignorant and tone-deaf.

To insist that everyone trade or share flac is ludicrous and causes these issues to mp3 users:

1. The flac files are five times as large as mp3 files (consuming extra valuable hard drive space) and take five times as long to download.

2. One must download software to convert flac to wav.

3. The songs must be converted to wav from flac.

4. One must purchase or download software to convert the wave files to mp3 files.

5. One must convert the wav files into mp3 files.

I, for one, do not want to jump through these hoops every time I download a concert. The marginal increase in sound quality of an audience recording of flac compared to mp3 is insignificant.

Notice that I mentioned my own sharing of MP3 files of only a month ago. There is no "attitude" as I already mentioned that it's not about taking sides. It's only about telling the truth. Notice also that I'm not the one sharing concerts in Flac. So don't complain to me about "insisting" anything. I'm only sharing their ideals in wanting to use flac. And yes, of course not everyone has a fast connection to get huge downloads. But again, you can't blame anyone for that. They are, after-all, providing a free download. And if you're lucky, they'll provide a smaller download.

I think it's PG who says that you should be happy that you get anything at all! These downloads are put up out of the goodness of their hearts, bless 'em!

Peace,
Adam.

P.S. There's plenty of free software all over the net to encode and convert files. No need to buy anything at all.

Rip Van Winkle wrote:

Both types of sharing can coexist harmoniously, but you insist on implying that mp3 traders are selfish, ignorant and tone-deaf.

To insist that everyone trade or share flac is ludicrous and causes these issues to mp3 users:

Actually mp3 should never be a format to trade music. Trading means to share music and to preserve the quality of the material traded, even if it´s a poor 30-year-old audience recording.
That doesn´t mean mp3 is not a useful format, it´s ok for your personal use, but mp3 should not be traded.
To me a person who shares mp3 is not a trader, because the aim of a trader is to preserve the original quality of the recording as far as possible.

Yes yes, flac consumes space..
and i found that the sound quality on them werent that great.. although.. it was from the apollo theatre 77 concert that i wanted winamp for.
the concert itself was brilliant but all i could hear was the audience.